M. K. Sanu

Mangalath Kesavan Sanu (27 October 1928 – 2 August 2025) was an Indian Malayalam-language writer, critic, academic, biographer, journalist, orator, social activist and human rights activist. He authored at least 36 books.

Sanu was a permanent member of the International Body for Human Rights, as well as the founding member of the Mithram, a school for the mentally handicapped, in Mulanthuruthy, Ernakulam district, Kerala. He was a member of the award selection committee of the Vayalar Ramavarma Literary Award; however, he resigned in September 2019. In 2011, he won the Padmaprabha Literary Award.

Background Sanu was born on 27 October 1928 in Thumpoly in the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore, as the son of M. P. Kesavan and K. P. Bhavani. He died from pneumonia at Amrita Hospital in Ernakulam, on 2 August 2025, at the age of 96.

Career In 1955 and 1956, Sanu joined the Sree Narayana College and Maharaja's College as a lecturer. He retired as a professor in 1983. In 1984, he was elected as the President of Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham and the director of Sree Narayana Study Centre, University of Kerala in 1985, followed by an appointment to Sree Narayana Chair, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in 1997.

In 1987, he was elected as an MLA from Ernakulam Assembly constituency. In 1991, he joined Kumkumam Weekly, Kollam, as the chief editor. He became the elected President of the Vayalar Award Memorial Trust in 2005.

Recognition 2011 – Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for the biography "Basheer: Ekantha Veedhiyile Avadhoothan" 2011 – Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (other category literature) for overall contributions 2012 – Pavanan foundation India's Award for 2011 for his Autobiography "Karmagathi" 2013 – Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, the highest literary honour given by the Kerala government 2013 – Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award for Overall Contribution (T. K. Ramakrishnan Award) 2014 – Father Vadakkan Puraskaram 2015 – P. Kesavadev Literary Award 2020 – Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award (other category literature) (Sakti Erumeli Award) for Kesari Oru Kaalaghattathinte Srishtaavu 2021 – Chavara Samskruthy Puraskar by Chavara Cultural Centre 2022 – D.Litt. by Mahatma Gandhi University

Works

Autobiography Karmagathi – 2010 - GreenBooks Publication

Children's literature Work Year Publisher Place Sree Narayana Gurudevan 1983 Vivekodayam Printing & Publishing Co. Irinjalakuda Sree Narayana Guru 1999 SPCS Kottayam Jeevithasanuvil 2007 Balasahitya Prakasham Edappally

Criticism Work Year Publisher Place Kaattum Velichavum 1960 NBS Kottayam Chakravaalam 1962 Sahitya Nilayam Publishing House Kochi Manninu Manninte Gunam 1964 Vidyartimitram Kottayam Prabhathadarsanam 1970 Poorna Publications Kozhikode Chumarile Chitrangal 1971 P.K Brothers Kozhikode Rajaveedhi 1971 NBS Kottayam Avadhaaranam 1984 DC Books Kottayam Anubhoothiyude Nirangal 1986 SPCS Kottayam Athirvarampukalillathe 2000 SPCS Kottayam Unnathathmakkalude Jeevaraktham 2002 Mathrubhoomi Publishing Co. Kozhikode Asaanthiyilninnu Saanthiyilekku 2003 Current Books Kottayam Ente Vazhiyampalangal 2004 Green Books Thrissur Ezhuthinte Naanarthangal 2005 Green Books Thrissur Vimarsanathile Raajasilpi 2005 Maarar Saahitya Prakaasham Kozhikode Thuranna Jaalakam 2006 Kavya Books Mavelikkara Kaavyathathwa Praveshika 2008 DC Books Kottayam

Interpretations Work Year Publisher Place Aadhyatma Ramayanam 2004 Mathrubhoomi Publishing Co. Kozhikode Sree Maha Bhagavatham 2008 Green Books Thrissur

Travelogues Work Year Publisher Place Anubhavangal Prathyaasakal 1985 Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham Trivandrum

Biographies Work Year Publisher Place Asthamikkatha Velicham 1962 Poorna Publications Kozhikode Narayanaguru Swami 1976 Vivekodayam Printing & Publishing Co. Iringalakuda Sahodaran. K. Ayyappan 1980 DC Books Kottayam Changampuzha Krishnapilla: Nakshatrangalude Snehabhajanam 1988 SPCS Kottayam Sahodaran Ayyappan: Oru Kalaghattathinte Silpi 1989 Sree Narayanaguru Samskara Samiti Kollam Mruthyunjayam Kavyajeevitham 1996 S.N Chandrika Educational Trust Iringalakuda Parvathy Amma: Asaranarude Amma 2000 Sree Narayana Sevika Samajam Aluva M Govindan 2002 DC Books Kottayam Yukthivaadi M.C Joseph 2002 Dept. of Cultural Publications, Govt. of Kerala Trivandrum Basheer: Ekantha Veedhiyile Avadhoothan 2007 DC Books Kottayam K.C Mamman Mappila 2008 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Thrissur Manushyathwathinte Margathil 2025 Green Books Thrissur

Memoirs Work Year Publisher Place Thaazhvarayile Sandhya: Parts I & II 1992 DC Books Kottayam Ivar Lokathe Snehichavar 1999 Prabhath Book House Trivandrum

Collected essays Work Year Publisher Place Sree Narayana Sandhesam 2000 Lalu Books Kottayam Ethra Sokamayam Jeevitham 2004 Haritham Books Kozhikode

Translations Work Year Publisher Place Anchu Sastra Nayakanmar (Five Major Scientists) 1958 Southern Languages Book Trust Madras Viswasathilek Veendum (Recovery of Faith) 1959 Southern Languages Book Trust Madras American Sahityam 2000 SPCS Kottayam Guide 1989 Sahitya Akademi New Delhi

Edited works Work Year Publisher Place Sahodara Saptati 1960 Sahodaran Ayyappan Saptati Celebration Committee Ernakulam Kumaranasante Kavyaprapancham 1974 Navodhana Samiti Ernakulam Sahodarante Padyakritikal 1981 DC Books Kottayam Sree Narayana Sameeksha 1987 Sree Narayana Study Centre, University of Kerala Trivandrum Kusumathinte Kritikal 1989 DC Books Kottayam Basheer: Varthamanthinte Bhavi 1994 Asayam Books Kozhikode Kudumba Vijnana Kosham 1999 Maanas Foundation Kozhikode Kochi 2000 2000 Cochin Corporation Ernakulam T.K Ramakrishnan 2001 CPI (M) Dist. Committee Ernakulam Changampuzha: Selected Poems 2008 Green Books Thrissur Selected Essays 2008 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Thrissur

Controversies Sanu resigned from the award selection committee and chairmanship of the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust (VRMT) in September 2019, specifying that he was suffering from health issues. A few days later, during an interview, he clarified the controversy of his resignation from the Trust. Sanu stated that he was being pressurised to select a book which, according to him, scored the least during evaluation. He also said that the piece Nireeshwaran by author V. J. James had scored the highest points in the last stage of the assessment.