T. D. Ramakrishnan

Thathamangalam Damodaran Ramakrishnan (born 1961) is an Indian novelist, translator, and retired Chief Controller in Southern Railway. He has authored two best-selling Malayalam novels: Francis Itty Cora and Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki. He is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahityotsav Award and Vayalar Award.

Early life He was born at Eyyal village in Thrissur, India in 1961 to a Brahmin family as the son of Damodaran Elayathu and Sreedevi Antarjanam. He completed his schooling from Kunnamkulam Boys High School and Erumappetty Government High School, In 1981, he joined Indian Railways as a ticket collector in Salem. He worked in Kozhikode for one and a half years from 1982. In 1983, he worked as a ticket examiner in Madras and Salem. He moved to Palghat in 1985. His second novel, Francis Itty Cora, received considerable acclaims from critics for its unprecedented incorporation of many global historical characters and knowledge available to the present Malayalam readers for weaving the story line. The novel deals with the exploration of a merchant named Francis Itty Cora, hailing from the Kerala of 15th century. His third novel, Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki, is based on the death of Tamil human rights activist Rajini Thiranagama who was allegedly shot dead by Tamil Tigers cadres after she criticised them for their atrocities.

Ramakrishnan, who had lived in Tamil Nadu for the most part of his career, is also deeply associated with Tamil literature. He introduced several Tamil literary works to Keralites and has won the E. K. Divakaran Potti Award for Best Translator in 2007.

Awards 2016: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel – Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki 2016: Malayattoor Award – Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki 2016: Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award for Novel – Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki 2017: Vayalar Award – Sugandhi Enna Andal Devanayaki 2025: Kerala Sahityotsav Award