Thrissur: Cultural Affairs Minister M.A. Baby presented the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram for 2006, the highest literary award instituted by the State Government, to veteran writer Kovilan (V.V. Ayyappan) at a function here on Sunday. The Minister said the Puraskaram was a belated honour for Kovilan. "I wonder whether Malayali readers have understood Kovilan's greatness. A writer achieves greatness when he does not imitate himself," Mr. Baby said.

Social critic Sukumar Azhikode said that the gap between life and literature was very little in Kovilan's works.

Kovilan said that his concerns, as a writer, had not changed much over the past 50 years.

"When I started writing, during the Second World War, poverty and hunger had been my primary concerns. They continue to worry me even after I have explored different realms in literature. I do not think the world has changed much. I am worried about the future of the world. There is so much violence around," he said.

Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran presented a citation to the writer. Mr. M.A. Baby had presented a cheque for Rs. 1 lakh to the writer at a function in Kandanassery on October 30, 2006.

Kovilan has published 11 novels, 12 collections of short stories, three collections of articles and a play. The novels are `Thakarnna Hridayangal' (1946), `A Minus B' (1958), `Tharavadu' (1963), `Ezhamedangal' (1965), `Thazhvarakal' (1969), `Thottangal' (1970), `Himalayam' (1973), `Bharathan' (1976), `Janmantharangal' (1982) and `Thattakam' (1995).

His collections of short stories are `Oru Palam Manayola' (1957), `Ee Jeevitham Ananthamanu' (1957), `Orikkal Manushyanayirunnu' (1960), `Oru Kashanam Asthi' (1961), `Vendam Kadi' (1969), `Thervazhchakal' (1971), `Pitham' (1971), `Shakunam' (1974), `Adyathe Kathakal' (1978), `Sujatha' (1979), `Theranjedutha Kathakal' (1980) and `Kovilante Kathakal' (1985). `Thottangal' and `Shakunam' won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards in 1972 and 1977 respectively.

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