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Noted writer Hridayakumari passes away

Hridayakumari, who taught English literature in various government colleges in Kerala for about four decades, was a respected figure in the social milieu of the state.

Noted litterateur and educationist Prof. B. Hridayakumari passed away at private hospital in the Kerala capital of Trivandrum on Saturday morning.

She was 84 and is survived by daughter Sreedevi Pillai, a senior journalist.

The funeral was held at Thycaud crematorium in the evening. Hridayakumari, who was under treatment for age-related problems for the last two weeks, was put on ventilator on Thursday. She breathed her last at around 7am.

Hridayakumari, who taught English literature in various government colleges in Kerala for about four decades, was a respected figure in the social milieu of the state. She had served as principal of Women’s College, Trivandrum.

Hridayakumari, who was also noted literary critic and orator, had written extensively and gave lectures on literature, philosophy and education. She won Kerala Sahithya Academy Award in 1991 for her study on romanticism in Malayalam literature.

She had also won S Guptan Nair award, Shankaranarayanan Thampi award several other honours. Hridayakumari had served as chairperson of Kerala State Higher Education Council to suggest reforms to the Choice Based Credit and Semester System (CBCSS) and as member of committee for reformation of Kerala school curriculum.

Daughter of freedom fighter and poet Bodheswaran, Hridayakumari was elder sister of poet and environmental campaigner Sugathakumari. Prof V K Karthiyayini Amma, her mother, was a well known scholar and teacher of Sanskrit.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Cultural Affairs Minister, P C Joseph condoled the death.

— news@khaleejtimes.com