Vaisakhan
Doha, Qatar: The 26th Basheer Award of Pravasi Doha, a cultural platform of Keralite expatriates in Qatar, has been bestowed on renowned Malayalam story writer Vaisakhan.
The award, which includes a INR50,000 cash prize, a memento designed by illustration artist Namboothiri and a citation, is being resumed after a three year break due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The jury, headed by Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair, comprised Babu Mather (managing trustee), M A Rahman, K K Sudhakaran, Shamsudeen (trustees) and C V Rappai from Doha.
The Prof M N Vijayan Endowment Scholarship Award (INR 15,000), in memory of the late patron of Pravasi Doha, is to be awarded by Vaisakhan to a meritorious student from his native place, a statement explained.
Vaisakhan (M K Gopinathan Nair) born in 1940, has been bestowed with many awards over the years, including the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award in 1989.
A native of Muvattupuzha, Vaisakhan penned over 100 short stories, based on his two decades stint with Southern Railways, from where he took voluntary retirement in 1984.
