Thrissur: Reputed Malayalam writer Ashitha is no more. The 63-year-old died at Aswini Hospital, Thrissur, around 1am Wednesday.  

The writer who created a bold narrative in short story writing had written some astounding children’s tales. Her translations of books from other languages popularised Haiku, a traditional form of Japanese poetry, in Malayalam. She was living at Lakshmi Narayana Enclave in Kizhakkumpattukara, Thrissur.

Ashitha was born to KB Nair, a retired defence accounts officer, and Thekke Karupath Thankamaniamma. Husband professor Ramankutty works at the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, Kerala University. Uma is her only daughter.

Ashitha completed her studies in Mumbai and Delhi. She earned her Master’s degree in English from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam.

Her works include 'Vismayachinnangal', 'Apoornaviramangal', 'Ashithayude Kadhaka'l, 'Mazhameghangal', 'Oru Sthreeyum Parayathath', 'Mayilpeeli Sparsham', 'Kalluvacha Nunakal', 'Shivena Sahanarthanam' and 'Vivaham Oru Sthreeyodu Cheyyunnath'. Her recently published autobiographical interview was lauded for its candidness.

'Ashithayude Kadhakal' had won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for best short story. She has also won Lalithambika Antharjanam Award, Padmarajan Award and Edasseri Award. She was a prominent female figure in the generation following modernism.

Russian poems were translated into a book named Padavinyasangal. Ashitha also translated Alexander Pushkin’s works into Malayalam.