Thrissur: Noted novelist and short story writer Ashokan Charuvil has been named the winner of the 48th Vayalar Award for his novel Kattoorkadavu. The Vayalar Ramavarma Trust announced the award, which includes a prize of Rs 1 lakh, on Sunday.

Ashokan was selected by a panel that included authors Benyamin, Gracy and Professor KS Ravikumar. Around 300 books were considered in the initial round, with six advancing to the final selection, from which Kattoorkadavu emerged as the winner. The panel praised the novel as a compelling narrative of Kerala’s political landscape. The award ceremony will be held in Thiruvananthapuram on October 27.

Born in 1957 in Kattoor, Thrissur, Kerala, Ashokan completed his education at Karalam High School, SN College, Nattika, and SN Teachers Education Institution, Irinjalakuda. He previously served as an officer in the registration department and was a Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) member. Since 2018, he has been the general secretary of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham. He is a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and the Muttathu Varkey Award.

His other prominent works include 'Parichitha Gandhangal' (which was honoured with the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award in 1993), 'Oru Rathrikku Oru Pakal' (recipient of the Edasseri Award in 1995), 'Amazon' (Padmarajan Award of 2010), 'Kattoor Kadavile Kroorakrithyam' and 'Jalajeevitham', among others.

The Vayalar Award, instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust, honours the best literary work in Malayalam and commemorates the legendary poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma.