K. Satchidanandan (b. 1946) academic, poet, critic, translator, playwright and travel-writer has served as Professor of English in Christ College affiliated to the Calicut University, Professor and Director of the Centre for Translation Studies IGNOU, Editor of Indian Literature and Secretary, Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters) and National Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. His first collection of poems, Anchu Sooryan (Five Suns) came out in 1971 and since then he has published more than 20 collections of poetry. He has also authored an equal number of collections of essays on literature, philosophy and social issues, two plays, four books of travelogues and a memoir in Malayalam, besides four books on comparative Indian literature in English. He has won 51 awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and National Sahitya Akademi Award, Knighthood by the Govt of Italy, Dante Medal by Dante Institute, Ravenna, International Poetry for Peace Award by the government of UAE, and Indo-Polish Friendship Medal by the Govt of Poland. He can be reached at: satchida@gmail.com.
