Writer Joseph Athirunkal, based in Saudi Arabia, has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural M.T. Literary Award instituted by the Kerala Art Lovers Association, Kala Kuwait. The award is part of the upcoming Kala Kuwait Literature Festival- KKLF, which celebrates literary talents across the GCC.
Joseph Athirunkal was chosen for his acclaimed short story collection “Gregor Samsayude Kamuki”, a work praised for its powerful portrayal of love and humanity in a world increasingly driven by commercialization and profit. The selection was made by a distinguished jury panel comprising Ashokan Cheruvil, Ashtamoorthy, and V.D. Premaprasad.
The award carries a cash prize of ₹50,000 and a commemorative memento. It will be formally presented to Joseph Athirunkal during the Kala Kuwait Literature Festival, scheduled for April 24–25 in Kuwait.
Speaking about the winning work, the jury noted that the shortlisted collections reflected deep literary engagement and emotional maturity, with “Gregor Samsayude Kamuki” standing out for its poignant exploration of human values in contemporary society.
This marks the fifth short story collection by Joseph Athirunkal, whose other noted works include Miyakulpa (novel), Joseph Athirunkalinte Kathakal, Paapikalude Pattanam, Inayanthram, Puliyum Penkuttiyum, and Pratheekshayude Perumazhayil. A native of Athirunkal in Pathanamthitta, Kerala, Joseph is also known for his contributions as a cultural activist and public speaker. He has been working in Riyadh as a Supply Chain Manager for over 25 years.
The award announcement was made during a press meet held at Calicut Chef Restaurant, Abbasiya, attended by Kala Kuwait President Mathew Joseph, General Secretary T.V. Hikmath, KKLF Chairman Preman Illath, General Convenor Manikandan Vattamkulam, KALA Kuwiat Treasurer P.B. Suresh, and Acting Media Secretary Praseetha Jithin.