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The Prof. V. Aravindakshan Foundation has selected former JNU Students’ Union president and researcher Aishe Ghosh for its 2026 Prof. V. Aravindakshan Award, recognising her role in student movements and social and political activism.
The award, comprising ₹50,000, a plaque and a citation, will be presented at a memorial programme at the M.T. Hall of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi in Thrissur on October 17.
The foundation, established by students and friends of Prof. V. Aravindakshan following his death, is completing 11 years of its activities this year. A Marxist thinker on aesthetics and cultural critic, Prof. Aravindakshan had taught at Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur. The award is being presented for the 10th time this year.
Prof. Sachidanandan, T.M. Krishna, Romila Thapar, Gagandeep Kang, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Anand Teltumbde, Teesta Setalvad, R. Rajagopal and Prabhat Patnaik are among those who have previously received the award.
The foundation said the award is given to individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their respective fields and engaged creatively with social issues.
The selection committee said Ms. Ghosh was chosen in recognition of her role in the student movement and her resistance to what it described as religious nationalism and communal fascism threatening India’s democratic and constitutional values.