Palakkad (Kerala), Sep 24 (TIWN) Eminent Malayalam poet Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri was on Thursday conferred with the Jnanpith award at his residence 'Devayanam' by Kerala Culture Minister A.K. Balan.

"The Jnanpith Selection Board has announced the recipient of the 55th Jnanpith Award for the year 2019 today in a meeting. It went to Shri Akkitham, eminent Indian poet writing in Malayalam," the board said in statement.

On receiving the honour, the philosopher-poet said on Friday that he was happy and humbled by the honour.