Prominent among the Renaissance writers in Malayalam and a freedom fighter, P.Kesavadev was a pen soldier who marked the social status of Malayalam art literature. It has been 38 years since he left us. To honour a person is an act of admiring the person's efforts and hard-earned achievements. With respect P.Kesavadev Trust presents P. Kesavadev Awards yearly to two dignified personalities. The prestigious P.Keasavadev Literary Award is for excellence in the field of literature and Diabscreen Kerala-Kesavadev Award is for a person's honest and sustained efforts in public health education.

The 17th P.Kesavadev Literary Award, established in the memory of the immortal writer P.Kesavadev, is conferred to renowned journalist and media genius Shri Thomas Jacob, Former President of the Kerala Press Academy and the P.Kesavadev Diabscreen Kerala award was conferred to Padma Shri Dr.Shashank R Joshi, Chairperson IDF, South-East Asia, and a member of Maharashtra’s COVID Task Force for his relentless efforts in alleviating the Covid-19 burden of the public during the pandemic. Hailed as one of the most prestigious awards from Kerala, P Kesavadev Awards honours excellence in literature and public health. The prestigious award holds a cash prize of Rs.50,000, a citation and sculpture by B D Dathan. The award was presented at a virtual event on 18 June 2021 abiding by the Covid protocol.