Cherukad was born in Chemmalasseri in Perinthalmanna taluk to Kizheettil Pisharath Karunakara Pisharody and Cherukad Pisharath Narayani Pisharasiar.[1] He got elementary training in Sanskrit from Guru Gopalanezhuthachan. After completing high school education, he joined as a teacher in Chemmala Aided Mappila School.[1] He passed Vidvan Examination from Madras and worked in many schools as teacher before joining Pattambi Sanskrit College as Lecturer.[1]
In 1936, Cherukad married Kizheettil Pisharath Lakshmi Pisharasiar.[1] Their son K. P. Mohanan is a noted writer.[1]
Cherukad's politically charged writing was influential in defining the Malayalam literature of the fifties and sixties.[2] His political life was connected with the lives of the leading politicians and patriots of Kerala. Cherukad was one of the founding members of the Deshabhimani Study Circle, a progressive literary movement in Kerala and the predecessor of the Purogamana Kala Sahitya Sangham.[1] Some of his important works are Jeevithappatha, Tharavaditham, Manushyabandhangal, Namal Onnu, Manushya Hridayangal, Janmabhumi, Devalokam, Manninte Maril (On the Bosom of the Soil), Muthassi and Sanidasa.[1] His autobiography Jeevithappatha (1974) received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975 and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977.[3]
Cherukad died on 28 October 1976.[1] The Cherukad Award is an annual literary award given in his memory.[4]
