 She was a recipient of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story as well as other honours including Padmarajan Award, Lalithambika Anterjanam Smaraka Sahitya Award and Edasseri Award.Ashitha was born on 5 April 1956 in Pazhayannur in Trichur district of south Indian state of Kerala to Kazhangottu Balachandran Nair, a defence accounts officer and Thekkekarupath Thankamani Amma.She completed her schooling from Delhi and Bombay and obtained her graduate and master's degrees in English literature from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam.