One of the greatest writers of Malaylam, Madhavikutty or Kamla surayya passed away on 31 May 2009. She had been ailing and bedridden for some tine. She was a diabetic and had hypertension. The end came around 1.55, am, Sunday. She was living in Pune with her son.
Widely known as Madhavikutty among the readers of Malayalam, Ami, was born on 31 March 1932.She was the daughter of Mr.V.M.Nair, former managing editor of the Mathrubhoomi daily in Malayalam, and Balamaniamma, a great poetess in Malyalam, at Punnayurkulam (Thrissur District) in Kerala. The famous writer Nalappat Narayana Menon, who translated the famous work of Victor Hugo Les Miserables into Malyalam as “Paavangal”, was Madhavikutty’s grand uncle.
She has written poems, short stories and novels. She was also a good painter. Readers in English know her by the name Kamala Das. Many of her poems in English are world famous. She had the Midas touch and whatever she wrote was received by the readers with great enthusiasm.
Although she began writing poems at a tender age, she took to writing seriously only after her marriage at the age of 15. Her husband Mr. Das, older than her by several years, encouraged her to write.
“Mathilukal”, (The Walls) that came out in 1955 was her first published work.
Her autobiography “My Story”, published in 1976, when she was 42, was very controversial. In it she barred her mind as no one else had done before. She openly talked about the desires of the female mind with great abandon. She was so bold and frank that she was labeled as a nymphomaniac.
Just as her poems, her short stories and novels also spoke about unfulfilled dreams and desires of the female psyche. She valued freedom more than anything else. In one of her poem ‘Parunthu’ (The Eagle), she wrote that she wanted to fly in the sky like an eagle, as there is no trap or anyone to cheat over there. Her language was refreshing, delicate and moving. She did not follow the style of any of her predecessors, or contemporaries. Even her mother has not influenced her writing. She was a never ending source of love and affection to all.
She successfully created her own idiom both in English and Malayalam and articulated her joys and sorrows to her readers. Her readers yearned for more and more from her. And she on her part never disappointed them. Poems and stories in English and Malayalam flowed from her heart that spoke about unfulfilled love, breached trust and wounded minds. She once said, “Each poem is born out of pain, which I would like to share”.
Many recognitions and awards came her way. The Vayalar Award, (1994); The Asan World Prize; Kerala Sahitya Academy Award,(1968); The Asian Poetry Prize (1964);Ezhuthachan Award, Kent Award (1965),Kendra Sahitya academy Award, are some of the recognitions that she has won. She has also won a doctorate from the World Academy of Arts and Culture. In 1984 she had been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Many of her works have been translated into German, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and French. Besides, many of her poems have been included in the text books at the school and the university level.
She has also held high positions at many institutions. She was the Vice Chairperson of the Kerala Sahitya Academy, The Chairperson of the State Forestry Board, The president of the Kerala Children’s Film society etc.
Widely known as Madhavikutty among the readers of Malayalam, Ami, was born on 31 March 1932.She was the daughter of Mr.V.M.Nair, former managing editor of the Mathrubhoomi daily in Malayalam, and Balamaniamma, a great poetess in Malyalam, at Punnayurkulam (Thrissur District) in Kerala. The famous writer Nalappat Narayana Menon, who translated the famous work of Victor Hugo Les Miserables into Malyalam as “Paavangal”, was Madhavikutty’s grand uncle.
She has written poems, short stories and novels. She was also a good painter. Readers in English know her by the name Kamala Das. Many of her poems in English are world famous. She had the Midas touch and whatever she wrote was received by the readers with great enthusiasm.
Although she began writing poems at a tender age, she took to writing seriously only after her marriage at the age of 15. Her husband Mr. Das, older than her by several years, encouraged her to write.
“Mathilukal”, (The Walls) that came out in 1955 was her first published work.
Her autobiography “My Story”, published in 1976, when she was 42, was very controversial. In it she barred her mind as no one else had done before. She openly talked about the desires of the female mind with great abandon. She was so bold and frank that she was labeled as a nymphomaniac.
Just as her poems, her short stories and novels also spoke about unfulfilled dreams and desires of the female psyche. She valued freedom more than anything else. In one of her poem ‘Parunthu’ (The Eagle), she wrote that she wanted to fly in the sky like an eagle, as there is no trap or anyone to cheat over there. Her language was refreshing, delicate and moving. She did not follow the style of any of her predecessors, or contemporaries. Even her mother has not influenced her writing. She was a never ending source of love and affection to all.
She successfully created her own idiom both in English and Malayalam and articulated her joys and sorrows to her readers. Her readers yearned for more and more from her. And she on her part never disappointed them. Poems and stories in English and Malayalam flowed from her heart that spoke about unfulfilled love, breached trust and wounded minds. She once said, “Each poem is born out of pain, which I would like to share”.
Many recognitions and awards came her way. The Vayalar Award, (1994); The Asan World Prize; Kerala Sahitya Academy Award,(1968); The Asian Poetry Prize (1964);Ezhuthachan Award, Kent Award (1965),Kendra Sahitya academy Award, are some of the recognitions that she has won. She has also won a doctorate from the World Academy of Arts and Culture. In 1984 she had been nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Many of her works have been translated into German, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and French. Besides, many of her poems have been included in the text books at the school and the university level.
She has also held high positions at many institutions. She was the Vice Chairperson of the Kerala Sahitya Academy, The Chairperson of the State Forestry Board, The president of the Kerala Children’s Film society etc.
Frankfurt University and the University of Singapore have recorded her voice.
Madhavikutty has served as visiting professor at Columbia University, Vermount University, University of Kingstone, Melbourne University, the University of Singapore etc.
She has served as the Poetry editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India,Femina and the Poet. she was also the president of the Kerala Children's Fillm Society and the Chairman of the Kerala Forestry Board.
Famous works in Malayalam:
Mathilukal (1955)
Pakshiyudae Manam (1964)
Naricheerukal Parakkumbol (1966)
Thanuppu (1968)
Balyakala Smaranakal (1987)
Varshangalku Mumbu (1989)
Palayan (1990)
Neypayasam (1991)
Diary Kurippukal (1992)
Neermathalam Poothakaalam (1994)
Chekkerunna Pakshikal (1996)
Nashtapetta Neelambari (1998)
Vandikkalakal (2005)
Famous works in English:
The Sirens (1964)
Summer in Calcutta (1965).It won her the prestigious Kent Award.
The Descendants (1967)
The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (1973)
My Story (1976)
Alphabet of Lust (1977)
Annamali Poems (1985)
Padmavati and Other Stories (1992)
Only the Soul Knows How to Sing 1996)
Ya Allah (2001, after her conversion to Islam on16 December 1999)
Famous works in Malayalam:
Mathilukal (1955)
Pakshiyudae Manam (1964)
Naricheerukal Parakkumbol (1966)
Thanuppu (1968)
Balyakala Smaranakal (1987)
Varshangalku Mumbu (1989)
Palayan (1990)
Neypayasam (1991)
Diary Kurippukal (1992)
Neermathalam Poothakaalam (1994)
Chekkerunna Pakshikal (1996)
Nashtapetta Neelambari (1998)
Vandikkalakal (2005)
Famous works in English:
The Sirens (1964)
Summer in Calcutta (1965).It won her the prestigious Kent Award.
The Descendants (1967)
The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (1973)
My Story (1976)
Alphabet of Lust (1977)
Annamali Poems (1985)
Padmavati and Other Stories (1992)
Only the Soul Knows How to Sing 1996)
Ya Allah (2001, after her conversion to Islam on16 December 1999)
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