| Born | 31 March 1934
Punnayurkulam, Thrissur, Cochin Kingdom |
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| Died | 31 May 2009 (aged 75)
Pune, Maharashtra, India |
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| Pen name | Madhavikutty |
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| Occupation | Poetess, novelist, short story writer |
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| Nationality | Indian |
|---|
| Genre | Poetry, novel, short story, memoirs |
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| Notable awards | Ezhuthachchan Puraskaram, Vayalar Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Asan World Prize, Asian Poetry Prize, Kent Award |
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| Spouse | K. Madhava Das |
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| Children |
- Madhav Das Nalapat
- Chinnen Das
- Jayasurya Das
|
|---|
| Relatives |
- Balamani Amma (mother)
- V. M. Nair (father)
- Nalapat Narayana Menon(grand uncle)
|
|---|
Kamala Surayya (born Kamala; 31 March 1934– 31 May 2009), popularly known by her (one-time) name Madhavikutty and Kamala Das, was an Indian English poetess and at the same time a leading Malayalam author from Kerala, India. Her popularity in Kerala is based chiefly on her short stories and autobiography, while her oeuvre in English, written under the name Kamala Das, is noted for the poems and explicit autobiography. She was also a widely read columnist and wrote on diverse topics including women's issues, child care, politics among others.
Her open and honest treatment of female sexuality, free from any sense of guilt, infused her writing with power, but also marked her as an iconoclast in her generation. On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital in Pune.She was also known as Aami by fans.
Early life
Kamala Surayya was born in Punnayurkulam, Thrissur District in Kerala, on 31 March 1934, to V. M. Nair, a former managing editor of the widely circulated Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, and Nalapat Balamani Amma, a renowned Malayali poet.
She spent her childhood between Calcutta, where her father was employed as a senior officer in the Walford Transport Company that sold Bentley and Rolls Royceautomobiles, and the Nalapat ancestral home in Punnayurkulam.
Like her mother, Balamani Amma, Kamala Das also excelled in writing. Her love of poetry began at an early age through the influence of her great uncle, Nalapat Narayana Menon, a prominent writer.
At the age of 15, she got married to bank officer Madhava Das, who encouraged her writing interests, and she started writing and publishing both in English and in Malayalam. Calcutta in the 1960s was a tumultuous time for the arts, and Kamala Das was one of the many voices that came up and started appearing in cult anthologies along with a generation of Indian English poets. English was the language she chose for all six of her published poetry collections.
Literary career
She was noted for her many Malayalam short stories as well as many poems written in English. Das was also a syndicated columnist. She once claimed that "poetry does not sell in this country [India]," but her forthright columns, which sounded off on everything from women's issues and child care to politics, were popular.
Das' first book of poetry, Summer in Calcutta was a breath of fresh air in Indian English poetry. She wrote chiefly of love, its betrayal, and the consequent anguish. Ms. Das abandoned the certainties offered by an archaic, and somewhat sterile, aestheticism for an independence of mind and body at a time when Indian poets were still governed by "19th-century diction, sentiment and romanticised love." Her second book of poetry, The Descendants was even more explicit, urging women to:
- Gift him what makes you woman, the scent of
- Long hair, the musk of sweat between the breasts,
- The warm shock of menstrual blood, and all your
- Endless female hungers ..." – The Looking Glass
This directness of her voice led to comparisons with Marguerite Duras and Sylvia Plath
At the age of 42, she published a daring autobiography, My Story; it was originally written in Malayalam (titled Ente Katha) and later she translated it into English. Later she admitted that much of the autobiography had fictional elements.
"Some people told me that writing an autobiography like this, with absolute honesty, keeping nothing to oneself, is like doing a striptease.
True, maybe. I, will, firstly, strip myself of clothes and ornaments. Then I intend to peel off this light brown skin and shatter my bones.
At last, I hope you will be able to see my homeless, orphan, intensely beautiful soul, deep within the bone, deep down under, beneath
even the marrow, in a fourth dimension" - excerpts from the translation of her autobiography in Malayalam, Ente Katha
Kamala Das wrote on a diverse range of topics, often disparate- from the story of a poor old servant, about the sexual disposition of upper middle class women living near a metropolitan city or in the middle of the ghetto. Some of her better-known stories include Pakshiyude Manam, Neypayasam, Thanuppu, and Chandana Marangal. She wrote a few novels, out of which Neermathalam Pootha Kalam, which was received favourably by the reading public as well as the critics, stands out.
She travelled extensively to read poetry to Germany's University of Duisburg-Essen, University of Bonn and University of Duisburg universities, Adelaide Writer's Festival, Frankfurt Book Fair, University of Kingston, Jamaica, Singapore, and South Bank Festival (London), Concordia University (Montreal, Canada), etc. Her works are available in French, Spanish, Russian, German and Japanese.
Kamala Surayya was a confessional poet whose poems have often been considered at par with Anne Sexton and Robert Lowell.
She has also held positions as Vice chairperson in Kerala Sahitya Akademi, chairperson in Kerala Forestry Board, President of the Kerala Children's Film Society, editor of
Poet magazine
[7] and Poetry editor of
Illustrated Weekly of India.
Although occasionally seen as an attention-grabber in her early years,she is now seen as one of the most formative influences on Indian English poetry. In 2009, The Times called her "the mother of modern English Indian poetry".
Her last book titled The Kept Woman and Other Stories, featuring translation of her short stories, was published posthumously.
Conversion to Islam
She was born in a conservative Hindu Nair (Nalapat) family having royal ancestry,She embraced Islam on December 11, 1999, at the age of 65 and assumed the name Kamala Surayya.
She gave interview as "I am against the Hindu way of cremating the dead. I do not want my body to be burnt. But this was only a minor consideration. I have always had a strong affection for the Islamic way of life. I adopted two blind Muslim children, Irshad Ahmed and Imtiaz Ahmed, and they brought me close to Islam. I had to study Islamic scriptures before teaching them. One is working as a professor in Darjeeling and another as a barrister in London."
Politics
Though never politically active before, she launched a national political party, Lok Seva Party, aiming asylum to orphaned mothers and promotion of secularism. In 1984 she unsuccessfully contested in the Indian Parliament elections
Final Phase
According to blogs and external links and author of "The Love Queen of Malabar, Merrily Weisbord Later, Madhavikutty(Kamla) felt it was not worth it to change one's religion and said "I fell in love with a Muslim after my husband's death. He was kind and generous in the beginning. But I now feel one shouldn't change one's religion. It is not worth it.".
Personal life
Kamala Das had three sons – M D Nalapat, Chinnen Das and Jayasurya Das.Madhav Das Nalapat, the eldest, is married to Princess Thiruvathira Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi (daughter of Princess Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvati Bayi and Sri Chembrol Raja Raja Varma Avargal) from the Travancore Royal House.He holds the UNESCOPeace Chair and Professor of geopolitics at the Manipal University. He was formerly a resident editor of the Times of India.
On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital in Pune. Her body was flown to her home state of Kerala. She was buried at the Palayam Jama Masjid at Thiruvananthapuram with full state honour.
A biopic on her titled Aami is under production now. Manju Warrier portrays the lead role of Kamala Das. Kamal is the director.
Awards and other recognitions
Kamala Das has received many awards for her literary contribution, including:
- Award of Asian PEN anthology – 1964
- Kerala Sahitya Academy Award – 1969 (for Cold)
- Sahitya Academy Award – 1984
- Asian World Prize-1985
- Asian Poetry Prize – 1998
- Kent Award for English Writing from Asian Countries – 1999
- Vayalar Award – 2001
- Honorary D.Litt by University of Calicut – 2006
- Muttathu Varkey Award – 2006
- Ezhuthachan Puraskaram – 2009
Works
- Tattered blanket
- 1964: The Sirens (Asian Poetry Prize winner)
- 1965: Summer in Calcutta (poetry; Kent's Award winner)
- 1967: The Descendants (poetry)
- 1973: The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (poetry)
- 1976: My Story (autobiography)
- 1977: Alphabet of Lust (novel)
- 1985: The Anamalai Poems (poetry)
- 1992: Padamavati the Harlot and Other Stories (collection of short stories)
- 1996: Only the Soul Knows How to Sing (poetry)
- 2001: Yaa Allah (collection of poems)
- 1979: Tonight,This Savage Rite (with Pritish Nandy)
- 1999: My Mother at Sixty-six (Poem)
- – : My Grandmother House (Poem)
Malayalam
Story collections
- 1955;Matilukal[First Story Collection]
- 1964: Pakshiyude Manam (short stories)
- 1966: Naricheerukal Parakkumbol (short stories)
- 1968: Thanuppu (short story, Sahitya Academi award)
- 1991: Neypayasam (short story)
- 1996: Chekkerunna Pakshikal (short stories)
- 1998: Nashtapetta Neelambari (short stories)
- 2005: Madhavikkuttiyude Unmakkadhakal (short stories)
List Of Stories chronologically
1941
1947
- Sthree[First Lesbian themed Story Published In Mathrbhumi Weekly]
1953
- Puzha Veendum Ozhuki
- Raatriyil
- Ammu
- Yajamanan
- Smaranakal
1954
- Chuvanna Maalika
- Oru Divasam Ravile
1955
- Mathilukal
- Annu Veyil Eezhu Manikke Maramjullu
- Moodikettiya Sayahnam
- Doctorude Maranam
1956
- Malanjerivukalil
- Toonikal
- Maahimile Veedh
- Alavudeente Kadha
- Oru Snehattinte Kadha
- Patimoonn Vayasaya Makal
- Naricheerukal Parakkumbol
- Daya Enna Vikaram
- Nunakal
- Koodukal
- Gyanchand
- Chuvanna Sandhya
1957
- Neermatalam pootha kaalam
- Mrigatrishna
- Kaalavandikal
- Lokam Oru Kavayitriye Srishttikkunnu[Notable work]
- Gosayitanda
- Paativrityam
- Snehikkappetta Sthree
- Kuttiyum Avanum
- Atharinte Manam
- Punasamagamam
1958
- Sundariyaya Makal
- Virunnukaran
- Pattangal
- Driksakshi
1959
1960
- Kulakkozhikal
- Kalyani
- Reviyude Kadha
- Unni
- Tarishunilam
1961
- Venalinte Ozhivh
- Kurachu Mannh
- Daaham
- Pakshiyude Manam[Notable Work]
- Sooryan
- Virunninu Munp
- Ente Snehita Aruna
- Daivangal
- Kaalichanda
- Snehattinte Vazhiyil
1963
- Vakkelammavan
- Verumoru Lahari Padarttam
- Meenakshiyedatti
- Kireedam Nashttapetta Rajavu
1964
- Kaamabhrant
- Ucha
- Aa Sthree
1965
- Amminikuttiyude Presavam
- Jniknjasa[Enthusiasm]
- Amma
1966
- Velayudante Bharya
- Tanupp[Won Kerala Sahithya Accadami Award]
- Puka
- Bachu-Balyakalasuhrtt
- Jaanu Paranja Kadha
- Jaanu Delhiyil
- Pavizhamaala
- Kaalocha
- Muttashi
- Pachapattusaree[Notable work]
- Jaanuvammaykk Oru Veedh
- Muttashan
1967
- Padmavathi Enna Veshya
- Romakuppayam
- Naavikavesham Dharicha Kutty
- Kaviyude Bharya
- Randu Laksham
- Manjh
- Kadakal Anweshikkumbol
- Valakal[Bangles]
1968
- Rajavinte Premabhajanam[Notable Work]
- Sheeth
- Vellatakidh
- Shiksha
- Swayamvaram
- Raani
- Aabharangal
- Chittabhramam
- Paativrityam Enna Samasya
- Radhayude Katth
- Vishudha Pashu[Notable Work]
- Prebhatattinte Rehasyam
1969
- Sanatan Choudariyude Bharya
- Madaviyude Makal
- Rektarbudam
- Chandrareshmikal
- Chandrante Irachi
- Koladh[Notable Work]
- Khanashyam
- Pareeksha
1970
- Vishudha Grentam
- Marine Drive
- Eeyampaattakal
- Koothupavha
- Premattinte Vilapakavyam
- Darjeling
- Blood Pressure
- Krishnante Vesham
- Keeripolinja Chakalasu[Notable Work]
1971
- 565am Muriyile Rogini
- Veliyettam
- Radha..Anuradha[Notable Work]
- Oru Kottarathinte Kadha
- Maappu
1972
1974
1975
- Kadalinte Vakkath Oru Veedh[Notable Work]
- Januvammayumayi Orabhimuka Sambhashanam
- Kuttikattile Nari
1977
- Putiya Rekha
- Lockup
- Naayattukaran
1983
- Napumsakangal[Notable work]
1985
- Tekkin Kaadukal
- Ammalukuttiyuide Bharttavh
1986
- Mash
- Tandamma Teacherude Patti
- Kurupph
- Kalyanatalennh
1987
- Deivangal
- Chaliyatti Kumjuvum Makanum
- Swapnangalenna Janmangal
- Nilakkadala
- Satyattinte Krooradwani
- Pativreta
1988
- Karutta Patti
- Paaruvammayodoppam Oru Rathri
1989
- Palayanam
- Jaya Enna Vitth
- Netavh
- Pattinte Ulachil
1990
- Swatandryasamarasenaniyude Makal
- Tavalayayiteernna Rajakumaran
- Timiram
- Doctorude Tatta
- Ekantatayude Kavadangal
- Manyatayulla Oru Vivahabendam
- Oru Pazhankadha
- Gulfile Yudham
- Putiya Oramma
1991
- Chandana Chitha
- Putiya TV Set
- Andyakoodasha
- Shastrakriya
- Mukhamillatha Kappiythan
1992
1993
- Rosikutty
- Geniousinte Bharya
- Sahridayar
- Meenakshiyammayude Maranam
- Nagna Shareerangal
- Paritoshikam[Notable work]
1994
- Ammayum Makanum
- Sonagachi[Notable Work]
- Paratanryam
- Vidavangunna Dubaikaran
- Adukkala Teepidicha Rathri
- Subhadramma
- Gandhijiyude Presakti
1995
- Chekkerunna Pakshikal
- Bhayam
- Myilanji
1996
- Muthachanum Parichariamarum
- Naale Townhallile Swapnachanda
1997
1998
- Pottipennh
- Cheetha Maman[Notable work]
2000
- Yadartha Avakashi
- Anju Laksham Roopa
- Ytrayude Avasanam
- Velutta Babu
- Oormakurippukal
MEMORIES
- Balyakalasmaranakal
- Ente Lokam
- Varshangalkku Munp
- Vishadam pookkunna Marangal
- Ottayadipatha
- Diarykurippukal
- Neermatalam Pootta Kaalam
- Ente Kadha[Fictional Autobiography]
- Madhavikuttiyude Kurippukal
- Madhavikuttiyude Kattukal
NOVELS
- Manomi[Based on Sreelankan Issue]
- Chandanamarangal;1988[Lesbian Themed,Published in kalakoumudi along the Pictures of Artist Nambootiri]
- Rugminikkoru Pavakutty;1975[First Story In Malayalam which address Pedophilia Later adopted For a film named Rukmnini won Kerala State Film Award]
- Rohini;1975
- Avasanatte Adithi;1975
- Nashttapetta Neelambari;1993[MoSt Notable Work later adopted for a movie named Mazha]
- Ennennum Tara;1992
- Sharkkara Kondoru Tulabharam
- Inte Swabhavam Anganya;1986
- Manasi[Notable Work]
- Kadalmayooram[Notable Work]
- Aattukattil
- Rathriyude Padavinyasam
- Vandikaalakal
Drama,Screenplays
- Madhavi Varma
- Kaalhi
- Kadalil Veliyettam
Poems
Paintings[On DC Book Sampoorna Kritikal Vol 2]
- Innocence
- Repentance
- The Middle Aged Women In Love
- Grandmother In 1945
- The Mad Women Asleep
- Women With The Owl
- Women On The Cross
- Girls In Spring
- Before The Bath
- Lady In Pardah
- Girl From The Orphanage
- The Maid At Bath
- Mother and Child
- Women With Pets
