Kamala Surayya

Kamala Surayya (born Kamala; 31 March 1934 – 31 May 2009), also known by her one-time pen name Madhavikutty and married name Kamala Das, was an Indian poet in English as well as an author in Malayalam from Kerala, India. Her fame in Kerala primarily stems from her short stories and autobiography, My Story, whereas her body of work in English, penned under the pseudonym Kamala Das, is renowned for its poems and candid autobiography. Her works are known for originality, versatility and indigenous flavour of the soil. She was also a widely read columnist and wrote on diverse topics including women's issues, child care, politics, etc. Her liberal treatment of female sexuality, marked her as an iconoclast in popular culture of her generation. On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at Jehangir Hospital in Pune.

Early life and childhood Kamala Das was born in Punnayurkulam, Ponnani taluk, Malabar District, British India (present-day Thrissur district, Kerala) on 31 March 1934, to V. M. Nair, a managing editor of the widely circulated Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi, and poet Nalapat Balamani Amma, a renowned Malayali family.

At 15 years old, she wed bank officer K. Madhava Das of the Kalipurayath family, who supported her literary pursuits. She commenced writing and publishing in both English and Malayalam. The 1960s in Calcutta witnessed an era of artistic turbulence, during which Kamala Das emerged as one of numerous voices featured in esteemed 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 known for her several Malayalam short stories as well as poems written in English. Kamala 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. Kamala Das was a confessional poet whose poems have often been considered at par with those of Anne Sexton, Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath.

Kamala Das' first book of poetry, Summer in Calcutta was a breath of fresh air in Indian English poetry. She wrote chiefly of love, betrayal, and the consequent anguish. Kamala 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:

This directness of her voice led to comparisons with Marguerite Duras and Sylvia Plath.

"An Introduction" is very bold poem in which Das expresses her femininity, individuality, and true feelings about men. This autobiographical poem is written in the colloquial style. She presents her feelings and thoughts in a bold manner. She realises her identity and understands that it is the need of every woman to raise a voice in this male-dominated society. The poet longs for love that is the result of her loneliness and frustration.

The poem "A Hot Noon in Malabar" is about climate, surrounding in a town in Malabar. The people may be annoyed by the heat, dust and noise but she likes it. She longs for the hot noon in Malabar because she associates it with the wild men, wild thoughts and wild love. It is a torture for her to be away from Malabar.

In "My Mother at Sixty-Six," Das explores the irony in a mother-daughter relationship, and it also includes the themes of aging, growing-up, separation and love. "Dance of Eunuchs" is another fine poem in which Das sympathises with eunuchs. It has an autobiographical tone. The eunuchs dance in the heat of the sun. Their costumes, makeup and their passion with which they dance suggest the female delicacy. Their outward appearance and joy is contrasted with their inward sadness. Actually, there is no joy in their heart, they cannot even dream of happiness. In the poem "A Request," Das realises that her life is meaningless. She is alone and her colourless life is designed of crumbling patterns.

Kamala Das is essentially known for her bold and frank expression. The prominent features of her poetry are an acute obsession with love and the use of confession. The main theme of her poetry is based upon freedom, love and protection. She 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 general readers, 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.

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 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". Kamala Das is best remembered for her controversial writings where she openly talks about the restriction imposed on women. She is known for her rebellious nature against the patriarchal conventions.

Personal life

Kamala married K. Madhava Das at the age of 15. The couple had three sons: Madhav Das Nalapat, Chinen Das and Jayasurya Das. Her husband predeceased her in 1992, after 43 years of marriage. Her eldest son, Madhav Das Nalapat is married to Princess Thiruvathira Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi from the Travancore Royal House. He holds the UNESCO Peace Chair and is a professor of geopolitics at the Manipal University. He had been a resident editor of The Times of India.

On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital in Pune, after a long battle with pneumonia. Her body was flown to her home state of Kerala. She was interred at the Palayam Juma Masjid at Thiruvananthapuram with full state honour.

Politics Though never politically active before, she launched a national political party, Lok Seva Party, aiming at the promotion of secularism and providing asylum to orphaned mothers. In 1984 she unsuccessfully contested in the Indian Parliament elections from Thiruvananthapuram constituency. She contested as an independent candidate and received only 1786 votes. She was depressed after the results and was advised to rest at her sister's house in Anamalai hills. She wrote the Anamalai Poems during this period. She wrote over twenty poems in this series, but only eleven have been published: eight of them in Indian Literature journal by the Sahitya Akademi (1985) and an additional three of them in the book The Best of Kamala Das (1991).

Conversion to Islam She was born in a conservative Hindu Nair (Nalapat) family, and married a member of the Aristrocratic Menon family (Kalipurayath) with royal ancestry. She converted to Islam on 11 December 1999, at the age of 65 and assumed the name Kamala Surayya.

Legacy

On 1 February 2018, Google Doodle by artist Manjit Thapp celebrates the work she left behind, which provides a window into the world of an engrossing woman. A biopic on her titled Aami directed by Kamal, released on 9 February 2018. Mazha, a 2000 Malayalam drama film written and directed by Lenin Rajendran was based on her short story Nashtappetta Neelambari. Kadhaveedu, a 2013 Malayalam anthology film written and directed by Sohanlal, was based on three stories penned by Surayya, Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer and M. T. Vasudevan Nair. In the film, the third tale was based on her short story Neypayasam. Neermaathalathinte Pookkal/Flowers of Neermaathalam, a 2006 Malayalam television film directed by Sohanlal was based on a story written by Surayya. The television film won a Kerala State award.

Awards and other recognitions Kamala Das has received many awards for her literary contribution, including: 1963: PEN Asian Poetry Prize 1968: Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story – Thanuppu 1985: Kendra Sahitya Academy Award (English) – Collected Poems 1988: Kerala State Film Award for Best Story 1997: Vayalar Award – Neermathalam Pootha Kalam 2002: Ezhuthachan Award 2006: Honorary D.Litt by University of Calicut 2006: Muttathu Varkey Award

Books English Year Title PublisherPoetry 1964 The Sirens 1965 Summer in Calcutta New Delhi: Everest Press 1965 An Introduction 1967 The Descendants Calcutta: Writer's Workshop 1973 The Old Playhouse and Other Poems Madras: Orient Longman 1977 The Stranger Time 1979 Tonight, This Savage Rite(with Pritish Nandy) New Delhi: Arnold-Heinemann 1984 Collected Poems Vol. 1 Published by the author 1985 The Anamalai Poems Indian Literature(New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi) 1991 The Best of Kamala Das Calicut: Bodhi 1996 Only the Soul Knows How to Sing Kottayam: DC BooksNovel 1976 Alphabet of Lust New Delhi: Orient PaperbacksAutobiography 1976 My Story New Delhi: Sterling PublishersShort story collections 1977 A Doll for the Child Prostitute New Delhi: India Paperbacks 1992 Padmavati the Harlot and Other Stories New Delhi: Sterling Publishers

Malayalam Year Title Publisher NotesShort story collections 1955 Mathilukal Calicut: Mathrubhumi Collection of 9 stories; written under the name Nalappatt Kamala 1958 Pathu Kathakal Kottayam: SPCS Collection of 10 stories 1960 Naricheerukal Parakkumbol Cochin: Sahithya Parishath Collection of 11 stories 1962 Tharishunilam Cochin: Sahithya Parishath Collection of 12 stories 1963 Ente Snehitha Aruna Thrissur: Current Books Collection of 9 stories 1964 Chuvanna Pavada Thrissur: Current Books Collection of 9 stories 1964 Pakshiyude Manam Thrissur: Current Books Collection of 9 stories 1967 Thanuppu Thrissur: Current Books Collection of 19 stories 1969 Rajavinte Premabhajanam Thrissur: Current Books Collection of 14 stories 1971 Premathinte Vilapakavyam Thrissur: Current Books Collection of 13 stories 1982 Madhavikuttiyude Kathakal Kottayam: DC Books Collection of 36 storiesWith an introduction by Kalarcode Vasudevan Nair 1985 Madhavikuttiyude Kathakal Calicut: Mathrubhumi Collection of 36 storiesWith an introduction by M. Rajeev Kumar 1990 Palayanam Thrissur: Current Books 1991 Swathanthrya Samara Senaniyude Makal Calicut: Poorna 1994 Nashtapetta Neelambari Kasargod: Kalakshetram Collection of 13 stories 1994 Ennennum Thara Trivandrum: Neruda Includes a study by M. Rajeev Kumar titled Neermathalathinte Ormaykk 1996 Chekkerunna Pakshikal Kottayam: DC Books Collection of 13 stories 1998 Madhavikuttiyude Premakathakal Calicut: Olive 1999 Ente Cherukathakal Kottayam: DC Books Collection of 13 stories 1999 Veendum Chila Kathakal Trivandrum: Prabhath Collection of 9 stories 2002 Malayalathinte Suvarna Kathakal Thrissur: Green Books Collection of 20 stories 1999 Ente Priyapetta Kathakal Kottayam: DC Books Collection of 19 stories 2004 Peeditharude Kathakal Trivandrum: Prabhath Collection of 20 stories 2004 Madhavikuttyde Sthreekal Calicut: Mathrubhumi Collection of 20 stories 2005 Unmakkathakal Alleppey: Unma Pub. Novels 1977 Madhavikuttiyude Moonnu Novelukal Trivandrum: Navadhara Collection of the short novels Rugminikkoru Pavakkutty, Rohini and Avasanathe Athithi 1978 Manasi Trivandrum: Prabhatham 1983 Manomi Thrissur: Current Books 1988 Chandanamarangal Kottayam: Current Books 1989 Kadal Mayooram Kottayam: Current Short novel 1999 Amavasi Kottayam: DC Books co-authored with K. L. Mohanavarma 2000 Kavadam Kottayam: DC Books co-authored with Sulochana Nalapat 2000 Madhavikkuttiyude Pranaya Novelukal Calicut: Lipi Collection of 6 novels: Parunthukal, Atharinte Manam, Aattukattil, Rathriyude Padavinyasam, Kadal Mayooram, Rohini 2005 Vandikkalakal Calicut: Mathrubhumi Memoirs/Autobiography/Essays 1973 Ente Katha Thrissur: Current Books Autobiography 1984 Irupathiyonnam Nottandilekk Kottayam: SPCS Collection of 9 essays 1986 Bhayam Ente Nishavasthram Calicut: Mathrubhumi Collection of poems, stories and notesWritten under the name Kamala DasWith illustrations by A. S. Nair 1987 Balyakala Smaranakal Kottayam: DC Books Childhood memories 1989 Varshangalkku Mumbu Thrissur: Current Books Memoirs 1992 Diarykurippukal Thrissur: Current Books Memoirs 1992 Neermathalam Pootha Kalam Kottayam: DC Books Autobiographical 1997 Ottayadipatha Kottayam: DC Books Memoirs 1999 Ente Pathakal Trivandrum: Prabhath Collection of 50 essays 2001 Snehathinte Swargavathilukal Calicut: Papppiyon Collection of 43 essays/memoirs 2005 Pranayathinte Album Calicut: Olive Selected love quotesed. Arshad Bathery 2019 Ottayadipathayum Vishadam Pookkunna Marangalum Kottayam: DC Books Collection of Ottayadi Patha, Vishadam Pookkunna Marangal, Bhayam Ente Nishavasthram and Diarykurippukal Vishadam Pookkunna Marangal Kottayam: DC Books MemoirsTranslations 1986 Ente Kavitha Pandalam: Pusthaka PrasadhaSangham Translated by K. P. Nirmal Kumar, K. V. Thampi, Cherukunnam Purushothaman, G. Dileepan 1991 Kamala Dasinte Thiranjedutha Kavithakal Kottayam: DC Books Translated by Abraham 2004 Madhuvidhuvinu Sesham Alleppey: Fabian Books Translation of 43 poemsNew edition of Ente Kavitha

Appearances in the following poetry Anthologies Ten Twentieth-Century Indian Poets (1976) ed. by R. Parthasarathy and published by Oxford University Press, New Delhi The Oxford India Anthology of Twelve Modern Indian Poets (1992) ed. by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra and published by Oxford University Press, New Delhi The Golden Treasure of Writers Workshop Poetry (2008) ed. by Rubana Huq and published by Writers Workshop, Calcutta