S. Saraswathi Amma

S. Saraswathi Amma (February 19, 1933 – January 14, 2020) was a Malayalam language writer, radio anchor and producer of the women's section programme on All India Radio in Kerala, India. Her popular radio series, “Manaswini Manavathi”, received the “National Award for a Radio Programme” in 1985.

Biography S. Saraswathi Amma was born on February 19, 1933, at Thazhava in present-day Karunagappalli, Kollam district to Kottukkoyikkal Velayudhan, who was a freedom fighter, and a disciple, and biographer, of Sree Narayana Guru, and Saradamma.

Saraswathi Amma studied at S. N. College, Kollam for intermediate course in 1948 and later joined for BA Economics at the same college. She later studied law at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram which functioned at Ernakulam during the first year of her course. Before getting graduation certificate from law college, she worked among women for a year and formed a women's association called “Mahila Samajam”. She got the job at All India Radio while she was gaining fame as a lawyer. Later, she revived the Mahilalayam a women's program in the All India Radio, and became the producer and presenter of it. After becoming the presenter of Mahilalayam, people affectionately called her Mahilalayam Chechi (meaning elder sister). She has also authored books such as, Pookkalum Kunjungalum [Flowers and Kids], Kuppichillum Rosadalamnum [broken glass pieces and Rose Petals], and Ammamar Arinjirikkan [For mothers to know].

Saraswathi Amma wrote Vanithakalkk Mathram [For Women Only], a column for women in Mangalam Weekly and also wrote the Vanithavedi column, another female-centric column, in the Malayala Manorama weekly for two decades.

Awards and honors The program Manaswini Manavathi by her received a national award in 1985.