Kamala Das (Surayya)
About the author
“I am sinner, I am saint. I am the beloved and the betrayed.” – An Introduction
Her real name was Kamala Madhavikutty in Malayalam circles and later, after converting to Islam in 1999, she took the name Kamala Surayya.
Birth name: Kamala Madhavikutty
Pen name in Malayalam: Madhavikutty
After conversion to Islam: Kamala Surayya
Early Life
| Born | 31 March 1934 in Punnayurkulam, Kerala |
| Father | V. M. Nair – senior officer in a newspaper |
| Mother | Nalapat Balamani Amma – famous Malayalam poet |
| Uncle | Nalapat Narayana Menon – writer, influenced her literary growth |
| Languages | Malayalam (home) and English (school) |
Literary Career
- Wrote in English and Malayalam
- English works: poetry and autobiography
- Malayalam works (as Madhavikutty): short stories and novels
- First poetry collection: “Summer in Calcutta” (1965) – confessional style
- Autobiography: “My Story” (1976) – shocked readers for its honesty
- Also wrote essays and newspaper columns on women’s issues, childcare, and politics
Her Themes of Writing
- Female Identity – struggles of being a woman in a patriarchal society
- Love and Desire – celebrated female sexuality without shame
- Marriage and Relationships – tension between tradition and individuality
- Language and Expression – defended her use of English as an Indian language
- Confession and Honesty – candid personal experiences, pain, rebellion
Major Works
Poetry (English):
- Summer in Calcutta (1965)
- The Descendants (1967)
- The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (1973)
Famous Individual Poems:
- An Introduction
- The Old Playhouse
- My Grandmother’s House
- The Freaks
- The Looking Glass
- The Sunshine Cat
Prose:
- My Story (autobiography, 1976)
Malayalam (as Madhavikutty):
- Short stories – Pakshiyude Manam (The Scent of the Bird)
- Novels – Neermathalam Pootha Kalam (The Season of the Blooming Neem Tree)
Style
- Confessional Mode (like Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton)
- Free verse, conversational tone
- Direct, fearless, emotional honesty
- Rich imagery from body, nature, and domestic life
Awards and Recognition
| Sahitya Akademi Award | 1985 – Collected Poems |
| Asian Poetry Prize | 1998 |
| Kent Award | English Writing from Asian Countries |
| Nobel Prize | Shortlisted (nominated) |
Later Life and Death
- Converted to Islam in 1999 – name: Kamala Surayya
- Conversion drew controversy – she maintained it was personal choice
- Died on 31 May 2009 in Pune
- Buried with full state honors in Kerala
Legacy
- Known as “Mother of Modern Indian English Poetry”
- Opened the path for women writers to write freely about personal and taboo subjects
- Remains a pioneer of Indian feminist literature
- Remembered as a bold, rebellious voice in Indian writing
“I speak three languages, write in two, dream in one.” – An Introduction
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