Dr. Kamala Suraiyya (Madhavikutty)

Kamala Suraiyya (formerly known as Kamala Das)
Born	March 31, 1934 Punnayurkulam, Malabar District,Madras Presidency, British India
Died	May 31, 2009 (aged 75) Pune, Maharashtra, India
Pen name	Madhavikkutty
Occupation	Poet, short story writer
Nationality	Indian
Genres	Poetry, Short story
Notable award(s)	Ezhuthachchan Puraskaram,Vayalar Award, Sahitya Akademi Award, Asan World Prize, Asian Poetry Prize, Kent Award

Dr. Kamala Das (Madhavikutty) the internationally renowned poet, short story writer and novelist was born in 1932 at Punnayoorkulam in Kerala. She is one of the very few writers from Kerala who writes effortlessly both in English and Malayalam, yet maintaining high standards in both. One of the most influential feminist writers of our times, her language exhibits liveliness and imaginative suggestions. She started writing in Malayalam under the pen name, Madhavikutty as early as in the 50's. But she became famous in the Malayalam literary world with her work 'Ente Katha' (My Story), which is said to be her real life story. 'Ente Katha' was translated to more than 15 Foreign Languages. She is a very open and self-righteous women and portrays human emotion, love and lust in her works.


She has received many awards for her literary contribution. Some of them are; Asian Poetry Prize for her work 'The Sirens', Kent Award for English Writing from Asian Countries for 'Summer in Calcutta', Asan World Prize, Sahitya Academy Award for 'Collected Poems' in English, Vayalar Rama Varma Sahitya Award, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for best short story "Thanuppu". She has also held coveted positions as Vice chair person in Kerala Sahitya academy, chairperson in Kerala forestry Board and worked as editors in Poet magazine and Illustrated Weekly of India. Often criticized for her openness and her reluctance to live according to the societies norms, the latest controversy is her recent conversion to Islam. Her new name is Dr. Kamala Suraiyya. She has also established a political party of her own named Lok Seva Charitable Trust, to concentrate on humanitarian work as well as to provide asylum to orphaned mothers....

English

• 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: Padmavati 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)

Malayalam

• 1964: Pakshiyude Manam (short stories)
• 1966: Naricheerukal Parakkumbol (short stories)
• 1968: Thanuppu (short story, Sahitya Academi award)
• 1982: Ente Katha (autobiography)
• 1987: Balyakala Smaranakal (Childhood Memories)
• 1989: Varshangalkku Mumbu (Years Before)
• 1990: Palayan (novel)
• 1991: Neypayasam (short story)
• 1992: Dayarikkurippukal (novel)
• 1994: Neermathalam Pootha Kalam (novel, Vayalar Award)
• 1996: Chekkerunna Pakshikal (short stories)
• 1998: Nashtapetta Neelambari (short stories)
• 2005: Chandana Marangal (Novel)
• 2005: Madhavikkuttiyude Unmakkadhakal (short stories)2x
• 2005: Vandikkalakal (novel)