The Hindu : Kerala News : Balamaniyamma turns 95

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Balamaniyamma turns 95

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JULY 19. It was an occasion for a solemn celebration — the noted Malayalam poet, Balamaniyamma, turned 95 on Monday.

There were no festivities at her daughter, Sulochana Nalappat's house here where the poet spends her days — she does not recognise even her close family members. Her daughters Kamala Suraiyya and Ms. (Dr.) Nalappat and son Shyam Nair were present at the intimate family get-together.

Ms. Suraiyya, who had surprised the world by embracing Islam a few years ago, appeared without the black purdah, which has almost become her insignia of late. Donned in a white printed sari draped over her head, the author reminisced her intimacy with her mother. ``Mother was a genius as a poet,'' she said . However, Ms. Suraiyya said that she learned the lessons of freedom not from her mother — the freedom that she wanted was not to be found in mother's life, she said.

Ms. Nalappat, who started her literary career after retiring from her professional life as a physician, said it was only after retirement that she became close to her mother. She said that they loved their mother more as a writer.

The poet, Chemmanam Chacko, also was present on the occasion.

Ms. Balamaniyamma was born at Punnayoorkulam on Ayilyam star in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam in 1909. She left for Kolkata (then Calcutta) at the age of 19 after getting married to V.M. Nair. Her first collection of poems was published in 1938. She had won many prestigious awards including the Kendra and Kerala Sahithya Akademi Awards, the Asan Prize and the Lalithambika Antharjjanam Award.

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