Balamani Amma Books

[Pricilla Igoe]

Balamani Amma was born on 19 July 1909[5] to Chittanjoor Kunhunni Raja and Nalapat Kochukutti amma at Nalappat, her ancestral home in Punnayurkulam, Ponnani taluk, Malabar District, British India. She had no formal education, and the tutelage under her maternal uncle and his collection of books helped her become a poet.[6] She was influenced by Nalapat Narayana Menon and the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon.[7]

At age 19, Amma married V.M. Nair, who became the managing director and managing editor of Mathrubhumi, a widely circulated Malayalam newspaper,[5][8] and later an executive at an automobile company.[9] She left for Kolkata after her marriage to live with her husband.[10] V.M. Nair died in 1977.[10]

Amma was the mother of writer Kamala Surayya, (also known as Kamala Das),[8] who translated one of her mother's poems, "The Pen", which describes the loneliness of a mother. Her other children include sons Mohandas, Shyam Sunder, and daughter Sulochana.[5]

Balamani Amma published more than 20 anthologies of poems, several prose works, and translations. Her first poem "Kooppukai" was published in 1930.[7] Her first recognition came when she received the Sahithya Nipuna Puraskaram, an award from Parikshith Thampuran, former ruler of Kingdom of Cochin. Nivedyam is the collection of poems of Balamani Amma from 1959 to 1986. Lokantharangalil is an elegy on the death of the poet Nalapat Narayana Menon.[12]

Her poetry earned her the titles of Amma (mother) and Muthassi (grandmother) of Malayalam poetry.[5][13] While delivering the Balamaniyamma remembrance speech at the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri, described her as the "prophet of human glory" and said that her poetry had been an inspiration to him.[14] Writer and critic M. N. Karassery considered her a Gandhian, and believed her works should be revisited when people consider Nathuram Godse to represent Indian nationalism.[15]

The Google Doodle on Tuesday, 19 July 2022 is celebrating the 113th birthday of the popular Indian poet, Balamani Amma. She is popularly known as the grandmother of Malayalam literature. Balamani Amma was born in the Thrissur district of Kerala on 19 July 1909. She received several awards such as Saraswati Samman and Padma Vibhushan for her literary work. Google doodle today, on 19 July 2022 remembers Balamani Amma and celebrates her works as a Malayalam poet.

Balamani Amma never received any formal education. She was taught at home by her uncle Nalappat Narayana Menon, who was also a famous Malayali poet. Amma grew up studying her uncle's impressive collection of books and works. On Tuesday, 19 July 2022, Google Doodle has decided to remember Balamani Amma on her birth anniversary.

The early poems that were written by Amma glorified motherhood in a new light. She adopted the ideas and stories of mythological characters while writing the poems and depicted women as strong figures.

It is important to note that Balamani Amma has more than 20 anthologies of poetry, prose, and translations published in her name. Since her poems depicted her love for children and grandchildren, she earned the titles of amma (mother) and muthassi (grandmother) of Malayalam poetry.

She was the recipient of various awards and honours including the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Saraswati Samman for Nivedyam and the Padma Vibhushan; among other honours. The doodle illustration has been made by Kerala-based artist Devika Ramachandran.

It is to be noted that Amma did not receive any formal training or education, but was instead taught at home by her uncle Nalappat Narayana Menon, who was also a renowned Malayali poet. Menon had a good collection of books and works that Amma studied from a young age. When she was 19, Amma got married to V.M. Nair, the managing director and managing editor of Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi.

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