Know about Balamani Amma, a Padma Bhushan awardee

Woman sitting in a white saree with books all around her and a pen in her hand, this google doodle is dedicated to Balamani amma, a Malayalam poet. And this doodle is illustrated by Kerala-based renowned artist, Devika Ramachandran.

 

Who was Balamani Amma?

Malayalam poet's full name was Nalapat Balamani Amma. She was born on this day in 1909 in Nalapat. Balamani amma(mother) and muthassi (grandmother) of Malayalam poetry is remembered by google on her 113th birthday anniversary by dedicating a special doodle in her honour.

Know about Balamani Amma, a Padma Bhushan awardee

Balamni Amma's Education

Though she never received any formal education rather; she was homeschooled by her uncle, who was also a popular Malayali poet, Nalappat Narayana Menon. He had a large collection of books in his library, and from there, Nalapat Balamani got inclined towards poetry and literature. She started reading at an early age, which later proved fruitful to her and for Malayalam literature.

Life in the Early 20s-

At the age of 19, she married VM Nair, the managing director and managing editor of Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam famous newspaper of that time. Later at the age of 21 years, she got her first poem published, titled Kooppukai. She wrote many books in the Malayalam language. She was awarded Sahithya Nipuna Puraskaram by then ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin. She was an avid reader of Indian mythology. Her writing tended to glorify womanhood, and she created strong female characters in her writing. And later, she was known as the "Poetess of Motherhood". Her famous works include Amma, Muthassi, and Mazhuvinte Katha. She has left a unique literature heritage for us.

Balamani Amma was awarded the Padma Bhushan Award in1987, the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965, and Saraswati Samman-one of the nation's most esteemed literary awards in 1995.

Balamani Amma died in 2004, and her cremation rites were done with all state honours. But she is still living in our hearts through her words. She will always be amma and muthassi of Malayalam poetry.

Interesting Facts About Balamani Amma

1. Amma was also the mother of Kamla Das, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1984.

2. The Balamani Amma Award is given by the Kochi International Book Festival Committee in her honour.

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