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Madhavikutty, 75, who had suffering from acute diabetes and related illnesses, passed away at 1.55 am on Sunday in Pune. She had been admitted at Jehangir Hospital here with acute pneumonia and breathing problems for over a month and was on ventilator.
Born into a family with one of the richest literary lineages, Madhavikutty (her mother Balamaniyamma was one of the leading poetesses of Kerala and great uncle Nalapat Narayana Menon a literary giant) was always ready to court controversies – with the content of her writing, which was considered too liberally laced with sex by the puritans, when she converted to Islam late in her life or when she tried to donate a portion of her ancestral property in Punnayoorkulam n Malabar, north Kerala, replete with a small temple to the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP).
But even she had enough a few years ago when she decided to shift out of Kerala and settle down with her youngest son Jayasuray Das (her other two sons are Monu Nalapat and Chinnan Das) in Pune, finally away from all controversies. And during the last year the land transaction favouring KSSP was completed when a team from Kerala descended in Pune and wrapped up the deal.
The last couple of months saw the Kerala minister for culture M A Baby visit the ailing poetess twice – at which time he is understood to have offered to make arrangements for a state funeral with all honours befitting her persona back home in Kerala, where she privately may have longed to return, despite all public protests to the contrary. “Yes, it will be in Thiruvananthapuram,” confirmed Monu who was one his way to Pune. And Madhavikutty could not have wished it any differently as her children take her home for the last time.
“She would have probably wanted it this way. I’m personally happy that she was brought here in February 2007 and kept with my family (in an apartment next to his) during the final stages of her life. Amma hated being in hospital but we made sure that she was as comfortable as possible. The Pune phase was a different one for her, being with her family, unlike in the past when she was on her own in Kerala. She even brought out a collection of poems which HarperCollins is in the process of publishing”, said Jayasurya.
She deserves all the respect that the Kerala government is offering, he said, adding that the logistics are being worked out about taking her to Kerala as there is no direct flight from Pune.
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she posseessed undeniably enviabl place in literature.nobody can put a tape around her HEART
Madhavikutty was a writer. It is a shame that people who mistake their literacy for education pass comments on her. I wonder if they ever read any of her books. But that is life. Every dog has a right to piss on the lamppost. This doesn't affect the light.
she is lucky to have her children who admit their mother's wishes. Hearty condolences to Monu,Chinnan and Jaysuria and her grandchildren.
An inevitable loss to the world literature.Her contribution to the indian lilerature is highly marked and appreciated.This is a moment for honoring her.A group of words will not be enough to mark her departure.If we praise her our words seems rather small, and if we praise her, to some extent we also praise ourselves.What then can we say about her except to feel humble on this occassion.Please dont find this comment box as a place to make any utter nonsense like mr feroz has made.neverthless, A glory has departed.....
She might had been a good author and poet but that alone doesn't make her of any worth to be celebrated as some kind of important person.In later stage of her life,when she started feeling that her too liberal ideas about socalled Puritanic sex are not accepted/welcome in Hindu society she converted to Islam where she found comfortable acceptence which infact was her own craving.Her conversion to Islam was depiction of her low character,morals and intelect.Every religion and philosophic system teaches or favours some distinct moral standards,so does Islam too but that is no reason to convert for her anybody who claims to be intellectual.Its only weak,uncertain and susceptibles who go for conversions.They fail to know the truest liberality is appreciation.Realizing that a person can help more to thae other system/faith than blindly renouncing one without under supeicions and adapting other without knowledge.She proselytized purely for her own fag-end fame.
Raj and likes should leave this page.They are the off shoots of dirty divisive politicians.For every news they try to give communal color.They are the Indian Talibans, without tolerance.People like Raj and his mentor Advani must be deported from India.
kamala was a non writer who was just too hyped. I see her passing away as that of 1 human individual for which one can express condolences but in my opinion she did not contribute anything to literature
Feroze, which of her books have you in mind when you make this statement that she was a poor writer? Please specify. Also give reasons why you have such low opinion about her work. She has written more than hundred stories. Whcih of these stories did you find worthless? Or are you just a pseudonim for a hater?
I heard some time back that she converted to Islam
May God Almighty Allaah Bless her in hereafter and grant her the higher status in Paradise. May Allah Almighty Bless her family and children too and guide them on straight path Amen.
During her later years she again created controversy by saying that she came to the realization that all religion were made by people and that too to exploit others. She also was threatened by Islamic terrorist in kerala had to move to pune to be near her son because of the threat of her life.
Tributes to a brave writer who lived ahead of our time.
I still hold on my hand her complete collection of short stories. i took it to saudia to be with her. Now who says she is no more/ She always live! always1 Will never go away.
People may have different opinions of what she did with her personal life, but then that life is her own and nobody has the right to dictate her that life. Her contributions to Kerala and India literary scene as a whole cannot be denied. The state should honor her.
It's not just a loss for Indian literature, but all world too.. The stupidity of devil minded smiling faces are still remaining with us God will call the great peoples to escape from such kind of traps
Kamala Surayya is one of the prominent and versatile writer of our time. She is above all a good humanbeing.May her soul rest in peace. May allah give her the place in Jannah (heaven).
thanks god...for cleaning one of sin and madness of india
Don't Say that, everyone is entitled to their own life.Lets not be hypocrites. our nation has more madness and sin than poor Kamala, which needs to cleansed. May god grant her peace.