KristineCharlton at 07:48, 27 March 2026

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{{short description|Indian poet (1909–2004)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Balamani Amma
| image =
| caption =
| pseudonym =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1909|07|19}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2004|09|29|1909|07|19}}
| birth_place = [[Punnayurkulam]], [[Ponnani taluk]], [[Malabar District]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/> (Now in [[Thrissur]])
| occupation = [[Poet]]
| death_place = [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| genre = [[Poetry]]
| subject =
| movement =
| spouse = V. M. Nair
| children = [[Kamala Surayya]], Sulochana, Mohandas, Shyam Sunder
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]], [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], [[Saraswati Samman]], [[Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram|Asan Prize]], [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram|Ezhuthachan Award]]
| website =
}}
'''Nalapat Balamani Amma''' (19 July 1909 – 29 September 2004) was an Indian [[poet]] who wrote in [[Malayalam]]. ''Amma'' (Mother), ''Muthassi'' (Grandmother), and ''Mazhuvinte Katha'' (The story of the Axe) are some of her well-known works.<ref name=george>{{cite book|last=George|first=K. M.|author-link=K. M. George (writer)|title=Western influence on Malayalam language and literature|year=1998|publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]]|isbn=978-81-260-0413-3|pages=132|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZqqyxVkufQC}}</ref> She was a recipient of many awards and honours, including the [[Padma Bhushan]],<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref> [[Saraswati Samman]], [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], and [[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram|Ezhuthachan Award]].<ref name=prdKerala>{{cite web|title=Literary Awards |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |publisher=[[Government of Kerala]] |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-date=24 May 2007 }}</ref> She was the mother of writer [[Kamala Surayya|Kamala Das]], also known as Madhavikutty.<ref name=weisbord>{{cite book|last=Weisbord|first=Merrily|title=The Love Queen of Malabar: Memoir of a Friendship with Kamala Das|year=2010|publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press|isbn=978-0-7735-3791-0|url=https://archive.org/details/lovequeenofmalab0000weis|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/lovequeenofmalab0000weis/page/116 116]|quote=balamani amma.}}</ref>

==Biography==
Balamani Amma was born on 19 July 1909<ref name="ie_sep04"/> to Chittanjoor Kunhunni Raja and Nalapat Kochukutti amma at Nalappat, her ancestral home in [[Punnayurkulam]], [[Ponnani taluk]], [[Malabar District]], [[British Raj|British India]]. Balamani got her family name, ''Nalapat.''<ref name="Jadia 2016">{{cite news |last1=Jadia |first1=Varun |title=This List of India's Most Gifted Women Poets Is Sure to Bring Some Enchantment in Your Life |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/55708/women-poets-india-list-poetry/ |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=The Better India |date=May 29, 2016}}</ref> She was influenced by [[Nalapat Narayana Menon]] and the poet [[Vallathol Narayana Menon]].<ref name=azheekode>{{cite web|last=Azheekode |first=Sukumar |author-link=Sukumar Azhikode |title=Balamaniamma |url=http://www.enmalayalam.com/home/en/topic/column/2208 |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502005127/http://www.enmalayalam.com/home/en/topic/column/2208 |archive-date=2 May 2014|df=dmy}}</ref>

At age 19, Amma married V. M. Nair, who became the [[managing director]] and managing editor of ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'', a widely circulated [[Malayalam]] newspaper,<ref name="ie_sep04"/><ref name="TOI 2009">{{cite news |last1=TNN |title=Kamala Das passes away |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Kamala-Das-passes-away/articleshow/4599921.cms |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=Times of India |date=June 1, 2009}}</ref> and later an executive at an automobile company.<ref name="Fox 2009">{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Margalit |title=Kamala Das, Indian Poet and Memoirist, Dies at 75 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/books/14das.html |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=June 13, 2009}}</ref> She left for Kolkata after her marriage to live with her husband.<ref name="veethi2022">{{Cite web |title=Balamani Amma |url=https://www.veethi.com/india-people/balamani_amma-profile-2225-25.htm |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=veethi.com}}</ref> V. M. Nair died in 1977.<ref name="veethi2022" />

Amma was the mother of writer [[Kamala Surayya]], (also known as Kamala Das),<ref name="TOI 2009"/> 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.<ref name="ie_sep04"/>

Amma died on 29 September 2004 after five years of [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref name="ie_sep04">{{cite news|title=Balamani Amma no more|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/56082/|access-date=July 12, 2021|newspaper=[[Indian Express]]|date=30 September 2004}}</ref> Her cremation was attended with full state honours.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kerala bids farewell to Balamani Amma |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Kerala-bids-farewell-to-Balamani-Amma/articleshow/869107.cms |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=Times of India |agency=PTI |date=September 30, 2004}}</ref>

==Poetry==
Balamani Amma published more than 20 anthologies of poems, several prose works, and translations. Her first poem "Kooppukai" was published in 1930.<ref name=azheekode/> Her first recognition came when she received the Sahithya Nipuna Puraskaram, an award from [[Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran|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]].<ref name=hindu_sep04>{{cite news|title=A prolific writer|url=http://hindu.com/2004/09/30/stories/2004093011150400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041119111230/http://www.hindu.com/2004/09/30/stories/2004093011150400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 November 2004|access-date=13 November 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=30 September 2004}}</ref>

===Collections of poems===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*''Kudumbini'' (1936)
*''Dharmamargathil'' (1938)
*''Sthree Hridayam'' (1939)
*''Prabhankuram'' (1942)
*''Bhavanayil'' (1942)
*''Oonjalinmel'' (1946)
*''Kalikkotta'' (1949)
*''Velichathil'' (1951)
*''Avar Paadunnu'' (1952)
*''Pranamam'' (1954)
*''Lokantharangalil'' (1955)
*''Sopanam'' (1958)
*''Muthassi'' (1962)
*''Mazhuvinte Katha'' (1966)
*''Ambalathilekku'' (1967)
*''Nagarathil'' (1968)
*''Veyilaarumbol'' (1971)
*''Amruthamgamaya'' (1978)
*’’Sahapadikal’’(1979)
*''Sandhya'' (1982)
*''Nivedyam'' (1987)
*''Mathruhridayam'' (1988)
*''To My Daughter'' (Malayalam)
*''Kulakkadavil''
* ''Mahavira''
{{div col end}}

==Awards and recognition==
Her poetry earned her the titles of ''Amma'' (mother) and ''Muthassi'' (grandmother) of Malayalam poetry.<ref name="ie_sep04" /><ref name=manorama>{{cite web|title=Balamaniamma|url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt//Lifestyle/Poetry_Day/memory_06.htm|publisher=[[Malayala Manorama]]|language=ml|access-date=20 November 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128032442/http://www.manoramaonline.com/advt//Lifestyle/Poetry_Day/memory_06.htm|archive-date=28 January 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name=hindu_oct04>{{cite news|title=Balamaniyamma remembered|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/08/stories/2004100811520400.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031205159/http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/08/stories/2004100811520400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 October 2004|access-date=20 November 2011|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=8 October 2004}}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Hindu 2019"/>

She received many literary honours and awards, including the [[Kerala Sahithya Akademi Award]] for ''Muthassi'' (1963), [[Sahitya Akademi Award|Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award]] for ''Muthassi'' (1965), Asan Prize (1989), [[Vallathol Narayana Menon|Vallathol]] Award (1993), [[Lalithambika Antharjanam]] Award (1993), [[Saraswati Samman]] for ''Nivedyam'' (1995), Ezhuthachan Award (1995), and [[N. V. Krishna Warrier]] Award (1997).<ref name=hindu_sep04 /> She was also a recipient of India's third highest civilian honour, the [[Padma Bhushan]], in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Bhushan Awardees|url=http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php?start=510|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>

She is often regarded as the ‘Mathruthwathinte Kavi’ (poetess of motherhood’ or ‘Muttassi’ (grandmother), due to her fondness for children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BU |first=Prathiksha |date=2021-07-19 |title=Nalapat Balamani Amma: Celebrate The Rebel Poet Of 20th Century! |url=https://www.womensweb.in/2021/07/poet-nalapat-balamani-amma-mother-of-kamala-das-july21wk3sr/ |access-date=2023-09-06 |website=Women's Web |language=en}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The Kochi International Book Festival Committee created the Balamani Amma Award, with a cash award for writers.<ref name="The Hindu 2019">{{cite news |date=December 6, 2019 |title=Balamani Amma Award presented to Padmanabhan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/balamani-amma-award-presented-to-padmanabhan/article30199597.ece |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref name="NIE 2017">{{cite news |last1=Express News Service |title=Balamani Amma award presented to Mohanavarma |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2017/dec/06/balamani-amma-award-presented-to-mohanavarma-1719397.html |access-date=12 July 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |date=December 6, 2017}}</ref>

On 19 July 2022, [[Google]] honoured Amma with a [[Google Doodle]] on her birth anniversary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Balamani Amma: Google Doodle celebrates Malayalam poet's 113th birth anniversary |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/balamani-amma-google-doodle-malayalam-poet-8037907/lite/ |work=The Indian Express |date=19 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hindu July 19 2022">{{cite news |title=Google doodle celebrates Balamani Amma's 113th birth anniversary |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/google-doodle-celebrates-grandmother-of-malayalam-literature-balamani-ammas-113th-birth-anniversary/article65657083.ece |access-date=19 July 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=July 19, 2022}}</ref> She has been referred to as "the grandmother of Malayalam literature".<ref name="Hindu July 19 2022"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1980–89}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}
{{SahityaAkademiFellowship}}
{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}
{{Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amma, Balamani}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Thrissur district]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Women writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Saraswati Samman Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in India]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women poets]]

Balamani Amma - Revision history

KristineCharlton at 07:48, 27 March 2026