#memory
Kamala Das.
31 May is the death anniversary of celebrated writer and poet Kamala Das (1934-2009).
She is more known to Malayalam readers as Madhavikutty, who wrote some of the all time great short stories in Malayalam.
Her book “My Story”, part autobiography and part fantasy, created a sensation when first published in the 1970s, and is one of the most read books written by an Indian author.
Her anecdotal memoirs written in Malayalam, harks back to the nostalgic feudal past of the Punnayoorkulam village, where she grew up as a lonely child, the daughter of the well known poet, Balamani Amma.
As in life, she remained a controversial figure in death too, having converted to Islam to become Kamala Suraiya – all in search of a non-consummated love.
Her entire life was a search for love, having being married off at a very young age to a man twice her age .
Kamala Das/ Madhavikutty/ Kamala Suraiya, will remain an icon in Malayalam and English for ever.
– Joy Kallivayalil.
My Grandmother’s House
by Kamala Das.
“There is a house now far away where once
I received love…….
That woman died,
The house withdrew into silence, snakes moved
Among books, I was then too young
To read, and my blood turned cold like the moon
How often I think of going
There, to peer through blind eyes of windows or
Just listen to the frozen air,
Or in wild despair, pick an armful of
Darkness to bring it here to lie
Behind my bedroom door like a brooding
Dog…you cannot believe, darling,
Can you, that I lived in such a house and
Was proud, and loved…. I who have lost
My way and beg now at strangers’ doors to
Receive love, at least in small change?”.
