Kamala Das Biography, Career, Family,Age, Education, & more

Kamala Surayya, alternatively known as Suraiyya or Madhavikutty, was a prominent Indian English poet and literary figure, as well as a leading Malayalam novelist hailing from Kerala, India. Her fame in Kerala primarily stemmed from her short stories and autobiography, while her English works, authored under the pseudonym Kamala Das, are renowned for their poems and candid autobiographical content. Born on March 31, 1934, in Kerala, India, she was the daughter of V.M. Nair, the editor of the Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi, and Nalappatt Balamani Amma, a notable Malayali poetess. You can discover the entire Kamala Das biography within this article.

Kamala Das Biography

In Kerala, her short stories and autobiography garnered the highest acclaim, while her English writings under the name Kamala Das are celebrated for their passionate poetry and candid autobiography. Additionally, she was a widely read columnist who covered a range of subjects, including women’s issues, childcare, politics, and more. Her formative years were divided between Calcutta and their ancestral residence in Punnayurkulam. Like her mother, Kamala Das displayed remarkable writing talent. She received widespread recognition for fearlessly addressing female sexuality without shame, endowing her work with a boldness that established her as an iconoclast of her generation.

Kamala Das Picture

Kamala Das Young Age Picture

Kamala Das with her Husband (Madhava Das)

Kamala Das Son (Madhav Das Nalapat)

Kamala Das Son (Chinnen Das)

Family

Her formative years were divided between Calcutta, where her father held a senior position with the Walford Transport Company, which specialized in selling Bentley and Rolls-Royce automobiles, and the ancestral Nalapat residence in Punnayurkulam. Her mother was also a talented writer.

Age

Kamala Das was born on March 31, 1934, in Punnayurkulam, Thrissur District, Kerala. She passed away at the age of 75.

Education

She completed her graduation, and her deep passion for poetry blossomed during her early years, thanks in part to her great uncle, the renowned writer Nalappatt Narayana Menon.

Husband and Children

At the age of 15, Kamala entered into marriage with Madhava Das, a bank officer who was incredibly supportive and encouraged her burgeoning writing interests. Together, they had three sons – MD Nalapat, Chinen Das, and Jayasurya Das.

First Book

Kamala Das began her journey as a poet at the tender age of six, and her literary talents were evident when her first short story was published when she was just 10 years old. Her debut book of poetry, “Summer in Calcutta,” marked a refreshing and pioneering contribution to Indian English poetry.

Conversion to Islam

Kamala Das began her journey as a poet at the tender age of six, and her literary talents were evident when her first short story was published when she was just 10 years old. Her debut book of poetry, “Summer in Calcutta,” marked a refreshing and pioneering contribution to Indian English poetry.

Her Last days

Kamala Das passed away on May 31, 2009, at the age of seventy-five, while at a hospital in Pune. Her remains were transported to her home state of Kerala, where she was laid to rest at the Palayam Juma Masjid in Thiruvananthapuram with full dignity and honor.

Career

Kamala Das was a versatile writer known for her numerous Malayalam short stories and English poems. She also had a syndicated column where she expressed her views on a wide range of subjects. In addition to her English poetry, she was recognized for her Malayalam short stories. Her distinctive use of explicit language and sexuality set her apart from her contemporaries. Although she once asserted that “poetry does not sell in this country [India],” her outspoken columns addressing topics such as women’s issues, childcare, and politics gained widespread popularity. Her debut poetry collection, “Summer In Calcutta” (1965), delved into themes of love, betrayal, and suffering, primarily focusing on the experience of love, its betrayal, and the resulting pain and anguish. Kamala Das published her autobiography, titled “My Story,” in 1976 when she was 42 years old.

Poetry Collections

• Collected Poems (1984)
• My Mother at Sixty-Six (1999)
• Only the Soul Knows How to Sing (1997)
• Summer in Calcutta (1965)
• The Anamalai Poems (1985)
• The Descendants (1967)
• The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (1973)
• The Sirens (1964)
• The Stranger Time (1977)
• Yaa Allah (2001)

Novel

• A Doll for the Child Prostitute (1977)
• Padmavati the Harlot and Other Stories (1992)
• Short Stories
• The Alphabet of Lust (1976)
• Autobiography
• My Story (1976)

Net Worth

Her earnings and financial worth range between $1 million to $10 million. She gained notoriety in her writings for her unabashed incorporation of explicit language and themes of sensuality.

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