Quelltext der Seite Benutzer:Kritzolina/Kamala Surayya

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{{About||the 1973 film|Madhavikutty (film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
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{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
 | name        = Kamala Das
 | image       = kamala das.jpg
 | penname     = Madhavikkutty
 | birth_date   = {{birth date|df=yes|1934|03|31}}
 | birth_place  = [[Punnayurkulam]], [[Thrissur]], [[Kingdom of Kochi|Cochin Kingdom]]
 | occupation  = Poet, novelist, [[short story writer]]
 | nationality = Indian
 | death_date   = {{death date and age|df=yes|2009|05|31|1934|03|31}}
 | death_place  = [[Pune]], Maharashtra, India
 | genre       = Poetry, novel, short story, memoirs
 | subject     = 
 | movement    = 
 | influences  =  
 | spouse      = K. Madhava Das
 | children    =
{{Plainlist |
*[[Madhav Das Nalapat]]
*Chinnen Das
*Jayasurya Das}}
 | relatives   =
{{Plainlist |
*[[Balamani Amma]] (mother)
*V. M. Nair (father)
*[[Nalapat Narayana Menon]] (grand uncle)}}
 | awards      = Ezhuthachchan Puraskaram, [[Vayalar Award]], [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], Asan World Prize, Asian Poetry Prize, Kent Award
 | website     = 
 }}

'''Kamala Surayya''' (born '''Kamala'''; 31 March 1934– 31 May 2009), also known by her one-time pen name '''Madhavikutty''' and '''Kamala Das''', was an [[Indian English]] poet and littérateur and at the same time a leading [[Malayalam]] author from [[Kerala]], India. Her popularity in [[Kerala]] is based chiefly on her short stories and autobiography, while her oeuvre in English, written under the name Kamala Das, is noted for the poems and explicit autobiography. She was also a widely read columnist and wrote on diverse topics including women's issues, child care, politics among others.

Her open and honest treatment of female sexuality, free from any sense of guilt, infused her writing with power, but also marked her as an [[Iconoclasm|iconoclast]] in her generation.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jul/19inter.htm | title=The Rediff Interview/ Kamala Suraiya | publisher=[[Rediff.com]] | date=19 July 2000 | accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref> On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital in [[Pune]].<ref>{{cite news
  |publisher = ''[[The Hindu]]'' 
  |title = PM mourns Kamala Das's death, praises her sensitive poems
  |url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200905312123.htm
  |date = 31 May 2009
  |accessdate = 4 June 2009
|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> 

==Early life==
Kamala was born in [[Punnayurkulam]], [[Thrissur District]] in Kerala, on 31 March 1934, to V. M. Nair, a former managing editor of the widely circulated Malayalam daily ''[[Mathrubhumi]]'', and [[Balamani Amma|Nalapat Balamani Amma]], a renowned [[Malayali]] poet.

She spent her childhood between [[Calcutta]], where her father was employed as a senior officer in the Walford Transport Company that sold [[Bentley]] and [[Rolls-Royce (car)|Rolls Royce]] automobiles, and the [[Nalapat]] ancestral home in [[Punnayurkulam]]. <!-- Her husband often played a fatherly role for both Kamala and her sons. More info needed re husband and sons -->

Like her mother, Balamani Amma, Kamala Das also excelled in writing. Her love of poetry began at an early age through the influence of her great uncle, [[Nalapat Narayana Menon]], a prominent writer.

At the age of 15, she got married to bank officer Madhava Das, who encouraged her writing interests, and she started writing and publishing both in English and in Malayalam.  Calcutta in the 1960s was a tumultuous time for the arts, and Kamala Das was one of the many voices that came up and started appearing in cult anthologies along with a generation of Indian English poets.<ref>http://www.cse.iitk.ac.in/users/amit/books/nandy-1977-strangertime-anthology-of.html</ref> English was the language she chose for all six of her published poetry collections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/03/poem-of-the-week-someone-elses-song-by-kamala-das|title=Poem of the week: Someone Else's Song by Kamala Das|last=Rumens|first=Carol|date=2015-08-03|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2016-10-08}}</ref>

==Literary career==
She was noted for her many Malayalam short stories as well as many poems written in English. Das was also a [[syndicated columnist]]. She once claimed that "poetry does not sell in this country [India]," but her forthright columns, which sounded off on everything from women's issues and child care to politics, were popular.

Das' first book of poetry, ''Summer in Calcutta'' was a breath of fresh air in Indian English poetry.  She wrote chiefly of love, its betrayal, and the consequent anguish. Ms. Das abandoned the certainties offered by an archaic, and somewhat sterile, aestheticism for an independence of mind and body at a time when Indian poets were still governed by "19th-century diction, sentiment and romanticised love."<ref name=times>
{{cite news
 | title =        Kamala Das: Indian poet and writer
 | url =    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6488710.ece
 | work =          [[The Times]]
 | date =         13 June 2009
 | accessdate =   28 May 2011
 | location=London
 | first=Jenny
 | last=Booth
}}</ref>
Her second book of poetry, ''The Descendants'' was even more explicit, urging women to:
:Gift him what makes you woman, the scent of
:Long hair, the musk of sweat between the breasts,
:The warm shock of menstrual blood, and all your
:Endless female hungers ..." – ''The Looking Glass''
This directness of her voice led to comparisons with [[Marguerite Duras]] and [[Sylvia Plath]]<ref name=times/>

At the age of 42, she published a daring autobiography, ''[[My Story (Kamala Das book)|My Story]]''; it was originally written in Malayalam (titled ''[[Ente Katha]]'') and later she translated it into English.  Later she admitted that much of the autobiography had fictional elements.<ref>
{{cite news
 | title =        Obituary : Kamala Das – Indian writer and poet who inspired women struggling to be free of domestic oppression
 | author =       Shahnaz Habib
 | publisher =    [[The Guardian]]
 | url =          https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/18/obituary-kamala-das
 | date =         18 June 2009
 | accessdate =   28 May 2011
 | location=London
}}</ref>

"Some people told me that writing an autobiography like this, with absolute honesty, keeping nothing to oneself, is like doing a striptease.

True, maybe. I, will, firstly, strip myself of clothes and ornaments. Then I intend to peel off this light brown skin and shatter my bones.

At last, I hope you will be able to see my homeless, orphan, intensely beautiful soul, deep within the bone, deep down under, beneath

even the marrow, in a fourth dimension" - excerpts from the translation of her autobiography in Malayalam, ''Ente  Katha''

Kamala Das wrote on a diverse range of topics, often disparate- from the story of a poor old servant, about the sexual disposition of upper middle class women living near a metropolitan city or in the middle of the ghetto. Some of her better-known stories include ''Pakshiyude Manam'', ''Neypayasam'', ''Thanuppu'', and ''Chandana Marangal''. She wrote a few novels, out of which ''Neermathalam Pootha Kalam'', which was received favourably by the reading public as well as the critics, stands out.

She travelled extensively to read poetry to Germany's [[University of Duisburg-Essen]], [[University of Bonn]] and [[University of Duisburg]] universities, Adelaide Writer's Festival, [[Frankfurt Book Fair]], [[University of Kingston]], [[Jamaica]], Singapore, and South Bank Festival (London), [[Concordia University (Montreal)|Concordia University]] (Montreal, Canada), etc. Her works are available in French, Spanish, Russian, German and Japanese.

Kamala Surayya was a confessional poet whose poems have often been considered at par with Anne Sexton and Robert Lowell. 

She has also held positions as Vice chairperson in [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]], chairperson in Kerala Forestry Board, President of the Kerala Children's Film Society, editor of ''Poet'' magazine<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/31270799.cms Love and longing]</ref> and Poetry editor of ''[[Illustrated Weekly of India]]''.<!-- <sup>{{ISSN|0019-2430}}</sup>lkp
 -->

Although occasionally seen as an attention-grabber in her early years,<ref name=hindu>[http://www.hinduonnet.com/2000/02/06/stories/1306078m.htm The histrionics of Kamala Das] [[The Hindu]], 6 February 2000</ref> she is now seen as one of the most formative influences on Indian English poetry.  In 2009, [[The Times]] called her "the mother of modern English Indian poetry".<ref name=times/>

Her last book titled ''The Kept Woman and Other Stories,'' featuring translation of her short stories, was published posthumously.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/thus-spake-das/article852444.ece|title=Thus spake Das|last=Pisharoty|first=Sangeeta Barooah|date=2010-10-27|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-10-08}}</ref>

==Conversion to Islam==
She was born in a conservative Hindu [[Nair]] (Nalapat) family having royal ancestry,<ref>Untying and retying the text: an analysis of Kamala Das's My story, by Ikbala Kaura, 1990. p.188</ref> She embraced Islam on December 11, 1999, at the age of 65 and assumed the name Kamala Surayya.<ref name="tehelka1">http://tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub181210He_asked.asp</ref>

Her conversion was rather controversial, among social and literary circles, with ''[[The Hindu]]'' calling it part of her "histrionics".<ref name=hindu /> It is believed that she converted to Islam based on the promise of one Sadiq Ali, a Muslim, to marry her if she converts to Islam.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Iliah|first1=Kancha|title=The real 'love jihad'|url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140924/commentary-columnists/article/real-%E2%80%98love-jihad%E2%80%99|accessdate=24 March 2017|publisher=The Deccan Chronicle|date=24 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Weisbord|first1=Merrily|title=The Love Queen of Malabar|publisher=Research Press|pages=288|url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main48.asp?filename=hub181210He_asked.asp}}</ref>

==Politics==
Though never politically active before, she launched a national political party, '''Lok Seva Party''', aiming asylum to orphaned mothers and promotion of secularism. In 1984 she unsuccessfully contested in the Indian Parliament elections.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/noted-writer-kamala-das-suraiya-passes-away_535736.html | title=Noted writer Kamala Das Suraiya passes away | publisher=[[Zee News]] | date=31 May 2009 | accessdate=1 June 2013}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kamala Das had three sons – [[M D Nalapat]], Chinnen Das and Jayasurya Das.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kamala-Das-passes-away/articleshow/4599921.cms Kamala Das passes away]</ref> [[Madhav Das Nalapat]], the eldest, is married to Princess Thiruvathira Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi (daughter of Princess Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvati Bayi and Sri Chembrol Raja Raja Varma Avargal) from the [[Travancore]] Royal House.<ref>http://www.royalark.net/India/trava4.htm</ref> He holds the [[UNESCO]] Peace Chair and Professor of [[geopolitics]] at the [[Manipal Academy of Higher Education]]. He was formerly a resident editor of the ''[[Times of India]]''.

On 31 May 2009, aged 75, she died at a hospital in [[Pune]]. Her body was flown to her home state of Kerala. She was buried at the [[Palayam / Cantonment|Palayam]] Jama Masjid at [[Thiruvananthapuram]] with full state honour.<ref>{{cite news
  |publisher = The Hindu 
  |title = Kerala pays tributes to Kamala Surayya
  |url = http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200906011831.htm
  |date = 1 June 2009
  |accessdate = 4 June 2009
|location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
  |publisher = The Hindu 
  |title = Tributes showered on Kamala Suraiya
  |url = http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/02/stories/2009060253900400.htm
  |date = 2 June 2009
  |accessdate = 4 June 2009
  |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

==Awards and other recognitions==
Kamala Das has received many awards for her literary contribution, including:
*Nominated and shortlisted for [[Nobel Prize for Literature]] in 1984.<ref>http://www.enotes.com/poetry-criticism/das-kamala</ref>
*Award of Asian PEN anthology – 1964
*[[Kerala Sahitya Academy Award]] – 1969 (for Cold)
*[[Sahitya Academy Award]] – 1985
*Asian Poetry Prize – 1998
*Kent Award for English Writing from Asian Countries – 1999
*[[Vayalar Award]] – 2001
*Honorary [[D.Litt]] by [[University of Calicut]] – 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.universityofcalicut.info/news/formerdegreerecepients.pdf|title=Honorary degree by Calicut University}}</ref>
*[[Muttathu Varkey Award]] – 2006<ref>[http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm Literary Awards – official website of Onformation and Public Relation Department]</ref>
*[[Ezhuthachan Puraskaram]] – 2009

==Bibliography==

¤ -   : Tattered blanket

* 1964: The Sirens (Asian Poetry Prize winner)
* 1965: Summer in Calcutta (poetry; Kent's Award winner)
* 1967: The Descendants (poetry)
* 1973: The Old Playhouse and Other Poems (poetry)
* 1976: [[My Story (Kamala Das book)|My Story]] (autobiography)
* 1977: Alphabet of Lust (novel)
* 1985: The Anamalai Poems (poetry)
* 1992: Padamavati the Harlot and Other Stories (collection of short stories)
* 1996: Only the Soul Knows How to Sing (poetry)
* 2001: Yaa Allah (collection of poems)
* 1979: Tonight,This Savage Rite (with Pritish Nandy)
* 1999: My Mother at Sixty-six (Poem)
*  –  : My Grandmother House (Poem)

===Malayalam===
* 1964: ''Pakshiyude Manam'' (short stories)
* 1966: ''Naricheerukal Parakkumbol'' (short stories)
* 1968: ''Thanuppu'' (short story, Sahitya Academi award)
* 1982: ''[[Ente Katha]]'' (autobiography)
* 1987: ''Balyakala Smaranakal'' (Childhood Memories)
* 1989: ''Varshangalkku Mumbu'' (Years Before)
* 1990: ''Palayan'' (novel)
* 1991: ''Neypayasam'' (short story)
* 1992: ''Dayarikkurippukal'' (novel)
* 1994: ''Neermathalam Pootha Kalam'' (novel, [[Vayalar Award]])
* 1996: ''Chekkerunna Pakshikal'' (short stories)
* 1998: ''Nashtapetta Neelambari'' (short stories)
*"Ente Kadha" (Autobiography)
* 2005: ''Chandana Marangal'' (Novel)
* 2005: ''Madhavikkuttiyude Unmakkadhakal'' (short stories)2x
* 2005: ''Vandikkalakal'' (novel)
* 1999: ''My Mother at Sixty-six'' (Poem)

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry}}
* [[Indian English Literature]]
* [[Indian Writing in English]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
# [http://www.deccanherald.com/content/6643/kamala-ignited-soul.html The Ignited Soul by Shreekumar Varma]
# Manohar, D. Murali. Kamala Das: Treatment of Love in Her Poetry. Gulbarga: JIWE, 1999.
# “Cheated and Exploited: Women in Kamala Das’s Short Stories”, In Mohan G Ramanan and P. Sailaja (eds.). English and the Indian Short Story. New Delhi: Orient Longman (2000).117–123
# “Man-Woman Relationship with Respect to the Treatment of Love in Kamala Das’ Poetry”.  Contemporary Literary Criticism Vol. 191. Ed. Tom Burns and Jeffrey W. Hunter. Detroit: Thomson-Gale, 2004. 44–60.
# “Individuality” in Kamala Das and in Her Poetry”. English Poetry in India: A Secular Viewpoint. Eds. PCK Prem and D.C.Chambial. Jaipur: Aavishkar, 2011. 65–73.
# “Meet the Writer: Kamala Das”, POETCRIT XVI: 1 (January 2003): 83–98.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/dec/16varsha.htm Varsha Bhosle on Kamala Das' conversion to Islam]
*[http://globalwebpost.com/farooqm/writings/other/kamala.htm "From Kamala Das to Dashi: Doing the right thing for wrong reasons?" by Dr Mohammad Omar Farooq]
*[http://www.littlemag.com/family/kamala.html Translation of ''Neypayasam'']
*[http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Das.html Eroticism and feminism in Das' writings]
*[http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/02/06/stories/1306078m.htm The histrionics of Kamala Das]
*[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200906021241.htm Funeral]
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/books-obituaries/5446382/Kamala-Suraiyya.html Kamala Suraiyya] – Daily Telegraph obituary

{{Sahitya Akademi Award for English}}
{{Ezhuthachan Puraskaram}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Surayya, Kamala}}
[[:Kategorie:1934 births]]
[[:Kategorie:2009 deaths]]
[[:Kategorie:Indian women novelists]]
[[:Kategorie:Indian Muslims]]
[[:Kategorie:Kerala State Film Award winners]]
[[:Kategorie:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[:Kategorie:Malayalam novelists]]
[[:Kategorie:Writers from Pune]]
[[:Kategorie:People from Thrissur district]]
[[:Kategorie:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in English]]
[[:Kategorie:Recipients of the Ezhuthachan Award]]
[[:Kategorie:English-language poets from India]]
[[:Kategorie:Manipal University alumni]]
[[:Kategorie:Converts to Islam from Hinduism]]
[[:Kategorie:Indian women poets]]
[[:Kategorie:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[:Kategorie:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[:Kategorie:Writers from Kerala]]
[[:Kategorie:21st-century Indian novelists]]
[[:Kategorie:21st-century Indian poets]]
[[:Kategorie:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[:Kategorie:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[:Kategorie:Women writers from Kerala]]