K. Saraswathi Amma

K. Saraswathi Amma Biography

K. Saraswathi Amma was a writer and feminist from Malayalam literature, who lived during the period, 14 April 1919 – 26 December 1975. She mostly wrote fiction work. She wrote different genres of Malayalam literature, and was known for her feminist writings. She authored novels, short stories, poetry, essays and plays, and was mostly known as a fictional writer. Her work, ‘Stories from a forgotten feminist’ was published posthumously. She is one among the underrated Malayalam writers of 20^th century, long forgotten. Her collection of essays is titled, Purushanmarillatha Lokam.

K. Saraswathi Amma was born on 14 April 1919. She started with short stories when she entered writing scene. Her first short story was published in 1938, and later she published 12 volumes of short stories, one novel, a play, and a collection of essays. For her feminist thinking and writing she was tagged as a 'man hater' those days. Her works earned the real recognition only after her death in present times. J. Devika, a feminist and activist from Kerala has once quoted that "an author marginalised within the Malayalee literary universe and labelled as an incorrigible man-hater." In those days she was bitterly attacked patriarchy and tradition, and got side-lined.

Some of her works have been translated into English, and published under the title, Stories from a forgotten feminist. She published her single novel, Premabhajanam in 1944, and the following year she scripted the single play, Devaduth. Afterwards she concentrated on to short stories. Ponnumkudam in 1946 was her first short story published, followed by Sthree Janmam, Keezhjeevanakkari, Kalamandiram, Penbuddhi, Kanatha Mathil, Prema Pareekshanam, Chuvanna Pookkal and Cholamarangal. She passed away in 1975.

Published: January 05, 2020

Updated: January 05, 2020