Sugathakumari
Encyclopedia
Sugathakumari is an India
n poet
and activist, who has been at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala
, South India
. She played a big role in the Save Silent Valley
protest. She formed Abhayagrama, aka Abhayagramam, a home for destitute women (Athani) and a day-care centre for the mentally ill. She was the former chairperson of the Kerala State Women's Commission.
and V. K. Karthiyayini, a Sanskrit
scholar. Her husband is Dr K. Velayudhan Nair and her daughter is Lakshmi. She was the Principal of Jawahar Balabhavan. She was the editor of a magazine, Thaliru. She has won several awards, including the Kerala state government's Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
Although she is best known as a poet environmentalist, Kumari is also the founder of Abhaya (refuge) -- an organization which gives shelter and hope to female mental patients. Her work to launch Abhaya was prompted by an off-chance visit to the government-run Mental Hospital in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram
. There women were housed in 19th century conditions, sexually abused and regularly prostituted to men in the neighboring police camp. When she visited the hospital she saw 'women's bodies covered with sores and stark naked. They were emaciated and their hair was matted. They didn't even look like human beings.' The horror of this experience was embedded in her mind and she decided on the spot to do something about it, despite opposition to interventions from ngos by professionals in the field.
However, recent news reports paint a totally different picture of the poet-activist and cast doubt on her credentials.
The recent expose of alleged rape of a lower caste woman by Abhaya office bearers within the center premises as reported in a leading political magazine - PATHRAM - and efforts to cover up the act have raised questions over the center which was originally constituted to treat and rehabilitate victims of such acts.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and activist, who has been at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. She played a big role in the Save Silent Valley
Save Silent Valley
Save Silent Valley was a social movement aimed at the protection of Silent valley, an evergreen tropical forest in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It was started in 1973 to save the Silent Valley Reserve Forest in from being flooded by a hydroelectric project. The valley was declared as...
protest. She formed Abhayagrama, aka Abhayagramam, a home for destitute women (Athani) and a day-care centre for the mentally ill. She was the former chairperson of the Kerala State Women's Commission.
Personal life
Her parents were the poet and freedom fighter BodheswaranBodheswaran
Bodheswaran was a poet and social reformer from Kerala, India.-Early life:Bodheswaran was born in Neyyattinkara, India, in December 1901...
and V. K. Karthiyayini, a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholar. Her husband is Dr K. Velayudhan Nair and her daughter is Lakshmi. She was the Principal of Jawahar Balabhavan. She was the editor of a magazine, Thaliru. She has won several awards, including the Kerala state government's Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
Social activity
Kumari was inspired by her father's poetry as well as his strong beliefs: 'He was a freedom fighter filled with the all too rare ideals of patriotism and sacrifice.' His example influenced her deeply and led her eventually to the conviction that the writer has an important obligation as a social conscience.Although she is best known as a poet environmentalist, Kumari is also the founder of Abhaya (refuge) -- an organization which gives shelter and hope to female mental patients. Her work to launch Abhaya was prompted by an off-chance visit to the government-run Mental Hospital in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
. There women were housed in 19th century conditions, sexually abused and regularly prostituted to men in the neighboring police camp. When she visited the hospital she saw 'women's bodies covered with sores and stark naked. They were emaciated and their hair was matted. They didn't even look like human beings.' The horror of this experience was embedded in her mind and she decided on the spot to do something about it, despite opposition to interventions from ngos by professionals in the field.
However, recent news reports paint a totally different picture of the poet-activist and cast doubt on her credentials.
The recent expose of alleged rape of a lower caste woman by Abhaya office bearers within the center premises as reported in a leading political magazine - PATHRAM - and efforts to cover up the act have raised questions over the center which was originally constituted to treat and rehabilitate victims of such acts.
Works
- Mutthuchippil (Pearl and Oyster) (1961)
- Pathirappookkal (Midnight Flowers) (1967)
- Paavam Maanavahridayam (Poor Human Heart) (1968)
- Irul Chirakukal (The Wings of Darkness) (1969)
- Raathrimazha (Night Rain) (1977)
- Ambalamani (Temple Bell) (1981)
- Kurinjippookkal (Kurinji Flowers) (1987)
- Thulaavarshappacha (The Monsoon Green) (1990)
- Radhayevide (Where is Radha?) (1995)
Awards
- 1978 Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for Rathrimazha
- 1982 Odakkuzhal Award for Ambalamani
- 1984 Vayalar AwardVayalar AwardThe Vayalar Award is given for the best literary work in Malayalam. The award was instituted in 1977 by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust in memory of the poet and lyricist Vayalar Ramavarma . A sum of Rs.25,000/-, a silver plate and certificate constitutes the award...
for Ambalamani - 2001 Lalithambika Antharjanam Award
- 2003 Vallathol Award
- 2004 Kerala Sahithya Akademi Fellowship
- 2004 Balamaniamma Award
- 2004 Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam "Sahithya Award"
- 2006 Padmashri
- 2009 Ezhuthachan Award