Google Honours Balamani Amma with a Doodle

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 20 July 2022

On Tuesday, when Google created an unique doodle in honour of the late poet known as the "doyen of Malayalam poetry," Balamani Amma, her passionate poetry resonated with readers all across the world. On Tuesday, Google published a Devika Ramachandran-created doodle in honour of the grandmother of Malayalam poetry, who turned 113. The doodle depicts Balamani Amma relaxing with a cup of hot filter coffee while surrounded by literature on the verandah of a vintage Keralan home balanced on a gorgeous violet lotus at the foot, creating a seductive image.

She has attempted to delve into the deeper inner-self of female characters while also illustrating the struggles of parenthood in a patriarchal culture in her poems.

Through her poetry, she praised parenthood and portrayed strong women as protagonists. "Balamani Amma's poetry encompasses more than just the portrayal of a mother's love in contrast to a patriarchal culture. However, her poetry also depict the domestic disputes between women in the confines of the house, according to Malayalam writer P K Rajesakharan.

Balamani Amma received a number of honours and accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan in 1987 and prestigious literary prizes including the Saraswati Samman in 1995 and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1965. The Pen, a poem by Balamani Amma on the loneliness of a mother, was translated by Kamala Surayya, a celebrated poet.

When she was 21 years old, she published her first poem, "Kooppukai," in 1930. The Sahithya Nipuna Puraskaram, given to her by Parikshit Thampuaran, the ruler of Cochin, was her first acknowledgment as a talented poet. She married V M Nair, general director and editor of the newspaper "Mathrubhumi," at the youthful age of 19. In 2004, Balamani Amma passed away.

On July 19, 1909, Balamani Amma was born in the Thrissur district, at her family's residence. Her uncle Nalapat Narayana Menon, another well-known Malayalam poet, taught her at home; she never received a formal education or training. Her poetic self was influenced by her uncle's library and extensive book collection.