Rajalakshmi

Thakkathu Amayankottu Rajalakshmi (June 2, 1930 – January 18, 1965), better identified as Rajalakshmi, was an Indian novelist, short story writer and poet of Malayalam literature. She was the author of three novels, two poetry anthologies and a short story anthologies. Kerala Sahitya Akademi awarded her their annual award for novel in 1960, making her the third recipient of the award. Her novel, Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum, has been adapted into a tele-series as well as into a play by the All India Radio.

For other uses, see Rajalakshmi (disambiguation).

Rajalakshmi
Born(1930-06-02)June 2, 1930
Cherpulassery, Palakkad district, Kerala, India
DiedJanuary 18, 1965(1965-01-18) (aged 34)
Kerala, India
OccupationWriter
NationalityIndian
GenreShort story, novel, poetry
Notable works
  • Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum
  • Njanenna Bhavam
  • Uchavelyilum Ilamnilavum
Notable awards
Relatives
  • Achutha Menon (father)
  • Kuttimalu Amma (mother)

Biography
Maharaja's College, Rajalakshmi's alma mater

Rajalakshmi was born on June 2, 1930, at Cherpulassery, Palakkad district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Marath Achutha Menon and Thakkathu Amayankottu Kuttymalu Amma as their youngest daughter;[1] T. A. Sarasvati Amma, who would later become a noted mathematician and scholar, was her elder sister.[2] She graduated in Physics from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and joined the University College Thiruvananthapuram for MA Malayalam but discontinued to move to Banaras Hindu University from where she earned a master's degree in Physics.[3] Subsequently, she started her career as a lecturer and worked in different colleges of the Nair Service Society at Perunthanni, Pandalam and Ottappalam.[3]

On January 18, 1965, Rajalakshmi started from home to College in the morning but returned home and committed suicide; her dead body was found in her room, hanging from the roof on a saree. She was aged 34 at that time.[4][5]

Legacy and honours

She is known as Emily Brontë of Malayalam. Makal, a short story published in Mathrubhumi weekly in 1956 was her first notable work, which was followed by a number seven short stories and a poem in prose.[5] Besides the short stories and two poetry anthologies, she wrote three novels,[6] starting with Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum (A Path and a Few Shadows) where she portrayed the delicate emotions of women.[1] Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum fetched her the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel in 1960, making her the third recipient of the honour.[7] It later became a TV serial and was broadcast as a play by All India Radio.[8][9] Her other novels are Njaneenna Bhavam and Uchaveyilum Ilam Nilavum while her notable poetry anthology is "Ninne Njan Snehikkunnu".

The 1967 novel Abhayam by Perumbadavam Sreedharan was based on Rajalakshmi's life. Abhayam, the 1970 film by Ramu Kariat, was an adaptation of this novel.[10][11] Anita Nair, the Crossword Book Award winning author, has based her 2018 novel, Eating Wasps, on the life on Rajalakshmi.[12][13]

Bibliography

Novels

  • Rajalakshmi (2005). Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum. Current Books Thrissur. ASIN B007E4WWMO.
  • Rajalakshmi. Njanenna Bhavam (in Malayalam). Thrissur: Current Books.

Short stories

Poetry

Translations

See also

References
  1. "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  2. "T. A. Sarasvati Amma - Obituary" (PDF). 16 March 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  3. Jayasree, G. S. (24 September 2015). "Rajalekshmi, the reclusive author". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  4. K. Santhosh (13 July 2012). "The 'why' remains, 47 years later". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  5. "'എഴുതാതിരിക്കാൻ വയ്യ, ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുകയാണെങ്കിൽ ഇനിയും എഴുതി പോകും'; പേനയ്ക്ക് വിലക്കി..." www.marunadanmalayali.com. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  6. "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  7. "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  8. "Mentioned in an actress interview in The Hindu, Sept 15, 2006". Archived from the original on 12 May 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "AIR to broadcast plays based on novels". The Hindu. 1 January 2007. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
  10. B. Vijayakumar (27 March 2016). "Abhayam: 1970". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 September 2022. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  11. "Abhayam: A Lost Gem". stancemagazine.in. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  12. Bagchi, Shrabonti (5 October 2018). "Anita Nair's new novel tells the story of a girl who ate a wasp". livemint.com. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  13. Akundi, Sweta (10 December 2018). "What a wasp tastes like". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 April 2019.

Further reading
  • T. Palakeel, Women Writing in the Age of Modernity and Postmodernity, student course materials at Bradley University, Illinois accessed at 18 Jan 2007
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