Nalapat Balamani Amma was an Indian poet who wrote in Malayalam. Often referred to as the ‘grandmother of Malayalam literature.
Amma, Muthassi, and Mazhuvinte Katha were some of her well-known works. She was a recipient of many awards and honours, including the Padma Bhushan, Saraswati Samman, Sahitya Akademi Award, and Ezhuthachan Award.
Today on the occasion of Balamani Amma’s 113th birth anniversary, Google doodle honours the poet by displaying a doodle representing her. The doodle is illustrated by Kerala-based artist Devika Ramachandran.
The Doodle shows Balamani sitting by a window and composing a poem. Several books can also be seen in the scene.
In its tribute, Google said in a blog post, “As an avid reader of Indian mythology, Amma’s poetry tended to put a spin on the traditional understanding of women characters. Her early poems glorified motherhood in a new light—she became known as the ‘poetess of motherhood’.”
“Her works adopted the ideas and stories of mythological characters but depicted women as powerful figures who remained ordinary human beings. Her most famous works include Amma (1934), Muthassi (1962) and Mazhuvinte Katha (1966),” it added.
