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 Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary text ...

. 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 All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

Biography

Rajalakshmi was born on June 2, 1930, at

Cherpulassery Cherpulassery (also known by its former name Cherpulacherry) is a town and municipality in the Palakkad district, of Kerala, India. Cherpulassery is often called the Sabarimala of Malabar as the famous Ayyappankavu temple is located here . The ...

, Palakkad district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Marath Achutha Menon and Thakkathu Amayankottu Kuttymalu Amma as their youngest daughter; T. A. Sarasvati Amma, who would later become a noted mathematician and scholar, was her elder sister. She graduated in physics from

Maharaja's College, Ernakulam The Maharaja's College is a Public university, government college located in the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. Established in 1875, it is one of the oldest colleges in India. Located in the heart of the city, the college campus is spread ov ...

and joined the

University College Thiruvananthapuram University College, Thiruvananthapuram, often abbreviated as UCT, is a public college situated in Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Established in 1866, it is one of the oldest colleges in Kerala. The college has been accorded "College with Pot ...

for MA Malayalam but discontinued to move to

Banaras Hindu University Banaras Hindu University (BHU), formerly Benares Hindu University, is a collegiate, central, and research university located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, and founded in 1916. The university incorporated the Central Hindu College, ...

from where she earned a master's degree in physics. Subsequently, she started her career as a lecturer and worked in different colleges of the

Nair Service Society The Nair Service Society (NSS) is an organisation created for the social advancement and welfare of the Nair community that is found primarily in the state of Kerala in Southern part of India. It was established under the leadership of Mannathu ...

at Perunthanni,

Pandalam Pandalam is a municipality in Pathanamthitta district Kerala, India. Pandalam is known for its connection with Ayyappan and Sabarimala. It recognised ''as the cultural capital of Travancore'', Pandalam hosts educational institutions rang ...

and

Ottappalam Ottapalam (also spelled Ottappalam) is a town, taluk, and municipality in the Palakkad District of Kerala, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Ottapalam taluk and is located approximately 34 km (21 mi) from the Palakkad (district ...

. 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 A sari (also called sharee, saree or sadi)The name of the garment in various regional languages include: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is a drape (cloth) and a women's garment in the Indian subcontinent. It consists of an un-stit ...

. She was aged 34 at that time.

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. Besides the short stories and two poetry anthologies, she wrote three novels, starting with ''Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum'' (A Path and a Few Shadows) where she portrayed the delicate emotions of women. ''Oru Vazhiyum Kure Nizhalukalum'' fetched her the

Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy) to Malayalam writers for writing a novel of literary merit. It is one of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award#Awards, twel ...

in 1960, making her the third recipient of the honour. It later became a TV serial and was broadcast as a play by

. 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 Perumbadavam Sreedharan (born 12 February 1938) is a Malayalam author from Kerala, India. He is former chairman of Kerala Sahitya Akademi. He has written several novels and short stories. One of his best known novels is ''Oru Sankeerthanam Pole' ...

was based on Rajalakshmi's life. '' Abhayam'', the 1970 film by

Ramu Kariat Ramu Kariat (1 February 1927 – 10 February 1979) was an Indian film director for almost three decades from the 1950s to the 1970s, who directed many acclaimed films in the Malayalam cinema. His noted films include '' Neelakkuyil'' (1954), '' ...

, was an adaptation of this novel. Anita Nair, the

Crossword Book Award The Crossword Book Award (formerly known as the Crossword Book Award (1998–2003), the Hutch Crossword Book Award (2004–07), the Vodafone Crossword Book Award (2008–10), the Economist Crossword Book Award (2011–13), Raymond & Crossword Bo ...

winning author, has based her 2018 novel, ''Eating Wasps'', on the life on Rajalakshmi.

Bibliography

Novels

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Short stories

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Poetry

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Translations

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rajlakshmi, T. A. Indian women novelists Indian women poets Writers from Palakkad district 1930 births 1965 suicides 1965 deaths Malayalam poets Government Victoria College, Palakkad alumni Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award 20th-century Indian women writers 20th-century Indian novelists 20th-century Indian poets Poets from Kerala Novelists from Kerala Women writers from Kerala Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni