I wasn’t acquainted with the name KAMALA DAS until my twelfth grade. My first introduction to this name was through a poem called “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das. Despite its simplicity, the poem conveyed profound emotions. As time passed, I encountered new poets, and years later, Kamala Das’s name resurfaced through another poem, “An Introduction.” The impactful lines of this poem left me in awe. Without hesitation, I can assert that Kamala Das was undoubtedly a formidable woman of her time, and it turns out, I wasn’t mistaken.
Born in Kerala under British rule on 31 March 1934, she penned her works in both Malayalam and English, adopting the pseudonym Madhavi Kutty for her Malayalam audience. Das was born into an artistic family, regarded as literary royalty in the state. Her mother, Balamani Amma, was a renowned Malayali poet, and her uncle, Nalapat Narayana Menon, was a highly respected writer. Kamala Das is a poet who delves into the realms of love and sexuality within her writing.
Kamala Das, a celebrated figure in Indian literature, is primarily recognized for the unyielding tone of her writings. She expresses herself with a clearly Indian persona. Das is characterized as a defiant woman who keenly observes the quietude within Indian women and denounces patriarchal dominance with her impassioned words. She eloquently conveys the nuances of feminine sensibilities. She endeavors to challenge society by questioning the role it assigns to women. Her works underscore the desire for a feminine identity in a world predominantly dominated by men. Diverging from other poets, her poetry emancipates itself from the romanticized love of the 19th century and resonates with the unmistakable voice and tone of a rebellious woman—the embodiment of the new woman.
Her unabashed expression of female sexuality and fearless candor in her writing establish her as a rebellious icon among Indian poets. In her writings, she exhibits recklessness and spontaneity. She consistently scrutinizes herself through a persistent lens, making herself the focal point of her writing. One could aptly argue that her poems serve as authentic biographies of her life.
Kamala Das, the poet, is intricately connected to the history of Indian feminism, marking the inception and paramount significance of the country’s initial feminist movement. She witnessed and personally felt the oppressive force of blind patriarchy, which thwarted her goals, aspirations, and concerns for her well-being. Despite the immense challenges, she channeled her energy to produce some of the most provocative works in Indian English literature.
Her writings can also be pinned into protest poetry. The protest is directed against the oppression and injustice that women have endured in this society. She critiques Indian women for subscribing to the notion that their primary role is to submit to a man to fulfill his desires. She is encouraging women to envision possibilities beyond their husbands, in this manner, her poem possesses both social and reformative characteristics.
Beyond her status as a notable literary figure, Kamala Das was entangled in various controversies surrounding both her writings and personal life. This March 31 marks her 90th birth anniversary, and on this International Women’s Day, it is a tribute to recall one of the pioneering poets of our nation.
