Malayalam poet and activist Sugathakumari passes away

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sugathakumari, the Malayalam poet who had also been a committed environmentalist and women’s rights activist, died here on Wednesday. She was 86. Sugathakumari had been undergoing treatment for Covid-19 and the end came at 10.52am at the Govt. Medical College hospital.
The cremation of Sugathakumari will be held at 4pm at Santhi Kavadam with full state honours and in accordance with Covid-19 protocol.From 1pm to 4pm, public can pay homage to Sugathakumari at Ayyankali Hall where a large portrait of the poet will be placed.
Fondly being called as 'Sugatha Teacher' by her hundreds of admirers and followers, the activist-poet had been admitted to the intensive care unit of the medical college after being diagnosed with the viral infection on December 21. Before that she was admitted to a private hospital. For the last 24 hours, she had been surviving on ventilator support only. Besides the severe bronchial pneumonia, an after-effect of Covid-19, the condition of her vital organs also deteriorated.
One of the most celebrated Malayalam poets of the contemporary era, Sugathakumari was known for her unique poems filled with compassionate empathy, human sensitivity and philosophical quest.
In her poetic career spanning over six decades, she, through her subtle and sublime lines, fought against the injustices in this world especially against the ruthless oppression of women and indiscriminate exploitation of nature.
A fearless and tireless fighter in real life, she led several agitations for the environmental cause and conservation of nature. She had spearheaded the fiercest environmental campaign witnessed by Kerala--against a proposal to set up a hydel project in the Silent valley in Western Ghats three decades ago, and was also in the forefront of the recent agitation against construction of an airport at Aranmula.
The poet had been a constant presence and invitee wherever there was an environmental issue in the state until some years ago before she became physically weak due to age related issues.
Always been a constant supporter and solace for destitute and molested women, Sugathakumari had been running for over three decades 'Abhaya', an organisation for the deprived women, including financially poor, rape survivors, domestic violence victims and drug addicts.
Born as the second daughter of freedom fighter and poet, Bodheswaran and wife Karthiyayini Amma on January 22, 1934, Sugatha had entered the world of poetry in 1960 with her first collection of poems- Muthuchippikal.
Since then, she had captured the Malayali consciousness through her soft but hard-hitting verses in a handful of poetry collections including Pathirapookkal, Krishna Kavithakal, Ratrimazha, Ambalamani, Radha Evide, Thulavarshapacha and so on.
Though her early works concentrated more on subjective themes and personal quests, her poetry, in course of time, broadened its peripheries assimilating social concerns and philosophical voyages into it as its themes.
Also the first chairperson of the Kerala State Women's Commission, Sugathakumari had been a recipient of several honours and recognitions.
The country had bestowed her with Padma Shree in 2006 while the higher literary award Saraswati Samman reached her in 2013 for her poetic collection “Manalezhuth” (The Writing on the Sand). She also bagged almost all prestigious literary awards in the state including Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Vayalar Award, Odakkuzhal Award, Ashan Prize and so on.
The poet also won the Union government's first 'Vriksha Mitra' award.
Sugathakumari leaves behind daughter Lakshmi Devi. Writer and scholar, late K Velayudhan was her husband. Noted writers and academicians, late Hridaya Kumari and Sujatha Devi were siblings.
Condoling her death, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Sugathakumari had always stood to wipe the tears of women and nature.