https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Muthukulam_Parvathy_AmmaMuthukulam Parvathy Amma - Revision history2026-10-27T18:58:28ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muthukulam_Parvathy_Amma&diff=519325&oldid=prevMvjceng: Started new info w/ refs2026-03-30T20:20:49Z<p>Started new info w/ refs</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian writer and social reformer}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}<br />
{{Infobox writer<br />
| name = Muthukulam Parvathy Amma<br />
| image = <br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_name = <br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1904|1|28}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Muthukulam]], [[Alappuzha district]], [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1977|9|15|1904|01|28}}<br />
| death_place = <br />
| language = [[Malayalam]]<br />
| other_names = <br />
| notableworks = <br />
| occupation = Writer, social reformer<br />
| spouse = <br />
| children = <br />
| parents = {{ubl|P. Rama Panicker (father)|Velumbiamma (mother)}}<br />
| awards = <br />
}}<br />
'''Muthukulam Parvathy Amma''' (1904–1977) was a [[Malayalam language]] poet, teacher, translator, freedom fighter and social reformer from [[Kerala]], India. She published books in various genres of literature, including poetry, short poems, plays, short stories, children's literature, translations and biographies. Parvathy Amma, a follower of [[Narayana Guru]], supported the [[Indian freedom struggle]], and was inclined towards the [[Indian National Congress]]. Muthukulam Parvathy Amma Award is a literary award given to woman writers.<br />
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==Biography==<br />
Muthukulam Parvathy Amma was born on Thursday, January 28, 1904, as the youngest daughter of Ramapanicker from Thattakkattussery house in [[Muthukulam]], and Velumbiamma of Nallanikkal Kandathil house in [[Arattupuzha]], in present-day [[Alappuzha district]] of Kerala.<ref name="Janmabhumi">{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Janmabhumi |date=2024-01-28 |title=ഭഗവദ്ഗീതയ്ക്ക് ഭാഷാവൃത്തത്തില് പരിഭാഷ നല്കിയ കവിയാണ് മുതുകുളം പാര്വതിയമ്മ; പ്രതിഭാശാലിയായ കവി |url=https://janmabhumi.in/2024/01/29/3160295/vicharam/article/muthukulam-parvathyamma-is-the-poet-who-translated-the-bhagavad-gita-into-a-language-a-talented-poet/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Janmabhumi |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Keralakaumudi3">{{cite news |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവ്വതി അമ്മ |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |agency=Keralakaumudi |date=2 October 2021}}</ref> Ramapanicker an astrologer by profession was also a progressive thinker. Even during the time untouchability in Kerala, he copied and wrote down the Hindu epics [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] and distributed to many.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> When Parvathy was one and a half years old, her father died.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /><br />
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Her subsequent life was full of hardship. They were not likely to get the family share of her father, according to the common law of that time.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> Therefore, they moved from Thattakattussery to a little property and a small house that they had previously acquired.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> There were hardships at home, but her older brother raised her in a way that didn't affect her at all.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> Parvathy's primary education was at Muthukulam Varanapalli Primary School and Keerikad School.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> The upper-caste students did not like to sit close to the dark and thin Parvathy because of her caste and appearance.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> She was able to continue in class only because the law allowed it.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> She also studied under Krishnan Nair of Muthukulam.<ref name="mahila">{{cite book |title=Mahilakal Malayala sahithyathil |date=2012 |publisher=[[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] |pages=39–40 |language=Malayalam}} A book on women in Malayalam literature</ref><br />
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Parvati Amma studied [[Sanskrit]] from Sanskrit scholars Chepad Achyutavariyar, Chalil Veluvasan and Padmanabhapanikar.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> She attained scholar status after studying Sanskrit poems from Sriramodantham to Kumarasambhavam Raghuvansham Magham.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> This later helped her poetry writing. When she joined VH School in [[Kollam]], she met poets [[Mary John Thottam]], Mundakkal Lakshmi and Mayyanad Lakshmi.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> They used to write letters to each other in verse.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> After passing the ninth standard, Parvathy took up teaching career.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /> Then she also passed the ''Vdwan'' and ''Visharad'' examinations from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="mahila"/> She also acquired a general knowledge of [[Hindi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Bengali language|Bengali]] languages during this time.<ref name="Janmabhumi" /><br />
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Parvathy Amma, a follower of [[Narayana Guru]] wanted to establish a sangha (group) of women followers of the Guru.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini">{{cite web |last1=Devika |first1=J. |title=Religion and Politics, Taboo for Women? The Life of Muthukulam Parvathy Amma |url=https://swatantryavaadini.in/2020/10/03/religion-and-politics-taboo-for-women-the-life-of-muthukulam-parvathy-amma/ |website=Swatantryavaadini |date=3 October 2020}}</ref> The ''Mahila Ashram'' ([[ashram]] for women) she wanted to set up was a refuge like that which existed for the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] nuns.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/><br />
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Parvati Amma, who supported the [[Indian freedom struggle]], was inclined towards the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/> She campaigned for the Congress party in the 1960 general elections and traveled all over Kerala, speaking at various meetings.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/> The play ''Save India'' written by her for the election campaign was performed allover the Kerala.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/> She also took part in the struggles related to the [[Vaikom Satyagraha]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Devika |first1=J. |title='Kulastreeyum' 'chanthapennum' undayathengane? |page=224 |language=Malayalam}}</ref><br />
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The women of Muthukulam have long wanted a maternity ward at the Muthukulam Public Health Center. Parvati Amma is one of the prominent people who worked to make this possible.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/> She was a great propagandist of [[Gandhism|Gandhian ideas]] and actively participated in anti-alcohol activities and wrote and preached extensively to educate the people about the evils of [[alcoholism]].<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/><br />
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Parvathi Amma, who was also a dancer, was the headmistress at the Harippad Government Girls' School when she composed the ''Kayarupinni Thiruvathira'', a modification of traditional [[Thiruvathira]] dance.<ref>{{cite news |title=രാജാവിന്റെയും റാണിയുടേയും അഭിനന്ദനം പ്രചോദനമായി; ദേവയാനി ആശാട്ടി കൈകൊട്ടിയാൽ ശിഷ്യർ ഇ... |url=https://www.marunadanmalayalee.com/news/special-report/story-on-kayar-pinni-thiruvathira-20032 |work=www.marunadanmalayalee.com}}</ref><br />
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She died on 15 September 1977.<ref>{{cite news |title=മരിക്കാത്ത ഓർമ്മകൾ - സെപ്റ്റംബർ 15 |url=https://kalamnews.in/column-daily-marikkathaormakal-rahulkaimala-sept15 |work=Admin |date=14 September 2020 |language=ml}}</ref><br />
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==Literary career==<br />
Started writing poetry at the age of twelve, Parvathy Amma's first work named ''Yathartha jeevitham'' (meaning:real life) was published in T. C. Kalyaniyamma's ''Sharda'', a women's magazine. The introduction to the first collection of poems published under the name ''Udayaprabha'' (meaning:morning light) was written by [[Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer|Ulloor]].<ref name="mahila"/> Ulloor observe that her style is very close to that of [[Kumaran Asan]].<ref name="Keralakaumudi3"/><br />
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On [[Sree Narayana Guru]]’s birthday celebrations in 1924, She had prepared and sung a felicitation in verse, written in the [[Kilippattu]] style dedicating to the Guru.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/> Hearing the poem, Guru praised her very much.<ref name="Keralakaumudi">{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവ്വതി അമ്മയും പിച്ചമ്മാളും ഗുരുദേവന്റെ ഗൃഹസ്ഥ ശിഷ്യകൾ |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=5453&u=sivagiri-acharya-smrithi-program-5453?amp=1 |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml}}</ref><br />
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She has published books in various genres of literature, including poetry, short poems, plays, short stories, translations and biographies. ''Sreebudha Charitha'' (biography of Buddha) the incomplete work of the poet [[Kumaran Asan]] was completed by Parvati Amma.<ref name="Keralakaumudi"/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ramesh |first1=Jairam |title=The Light of Asia: The Poem that Defined the Buddha |date=7 June 2021 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-91149-20-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QCQrEAAAQBAJ&dq=muthukulam+parvathi+amma&pg=PT280 |language=en}}</ref> She has also written one act plays for children.<ref>{{cite book |last1=JAMUNA |first1=K. A. |title=Children's Literature in Indian Languages |date=1 June 2017 |publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting |isbn=978-81-230-2456-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS0nDwAAQBAJ&dq=muthukulam+parvathi+amma+one+act+play&pg=PT103 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==Works==<br />
*''Udayaprabha''<ref name="Keralaliterature">{{cite web |title=മുതുകുളം പാര്വ്വതി അമ്മ |url=http://keralaliterature.com/malayalam-writers-%e0%b4%ae%e0%b4%b2%e0%b4%af%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b3%e0%b4%82-%e0%b4%8e%e0%b4%b4%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%95%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b0%e0%b5%8d%e2%80%8d/%e0%b4%ae%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%a4%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%95%e0%b5%81%e0%b4%b3%e0%b4%82-%e0%b4%aa%e0%b4%be%e0%b4%b0%e0%b5%8d%e2%80%8d%e0%b4%b5%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a4%e0%b4%bf-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%ae%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%ae/ |website=Keralaliterature.com |date=11 February 2019}}</ref><br />
*''Sree Chithira Maha Vijayam''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Maathru Vilapam'' (meaning:Mother's lament)<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*{{cite book |title=Asrukudeeram or Bakthameerayude Divyasamadi|date=1951 |publisher=SRP Press |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/220309 |language=Malayalam}}<br />
*''Oru Vilapam'' (meaning:A lament)<br />
*{{cite book |title=Meera |date=1963 |publisher=VV Press |url=https://find.uoc.ac.in/Record/223772 |language=Malayalam}}<br />
*''Gananjali''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Gana Devatha'' (meaning:Goddess of Songs)<br />
*''Pookkari'' (meaning:Florist) (poetry collections)<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Bhuvanadeepika''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Ahalya''<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Save India'' (play)<br />
*''Dharma Bali'' (play)<br />
*''Karmaphalam''<br />
*''Kathamanjari'' (stories)<ref name="akademi">{{cite book |last1=Akademi |first1=Sahitya |title=Who's Who Of Indian Writers |publisher=Dalcassian Publishing Company |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=56PWDwAAQBAJ&dq=muthukulam+parvathy+amma+biography&pg=PA221 |language=en}}</ref><br />
*''Sree Narayana Margam'' (philosophy)<br />
*''Randu Devathakal'' (meaning:Two Goddesses) (Biography)<br />
*''Sri Buddha charitam''<ref name="akademi"/><br />
*''Srimad Bhagavad Gita'' (translation)<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Geethanjali'' (translation)<ref name="Keralaliterature"/><br />
*''Bharatheeya Vanithakal'' (meaning:Indian Women) (Translations)<br />
*{{cite book |title=Muthukulam Parvathy Ammayude Kavithakal |date=2016 |publisher=[[Sahithya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society]] |isbn=978-0000305732}}<br />
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==Works on her==<br />
Her biography published in 2005 is written by V. Dethan and published by Fabian Books, Nooranad.<ref name="Swatantryavaadini"/> In 2016, [[Kerala Bhasha Institute]] published Parvathy Amma's biography named ''Muthukulam Parvathy Amma'' ({{ISBN|9788120039582}}) written by Nirmala Rajagopal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=NIRMALA RAJAGOPAL |url=http://catalogue.keralauniversity.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=190636&query_desc=Provider:State%20institute%20of%20languages |title=Muthukulam Parvathy amma |date=2016 |publisher=The state institute of languages |isbn=978-81-200-3958-2 |location=TVPM}}</ref><br />
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==Muthukulam Parvathy Amma Award==<br />
Muthukulam Parvathy Amma Award is a literary award given to woman writers, in the name of Parvati Amma. The award consists of Rs. 10,000 and a Certificate of Merit.<ref name="Deshabhimani">{{cite news |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവതി അമ്മ സാഹിത്യപുരസ്കാരം ജിഷ അഭിനയയ്ക്ക് |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/jisha-abhinaya-deshabhimani/775306 |work=Deshabhimani |language=ml}}</ref> Works from any literary genre will be considered for the award.<ref name="Keralakaumudi2">{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവതി അമ്മ പുരസ്കാരം |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=678034&u=local-news-alappuzha |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=en}}</ref> Works that have been published for the first time in the last three years will be considered for the award.<ref name="Keralakaumudi2"/><br />
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===Awardees===<br />
{{incomplete list|date=March 2022}}<br />
*2003: [[Chandramathi]]<br />
*2010: [[C. S. Chandrika]], for her essay titled ''Aarthavamulla Sthreekal''.<br />
*2017: [[Shahina E. K.]]<br />
*2019: [[Jisha Abhinaya]], for ''Eli Eli Lama Sabaktani'' a collection of plays.<ref name="Deshabhimani"/><br />
*2020: [[E. K. Sheeba]], for the work ''Manja Nadikalude Sooryan''.<ref>{{cite web |title=മുതുകുളം പാര്വ്വതിയമ്മ പുരസ്കാരം ഇ.കെ.ഷീബയ്ക്ക് |url=https://www.dcbooks.com/muthukulam-parvathiyamma-award-for-e-k-sheeba.html |language=en-gb |date=15 January 2020}}</ref><br />
*2021: [[V. P. Suhra]], for her autobiography ''Jorayude Katha'' (meaning:'The Story of Jora')<ref>{{cite news |title=മുതുകളം പാർവ്വതി അമ്മ സാഹിത്യ പുരസ്കാരം വി.പി സുഹ്റയ്ക്ക്. |url=https://m.malayalamexpress.in/article/archives/1571905/amp |work=www.malayalamexpress.in }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br />
*2023: [[V. K. Deepa]], for her short story collection ''Woman Eaters''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=ലേഖകൻ |first1=മാധ്യമം |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവ്വതി അമ്മ സാഹിത്യ പുരസ്കാരം വി.കെ. ദീപയ്ക്ക് {{!}} Madhyamam |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/culture/literature/muthukulam-parvathy-amma-award-1116441 |work=www.madhyamam.com |date=10 January 2023 |language=ml |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114115415/https://www.madhyamam.com/culture/literature/muthukulam-parvathy-amma-award-1116441}}</ref> <br />
*2024: Sheela Tomy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Janmabhumi |date=2024-01-28 |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവ്വതി അമ്മയുടെ സ്ഥാനം നവോത്ഥാന കവികൾക്കൊപ്പം :ആലംകോട് ലീലാകൃഷ്ണൻ |url=https://janmabhumi.in/2024/01/28/3160039/news/kerala/muthukulam-parvathi-amma-award-goes-to-alamkose-leela-krishnan/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Janmabhumi |language=en-US}}</ref> The award was given for her novel titled ''Aa nadiyod peru chodikkaruth''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kanjirathil |first=Renjith |date=2024-01-11 |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവ്വതിഅമ്മ സാഹിത്യ പുരസ്കാരം ഷീലാ ടോമിയ്ക്ക് |url=https://janamtv.com/80806431/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Janam TV |language=ml-IN}}</ref><br />
*2025: Sudha Menon, for her work ''Charithram adrishyamakkiya murivikal'' (meaning: Wounds Made Invisible by History).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-05 |title=മുതുകുളം പാർവ്വതി അമ്മ സാഹിത്യ പുരസ്കാരം സുധാമേനോന് |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/sudha-menon-won-muthukulam-parvathy-amma-sahithya-puraskaram-1.10225867 |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Parvathy Amma, Muthukulam}}<br />
[[Category:1904 births]]<br />
[[Category:1977 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women short story writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]<br />
[[Category:People from Alappuzha district]]<br />
[[Category:Women writers from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Women Indian independence activists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women poets]]</div>Mvjceng