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{{Short description|Indian Radio Presenter and Program Producer (1933 - 2020)}}
{{for|Feminist writer from Kerala|K. Saraswathi Amma}}
{{Infobox person
| name = S. Saraswathi Amma
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|02|19}}
| birth_place = [[Thazhava]], [[Travancore]], [[British India]]
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|01|15|1933|03|18}}
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Writer, Radio Presenter and Programme Producer
| known_for = ''Mahilalayam'' Radio programme
| movement =
| notable_works =
| spouse = Yeshodharan
| children = 3
| parents = Kottukoyikal Velayudhan, Saradamma
| awards = National Award for a Radio Programme (1985)
| influences =
| signature =
}}
'''S. Saraswathi Amma''' (February 19, 1933 – January 14, 2020) was a [[Malayalam]] language writer, radio anchor and producer of the women's section programme on [[All India Radio]] in [[Kerala]], India. Her popular radio series, “Manaswini Manavathi”, received the [[National Award]] for a Radio Programme in 1985.

==Biography==
S. Saraswathi Amma was born on February 19, 1933, at [[Thazhava]] in present-day [[Karunagappalli]], [[Kollam district]] to Kottukkoyikkal Velayudhan, a freedom fighter and a disciple, and biographer, of [[Sree Narayana Guru]], and Saradamma.<ref name="Keralaliterature">{{cite web |title=സരസ്വതി അമ്മ.എസ് |url=https://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/%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%b0%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a4%e0%b4%bf-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%ae%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%ae-%e0%b4%8e%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%8d-saraswathi-amma-s/ |website=Keralaliterature.com |date=27 February 2019 |access-date=2 October 2025 |archive-date=3 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251003055317/https://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/%e0%b4%b8%e0%b4%b0%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%b5%e0%b4%a4%e0%b4%bf-%e0%b4%85%e0%b4%ae%e0%b5%8d%e0%b4%ae-%e0%b4%8e%e0%b4%b8%e0%b5%8d-saraswathi-amma-s/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Manorama">{{cite news |title=മഹിളാലയം ചേച്ചി എസ്. സരസ്വതിയമ്മ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2020/01/15/s-saraswathy-amma-passes-away.html |work=Manorama Online |agency=[[Malayala Manorama]] |language=ml}}</ref><ref name="keralawomen">{{cite web |title=മഹിളാലയം ചേച്ചി എന്ന എസ് സരസ്വതിയമ്മ |url=https://www.keralawomen.gov.in/ml/node/835 |website=Kerala Women |publisher=[[Government of Kerala]] |language=ml |date=30 March 2021 |access-date=2 October 2025 |archive-date=3 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251003055318/https://www.keralawomen.gov.in/ml/node/835 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Saraswathi Amma studied at [[S. N. College, Kollam]] for intermediate course in 1948 and later joined for BA Economics at the same college.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |title=College memories to treasure for a lifetime |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/college-memories-to-treasure-for-a-lifetime/article6012332.ece |work=The Hindu |date=15 May 2014 |language=en-IN}}</ref> She later studied law at [[Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram]] which functioned at [[Ernakulam]] during the first year of her course.<ref name="Hindu"/> She was active in the arts and culture sector during her college days.<ref name="janmabhumi">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-04-20 |title=ആകാശവാണിയുടെ സ്വന്തം മഹിളാലയം ചേച്ചി |url=https://janmabhumi.in/2015/04/20/2623286/lifestyle/news281198/ |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=Janmabhumi |language=en-US}}</ref> Before getting graduation certificate from law college, she worked among women for a year and formed a women's association called Mahila Samajam'.<ref name="janmabhumi" /> After obtaining certificate, in 1957 she enrolled as an advocate and worked in [[Kollam]].<ref name="Hindu"/>

===Personal life and death===
Saraswathi Amma was married to Yeshodharan and they have three children Maya Priyadarshini, Harikrishnan and Gopikrishnan.<ref name="janmabhumi" /> She died on January 14, 2020, at the age of eighty-six at their residence in Thiruvananthapuram while undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.<ref name="Manorama"/>

==Career==
Saraswathi Amma joined [[All India Radio]], Thiruvananthapuram station in 1965 as the producer of the women's section programs.<ref>{{cite news |title='മഹിളാലയം ചേച്ചി' സരസ്വതിയമ്മ അന്തരിച്ചു |url=https://www.etvbharat.com/malayalam/kerala/sitara/tv-and-theater/akashavani-former-deputy-station-director-s-saraswathi-amma-passed-away/kerala20200115150023168 |work=ETV Bharat News |date=15 January 2020 |language=ml}}</ref> She got the job at All India Radio while she was gaining fame as a lawyer.<ref name="keralawomen"/> She came to All India Radio at a time when programs for women were minimal.<ref name="keralawomen"/> She introduced the idea of a special program for women on All India Radio and started a program called ''Sthreekalkk Mathram'' [For Women Only].<ref name="Emalayalee">{{cite news |title=എന്നും തിളങ്ങുന്നൊരു നക്ഷത്രമായി അവരുടെ സ്വരം; മലയാളികളുടെ സ്വന്തം മഹിളാലയം ചേച്ചി. |url=https://www.emalayalee.com/post/332945 |work=Emalayalee |date=20 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref> Later, she revived the ''Mahilalayam'' a women's program in the All India Radio, and became the producer and presenter of it.<ref name="keralawomen"/> At a time when programs for women were rare, she was reimagining the program ''Mahilalayam'', including women's literary works, plays, and success stories of famous women in various fields.<ref name="Breaking">{{cite news |title=ആകാശവാണിയിലെ 'മഹിളാലയം ചേച്ചി' വിടവാങ്ങി » Breaking Kerala % |url=https://breakingkerala.com/saraswathy-amma-passed-away/ |work=Breaking Kerala |date=15 January 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2025 |access-date=2 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251003055317/https://breakingkerala.com/saraswathy-amma-passed-away/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After becoming the presenter of Mahilalayam, people affectionately called her Mahilalayam Chechi (meaning elder sister).<ref name="keralawomen"/>

Saraswathi Amma received national award in 1985 for her radio program ''Manaswini Manavathi''. It was a program to identify and involve the underprivileged working class women in the society.<ref name="janmabhumi" /> After presenting this program from the Delhi station, it was proposed to be broadcast on radio stations in other states of India.<ref name="janmabhumi" />

At a time when Malayali women who were active in the literary field were rare, Saraswathi Amma started the radio program 'Masika', through which she provided an opportunity for unknown ordinary women writers to grow.<ref name="janmabhumi" />

Saraswathi Amma was also behind the formation of children's choirs in schools under the leadership of All India Radio.<ref name="keralawomen"/> She later became deputy station director of All India Radio, and retired in 1987.<ref name="keralawomen"/>

==Contributions==
''Akasathile Nakshatrarangal'' [Stars in the Sky] is a memoir written by S. Saraswathi Amma about her twenty-six-year career at All India Radio.<ref>{{cite news |title=Now, Saraswathi Amma scripts the golden era of AIR |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Now-Saraswathi-Amma-scripts-the-golden-era-of-AIR/articleshow/46442553.cms |work=The Times of India |date=3 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="deepika">{{cite news |title=ആകാശവാണി മഹിളാലയം.... |url=https://www.deepika.com/feature/Feature_Details.aspx?newscode=15462&feature_cat=cat17 |work=www.deepika.com |language=ml |date=September 3, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2025 |access-date=October 2, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251003055317/https://www.deepika.com/feature/Feature_Details.aspx?newscode=15462&feature_cat=cat17 |url-status=live }}</ref> She has also authored books such as, ''Pookkalum Kunjungalum'' [Flowers and Kids], ''Kuppichillum Rosadalamnum'' [broken glass pieces and Rose Petals], and ''Ammamar Arinjirikkan'' [For mothers to know].<ref name="Keralaliterature"/>

Saraswathi Amma wrote ''Vanithakalkk Mathram'' [for women only], a column for women in [[Mangalam Weekly]] for a long time.<ref name="keralawomen"/><ref name="Emalayalee"/> She also wrote the Vanithavedi column, another column for women, in the Malayala Manorama weekly for two decades.<ref name="Manorama"/>

==Awards and honors==
The program ''Manaswini Manavathi'' by her received a national award in 1985.<ref name="keralawomen"/>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saraswathi Amma, S.}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Women writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:All India Radio women]]
[[Category:Indian women radio presenters]]

S. Saraswathi Amma - Revision history

PaulineBarwell2: adding a stub