Nagaraj15: creating the stub basic info...

2026-03-15T13:57:08Z

creating the stub basic info...

New page

{{Short description|Transgender poet in Malayalam literature}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Vijayarajamallika
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|03|01}}
| occupation = Writer, activist, teacher
| image =
| birth_name = Manu J Krishnan
| nationality = Indian
| birth_place = [[Muthuvara]], [[Thrissur]], [[Kerala]], India
| spouse = Jashim
| notableworks = {{unbulleted list|
| ''Daivathinte Makal''
| ''Aan Nadhi''
| ''Mallikavasantham''
| ''Aanalla Pennalla''
| ''A Word to Mother''
| ''Pennayavalude Kavithakal''
}}
| alma_mater = {{unbulleted list|
| [[Rajagiri College of Social Sciences]]
| [[St. Thomas College, Thrissur]]
}}
}}
'''Vijayarajamallika''' is a [[transgender]] poet in [[Malayalam literature]],<ref name="mathrubhumi-1">{{Cite web | url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/authors/kerala-s-first-transwoman-poet-vijayarajamallika-to-tie-knot--1.4102941 | title=Kerala's first transwoman poet Vijayarajamallika to tie knot | website=Mathrubhumi.com | access-date=2020-01-12 | archive-date=2020-11-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101011921/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/authors/kerala-s-first-transwoman-poet-vijayarajamallika-to-tie-knot--1.4102941 | url-status=dead }}</ref> She is a writer, teacher, social worker, inspirational speaker, and activist.

== Early life, family and education ==
Vijayarajamallika was born in 1985 at [[Muthuvara]], [[Thrissur district]], [[Kerala]], [[India]], to Kaniyamkonatth Veettil Y. Krishnan, a retired superintendent of [[Kerala State Electricity Board]] (KSEB); and Jaya Krishnan, a teacher.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url= https://www.readwhere.com/book/green-books/MALLIKAVASANTHAM/30216|title=MALLIKAVASANTHAM|website=Readwhere |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-22}}</ref>

Her primary education was at [[Kendriya Vidyalaya, Puranattukara]].<ref name=":1" /> She completed a bachelor of arts degree in English Literature and History from [[St. Thomas College, Thrissur]] with the second rank from the [[University of Calicut]] in 2005.<ref name=":1" /> In 2009 she completed [[Master of Social Work|Master of Social Work (MSW)]] from [[Rajagiri College of Social Sciences]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name= "thecue.in-1" />

Vijayarajamallika describes herself as being "a woman in my heart…even though I was in the male body".<ref name=":1" /> Vijayarajamallika is an [[intersex]] person with [[Klinefelter syndrome]] or 47 XXY, which she discovered at the age of 32 after doing [[Karyotype|Karyotyping]] from [[Government Medical College, Kozhikode]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://aksharamonline.com/health/vijayarajamallika/intersex-and-transgender| title= ഇന്റര്‍ സെക്‌സും ട്രാന്‍സ്ജെന്‍ന്ററും ഒന്നല്ല; രണ്ടാണ്| website=aksharamonline.com| trans-title= Intersex and transgender are not one and the same; Two| language= ml | url-status= unfit| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200223074240/http://aksharamonline.com/health/vijayarajamallika/intersex-and-transgender| archive-date= 2020-02-23|access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref> She says that "knowing that she is an intersex is the proudest moment in her life"<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

She was married to Jashim, a software engineer. It was a controversial love marriage. The parents and relatives of Jashim were opposed to the marriage which was held in the office of [[Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad]] state committee at [[Thrissur]].<ref name="thehindu-1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/transgender-poet-vijayarajamallika-gets-married/article29363532.ece |title=Transgender poet Vijayarajamallika gets married| work=The Hindu | date= September 7, 2019 | access-date= December 28, 2020}}</ref><ref name="rashtradeepika-1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rashtradeepika.com/keralas-first-transgender-poet-got-married/|title=മാറ്റത്തിന്റെ മണിമുഴക്കം ! മലയാളത്തിലെ ആദ്യ ട്രാൻസ്ജെൻഡർ കവി വിജയരാജമല്ലിക വിവാഹിതയായി; വരൻ സോഫ്റ്റ്വെയർ എഞ്ചിനീയർ |website= Rashtradeepika.com |date=7 September 2019 | language= ml| trans-title= The bell of change! Malayalam's first transgender poet Vijayarajamallika gets married; Groom Software Engineer }}</ref>

==Career==
''Daivathinte Makal'' (''Daughter of God''), her first collection of poetry, has been included in the [[syllabus]] of a course at the Department of Malayalam at [[Madras University]].<ref name="azhimukham-1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.azhimukham.com/vayana-samskaram-madras-university-included-vijayaraja-mallikas-poems-in-syllabus/|title= മദ്രാസ് സർവ്വകലാശാല പാഠ്യപദ്ധതിയിൽ വിജയരാജമല്ലികയുടെ കവിതാസമാഹാരം | website= Azhimukham.com |date= 3 August 2019 | language= ml| trans-title= A collection of poems by Vijayaraja Mallika in the Madras University syllabus }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/transgender-poet-vijayaraja-mallika-s-book-included-in-madras-university-syllabus--1.4016831|title=Transgender poet Vijayaraja Mallika's book included in Madras University syllabus|website=Mathrubhumi.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21|archive-date=2020-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529211941/https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/transgender-poet-vijayaraja-mallika-s-book-included-in-madras-university-syllabus--1.4016831|url-status=dead}}</ref> The poem, "Maranantharam" from ''Daivathinte Makal'' was included in the curriculum of [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala]],<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Transgender's Poem finds its place in MG University syllabus| date=18 June 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9fRO481Y70|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21| via= YouTube}}</ref> and another poem, "Neelambari" from ''Daivathinte Makal'', was included in the curriculum of [[Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit]].<ref name=":0" /> "Maranantharam" a notable poem from this book was translated into English by N. P. Ashley and was published in the book ''The World that Belongs to Us'' by [[HarperCollins|Harper Collins]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-01|title=Opening Up Identity: How A Diverse Anthology Of Queer Poetry Came To Be|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/the-world-that-belongs-to-us-aditi-angiras-akhil-katyal_in_5f243b08c5b656e9b09afd53| access-date=2020-10-02|website=HuffPost India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= Rangnekar| first= Sharif D. |date=2020-08-08|title='Desire crosses borders of different kinds': Akhil Katyal|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu |url= https://www.thehindu.com/books/desire-crosses-borders-of-different-kinds-akhil-katyal/article32292306.ece|access-date=2020-10-02|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-29|title=How Being Queer Is A Very Personal Experience That Needs Less Of The Labelling|website=womensweb.in|url=https://www.womensweb.in/2020/09/the-world-that-belongs-to-us-anthology-queer-poetry-oct20wk1sr/|access-date=2020-10-02|language=en|archive-date=2020-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929123049/https://www.womensweb.in/2020/09/the-world-that-belongs-to-us-anthology-queer-poetry-oct20wk1sr/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Vijayarajamallika is the founder of Sahaj International, India's first transgender alternative learning center<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38470192|title=India opens first transgender school|date=2016-12-30|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/78557/kochi-india-first-transgender-school-lgbtq-activism/|title=Kerala Is Making History Once Again by Starting India's First Transgender School|date=2016-12-18|website=The Better India|language=en-US|access-date= 2020-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Kerala To Open First Transgender School In The Country| date=20 December 2016 | url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui3qzklduiw |language=en| via= YouTube| access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/south/kerala-launches-indias-first-transgender-school| title=Kerala launches India's first transgender school|website= asianetnews.com| publisher= Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref> which worked in collaboration with the [[National Institute of Open Schooling]] (NIOS) at [[Kochi]]. She winded up Sahaj International as Kerala Government incorporated transgender education through the Kerala State Literacy Mission.

''Aan Nadhi'' (''Male River''), her second poetry collection, was published by Mythri Books [[Thiruvananthapuram district|Thiruvanathapuram]]. It describes the life and struggles of [[LGBT community|LGBTIAQ+]] people with special reference to transgender and Intersex communities.<ref name= "mathrubhumi-1" /> Aan Nadhi was significant in contributing ten new words to Malayalam Literature.{{citation needed|date= December 2020}}

Vijayarajamallika's autobiography ''Mallikavasantham'' is the first transgender autobiography in Malayalam literature.<ref>{{cite web |title= Interview with Transgender poet Vijayaraja Mallika| date=17 November 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJCVyHSguPU|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21| via= YouTube}}</ref><ref name="thecue.in-1" /> She won the Swami Vivekanadhan Yuva Prathibha Award for literature in 2019<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title= സ്വാമി വിവേകാനന്ദൻ യുവപ്രതിഭാ പുരസ്കാര വിതരണം |trans-title= Swami Vivekananda Youth Talent Award Ceremony |website= KSYWB.kerala.gov.in |url= https://ksywb.kerala.gov.in/portfolio/%E0%B4%B8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%BF-%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%B5%E0%B5%87%E0%B4%95%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%A8%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A6%E0%B5%BB-%E0%B4%AF%E0%B5%81%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D/ |access-date= 2020-10-02 |language= ml-IN }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> instituted by the Kerala State Youth Welfare Board for this autobiography.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://ksywb.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ythawrd19.pdf | title=Malasian text | language=ml}}</ref> It also bagged the first ever Leela Menon literary award in the category of autobiography.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=ലീലാ മേനോൻ സാഹിത്യപുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു|date=27 January 2021|url=https://kalamnews.in/news-awards-leela-menon-sahithya-puraskaram|access-date=21 February 2021|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127165113/https://kalamnews.in/news-awards-leela-menon-sahithya-puraskaram|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=പുഴ|title=പ്രഥമ ലീലമേനോൻ സാഹിത്യ പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു {{!}} പുഴ.കോം - നവസംസ്കൃതിയുടെ ജലസമൃദ്ധി|date=29 January 2021 |url=https://www.puzha.com/blog/leela-menon-literature-award/|access-date=2021-02-21|language=en-US}}</ref>

"Aanalla Pennalla Kanmani nee"<ref>{{Cite news|last=Muringatheri|first=Mini|date=2020-09-01|title=Malayalam lullaby for intersex child takes social media by storm|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/a-lullaby-for-an-intersex-child/article32496762.ece|access-date=2020-10-02|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> is a lullaby penned by Vijayarajamallika<ref>{{Cite web| title='A call for inclusion of intersex kids': Kerala's renowned transwoman poet on her lullaby|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2020/09/06/a-call-inclusion-intersex-kids-keralas-transwoman-poet-lullaby.html| date= September 6, 2020 | first= Vandana |last= Mohandas |website=OnManorama.com |access-date=2020-10-02|language=en}}</ref> which is reported to be the first intersex [[lullaby]]<ref>{{Cite web| first=T.|last= Ramavarman | date= August 24, 2020 |title=Neither boy nor girl, it's 'not a sin sweetheart' | work= Times of India| via= indiatimes.com |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/neither-boy-nor-girl-its-not-a-sin-sweetheart/articleshow/77712834.cms|access-date=2020-10-02 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| date= September 7, 2020 |first=T. |last= Ramavarman |title=Ramanan's Radha returns to sing lullaby in Tamil for intersex baby |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/ramanans-radha-returns-to-sing-lullaby-in-tamil-for-intersex-baby/articleshow/77972674.cms |language=en| work= Times of India| via= indiatimes.com |access-date=2020-10-02}}</ref> in the history of [[World literature|World Literature]].

Daivathinte Makal won the Yuvakala Sahithi Vayalar Award in 2019.<ref name="aimnews-1" /> The State of Kerala has honored her for her contributions and achievements<ref>{{cite web| url= http://swd.kerala.gov.in/DOCUMENTS/Downloadables/IEC_Materials/30820.pdf| title= TG KALOLSAVAM-VARNAPAKITTU 2019- SPECTRA-SPECIAL EDITION| website= swd.kerala.gov.in| publisher= Social Justice Department, Government of Kerala| access-date= 2020-02-21| archive-date= 2024-02-08| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240208154019/http://swd.kerala.gov.in/DOCUMENTS/Downloadables/IEC_Materials/30820.pdf| url-status= dead}}</ref> in the field of literature from the transgender community during the ‘Varnapakittu 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/transgender-arts-festival-from-today/article29913290.ece|title=Transgender arts festival from today|date=2019-11-08|work=The Hindu|access-date=2020-02-21|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>’, the first-ever transgender arts festival organized by the social justice department.

Ormayil Ragini<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cancer awareness; remembering Travancore sisters|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2012/sep/06/cancer-awareness-remembering-travancore-sisters-403478.html|access-date=2020-12-28|website=The New Indian Express|date=6 September 2012 }}</ref> is a yearly event organized by Vijayarajamallika in memory of actress [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=cinematters|date=2015-12-08|title=The 6th edition of "Ormayil Ragini" is on 26 December 2015|url=https://oldmalayalamcinema.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/the-6th-edition-of-ormayil-ragini-is-on-26-december-2015/|access-date=2020-10-02|website=oldmalayalamcinema.wordpress.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001181728/https://oldmalayalamcinema.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/the-6th-edition-of-ormayil-ragini-is-on-26-december-2015/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
* Daivathinte Makal ''(collection of poems)''<ref name="azhimukham-1"/>
* Aan Nadi ''(collection of poems)''
* Mallikavasantham ''(autobiography)''<ref name="keralakaumudi-1">{{Cite web|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=221023&u=book-review |title= പുരുഷന്റെ വിയർപ്പിനും രക്തത്തിനും കൊതിച്ചു, ഉള്ളിൽ നഗ്നയായി അട്ടഹസിച്ചു; എന്റെ ലൈംഗിക കാമനകളെ എങ്ങനെ അടക്കും'?| website= Keralakaumudi.com |language=ml |trans-title= Lusting for the man's sweat and blood, laughing naked inside; How can I suppress my sexual urges'?}}</ref>
* Aanalla Penalla Kanmani ''(Intersex Lullaby)''<ref>{{Cite web|title= 'ആണല്ല പെണ്ണല്ല', മിശ്രലിംഗരായ കുഞ്ഞുങ്ങള്‍ക്കൊരു താരാട്ട് പാട്ട്; മോഹിനിയാട്ടത്തിലൂടെ ദൃശ്യാവിഷ്‌കാരം |trans-title= 'Not a man, not a woman', a ballad for mixed-sex children; Visualization through Mohiniyattam | url= https://www.thecue.in/around-us/2020/08/30/first-intersex-lullaby-by-vijayarajamallika |access-date=2020-10-02| website=TheCue.in |date= 30 August 2020 |language=ml}}</ref>
* A Word to Mother: Realisation of Reading in between Lines<ref>{{Cite web |last=Insight |first=The Rise |date=2024-08-21 |title=A Word to Mother: Realisation of Reading in between Lines by Vijayarajamallika |url=https://www.theriseinsight.com/a-word-to-mother-realisation-of-reading-in-between-lines-by-vijayarajamallika/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=The Rise Insight |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Pennayavalude Kavithakal ''(collection of poems)''
* Lilithinu Maranamilla ''(collection of poems)'' <ref>{{Cite web|last=ലേഖകൻ|first=മാധ്യമം|date=2021-08-26|title=വിജയരാജമല്ലികയുടെ ആറാമത് പുസ്തകം 'ലിലിത്തിന് മരണമില്ല' പ്രകാശനം ചെയ്തു {{!}} Madhyamam|url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/local-news/thrissur/vijayarajamallika-new-book-release-840737|access-date=2021-12-29|website=www.madhyamam.com|language=ml}}</ref>
* Mattorupennala Njan ''(collection of poems)''
* Mula Mulaykkatha Maarile Kuthirapanthayangal ''(collection of poems)''
* Kelkkatha Sabdangal (Co-editor)<ref>{{Cite web |title=കേള്‍ക്കാത്ത ശബ്ദങ്ങള്‍ |url=https://keralasahityaakademi.org/product/kelkkatha-sabdangal/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Kerala Sahithya Academi}}</ref>''(A collection of the first queer writings in Malayalam published by Kerala Sahitya Akademi)''

== Awards ==
* Arali Award (2016)<ref name="keralakaumudi-1"/><ref name="thecue.in-1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecue.in/books/2019/12/31/first-transwoman-poet-in-kerala-vijayarajamallika-interview| title= വിജയരാജമല്ലിക അഭിമുഖം: ഞാൻ പ്രളയത്തിന്റെ പുത്രിയല്ല; എനിക്ക് ശേഷം പ്രളയമെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നില്ല| work= TheCue.in| language= ml| trans-title= Vijayarajamallika Interview: I am not the daughter of the flood; I don’t believe there will be a flood after that| date= December 31, 2019}}</ref>
* Yuvakalasahithi Vayalar Kavitha Award (Daivatthinte Makal, 2019)<ref name="aimnews-1">{{Cite web| url= https://aimnews.in/archives/7710| title= യുവകലാസാഹിതി വയലാർ കവിതാ പുരസ്ക്കാരം വിജയ രാജമല്ലികയ്ക്ക്| website= aimnews.in| publisher= Aim News| language= ml| trans-title= Vijaya Rajamallika wins Vayalar Poetry Award| access-date= 2020-01-12| archive-date= 2020-01-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200112213306/https://aimnews.in/archives/7710| url-status= dead}}</ref>
* Swami Vivekanadhan Yuva Prathibha Award for Literature (2019)<ref name=":3" />
* First Leela Menon literary award in the category of autobiography (2021)<ref name=":4" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://m.dailyhunt.in/news/india/malayalam/kerala+kaumudi-epaper-kaumudi/aanezhuthinum+pennezhuthinum+appuram+munnamathoru+ezhuth+yatharththyamayi+vijayarajamallika-newsid-90471402 Daily Hunt]
* [http://nastiknation.org/product/mallika-vasantham/ Mallika Vasantham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112214332/http://nastiknation.org/product/mallika-vasantham/ |date=2020-01-12 }}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijayarajamallika}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women poets]]
[[Category:Indian LGBTQ poets]]
[[Category:Transgender poets]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Intersex writers]]
[[Category:Indian intersex women]]
[[Category:Indian intersex people]]
[[Category:Indian transgender women]]
[[Category:Intersex transgender women]]
[[Category:21st-century women poets]]

Vijayarajamallika - Revision history

Nagaraj15: creating the stub basic info...