Leela Nambudiripad | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1934-05-16)16 May 1934 |
| Died | 27 April 2021(2021-04-27) (aged 86) |
| Pen name | Sumangala |
| Occupation | Writer, author |
| Notable works | Neypaayasam Manchaatikkuru |
| Spouse | Ashtamurthy Nambudiripad |
| Children | 3 |
Leela Nambudiripad (16 May 1934 – 27 April 2021), known by her pen nameSumangala, was an Indian author of children's literature inMalayalam.[1][2] Some of her notable works includedNeypaayasam, Mithayippoti, as well as translations of thePanchatantra into Malayalam.
She was the recipient of theKerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 1979 and theKendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature in 2013.
Leela Nambudripad was born on 16 May 1934 as the eldest daughter of eminent Sanskrit scholars O M C Narayanan Nambudiripad and Uma Antharjanam inVellinezhi (Palakkad District,Kerala, India).[3][4]
Nambduripad started her career as a writer in 1959, writing under her pen name Sumangala. In a career of over 40 years, she was referred to as theEnid Blyton ofMalayalam[5] and penned over 50 books, of which 23 are for children.[4][6]
Her most celebrated works includeMithayippoti (transl. sweet box),Neypaayasam (transl. rice pudding withghee),Manchaatikkuru,Kurinjiyum Koottukaarum,Ee Kattha Kettittundo (transl. have you heard this story?),Nadodi Cholkathakal,Rahasyam andKudamanikal. She was most noted for her translation into Malayalam of thePanchatantra.[4] Sumangala has also translated theValmiki Ramayanam into Malayalam fromSanskrit. She also was the compiler ofPacha Malayala Nikhandu, a dictionary of colloquial Malayalam. The book was praised for its insights and diverse facts about the Malayalam language.[4][7]
She wrote a song for the Malayalam filmChenda (1973)[8] and was also a contributor toPoompatta, a Malayalam-language comic for children.[4] She also wrote a book on the history ofKerala Kalamandalam, a center for performing arts and learning in Kerala.[4]
Sumangala was the recipient of many awards, including theKerala Sahitya Akademi Award for thebest work in children's literature in 1979 and the Bala Sahitya Institute award for lifelong contribution towards children's literature in 1999. She was the recipient of theKendra Sahitya Academy Award forChildren's Literature in 2013. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi presidentVaisakhan praised her for leading generations of Malayalam children into the world of reading: her books instilled the importance of human values and were simple and readable for children. He compared the tone of her writing to that of a "grandmother telling stories to her grandchildren".[4]
Nambudiripad was married to Desamangalam Ashtamurthy Nambudiripad until his death in 2014. They had three children: Usha Nambudiripad, D. Narayanan and D. Ashtamurthy. She served in the Public Relations Department ofKerala Kalamandalam for 22 years.[9][4] She resided in the town ofWadakkancherry inThrissur District, inIndia.[10]
Nambudiripad died on 27 April 2021 at her home in Wadakkancherry from age-related ailments, shortly before turning 87.[4][11]
Source(s):[12]
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