A lady who lived.....

As every media space is filling with the tribute and memories of Kamala das, I'm know I'm not the right person to write about her with my limited knowledge.

Yet I want to make a personal tribute to her. Let me admit at first instance itself that I know her just only through her 5 books. But still the Madhavikutty I felt and understand was the most mesmerizing personality.

The first work of her I came across was " Nashtapetta Neelambari" - a short story collection. It left me amazed like a day-old child looking aghast into the new world. In fact, it was a new world- one in vivid colors in darker shades. Her words were so alive that I felt sure that even after years,when anyone turns over the page, they could smell the wetness of her ink.

Her "Ente katha" (My story) was the most precious Birthday gift I have ever got. Then there was her "Neermathalangal Poothapol" and "Balyakalasmaranakal" which takes us back to our childhood. But the most striking work of her for me was "Chandanamarangal", which portrayed the relationship between women in a every beautiful way.

Though her works were highly criticized , I felt it to be one with filled with passion and truth. The way she narrates without polishing it with hypocrisies captures my heart. I too wished to stay awake and know the smell of the nights with all its jasmines and 'gandharajans'....

Leaving the cloak of writer apart, I felt she is one of the beautiful women I have seen. Morevoer she was a woman of passion. May it has added to her beauty. To quote herself a woman would be most beautiful when she is in love or is being loved. She was indeed beautiful until the last moment.

During her last days, she repended that she had written in malayalam. but i felt it to be our luck to be able to read her in the language of her heart. nothing could be as intense as that.

As the first drop of monsoon pelts down the earth, she lays there dead beneath the mahagony tree. But still stay alive in many a heart reminding us the tale of a lady who really lived...