P. Geetha Receives First Saraswathi Amma Award

Tags: Awards

P. Geetha, writer, critic, and feminist activist, received the first Saraswathi Amma Award.

An Overview of the News

• The award was instituted by WINGS (Women’s Integration and Growth Through Sports), Kerala, for feminist studies.

• Geetha's work "To Thachukal" (Male Creations) on the scripts of MT Vasudevan Nair won the award.

Presentation of the Award:

• This award was presented to Geeta on 29 June.

• Writer and social activist Sarah Joseph presented the award.

Saraswathi Amma's Legacy:

• Saraswathi Amma was a writer ahead of her time, facing societal intolerance for her genius.

• She published her first short story in 1938 and wrote about gender equality when it was an unknown concept in Kerala society.

• Her works included short stories, a novel, a play, and essays.

Recognition and Challenges:

• Saraswathi Amma was labeled a "man hater" but later hailed as a forerunner of feminist literature.

• No writer of her time was willing to write a prologue to her works.

• Some of her works questioning patriarchal values were edited and deleted but republished posthumously.

WINGS Organization:

• NA Vinaya, Founder of WINGS, chaired the award function.

• WINGS aims to make women courageous and independent.

• The organization decided to establish the award to honor Saraswathi Amma's bold stance.