During the second childhood that is old age, she continues to enthrall children with her lucid story-telling. 68-year-old Sumangala, the writer of children's stories, is best known for her recreation of Panchatantra tales, which has gone into 2 dozen editions so far.
Born as Leela Namboodirippad to Rig Veda interpreter Olappamanna O.M.C Narayanan Namboothiri and Uma Antharjanam, she learned Sanskrit and Malayalam from her father in addition to her regular class work. But when she started writing stories for children, the burden of learning did not weigh her down. She was able to write lucidly and plainly and in a children-friendly manner, as attested by the success of her books and columns in periodicals.
Sumangala initially wrote for her ownDuring the second childhood that is old age, she continues to enthrall children with her lucid story-telling. 68-year-old Sumangala, the writer of children's stories, is best known for her recreation of Panchatantra tales, which has gone into 2 dozen editions so far.
Born as Leela Namboodirippad to Rig Veda interpreter Olappamanna O.M.C Narayanan Namboothiri and Uma Antharjanam, she learned Sanskrit and Malayalam from her father in addition to her regular class work. But when she started writing stories for children, the burden of learning did not weigh her down. She was able to write lucidly and plainly and in a children-friendly manner, as attested by the success of her books and columns in periodicals.
Sumangala initially wrote for her own children and modified her stories to suit the taste of the young critics. Later for a decade starting from 1965, she wrote in the magazine "Poompatta". For 22 years she was the Public Relations Officer at Kerala Kalamandalam and during the time wrote many abridged stories based on Puranas.
Fondly referred to as the Enid Blyton of Malayalam, Sumangala has penned 37 books of which 23 are for children. Her most celebrated works include Mithayippoti, Neypaayasam, Manchaatikkuru, Kurinjiyum Koottukaarum, Ee Kattha Kettittundo, Nadodi Cholkathakal, Rahasyam and Kudamanikal. Perhaps her most famous work is a translation into Malayalam of the Panchatantra. Sumangala has also translated the Valmiki Ramayanam into Malayalam from Sanskrit. Another important literary work of hers is the compilation of Pacha Malayala Nikhandu. Sumangala is the recipient of many awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the best work in children's literature (in 1979) and the Bala Sahitya Institute award for Lifelong contribution towards children's literature (in 1999).
200 stories in 10 books are her published works. During the 3 decades of her literary service, she has been honoured with many awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademy award for children's literature 1979 and the Social Welfare award of the State Government in 1980. Now a member of the Institute of Children's Literature, she considers the letters from children addressing her as "Grandma" as her greatest reward.
Sumangala lives with her husband at Vadakkancherry. Her children are Usha, Narayanan and Ashta Moorthy....more
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