Who was BalamaniAmma, grandmother of Malayalam literature?

Context

Today’s Google Doodle is celebrating the 113th birthday of famous Indian poet BalamaniAmma, known as the grandmother of Malayalam literature. 

 About BalamaniAmma

• BalamaniAmma was born in the Thrissur district of Kerala on 19 July 1909. 
• BalamaniAmma was also the mother of Kamala Das. 
• Kamala Das was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1984.
• BalamaniAmma never received any formal education. 
• She was taught at home by her uncle Nalappat Narayana Menon, who was also a famous Malayali poet. 
• Amma grew up studying her uncle's impressive collection of books and works. 
• At the age of 19, she married V.M. Nair, the managing director and managing editor of the Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi.
• Her first poem, titled Kooppukai, was published in 1930.
• Amma’s early poems glorified motherhood in a new light by adopting the ideas and stories of mythological characters and depicting women as powerful figures. 
• She came to be known as the “poetess of motherhood”. 
• Her most famous works include Amma (1934), Muthassi (1962) and Mazhuvinte Katha (1966).
• BalamaniAmma has more than 20 anthologies of poetry, prose and translations published in her name.
• She passed away in 2004 and was cremated with full state honours.
  
  

Awards

• BalamaniAmma was the recipient of numerous awards for her literary work.
• She received recognition as a gifted poet from the former ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin, ParikshithThampuran, who awarded her with the SahithyaNipunaPuraskaram.
• Amma was the recipient of various awards and honours like the Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian honour, in 1987.
• Amma was the recipient of numerous awards for her literary work , including Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award.
• The SahityaAkademi Award for Muthassi in 1965.
• The SaraswatiSamman for Nivedyam in 1995, among others