Malayalam writer P Valsala passes away

Kozhikode: Malayalam writer, social worker and teacher, P. Valsala (84) passed away. She died at the Kozhikode Mukkam KMCT Medical College around 11 PM on Tuesday.

Popularly known as the narrator of Thirunelli (Tirunelliyude kathakaari), Valsala has been active in Malayalam literature since the 1960s. She was a writer who got to know the life of the tribal people of Wayanad at a close hand and wrote about it without the lens of prejudice. 

Valsala has various laurels to her name including the prestigious Ezhuthachan award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi award, Padma Prabha award, etc. Her major works include Nellu (1972), ‘Anupamayude Kavalkkaran’ (1980), ‘Panguru Pushpathinde Theen’ (1998), ‘Aaranniya Kandam’ (2003) and ‘Suvarna Kadhakal’ (2008), among others. 

Valsala was born on August 28, 1939, in Kanhangad as the eldest daughter of E. Chandu and Padmavathi. She completed her undergraduate studies at Providence College and began her career as a teacher at the Koduvalli Government High School. Valsala taught for 32 years and retired in 1993.

She has held the post of the Sahitya Akademi President and Vice President and was also the President of the Sahitya Samithi for the last 17 years. Husband: Murali M Appukutty, Children: Dr. M.A Mini, M.A Arun, Son/daughter-in-law: Dr. K Ninakumar, Gayathri.