Professional Documents
Culture Documents
My Mother at Sixty Six
My Mother at Sixty Six
SIXTY SIX
--KAMLA DAS
INDEX
• ABOUT AUTHOR
• THEME
• SUMMARY
ABOUT AUTHOR
Kamala Surayya (born Kamala; 31 March 1934–31 May
2009), popularly known by her one-time pen name
Madhavikutty and married name Kamala Das, was an
Indian poet in English as well as an author in Malayalam
from Kerala, India. Her popularity in Kerala is based
chiefly on her short stories and autobiography, while her
oeuvre in English, written under the name Kamala Das, is
noted for the poems and explicit autobiography. She was
also a widely read columnist and wrote on diverse topics
including women's issues, child care, politics among others
etc.
ABOUT AUTHOR
• The poet, Kamala Das also wrote by her pen-name of ‘Madhavikutty’. She was
born in Kerala and is one of India’s first poets. Her subject – matter is basically
related to her personality- beautiful, sensitive, bold and tormented. External
factors do not reflect in her writings, her writings bring out her true inner feelings.
• Her favorite poem is ‘composition’.
• In the poem ‘My mother at sixty six’, she talks about her mother. This poem is
based on mother-daughter relation and the poet shares her feelings for her mother.
THEME
The theme of the poem is ‘ageing’ which is the law of the nature.
It also depicts the aspirations of the young generation. It portrays
the different stages of life and how everybody grows old and
faces various situations that life throws at them. Hence this is the
central theme of the poem My Mother At Sixty Six.
SUMMARY
• This is a touching poem written by Indian poet Kamla Das who wrote
under the pen name of ‘Madhavikutty’. In this poem, she describes her
feeling of love and attachment towards her ageing mother.
• Once the poet went to visit her mother. She was on her way back to the the
airport to return to Cochin. She looked at her mother who was seated
beside her in the car. Her mother had dozed off to sleep and her ageing face
- was smoky in colour like ash. Her mouth was open and she resembled a
dead body. The poet realized that her mother was old. She felt pain and
sympathy for her. Her mother needed love, affection and care..
SUMMARY
• The poet did not express her feelings. She smiled and said “see you soon, Amma” because she
wanted that her mother should live and they could meet again.