Kamala Surayya (born Kamala Madhavikutty, surname Das), a renowned Indian author, died on May 31, 2009 at the age of 75. Kamala Surayya was one of the most acclaimed postwar Indian writers in Malayalam and English. Born in 1934 in Kerala, she began writing at the age of 16. She authored more than 30 works, including novels, collections of poems, short stories, and autobiographies. Early in her career, she wrote about the struggle of women and women's rights in Indian society. Surayya's works often drew criticism for boldly discussing taboo topics surrounding sexuality, Hinduism, and the role of the individual's relationship with self. In addition to her writing, she was a professor at universities in India and the United States. In addition, she received many awards and honors for her work in writing and Civil Rights advocacy. She was the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award for her novel, "Nayaru Pidicha Pulivalu" (The Ring of Fire), a Padma Shri from the government of India in 2006, and a Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. She is survived by her three children, daughters Leela and Shalini and son Madhav.