The Namboodiri caste lived by a rigid patriarchal code, secluding girls in the kitchen, marrying pre-pubescent girls to grooms half a century older than them.
Lalithambika’s family homestead was, in those days, a hideout for freedom fighters (some in the Congress party, some who later joined the Communist movement).
Her mother Arya, only 15 years older than her, was her best friend. Arya secretly wrote poetry, read Tagore’s poems to her, nourishing her imagination.
Lalithambika would brave the social taboos and emerge as a pan-Indian writer and social renaissance activist, even winning Kendra Sahitya Akademi awards.
She probably embraced every genre of literature, from poetry to Thiruvathirakali songs, plays to film scripts, and short stories to a full-fledged novel.