Nanjangud Tirumalamba

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Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba
Born	Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba (1887-03-25)25 March 1887 Nanjanagudu, Mysore State, British India (now in Mysore, Karnataka, India)
Died	31 August 1982(1982-08-31) (aged 95) Nanjanagudu, Mysore, Karnataka, India.
Occupation(s)	Kannada writer, political activist, feminist, poet, writer, publisher, newspaper editor, printer
Parent(s)	Venkatakrishna Iyengar, Alamelamma

Nanjanagudu Tirumalamba (1887–1982; also known as Nanjangud Tirumalamba)^[1] was a Mysorean author, newspaper editor, publisher, and printer who promoted the uplifting of women through literature. She was born on 25 March, 1887 in Nanjanagudu, Mysore (then under British India) into a Brahmin family with her lawyer father, Venkatakrishna, and her Iyengar^[2] mother, Alamelamma. Tirumalamba, a native Tamil speaker, spoke Telugu and Kannada, though the latter was favored as it was the language of her hometown. She passed away in Nanjanagudu, Karanataka on 31 August, 1982.

Tirumalamba was married at the age of 10 and widowed at 14.^[1][3] Her father was a bibliophile who introduced his daughter to a wide range of literary works, including sacred texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavatha, as well as plays by authors such as Nanjanagudu Srikanta Shastri, Bellave Somanathayya, and M. Venkatadri Shastri. Tirumalamba's mother died when she was 5 years old.^[2]

In her spare time, Tirumalamba taught local children at her house, which became an informal school in itself that came to be known as Mathru Mandira (Kannada: ಮಾತೃಮಂದಿರ, lit. 'mother's temple'). The children and women from her neighborhood would gather there and learn after finishing household chores. For her students, she established a newspaper called Sanmargadarshini.^[2]

Tirumalamba's personal writings, initially for self-study, were extended into drama, fiction, stories, and songs.^[4] Mathru Mandira provided an audience for her writings, and Tirumalmba began writing more in order to deliver to this audience.

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Madhuravani, a monthly magazine from Mysore, organized a story competition to which Tirumalamba submitted one of her stories. The editor of Madhuravani, K. Hanuman, visited Tirumalamba's house to find the author of the story. There, he discovered a collection of various literary works, including stories, novels, plays, essays, and articles. Impressed by a piece titled Vidhava Kartavya, he published it in Madhuravani.

Despite facing criticism in a society where child marriage was common and widowed women were often secluded, Tirumalamba continued her writing with confidence, supported by her father's blessings and best wishes. Shortly thereafter, she established a publication house called Sathi Hitaishini.

Tirumalamba started her own publishing house.^[1] From the publication house of Sathi Hitaishini, Tirumalamba's first novel Sushile, was published in 1913. The book was popular and saw four editions and sold more than 7000 copies.

The Sathi Hitaishini publication house not only published novels by Tirumalamba but also other books such as Sanmarga Granthavali and Sanmarga Grantha Malika by Panyam Sundarashastri and Saraguru Venkata Varadacharya, respectively. Additionally, works like Nandini Granthamala and Science of Decoration by Dr. S. N. Narasimhayya were included in their catalog. The publication also released books like Suksmayurveda Chikitsa Prayoga and Sarala Unipathi Chikisakata by Dr. Srinivas Murthy.

Between 1913 and 1916, Tirumalamba authored eleven books, including Nabha, Vidyullatha, and Harina. In total, Tirumalamba wrote approximately 28 books, spanning various genres such as stories, novels, short novels, detective novels, essays, poems, and plays. Her final novel, ManiMala, was published in 1939.

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Tirumalamba established a monthly magazine named Karnataka Nandini. She expressed her intentions to support women through the magazine, stating, "I am a common woman with very little knowledge, lacking the sophistication of urban civilization, but I am committed to assisting my fellow women as much as possible." Despite her humble background, Tirumalamba aimed to empower women through her publication.

A poet, Udupi TulasiBai, submitted a poem for publication in Karnataka Nandini. Kademgodlu Shankara Bhattaru was another regular contributor to the magazine. A column titled Kannada Rannagannadi was dedicated to individuals advocating for the Kannada language.

Tirumalamba actively encouraged any educated women to contribute to Karnataka Nandini, but due to a scarcity of contributors, she assumed various pen names to fill the magazine's columns. However, this effort proved unsustainable, leading to the eventual closure of the magazine.

Tirumalamba experienced profound grief following her father's death, leading her to become more introspective and focus on philosophical writing. Eventually, she ceased writing altogether.

Tirumalamba passed away at the age of ninety-five on 31 August, 1982.^[3]

Literary works published by the Sati Hitaisini publication house—including Matrunandini, Chandravadana, and Ramanand—were recognized with awards from the Madras School Book and Literature Society. The Vidyavardhaka Sangha of Karnataka also honored works such as Ramananda and Purnakala. Tirumalamba's writings received recognition and rewards from the governments of Mysore, Madras, and Bombay.

In 1980, Tirumalamba was honored by the Rajya Sahitya Academy. Additionally, from 1917 to nearly two decades thereafter, Tirumalamba's works served as textbooks in schools across the states of Madras, Mysore, and Bombay.

To commemorate Tirumalamba's legacy, C. N. Mangala established the Shaswathi institution, which presents the Tirumalamba Award to outstanding female writers.^[3][5]

• Sushile (1913)
• Nabha
• Vidyullata
• Viragini
• Daksakanye (spy)
• Manimala

• Savitri Charitre
• Janaki Kalyana

• Indian literature
• List of Indian writers
• List of Indian women writers

• Tirumalamba: the visionary kannada novelist
• Nanjangud Tirumalamba, a widow who became a writer, publisher, and more, and reached the pinnacle of success