Kamala Surayya, also known as Kamala Das, was an influential Indian poet and author born on March 31, 1934, in Malabar, Kerala. She is celebrated for her candid and confessional style of writing, which often explored themes of love, identity, and the struggles of women in Indian society. Her notable works include the poetry collection Summer in Calcutta and her autobiography, My Story. Surayya's literary contributions earned her several awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and the Asian Poetry Prize. She was a prominent figure in Indian English literature and played a significant role in bringing women's issues to the forefront through her writing. Kamala Surayya passed away on May 31, 2009.