Masjid salutes Kamala Surayya's memories

Kollam: Madhavikkutty aka Kamala Surayya, the poet who longed for eternal life that she expressed through her restless words, has a mosque in Kollam named after her, thus making her eternal.  The only mosque in the State ever to bear the name of a Keralite woman, the Kamala Surayya Masjid, was built by an ardent fan of hers – Abdul Rahman. As Malayalam literature remembers Kamala Surayya on her eighth death anniversary, Abdul Rahman remembers paying his last respects when her body was brought to Kollam – the only time he met her. “My relationship with Surayya lasted for over 15 years when I contacted her and invited her to inaugurate a purdah shop run by me. Though she did not turn up, we were in touch often,” Abdul Rahman says.

One of the books Mr. Rahman likes the most is ‘Neermathalam Pootha Kalam’ in which he finds the spiritual quest in her. “The book has lines pointing at her longing for an eternal life, he says”.  “She even discussed her plans to launch a political party, which I discouraged pointing out examples from history and saying that she would be isolated by her own followers,” he remembers.  “It was six years back that I decided to turn my house in the beach road into a mosque, for which I gave the name ‘Kamala Surayya Masjid’ with an intention to make her name be remembered. I have also started a book stall in her name after seeking permission from her son to which he agreed wholeheartedly.”

Hailing from ‘Hafiz Darul Ameen’ at Ayathil in Kollam, Abdul Rahman has also started a charitable society in the name of Surayya to help the needy. A Quran college also functions in the two-storied building of the Masjid giving accommodation to as many as 20 students. Mr. Rahman is also unhappy on the controversies on the content of Surayya’s writings. “She always used to talk very affectionately even with strangers, which was badly portrayed by those with really bad intentions. She earned respect from everyone she met,” he says.