New Delhi, Delhi, India

One of the most engrossing writers of the country, Kamala Surayya was a non-conformist and perhaps that's why Google chose to celebrate her life and work today with a doodle. The doodle by artist Manjit Thapp provides a window into the life of the poet. 

Born in Punnayurkulam, Thrissur in Kerala on 31 March 1934, to the former managing editor of Mathrubhoomi, VM Nair and Nalapat Balamani Amma, Kamala spent her childhood in Calcutta where her father was employed with Walford Transport Company. 

Owing to her literary lineage-her mother was a renowned poet herself while her father was an editor of a magazine, writing came naturally to her from a young age. Her great-uncle Nalapat Narayana Menon, a prominent writer himself, was a great influence on her and she took to poetry from an early age. 

She got married to Madhava Das, a banker at the young age of 15. Das encouraged her to write and she started writing in both Malayalam and English. 

Interestingly, it is on this day in 1976, that Kamala Das released her autobiography, 'My Story. Her life and work reflected certain boldness and shape-shifting quality. She wrote several genres and expressed herself in various languages. 

Her autobiography captured life from childhood to marriage and beyond. She initially began writing in English but simultaneously started translating it in Malayalam. She did face a lot of opposition from members of her family and people outside while publishing the book. But once the book released, most were stunned with the way she expressed herself in words and lauded her honesty. 

Honoured with Sahitya Academy Award in 1984, Kamala died in 2009.