‘When I see children of Gaza, how can I get rice down my throat?’: Noted Malayalam writer took a stand on 98th birthday. Then came the trolling

“When I see the children of Gaza, how can I get rice down my throat?” she wrote.

The remarks drew vicious trolling on social media, with one handle saying: “Teacher, you are tired of rice. See whether mandi (Yemeni dish) will go down your throat. Then, mother, you will be happy in your old age”.

Unfazed by the trolling, the former college professor said: “All the children in the world are equal to me. I see them through the eyes of a mother. I am not afraid of the opposition and protest. Neither do I have enmity towards them. Children have no caste, religion or colour. I am sad when they are hungry. I don’t look into who their parents are”.

The political and cultural world in Kerala rallied behind the professor. Senior CPI(M) leader and Industries Minister P Rajeeve said that certain quarters have ventured to cyber attack “Leelavathi teacher is a matter of serious concern. Such people [those who trolled] do not serve anything positive for Keralites, who hold high values. Also, they are trying to make society retrogressive. I stand with the children of Gaza and Palestine,” he said.

Writer C Radhakrishnan said: “What’s wrong in speaking about children left to starve in the world. If one cannot agree with her, using abusive language is not the way”.

Known as mother’s voice in Malayalam literary criticism, Leelavathy started her career as a critic in the 1940s by authoring an article on Kuttikrishna Marar, a prominent critic who had then criticised poet G Sankara Kurup.

After completing her post-graduation from Madras University, Leelavathy joined the Government Victoria College, Palakkad, as a lecturer in 1952 and eventually moved to the Government Maharajas College, Ernakulam. In 1983, she retired as the principal of Government Brennen College Thalassery.

As a woman voice in Malayalam literary criticism, she has been known as a trailblazer. Her critical analysis included studies on works of doyens of Malayalam literature G Sankara Kurup, Changampuzha, Vyloppilly, N V Krishna Warrier and Edassery. Her critiques paved the way for rereading several works, apart from giving a feminist perspective of a woman.

In 2008, she was honoured with the Padma Shri award in recognition of her contributions to literature and education. She is also the recipient of prominent literary awards such as the Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award and the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram. Last year, she published her autobiography `Dhwani Prayanam’.