Sugathakumari is an Indian poet - activist, born in 1934, who has been at the

forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India. She

played a big role in the Save Silent Valley protest. She formed Abhayagrama,
aka Abhayagramam, a home for destitute women (Athani) and a day-care centre
for the mentally ill. She was the former chairperson of theKerala State Women's
Commission.

Her father is Shribotheshvaran and her mother is V.K.Karthiyayini. Her husband

is Dr K.Velayudhan Nair and her daughter is Lakshmi. She was the Principal
of Jawahar Balabhavan. She was the Editor of a Magazine Thaliru. She has won
several awards.

 1978 Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for Rathrimazha

 1982 Odakkuzhal Award for Ambalamani
 1984 Vayalar Award for Ambalamani
 2001 Lalithambika Antharjanam Award
 2003 Vallathol Award
 2004 Kerala Sahithya Akademi Fellowship
 2004 Balamaniamma Award
 2004 Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam "Sahithya Award"
 2006 Padmashri

Kumari was inspired by her father's poetry as well as his

strong beliefs: 'He was a freedom fighter filled with the all too
rare ideals of patriotism and sacrifice.' His example
influenced her deeply and led her eventually to the
conviction that the writer has an important obligation as a
social conscience. Although she is best known as a poet
environmentalist, Kumari is also the founder of Abhaya
(refuge) -- an organization which gives shelter and hope to
female mental patients. Her work to launch Abhaya was
prompted by an off-chance visit to the government-run
Mental Hospital in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram.