THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Writer B Sujatha Devi passed away at a private hospital early Saturday morning following a brief illness. Sujatha, 72, was the younger sister of poetess Sugathakumari and the late professor Hridya Kumari. Sujatha Devi, a well-known travel writer, was an English professor including at the Maharaja's College Ernakulam, Women's College and University College (both Thiruvananthapuram).
Her work Kadinte Thalam Thedi won the Kerala Sahitya Academy. She had also published Mrinmayi, a poetry collection. She wrote under the name Devi. Daughter of poet and freedom fighter the late Bohdeswaran and Karthiyaniamma, Sujatha's husband P Gopalakrishnan had predeceased her. She is survived by sons Parameswaran and Padmanabhan while another son Govindan had passed away.
The body was kept at Sugathakumari's residence for the public to pay homage and the cremation was held at Santhi Kavadam at Thycaud in the afternoon. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while expressing condolence, said Sujatha Devi was noted for her poetry collections and travel writings. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said, "Though unknown to many, Sujatha Teacher, along with her sister, was at the forefront of environmental struggles."