Women Of Words 05 - Muddupalini Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

Muddupalini
Was a Devadasi
And consort of
King Pratap Singh
Of Thanjavur.

She was well versed
In Telugu and Sanskrit literature,
was an accomplished dancer,
A composer and choreographer
And above all, a talented poet.

She is remembered now
Not for her prowess in dance,
But for her literary works,
Specifically, her epic poem
‘Radhika Swanthanam'.

During her magnificent times,
The poem was celebrated
For its creativity and genius,
But censored in the twentieth century
As erotic for its sexual frankness.

Her translations of The Ashtapadi
The eponymous work of Jayadeva
And the Thiruppavai by Andal
Into Telugu are recognised
As epical even today.

She has written about herself thus:
"Which other woman of my kind has
felicitated scholars with such gifts and money?
To which other women of my kind have
epics been dedicated?
Which other woman of my kind has
won such acclaim in each of the arts?
You are incomparable,
Muthupalzhani, among your kind."