Amma - Perumal Murugan (Translated by Nandini Murali & Kavitha Muralidharan)

A deeply moving, luminous portrait of a son’s relationship with his mother. Marking a significant literary milestone, this is the very first work of non-fiction by master storyteller Perumal Murugan to be translated into English.

In this collection of tender yet unflinchingly truthful essays, International Booker Prize-longlisted author Perumal Murugan turns his sharp, empathetic gaze inward to chronicle the extraordinary life of his mother, Perumayee. Left to manage a few acres of dry land on her own in rural Tamil Nadu, she single-handedly raised her children by tending to crops and cattle with fierce maternal devotion, all while skillfully navigating the volatile temperament of an unruly husband.

From ensuring every family obligation was meticulously met and all financial accounts squared up, to cooking meals meant to satiate both the tongue and the heart, Amma never rested—not even when later bedridden with Parkinson’s disease. She lived a proud, resilient farmer’s life and died a farmer’s death.

More than just a personal memoir, Amma is a profound homage to a vanishing way of life and a set of core values—simplicity, absolute honesty, and relentless hard work—that feel increasingly lost in our modern world. Peppered with unsentimental nostalgia and delightful flashes of rustic humor, the book serves as a vivid historical documentation of village and agricultural life in the unique Kongu region of Tamil Nadu. Tugging gently at our shared generational memories, Murugan’s non-fiction prose proves to be just as deeply affecting, lyrical, and absorbing as his globally acclaimed novels.

Why This Memoir is a Must-Read:

• A New Side of a Master: Offers readers an intimate look into the real-life inspirations, landscapes, and maternal influences that shaped Perumal Murugan's celebrated literary voice.

• Vivid Cultural Documentation: Richly details the daily rhythms, agricultural traditions, folklore, and domestic struggles of the Kongu community.

• A Universal Tribute: A powerful, deeply relatable celebration of maternal resilience, silent sacrifice, and the enduring strength of rural women.