A. V. Kuttimalu Amma

A.V. Kuttimalu Amma was a top ranking Congress Party leader of Kerala, India and a fearless freedom fighter. Born in Anakkara Vadakkath family of Ponnani taluq,S. Malabar, in 1905, Amma was drawn into the freedom movement in her youth. She and her husband K. Madhava Menon (former KPCC President and Minister in Madras State) actively participated in all movements of the Congress .

Kuttimalu Amma began her public life as an active Khadi and Swadeshi worker in 1930. She led batches of women volunteers and successfully conducted picketing of foreign cloth-shops in Calicut in 1931. During the Civil Disobedience Movement, holding her two month old baby in her arms, she led a procession of women, breaking the ban order in Calicut and was arrested and convicted for two years imprisonment.

When she reached the jail with her baby, authorities did not allow her to take the baby with her. Kuttimalu Amma insisted that she had every right to take her baby with her into the jail, quoting relevant rules. Finally, the authorities had to accede to her demand. In 1936, she was elected to the Madras Assembly. During individual Satyagraha in 1940, Kuttimalu Amma was arrested and imprisoned for a year. During Quit India Movement, she was detained for two years in the Presidency jail for women.

After her release in 1944, she took up the task of organising Congress in Malabar and became KPCC President for a term. Kuttimalu Amma had also served as a member of AICC and the Congress Working Committee.In 1946, she was again elected as a member of Madras Legislative Assembly. She was Director of the 'Mathrubhumi' Calicut for some time. She died in 1986.