Kamala Surayya, the award-winning writer, who wrote in both Malayalam and English, was accorded a state funeral and policemen gave a gun salute as her body was interred.

On Tuesday morning, the mourners at the funeral included many politicians including Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Kerala’s Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran and Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran.

The mood was somber when her body was lowered into the resting place at 9 a.m. and people took turns to drop clods of earth as is customary at funerals.

Earlier, separate prayers for men and women were held according to traditional Muslim customs.