Salma is a well-known name to readers of contemporary Tamil literature. With two volumes of poetry – “Oru Maalaiyum Innoru Maalaiyum” and “Pacchai Devadai” - and a novel “Irandaam Jaamangalin Kadhai” - all of which have been translated to several languages including German and Galisian. Salma has made her mark as a distinctive literary voice. Lakshmi Holmstrom’s English translation of her novel, entitled The Hour Past Midnight, was recently shortlisted for the Crossword Translation award, Man Asian award and DSC award. Salma’s poetry and fiction have carved an undeniable place in the Tamil literary terrain for the articulation of desire and sexuality as well as the emotions that animate the domestic space every day, subjects that are often considered beneath literary consideration.Her poetry and novel became controversial as they were vehemently on moral and religious grounds by fundamentalists of all hues. Salma has been the recipient of several awards and honours including Katha award(2002), Deva makal Award(2001). She has also been a special invitee to several book festivals and seminars. She was the only representative of Tamil literature at the London Book Fair in 2009, Frankfurt book Fair 2006, Beijing Book fair 2010. In 2007, the University of Chicago organized a two-day seminar, as part of the annual Norman J. Cutlet Conference, to discuss her literary works.
Besides being a woman of letters, Salma has also been a committed public servant. She was the elected President of the Ponnampatti Panchayat, 2001-2006. She also served as the Chairman of the Social Welfare Board, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, during which time she was instrumental in establishing several welfare schemes, including some landmark ones directed to the transgender (aravani/hijra) community in Tamil Nadu. For her contributions, she was also nominated for the Dr. Durgabai Deshmukh Award for 2005-2007 by Hon’ble wife of the then Vice President of India.