RENAISSANCE IN KERALA :Literary Figures : KERALA PSC NOTES

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In this article we will discuss about some great Literary Figures from Kerala who contributed to the   renaissance in Kerala.

The area about which Kerala PSC frequently ask questions are tried to include here.The list is incomplete. I will keep on update. You can also contribute valuable information. 

TOPICS COVERED

1. Cherusseri Namboothiri(1375 - 1475 )
2. Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan(1495-?)
3. Kunchan nambiyar (1705-1770)
4. KeralaVarma Valiya Koil Thampuran (1845 -1914)
5. O Chandu Menon (1847–99)
6. Kodungalloor Kunjikuttan Thampuran (1868 -1914)
7. Mooloor S. Padmanābha Panicker (1869 -1931)
8. Kumaran Ashan ( 1873 – 1924)
9. Vallathol Narayana Menon (1878 – 1958)
10. Pandalam Kerala Varma(1879-1919)
11. Kandathil Varghese mappilai (1857 -1904)
12. G Sankara Kurup (1901 -1976)
13. P Keshav Dev (1904-1983)
14. Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer (1908 –  1994)
15. Ponkunnam Varkey (1910-2004)
16. Changampuzha (1911-1948)
17. Thakazhi Shiva Sankara Pillai(1912-1999)
18. S K Pottekkatt (1913 -1982)

Cherusseri Namboothiri(1375 - 1475 )
Author of the famous poem Krishna Gatha, which is used for daily recitation as an act of worship of Krishna during the Malayalam month Chingam.

Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan(1495-?)
Known as the father of Malayalam language.
He translated the two Hindu epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, to Malayalam for the common man with the mingling of the Sanskrit and Dravidian languages
Ezhuthachan's other major contribution has been in establishing an (51 character) alphabet system equivalent to Sanskrit instead of Vattezhuthu, the 30-letter script of Malayalam
The highest literary honour instituted by the Kerala Government is known as the "Ezhuthachan Award"
Theekkadal Kadannu Thirumadhuram (2004) by C. Radhakrishnan: a novel written by C. Radhakrishnan that sketched Ezhuthachan’s life and journeyed through the emotions he must have gone through.

Kunchan Nambiyar (1705-1770)
Famous  Malayalam poet, performer, satirist and the inventor of  Ottamtullal

KeralaVarma Valiya Koil Thampuran (1845 -1914)
Known as KERALA KALIDASAN as he translated Kalidasa's Sakunthalam to Malayalam as Abhijnana Sakunthalam.
Another work “Mayoora Sandesham” was on the line of Kalidasa's MeghaDooth in which he has used the peacocks of Haripad temple to send his messages to his wife, the Maharani, in Trivandrum.
Visakha vijaya was another famous work.
He absorbed selected Western influences and combined with native Sanskritic elements in poetry, drama and prose!
He was a member of Royal  Parappanad Family.

O Chandu Menon (1847–99)
Recipient of prestigious Rao bahadur Award,
Wrote first Malayalam Novel with all Lakshnas, titled Indu Lekha, (First Malayalam Novel was Kundalatha written by Appu Nedumgadi)

Kodungalloor Kunjikuttan Thampuran (1868 -1914)
Known as KERALA VYASA  for his single-handed, word-by-word, metre-by-metre translation of entire Mahabharata within 874 days as Bhasha Bharatam.
Kunjikkuttan Thampuran started two literary movements in Malayalam: Paccha Malayalam (Pure Malayalam) and Puranetihasa Vivartanam . Pacha Malayalam avoided over influence of Sanskrit while Puranetihasa Vivarthanam was Translation of Itihasas and Puranas to Malayalam.
Notable works: “Pachamalayalam ,Puranithihasa vivarthanam, KaviBharatam, Ambopadesham.

Mooloor S. Padmanabha Panicker (1869 -1931)
He is known as “Sarasa Kavi”
Notable work: Kavi-Ramayanam,  deemed to be the motivational force behind the 1936 Temple Entry Proclamation.
Built Mezhuveli Anandabhootheshawara Temple


Kumaran Ashan ( 1873 – 1924)
Got title as MAHAKAVI from madras university. Kumaranasan was the only poet in Malayalam who became mahakavi without writing a mahakavyam.
Disciple of Sri Narayana Guru.
Became SNDP Secretary in 1903
Worked in Vivekodayam Newspaper


Ulloor S Parameswara Iyyar (1877-1949)
One of the Triumvirate poets , along with  Ashan and Vallathol
Works: Pingala, Karnabhooshanam, Bhakthideepika.


Vallathol Narayana Menon (1878 – 1958)
Became GREAT POET after the work maha kavya Chitra Yogam
Famous work : Ente Guru Nathan
Ulloor published his mahakavya Umakeralam , the second maha kavyam in Malayalam.


Pandalam Kerala Varma(1879-1919)
The author of the first complete mahakavya in Malayalam titled Rukmamgadacharitham
He was the owner and Chief Editor of Kavana Kaumudi, the first Malayalam periodical, which was also the first to introduce special issues in Malayalam.


Kandathil Varghese mappilai (1857 -1904)
He is the founder of Bhashaposhini Sabha, ‘ Bhashaposhini’ magazine and Malayala Manorama.
‘Abrayakutty’, an independent drama, Malayalam translation of William Shaekspeare’s drama ‘Taming of the Shrew, ‘Keerthanamala were some of the contributions by him for Malayalam Literature.


G Sankara Kurup (1901 -1976)
The first winner of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary award, for his renowned work Odakuzhal in 1965.
With part of the prize money he established the literary award Odakkuzhal.


P Keshav Dev (1904-1983)
Central Academy award winner for “Ayalkkar”.
Autobiography:  Ethirppu
Notable works: Odayil Ninnu, Nadhi, Bhrandalayam.
One of the exponents of progressive Malayalam Literature along with Basheer and Thakazhi.

Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer (1908 –  1994)
Recipient of Padma award.
Calicut university honoured him with title of  “Doctor of letters”.

Ponkunnam Varkey (1910-2004)
Bagged Vallathol Award and Ezhuthachan Award.


Changampuzha (1911-1948)
Renowned for his work titled Ramanan which was based on the life of Edappalli Raghavan pillai.


Thakazhi Shiva Sankara Pillai(1912-1999)
Known as “Kerala Mopasang”
Recipient of Jnanapith Award for the epic  Novel “Kayar”
Also bagged Kendriya Sahitya Academy award for the novel “Chemmeen”
Kainikkara Kumara Pillai was his Guru
His work “Thottiyude makan” is considered as first new Generation Novel.
 Thakazhi (film) is a documentary on Thakazhi made by M. T. Vasudevan Nair


S K Pottekkatt (1913 -1982)
Bagged jnanpitham award for this work “Oru deshathinte Katha”
Received Kerala Sahitya Academy award for “Oru Theruvinte Katha”which was written based on the story of Mittai Theruvu (S.M. Street) in Kozhikode.

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