Early Period Malayalam

malayalam letters on old travancore rupee coin

the earliest known poem in malayalam, ramacharitam, dated 12th 14th century ce, completed before introduction of sanskrit alphabet. shows same phase of language in jewish , nasrani sasanas (dated mid‑8th century a.d.). period of earliest available literary document cannot sole criterion used determine antiquity of language. in literature, malayalam has songs, pattu, various subjects , occasions, such harvesting, love songs, heroes, gods, etc. form of writing called campu emerged 14th century onwards. mixed poetry prose , used vocabulary influenced sanskrit, themes epics , puranas.

cover page of nasranikal okkekkum ariyendunna samkshepavedartham first book printed in malayalam in 1772.

rama-charitam, composed in 14th century a.d., may said have inaugurated malayalam literature naniah s mahabharatam did telugu. fact dialectical , local peculiarities had developed , stamped in local songs , ballads. these linguistic variations @ last gathered , made give coloring sustained literary work, rama-charitam, thereby giving new language justification , new lease on life.

the malayalam language, introduction of new type of devotional literature, underwent metamorphosis, both in form , content, , held modernity in malayalam language , literature commenced @ period. change brought thunchathu ezhuthachan (16th century) known father of modern malayalam. till time malayalam indicated 2 different courses of development depending on relationship either sanskrit or tamil.

the earliest literary work in malayalam available prose commentary on chanakya s arthashastra, ascribed 13th century. poetical works called vaisikatantram believed belong 14th century. these works come under special category known manipravalam, literally combination of 2 languages, language of kerala , sanskrit. grammar , rhetoric in hybrid style written sometime in 14th century in sanskrit , work, called lilatikalam, main source of information student of literary , linguistic history.

according book, manipravalam , pattu styles of literary compositions in vogue during period. pattu means song , more or less represents pure malayalam school of poetry. definition of pattu style given in lilatikalam, can surmised language of kerala during period more or less in line tamil, has misled many people believe incorrectly malayalam tamil during period , before.

the latest research shows malayalam separate spoken language in kerala began showing independent lines of development parental tongue proto-tamil-malayalam (which not modern tamil), preserving features of earliest dravidian tongue, in due course gave birth literary form of tamil, namely sen tamil , malayalam, spoken form of prevalent in kerala. however, till 13th century there no hard evidence show language of kerala had literary tradition except in folk songs.

the literary tradition consisted of 3 manipravalam champus, few sandesa kavyas , innumerable amorous compositions on courtesans of kerala, throb literary beauty , poetical fancies, combined relishing touch of realism them regard social conditions. many prose works in form of commentaries upon puranic episodes form bulk of classical works in malayalam.

the pattu (a sutra devoted define pattern termed pattu) school has major works ramacharitam (12th century), , bhagavad gita (14th century) set of poets belonging 1 family called kannassas. of them ramacharitam have close resemblance tamil language during period. attributed influence of tamil works on native poets belonging areas lie close tamil country.

it during 16th , 17th centuries later champu kavyas written. specialty contained both sanskritic , indigenous elements of poetry equal degree, , in manner unique.

unnayi varyar, nalacharitan attakkatha popular today, prominent poet of 18th century among not kathakali writers, among classical poets of kerala. referred kalidasa of kerala. although kathakali dance drama , literary form should more or less modeled after drama, there nothing more in common between attakkatha , sanskrit drama.

that say, principles of dramaturgy observed in writing particular type of sanskrit drama ignored author of attakkatha. delineation of particular rasa inevitable feature sanskrit drama, whereas in attakkatha predominant rasas given full treatment, , consequently theme of attakkatha loses integrity , artistic unity when viewed literary work.

any attakkatha fulfills objective if affords variety of scenes depicting different types of characters, , each scene have own hero rasa associated character. when hero portrayed given utmost importance, utter neglect of main sentiment (rasa) of theme in general. however, purpose of attakkatha not present theme well-knit emotional plot central point, present approved types of characters set suit technique of art of kathakali.

the major literary output of century in form of local plays composed art of kathakali, dance dramas of kerala known attakkatha. seems gitagovinda of jayadeva provided model type of literary composition. verses in sanskrit narrate story , dialogue composed in imitation of songs in gitagovinda, set music in appropriate ragas in classical karnataka style.

besides raja of kottarakkara , unnayi varyar referred above, hundred plays composed during century poets belonging categories , subscribing standards, such irayimman tampi , ashvati raja, mention two.

devotional literature in malayalam found heyday during phase of period. ezhuthachan referred above gave emphasis bhakti cult. jnanappana puntanam nambudiri unique work in branch of philosophical poetry. written in simple language, sincere approach advaita philosophy of vedanta.

it took 2 centuries salutary blending of scholarly sanskrit , popular styles bring malayalam prose present form, enriched in vocabulary sanskrit @ same time flexible, pliable , effective popular parlance.

as regards literature, leading figures irayimman thampi , vidwan koithampuran, both poets of royal court. works abound in beautiful , happy blending of music , poetry. former surely musical poet of kerala , beautiful lullaby commencing line omana thinkalkidavo has earned him everlasting name. prime reason why held in such high esteem in malayalam contribution has made kathakali literature 3 works, namely dakshayagam, kichakavadham , uttara-svayamvaram. latter s kathakali work ravana vijayam has made him immortal in literature.

impact of european scholars

the first printed book in kerala doctrina christam, written henrique henriques in lingua malabar tamul. transliterated , translated malayalam, , printed portuguese in 1578. in 16th , 17th centuries, thunchaththu ramanujan ezhuthachan first substitute grantha-malayalam script tamil vatteluttu alphabet. ezhuthachan, regarded father of modern malayalam language, undertook elaborate translation of ancient indian epics ramayana , mahabharata malayalam. adhyatma ramayana , mahabharata still read religious reverence malayalam-speaking hindu community. kunchan nambiar, founder of tullal, prolific literary figure of 18th century.

the british printed malabar english dictionary graham shaw in 1779 still in form of tamil-english dictionary. syrian christians of kerala started learn tulu-grantha bhasha of nambudiris under british tutelage. paremmakkal thoma kathanar wrote first malayalam travelogue called varthamanappusthakam in 1789.

the educational activities of missionaries belonging basel mission deserve special mention. hermann gundert, (1814 – 1893), german missionary , scholar of exceptional linguistic talents, played distinguishable role in development of malayalam literature. major works keralolpathi (1843), pazhancholmala (1845), malayalabhaasha vyakaranam (1851), paathamala (1860) first malayalam school text book, kerala pazhama (1868), first malayalam dictionary (1872), malayalarajyam (1879) - geography of kerala, rajya samacharam (1847 june) first malayalam news paper, paschimodayam (1879) - magazine. lived in thalassery around 20 years. learned language established local teachers ooracheri gurukkanmar chokli, village near thalassery , consulted them in works. translated bible malayalam.

in 1821, church mission society (cms) @ kottayam in association syriac orthodox church started seminary @ kottayam in 1819 , started printing books in malayalam when benjamin bailey, anglican priest, made first malayalam types. in addition, contributed standardizing prose. hermann gundert stuttgart, germany, started first malayalam newspaper, rajya samacaram in 1847 @ talasseri. printed @ basel mission. malayalam , sanskrit increasingly studied christians of kottayam , pathanamthitta. end of 19th century malayalam replaced syriac language of liturgy in syrian christian churches.

thanks efforts of kings swathi thirunal , assistance given him church mission , london mission societies, number of schools started.

1850-1904

the establishment of madras university in 1857 marks important event in cultural history of kerala. here generation of scholars versed in western literature , capacity enrich own language adopting western literary trends came being. prose first branch receive impetus contact english. though there no shortage of prose in malayalam, not along western lines. left farsighted policy of maharaja of travancore (1861 1880) start scheme preparation of textbooks use schools in state. kerala varma v, scholar in sanskrit, malayalam , english appointed chairman of committee formed prepare textbooks. wrote several books suited various standards.

the growth of journalism, too, helped in development of prose. initiated missionaries purpose of religious propaganda, journalism taken local scholars started newspapers , journals literary , political activities.

vengayil kunhiraman nayanar, (1861-1914) thalassery author of first malayalam short story, vasanavikriti. after him innumerable world class literature works born in malayalam.

with work kundalatha in 1887, appu nedungadi marks origin of prose fiction in malayalam. other talented writers chandu menon, author of indulekha, great social novel, in 1889 , called sarada. there c v raman pillai, wrote historical novel marthandavarma in 1890 works dharmaraja, , ramaraja bahadur.

shakuntala writes dushyanta. painting raja ravi varma. poetry translated kerala varma abhijnanasakuntalam

in poetry there 2 main trends, 1 represented venmani nampoodiris(venmani poets) , other kerala varma. latter s poetry modeled on old manipravalam style abounding in sanskrit words , terms, had charm of own when adapted express new ideas in masterly way characteristic of himself. translation of kalidasa s abhijnanasakuntalam in 1882 marks important event in history of malayalam drama , poetry. kerala varma s mayura-sandesam sandesakavya (messenger poem) written after manner of kalidasa s meghadutam. though cannot compared original, still 1 of popularly acclaimed poems in malayalam.

one of notable features of decades of 20th century great interest taken writers in translating works sanskrit , english malayalam. kalidasa s meghaduta , kumarasambhava a. r. raja raja varma , raghuvamsa k. n. menon must mentioned. 1 of successful of later translators c. s. subramaniam potti set model translation of durgesanandini of bankim chandra english version of it.