Latin Catholics And Malayalam Litreature

LATIN CATHOLICS AND MALAYALAM LITREATURE

It is only by the 9^th century A.D. that Malayalam got separated from tamil and began its development as an independent language under the protection and patronage of religion as we have the example of Krishnagatha of Cherucherry and Kilippattu of Ezhuthan. When the works of punam,mazhamangalam,Unnayi warrier, Kottayathu thampuran, kunjan nambiar etc. contributed towards the growth of Hindusm based Malayalam literature. Christians had also moved on the sane line and thus we have Margam Kalippattu, Ramban Pattu, Pallippattukal, Kalyanapattukal etc. Of these margam kallippattu is the most important as it deals the coming od St. Thomas to India and the conversion of Hindus to Christianity, his death at Mylapore etc. Though the author of the work is not known, from the style of language it can be deduced that is was written between the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Ramban pattu is another important work which deals with St. Thomas. Though the claim regarding its author and the date of its composition have to be ignored being so unreasonable, it may be presumed that it belonged to the 17^th century. Some of the Pallippattukal also belong to the same period and it can be stated that some of the above mentioned songs belong to the pre-Portuguese period.

The contributions of Christians in the field of literature and art prior to A.D.1653 are common contributions of all Christian denominations as it was the 1653 event at Mattanchery that divided the Thomas Christians into Syrian and Latin’s.

Now I shall deal with the contributions of Latin Catholics to Malayalam Literature.

It is essential to mention the magnificent contributions of the foreign missionaries who were the administrators of the Latin Catholics who can proudly claim to have given Malayalam her first Grammar book, first dictionary, first biography and the first translation of the Holy Bible.

From the 16^th century onwards the missionary activities here were in the hands of Jesuits, Franciscans and Carmelites who were Latin Catholics from Portugal, Italy, Germany and Hungary. Most of the missionaries were very learned scholars. St. Francis Xavier himself was a great scholar and Professor of the University of Paris. There were missionaries who acquired very deep knowledge in Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit etc. In the seminaries at Cochin, Cranganore, Ambalakat, Chennemengalam and Alangad, in addition to philosophy and theology, Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit, Syrian, Latin and Portuguese were also taught.It was some of the Malayalee scholars  of those Seminaries established by the foreign Latin Catholic Missionaries that paved the awy for the transformation and development of the modern Malayalam press.Along with the Seminaries they established printing presses and published books and journals also.

When the missionaries came to Kerala there were no dictionaries or grammar books for the development of Malayalam. The grammar written Angelus Francis, the Archbishop of Verapoly in 1700 is the most ancient Malayalam Grammar book. The first Malayalam dictionary is the work of Arnos Padre who came to Kerala in 1699. The contributions of this German missionary to Malayalam language and literature can never be forgotten . He was a great scholar of Sanskrit and Malayalam and we owe much to him because it was he who introduced the history of Christ in Malayalam for our daily use.  Chathuranthyam, Misihacharithram, Puthenpene etc., deserve special mention here. It was through the highly commendable works of Arnos Padre that the western world knew that there was a language called Malayalam and that it had a literature worthyof proud possession.

Fr. Paolino who came to the Archdiocese of Verapoly in 1777, was a great scholar in deveral oriental and occidental languages. Sanskrit language and literature were introduced to the Europeans through his several works in Latin and Italian on the subject.He is also the author of Devasahaltgunam,Thresia Charitham,

Koodhasapusthakam, etc;in Malayalam. His AdagiaMalabarica of 1790 contains over a hundred Malayalam proverbs. They were published with Latin translations.It is to be stated that Dr.Gundert received inspirations to publish his “Pazhanchol Maala”from the above works. Fr.Paolino’sVoyage to East Indies, India Orientalis Christiana etc; are testimonials of his wide knowledge of history.His notings about Tippu’s invasion as an eye witness throws much light on the actual happenings. It is to be mentioned that he was also the preceptor of the then Travancore Highness karthika Thirunal.

Rev. Dr.Marcelinus, an Italian who was the Auxilliary to the Archbishop of Verapoly deserves special mention.He was an eminent scholar of both Western and Eastern Languages. He was the first Rector of the Seminary started at Puthenpally under the Archdiocese of Verapoly. He has contributed to Malayalam litewrature seversl works of superior order of which malayalathinte  Jnanadeepam,Kerala Rajyathile Sathyaveda Charitham Nisudha Thresiammyude Jeevacharitham (two volumes),Sanmarga Sasthram,etc; are outstanding works. His translation of the biography of St. Teresa is the first biography in Malayalam literature. He rightly deserves to be called the source of the origin of  Sathyanadham and Nazrani Deepika. He also bags the credit for having established the first English school for Catholics of Kerala,Santa Cruz High  School of Fort Cochin.

It is essential to remember another great scholar who was a Carmelite Missionary of the Verapoly Archdiocese. He is the author of the Malayalam-Latin-English dictionary published in 1891 in royal size containing 1220 pages.

Some of the Keralite priests of the Latin rite also rightly deserve mention. Fr.Louis Vaipicherry who was a disciple of Padre Leopold and and Chavara Kuriakose was one of the leading writers and author of several works. His trasalation  “Vedaprasanga Sarani ” from Latin published in 1886 is a monumental work. It enables the preist to preach catechism very efficiently. He is also the author of the first Malayalam translation of Bible for Catholics. He was the first editor of Sathyanadha Kahalam and occupies a great place in the field of journalism.most of his colleagues at Manjummel were engaged In literary pursuits in Malayalam of whom Br.Leopold has reputed himself as the author of the book “The Latin  Christians of Kerala”. About this book Sardar K.M. Panikar has said, “Br.Leopolds most interesting volume on the Latin Christians fills an important gap in the history of indigenous Christian Churches in Malabar”. The credit for having translated into Malayalam and published the “limitation of Christ” goes to Fr.Michael Nilavareth of Verapoly Archdiocese. Though it was transalated by Paremakal Thomas Kathanar, it remained only in its manuscript. It is not known whether it was published at all. There are also other priests who have made valuable contributions to Malayalam language and literature.

Latin Catholic laity’s contributions to Malayalam language and literature are also great.

Professor K.J. Augustine has worked were admirably on the various branches of Malayalam literature and has left an indelible mark in dramatics. He has also an excellent record as an actor. ‘Mathutharakan’ is his most famous drama. Modern prodigal son based on the Holy Bible is a very humorous book. There are quite a lot of materials is both the above books for laughing and thinking. Both the works are good for the stage. He has written many articles in English and Malayalam which had appeared in Malabar Mail, Sathyadeepam, Satyanandam, Malabar Herald etc., wich could very well form matter for books.

Vidwan Varghese Thalakketty has served Malayalam language and literature as a thinker, critic and journalist for a very long time. There was only one scholar from the entire Christian community to find a place at the first meeting of the Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishad held at Edapally on the 24^th April 1927. And the honour goes to Vidwan Varghese Thalakketty. His speech on ‘Basha Gathiyum Kaavya Prasthanangalum’ at the meeting presided over by Rama Varma Appan Thampuran won him laurels. At the Parishath’s 9^th annual session held at Tellicherry in 1935 also Thalakketty played an important role.

Biography wich has become very popular in the modern literature has also its contributors from the Latin Catholic Community. The most prominent among them is A. John Mayyanat. Most of his works are based on religion and his “Jesus Christ” is a very highly commendable work. Though it is a transalation of the English version of the original French work, Mayyanat’s style gives it an originality. It has 600 pages in 55 chapters. It is one of the excellent books about Jesus Christ and undoubtedly the best in Malayalam so far written about Jesus Christ. The presentation is in such a beautiful manner that it gives the delight of an excellent romance, at the same time increasing the curiosity of the readers culminating in their immersion of thought of Jesus Christ. Though there have been several translations of the limitation of Christ, none of them come anywere near the translation of John Mayyanat through his Christu Devanukaranam. Virgin Mary, Francis Xavier, Francis Assisi, Antony Padua etc,. are John Mayyanat’s other outstanding biographies. The famous scholar V. Krishnan Thampi has paid glowing tributes to John Mayyanat for his most admirable contribution for the growth of Christian literature by stating that Mayyanat has undoubtedly done much more than any others for its development and growth.

N.J. Joseph  is one who has made very deep research on St.Thomas Christians, the Latin Catholics, the Carmelites  in Kerala etc.,  He has contributed several well studied articles in Satyanandam, Kerala Times, Deepika, Malayala Manorama etc., on the above topics. He is the author of Deeparchana which deals with the history of St.Thomas Christians.

M.L Camoyans who hailed from Quilon was a gifted poet. He has to his credit several Khandakavyas. Eleswa and Naman is one of his outstanding poems.

Living amongst poverty and misery, E.A. Carlos of Quilon has enriched Malayalam through his about ten poems including Hridhaya Geetha, Veera Rani, Saahithi Sumam and Giri Geetha. He was a prose writer also and has about 5 works to his credit. His Premanweshanam is the translation of Longfellow’s Evangeline.

Daniel Kaniyankada was born on 12^th kanni 1073 of Mary and Antony Dhaivapurakal at Kavanadu, Quilon. Renowned Sanskrit scholars Karayamvottathu Sukumara Pillai, O.N. Krishna Kurup and K.C. Shivarama Pillai taught him Sanskrit and also to write poems. His poems and literary works have been published in Nazrani Deepika, Thiru Hridaya Doothan, Satyanandham, Kerala Sannesham, Cherupushpam, Keraleeya Catholican, Samudhaya Sevini, Dharmarajyam, Prabadha Tharaka, Sarvathra Mithram etc., He has written several Khanda Kaavyas on Christian doctrines of which the following deserve special mention. Niswanu Kittiya Nidhi, Sree Marysthavam, Swarghathil Kayariya Kelan, Panditha Parishathile Paramadhykshan, Chinthakulanaya Joseph, Vellachattam, Thadikkarante Kayyil, Mullaperiyar, Sangeetha Manimalack etc., Mahakavi Vallathol decorated him with the title Sarasa Kavi on 3^rd kanni 1102 in high appreciation of his Sree Marystavam and Appan Thampuran Mahakavi Kattakkayam and Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup has complimented him for his excellent works. His Chaarithra Vijayam Alias Jenova Charitham Mahakavyam is one of the outstanding Maha Kavyas of Malayalam. Daniel Kaniankada was in his nineties even quite healthy and was actively engaged in his literary pursuits.

Sahithyanipuna, Sahithyalankar, Vidwan T.M. Chummar was born on October 13^th 1899 in Thattaracherry Tharavad  of Varapuzha. His father Mathai Asan was a Sanskrit scholar and an Ayurvedic Vaidyan. After E.S.L.C. in 1918 Chummar passed Malayalam Higher, Pandit and Vidwan.

He taught in Koonammavu, Varapuzha, Manjummel and Munambam. From 1935 to 1942 he taught in Sacred Heart High School, Thevera from where he became the Head of the Department of Malayalam in S.H. College in 1942 and remained so till his retirement in 1962.

Chummar’s Baasha Vriththavum Samskritha Vriththavum that appeared in a Kottayam Magazine in 1928 brought him into prominence. The essays that he wrote in Kairali also proved his potentialities. From 1935 onwards he had maintained a very close and cordial relation with Mahakavi Ulloor and a teacher/taught relationship existed between them. He had also kept very close contact with Appan Thampuran and Mahakavi Vallathol. In fact Chummar is the connecting link between the old and the new generations and his greatness lies in his appreciation, admiration and respect for the both.

It is not an easy task to write the history of Malayalam Language and Literature from its origin to the present day. When Chummar’s Padhyasahithya Charithram was published in 1936 there were only P. Govinda Pillai’s Malayala Baasha Charithra, Prof. P. Sankaran Nambiar’s Malayala Sahithya Charithra Samgraham and Kerala Baasha Sahithya Charithram of R. Narayana Panikkar on the subject. But none of them had touched anything about the modern methods. This literary giant’s Gadhya Sahithya Charithram and Padhya Sahithya Charithram included all the poets from Cheraman to Mahakavi ‘G’ and from Thamra Saasana to Gandhian literature. He has minutely touched all the movements in every branch of prose and poetry. It also contains criticisms and appreciations of the books published at various times in Malayalam language and literature. He has also made comparative studies of the subjects. Matters that have been ignored by other literary historians have been brought to light by Chummar which shows his sincerity and devotedness in research.

At the 14^th annual meeting of the Sahithya Parishath held at Palghat in M.E. 1116 (1941), Chummar presented a paper “Malyala Gadhyathinte Ulpathiyum Vikasavum”. In fact it was this paper that prompted him to write later on his famous Baasha Gadhya Saahithya Chrithram. It took him 18 years of arduous research to bring it out. It is a guiding start to students, and scholars of Malayalam literature.

Chummar is a critic of the superior order but his devoid of personal animosity and destructive criticism. His criticism sounds like a mild and sincere advice of a loving brother. He stands in the first row among the Essayist of Malayalam. Chantha Patham, Vichara Leela, Gadhya Sowraham, Suvarna Kairali, Mahakavi Kunjan Nambiar and Ceeviyude Aakhyayikakal prove his proficiency in writing. Chummar is always interested in search, Enquiry and research and all his revised editions have come out with revisions. He has transformed Indian poetic doctrine as a part of his life. Rajarshi, the biography of Kodungalloor Valiathampuran made him famous as a superior biographer. Chummar who has become superior by good deeds is one of the most devoted historians of Malayalam literature and has great appreciation of our cultural values.

If humility is the sign of  greatness, Chummar is its incarnation. It is difficult to find one who is so much respected , revered and honored by people of all walks of life belonging to all communities. He is a man of goodwill with malice against none. He is affectionate, sympathetic, simple and sincere; a devoted teacher with a preacher’s purity of thought and mind. He is simple in habits, food and dress. Really a man of humble living and noble thoughts.

From the time of the registration of Samastha Kerala Sahithya Parishat at Ernakulam by holding responsible positions. As the editor of its magazine he proved a tower of strength to the Parishath. He has been the chief examiner, board member and paper setter for B.A and Vidwan examinations of Madras, Mysore and Kerala’s Universities , and also a member of the Kerala Government Textbook Committee.

As the president of Varapuzha Co-operative Bank also he has rented valuable service. He has been a member of the Editorial Board of Jaya Bharatham and  Araya Kairali and also a member of the Malayalam Cinema Award Committee 1971. He has also served as a member of the General Council and Finance Committee of Kerala Sahithya Academy. He was decorated with “Sahithyalankar” title by the Sanskrit Parishath of Ayodhya in 1955. The Maharaja of Cochin honored him with the title “Sahithya Nipuna” at a grand meeting in 1960 in which the erstwhile Chief Justice of India, Sri. M. Patenjali Sasthri presided.

HIS WORKS

Baasha Gadhya Sahithya Chrithram, Padhya Sahithya Charitram, Mahakavi Kunjan Nambiar ; Ceeviyude Akhyayikakal, Suvarna Kairali, Asoka Chakram, Chintha Patham, Vichara leela, Gadhya Sourabham, Anusmarana Rajarshi, Sthree parwam(Mahabharatham), Udyoga Parvam, Bishma Parvam, Gopika Dhugham, Dhruva Charitham(Thullal), Sadhara Smaranakal etc.,

Ponjikara Raphi has written about two dozen novels, short stories and drama’s. His Kaliyugam won him the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award in 1972. He was the editor of the weekly, Socialist Labour.

Mrs. Sabeena Raphi is the author of the book Chavittunatakam. It is an authoritative document on this exquisite dramatic art indigenous to Kerala and exclusively practiced by the Latin Catholics.

Jacob Moonjappilly’s works include dramas, novels, farce etc., totaling a dozen

BY: Dr.E.P.Antony, M.A.(Hist), Ph.D.,M.a.(Pol),B.Ed.,D.J.,D.U.N.I.U.,F.R.A.D(Lond.),F.R.A.I.(Lond.)