Ezhuttacchan

Ezhuttacchan was one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Malayalamliterature.He liberated Malayalam from the clutches of Tamil and Sanskrit and made itpopular.He is rightly regarded as the Father of modern Malayalam language.He was apioneer in the socio- religious movement of the time.Ezhuttacchan appeared at a timewhen there was anarchy and degradation in the political and cultural fields.In a period ofgloom, anarchy and violence, Ezhuttacchan appeared as a man of destiny.Tunchatt Ramanujan Ezhuttacchan was born in a Nair family at Thrikkandiyur.Heleft Kerala to othe Tamil country for higher studies.Returning to the native land, heestablished an Ezhuthupally (school) to teach children.He devoted his time to literarypursuits and composed devotional works.During his last days, Ezhuttacchan leftThrikkantiyur (Tirur) for Chittur where he established a Mutt and a temple on the banks ofthe river.Ezhuttacchan’s contributions to Malayalam are everlasting.He inaugurated the‘Kilippattu form of literary expression in Malayalam.He rendered in to Malayalam thegreat epics Ramayana and Mahabarata.His adaptation of Ramayana is unique as it had aspiritual and religious connotation.He was also credited with the authorship ofHarinamakirtanam and Irupathinaluvrutham.These works shows his genius for synthesis.Infact, the history of Malayalam poetry begins with this savant.In the devotional and religious sphere, Ezhuttacchan revived the Bhakti cult inKerala.His ‘Adhyatma-Ramayana’ is the finest literary expression of the Bhakti Cultwhich became popular in Kerala during the medieval period.He composed his work withsupreme emphasis on Bhakti or devotion to God in the form of Rama in a style andlanguage that appeals to the heart rather than brain. The devotional songs in this work areconsidered to be the best in Malayalam poetry even today.In the social sphere too, Ezhuttacchan made his mark.Though a non-Brahmin, hestudied theVedas and the Sastras and exposed the Aryan myth that they alone could masterthe sacred knowledge. Ezhuttacchan also began the system of imparting primaryeducation through Ezhuthupalli.In the words of Dr. Ayyappa Panikkar. “With his absolutesincerity, skill and total dedication to poetry and religion, Ezhuttacchan was able to createand establish, once and for all, a language, a culture and a people.He is thus a magnificentsymbol of our great cultural movement”.