THUNCHATHTHU EZHTHACHAN

Thunchaththu

Ramanujan Ezhuthachan

   Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan  also known as: തുഞ്ചത്തെഴുത്തച്ഛന്‍, Tuñcatt-Eḻuttacchan) was an Indian  poet from around the 16th or 17th century, known as the father of the Malayalam language which is the principal language of the Indian state of Kerala spoken by 36 million people in the world. In his era, Vattezhuthu an old script originally used to write Tamil was generally used in Kerala to write this language. However, he wrote his Malayalam poems in Arya-ezhuttu, a Grantha  based script originally used to write  Sanskrit, so that he could accurately transliterate Sanskrit words into Malayalam. His works became unprecedentedly popular, which also popularized the writing system adopted by him, and that is the current Malayalam alphabet. He was born in Trikkantiyur (തൃക്കണ്ടിയൂര്near the town of Tirur, in Kerala. At that time,it was a part ofVettanad His personal name is Ramanujan. Thunchaththu is his “family name”, and Ezhuthachan (schoolmaster) is an honorific title or the last name indicating his caste. His name is transliterated in several different ways, including Thunchath Ezhuthachan, Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, and Thunjath Ezhuthachan.

Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan lived in the 16th century or the 16th century He was born at Trikkantiyur (Trkkantiyur) in the Tirur municipality, Malappuram,Kerala, His birthplace is now known as Thujan Parambu. According to Arthur Coke Burnell he was “a low-caste man who goes under the name Tunjatta Eḻuttacchan, a native of Trikkaṇḍiyûr in the present [1874]district of Malabar He lived in the seventeenth century, but his real name is forgotten; Tunjatta being his ‘house’ or family-name, and Eḻuttacchan (=schoolmaster) indicating his caste”. In 1865, Burnell actually saw the manuscript of the Bhagavata translated and adapted by Thunchaththu, allegedly copied by his sister, preserved at Puzhakkal l in the Chittur taluk ,and wrote in his book published in 1874: “The author’s stool, clogs, and staff are preserved in the same place; it thus looks as if Tunjatta Eḻuttaččhan was a sanyasi of some order. Some sources state that he was born into a Chakkala Nair among Nairs) family, held low among Savarna hindu caste system of Kerala and among the Nair caste. Some apocryphal legends have that Ezhuthachan's father was a  Namboothiri . That version is totally ahistoric. A few sources claim that he was of the Ezhuthachan caste.A.C Burnell, a noted indologist, had categorically stated that Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan belongs to Ezhuthachan Caste only. He had stated this when he edited an article written by another important scholar.W Ellis when he published that article in "Indian Antiquery " in 1878 after the death of linguist Ellis. In that path breaking article Ellis articulated the evolution of Malayalam ("Malayanma") and other south indian languages.

"A Brahman without a father must be born of an unmarried female of that tribe, whose celibacy ought to have been inviolate: he is considered, therefore, illegitimate, and has scarcely an assignable place in society. Elutt' Achan, or the 'Father of Letters', was a Brahman without a father, and on that account has no patronymic....The Brahmans envied his genius and are said to have seduced him by the arts of sorcery into the habit of ebriety.....he enriched the Malayalam with the translations, all of which, it is said, he composed under the immediate influence of intoxication...." "Eluttachchan [sic] lived in the 17th century; there is no reason for supposing that he was a Brahman father's illegitimate son; he was certainly an Eluttachchan (or schoolmaster) by caste"

Great Malayalam poet and historian Ulloor concludes Ezhuthachan as either Chakkala Nair or Vattekattu Nair. Sri K. Balakrishna kurup in his famous book "Viswathinte Kanappurangal" published by  Mathrubhumi ptg and publishing companyKozhikodu had stated that Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan belongs to Ezhuthachan caste. Prof. T. B. Vijayakumar noted scholar, historian had written many articles in all prestigious journals, like Mathrubhumi weekly, had also stated that Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan belongs to Ezhuthachan caste. In nut shell, Ezhuthachan was a Kaniyan by caste and had a title Ezhuthu Asan in relation with his teaching service in Ezhuthupalli. In the Pre and early British ruling era of Kerala, the Kaniyans (traditional astrologers) were the only class who had undertaken the role of teaching letters, grammar, sanskrit and literature to non Brahmin communities. So they were known Ezhuthu Asan (Ezhuthachan in the vernacular), but, later this professional name was adopted by the descendants of families of non Brahmin disciples of Thunchat Ezhutahchan ,as a special caste or class.Most of these people were from Chakkala Nair and Kadupattan castes.

      Various census reports (Census reports of erstwhile Madras presidency- Census reports erstwhile princely states of Cochin and Travoncore were also included in that) from 1870 onwards- Ezhuthachan Caste was shown as low caste sudra caste.  ‘Father of language’ is a symbolic reference. Language represents culture. So Ezhuthachan is in fact denoting culture. He shone as a brilliant star above our culture. He renovated the alphabets of heart. We see the light of conscience and moderation in Ezhuthachan. We call him ‘the father of Malayalam language’ because he led the language to a new dimension." - Chattanath Achuthanunni Chair Thunjan Festival meeting (1998 ) Great poet Mahakavi Kodungallore Kunhikuttan Thampuran who was a titan among poets, who singlehandedly translated entire Mahabharatham into Malayalam vernacular within short span of time, stated in an article in a literaray journal, "Rasikaranjini" edited by himself, that Thunchath Ezhuthachan belonged to Ezhuthachan Caste only.

CHITTUR (PALAKKAD): Chittur Gurumadom, where the father of Malayalam language Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan lived for nearly four decades, wrote his masterpieces and passed into eternal times, is crying out for attention. No government till date has allotted a grant for preserving the memorial.

On Vijayadasami day, hundreds of children are initiated into learning here. Rajan Nair, a key person engaged in running the monument told The Hindu that programmes such Ramayana parayanam and quiz were conducted on that day. The income thus raised was used to run the madom. He said that organisers had approached governments with various schemes for the proper development and upkeep of the memorial, but to no avail.

The four-century-old building where Ezhuthachan lived is at Thekkegramam, nearly two kilometres from Chittur town, on the banks of the Sokanasini river. People in the locality call it Gurumadom. It is here Ezhuthachan translated two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, for the common Malayali with the subtle and meaningful mingling of the Sanskrit and Dravidian stream of the then prevailing language and literature. Ezhuthachan lived in the 16th century. Though born in an under-privileged class of the social hierarchy of the times, the literary genius had mastered the Veda and the Upanishads. It is believed that Ezhuthachan, on his way back from his sojourn in Tamil Nadu, had s stop-over at Chittur with his disciples and settled down at Thekkegramam near Anikkode. He con The language Malayalam, belongs to the family of Dravidian languages. Both the language and its writing system are closely related to Tamil; however, Malayalam has a script of its own

Thunjath Ezuthachan, honoured as the father of modern Malayalam literature was born in Trikkandiyur near Tirur 400 years ago. He wrote his poems in Malayalam, at a time the Malayalam literature was subdued by Sanskrit, the language of the upper class. Ramayanam and Bharatham of Ezuthachan are widely read in Malayali houses, as sacred books.

The story of his birth is mixed with myths and truths. His real name was Ramanujan and signs of brilliance were evident in his childhood. He traveled extensively in search of knowledge and returned to Thrikandiyur, his birthplace, after mastering the religious sciences.  The privileged were jealous of his knowledge. Later on he came to be called the Father of Malayalam Language. Ezhuthachan tried to propagate the universal nature of the language. He wanted to bring language to level of a layman’s understanding.  

Ezhuthachan as father of Malayalam? 

“Chronologically, Cherushery (another prominent writer) lived before Thunjan. But the phrase ‘father of language’ is a symbolic reference. Language represents culture. So Ezhuthachan is in fact denoting culture. He shone as a brilliant star above our culture. He renovated the alphabets of heart. We see the light of conscience and moderation in Ezhuthachan. 

We call him ‘the father of Malayalam language’ because he led the language to a new dimension”.  Ezhuthachan also used language to revolt against the rule of the privileged. Hence, he is entitled to be called the father of the Malayalam language. He portrayed Malayalam as the language of love and harmony among those who celebrated Sanskrit.”.

“Ezhuthachan inscribed the Indian culture into Malayalam. When Shankaracharya (the renowned Hindu reformer) spread our thoughts outside Kerala, Ezhuthachan brought them to Kerala. When countries like China and Islamic countries of the Middle East are trying to preserve their culture from the onslaught of Western cultural invasion, no such attempts are evident from India’s side”, said Prof. B. Hridayakumari. 

 

                                                                            Prof. John Kurakar