ചങ്ങമ്പുഴ കൃഷ്ണപിള്ള

Changampuzha Krishna Pillai

(ചങ്ങമ്പുഴ കൃഷ്ണപിള്ള)

       Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (ചങ്ങമ്പുഴ കൃഷ്ണപിള്ള.) 11 October 1911 - 17 June 1948) was a celebrated Malayalam poet known as romantic poet  His important work “Ramanan” which was written in 1936 and sold over 100,000 copies. The. Romantic poem based on the life of Changampuzha's friend Eda Changampuzha's life like his poems were fascinating. here is a student who studied his own work in his college. Here is a friend who lamented the death of his close friend and wrote the most romantic poem in Malayalam. Here is a lover who fell in love and died soon after that

      His work, 'Ramanan' was a tribute to his friend and fellow poet Edappally Ragahavan Pillai who commited suicide at the tender age of twenty seven. the poem tells the story of Madanan and Ramanan, close friends and shepherds. Ramanan with his beautiful voice attracts Chandrika, the wealthy maiden. Their love flourishes till the aristocratic father of Chandrika finds about the affair. He wants to marry his daughter off to a wealthy man. Chandrika at first hesistant, finally gives in to her father's demand and marries her father's choice. Ramanan unable to suppress his grief commits suicide

     The amount of grief present in 'Ramanan' is overwhelming. Changampuzha makes you weep along with him at the great loss of Ramanan. The initial portions of the poem is filled with romance and the latter with grief. 'Ramanan' in a modern words is a roller coaster ride of emotions. Changampuzha after his success of 'Ramanan' achieves fame and money. he became one of the most read poets in Malayalam. He married and had a happy life till he met his lover and the poem 'Manaswini' was born. Changampuzha lavishes his praise on his lover or 'Manaswini'. As a child i was amazed by his similes. In the poem he compares his lover's hair to a serpent with a thousand bodies and one head. Even now i feel it is the greatest simile i have ever come across. Changampuzha died at an age of thirty five. may be his feeble heart couldnt tolerate the miseries and cruelty of this world.. He once famously said’My biggest failure is having an honest heart,in this faulty world”.

                                                      

                                         Prof. John Kurakar