JOSEPH MUNDASSERY- AN EMINENT LITERARY CRITIC

JOSEPH MUNDASSERY-

AN EMINENT LITERARY CRITIC

 Joseph Mundassery was a renowned literary critic and Indian politician from Kerala. He was one among the towering literary critics in the Malayalam language and literature. In Kerala politics, he is famously remembered as the Education Minister who is the mastermind behind the drafting of the controversial Education Bill of the first EMS communist ministry of 1957. Joseph Mundassery was born at Kandassankadavu, Thrissur  . After his schooling from a local school he took his Bachelor’s degree in Physics and later the Masters degree in Sanskrit and Malayalam. Until 1952, he was the Head of the Department of Foreign Languages at St. Thomas College, Trichur.Mundassery entered politics through the Kochi Prajamandalam and was elected as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of the princely state of Cochin in 1948 from the constituency of Aranattukara.

 Later on he became an MLC in the  Travancore-Cochin Assembly in 1954, from Cherpu.After the formation of the Kerala State in 1956, he won the Assembly election in 1957, from Manaloor, and went on to become Kerala’s first Education Minister (1957-‘59) in the EMS Communist ministry. And finally in 1970 he was elected as an MLA from Trichur constituency. As a prominent figure in the field of Malayalam literary criticism, Mundassery was one among the famous trio of Malayalam critics, the others being Kesari Balakrishna Pillai and M.P Paul. The progressive literary movement of the 1940s owes it existence mostly to the works and efforts of Prof. Mundassery. He was the President of the Kerala Sahithya Parishad 1965-67, executive (and founding) member of the Kerala Sahithya Academy. He was also instrumental in establishing the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy and was a member of the Kendra Sahithya Academy

            Prof. Joseph Mundassery was born on 17th July, 1903 as son of Kunjuvareed and Elachar. He had his early schooling at Kandassankadavu. Kandassankadavu Primary School, started in 1906 and upgraded as High School in 1919 has since been renamed after its prodigious son, as Prof. Mundassery Smaraka Government Higher Secondary School. He studied at St. Thomas College, Trichur and St. Joseph College, Thrichinappilly. He did his graduation in Physics and Post-graduation in Sanskrit and Malayalam. He began his teaching career as Demonstrator in Physics and was Professor and Head of the Department of Oriental Languages at St. Thomas College, Trichur at the time of leaving teaching career in 1952. Mundassery was an eminent literary critic and an excellent scholar. He has to his credit 40 and odd books, in addition to a number of articles published in various magazines of his time. Vice-Chancellor of Cochin University of Science and Technology, Member Kerala State Planning Board, member, Central and State Sahithya Academies, and so goes the eminent positions he held. But he is better known as the Minister for Education in the Cabinet of Ministers headed by the veteran communist leader E.M.S. Nampoothiripad. He piloted the Kerala Education Bill that paved the way for progressive changes in the field of education. The Bill which sought to bring in some order in the management of private schools including those related to appointment of teachers, payment of salary to teachers, grant-in-aid to schools, qualification of teachers etc. But these provisions turned to the dislike of managements who were enjoying uncontrolled freedom. The Aggarian Relations Bill invited the opposition of the landlords. Managements and landlords, ably supported by casteist and religious forces with the blessings of the ruling party at the Centre waged a street battle called ‘Vimochana Samaram’. The democratically elected government of the State was finally dismissed on 31st July, 1959. It was a severe blow to democracy.Fifty two years after the passage of the Kerala Education Act, education continues to be the important area of conflict of interests. Attempts of the State Government to fix rules of admission and decide fees, bearing in mind the motto of reservation and merit, are opposed by the private managements of self-financing professional colleges. Managements resist changes both in structure and content of education.
            Prof. Joseph Mundassery and the reform ideas the presented hold relevance for the present and the future alike. His Novels:, Konthayil Ninnu Kurissilekku, Parappurathu Vithacha Vithu.Literary Criticism: Kavyapeedhika, Manadandam, Mattoli, Manushyakathanugayikal, Vayanashalayil (3 parts), Rajarajante Mattoli, Natakantham Kavithwam Karinthiri, Kumaranasante Kavitha - Oru Padanam, Valltholinte Kavitha - Oru Padanam Roopabhadratha, Anthareeksham, Prayanam, Pashchathya Sahithya Sameeksha. Short Stories: Sammanam, Kadaksham, Illapolice.Travelogues: Ottanoottathil, China Munnottu.Autobiography: Kozinga Elagal ( part I and part II ).

Prof. John Kurakar