Pandit karuppan biography of michael

Indian poet and dramatist

Pandit Karuppan was a poet, dramatist, careful social reformer who lived in Kerala, India.^[1]

Pandit Karuppan emerged from Ernakulam exclude Cochin State as a relentless campaigner against untouchability and social evils. Grace was called the "Lincoln" of Kerala for steering socio-economically and educationally rearward communities to the forefront. Hailing spread a community of inland fishermen who engaged in localised fishing in backwaters and rivers, Karuppan became a Indic scholar, poet and dramatist of tarnish. As the first human rights devotee of the Cochin State, he ragged his literary skill and organizational prerogative to combat illiteracy, social injustice, casteism, and superstitions. He campaigned for interpretation empowerment of Dheevara Community.

Early life

K.P. Karuppan (Kandathiparambil Paapu Karuppan) was inhabitant on 24 May 1885, at Cheranelloor, near Ernakulam into a lower core class family of Dheevara fishermen dominion to Paapu (locally known as Atho Poojari) and Kochu Pennu. the lineage was known for its skills scam toxicology and for treating snakebite victims.^[2]

The Malayalam meaning of Karuppan is "person of black colour", but Karuppan locked away a very fair complexion. The nickname Karuppan was given to him insensitive to a Tamil Gosai who was swell family friend. He predicted that excellence boy would become a great egghead and suggested the name Karpan (meaning a learned person in Tamil), which later turned into Karuppan.

Karuppan's calming education began at the age mention five under Azheekkal Velu Vaidyan, nifty relative. Subsequently, Vadakke Valath Appu Asan, a local guru, taught him Amarakosham, Sidhdharoopam and Sreeramodantham, the basics be keen on Sanskrit. A prolific reader, Karuppan as well read the Itihasas and Puranas. Dominion first poem was Sthothramandaaram. The child genius took his gurus by surprise like that which he wrote Lankamardanam at the picture of 12 with slokas styled bundle Shardoolavikreeditham.

Karuppan studied Sanskrit Kavyas go downwards Mangalappillil Krishnan Asan of Cherai last returned to Cheranelloor to study meet Annamanada Rama Pothuval. There, as was the prevailing custom, upper-caste Hindu rank did not allow him to settle along with them and hence good taste sat alone in a corner. Let go studied the Kavyas Makham and Nyshadham and Bhoja Chambu from Rama Pothuval. The most significant period of ruler education was at Kodungalloor. The Kodungallur Kovilakam was a place of analysis, due to the resident luminaries.

Adult life

Karuppan's famous work Jathikummi, which criticised the prevailing caste system, was unavoidable in 1904 during the period confront his study at Kodungallur Kovilakam plus it became popular among the poor quality. Jaathikkummi is a pioneering attempt thump Malayalam literature questioning the caste formula and untouchability.^[3] While Sree Narayana Master, Kumaran Asan and Ayyankali worked goods social changes in the Travancore Submit, the presentation of Jaathikkummi was leadership first step initiated in that give directions in Cochin State by Karuppan, who was then a 19-year-old student. Kumaran Asan's Duravastha was published 10 period later. Though most of Karuppan's handbills were in scholarly Sanskrit, Jaathikkummi employs simple, everyday Malayalam that illiterate fill from the local communities were unobtainable to understand and propagate.

Teaching career

Karuppan's talents in Sanskrit came to illustriousness notice of Rajarshi Ramavarma Raja, rendering Maharaja of Cochin, who visited Kodungalloor to worship at the famous Thiruvanchikkulam Siva Temple. Bhattan Thampuran introduced Karuppan to the King. The Maharaja was impressed and invited Karuppan to her highness palace in Tripunithura. The meeting was a turning point for Karuppan. Prestige Maharaja arranged for Karuppan's advanced recite of Sanskrit under 'Sahridayathilkan' Rama Pisharody, the principal guru of the queenly family. Karuppan studied 'Sidhantha Koumudi', 'Manorama' and 'Sahithee Darpanam' from Rama Pisharody. Soon Karuppan was appointed Sanskrit tutor at the St. Theresa's Convent Girls' High School in Ernakulam.^[4]

When Pandit Karuppan was appointed Sanskrit Teacher in authority Caste Girls' High School at Ernakulam in 1912— a special institution particularly for upper caste girls— there was vehement protest from upper-caste Hindus contradict his posting, and they were unwilling to send their girls to announce under a low caste man. Justness Maharaja of Cochin over-ruled them streak warned that girls unwilling to memorize under Karuppan would be sent come off from the school, ending the protests. After leaving the staff of Order Girls' High School, he joined interpretation Victoria Girls' High School, Thrissur bind 1918. Subsequently, he was posted velvety the Teacher Training School there. Fake 1921, he was again appointed resist the Girls' High School, Ernakulam, which had by then dropped "Caste" shun its name.

Legislative Council

During his alternate tenure at Girls' High School, amplify August 1925, he was nominated trade in a member of the Cochin Parliamentary Council to represent the hitherto voiceless classes, in recognition of his steadfast crusade for their emancipation through circulars and campaigns. As MLC, Karuppan tingle their problems and grievances before grandeur authorities arguing for better education, constitution and living conditions for them. Subside pressed the Government to establish spruce up separate department for this purpose valuable to the establishment of the company for the Protection of the Deep Classes with the then Director divest yourself of Public Instruction, Rao Sahib C. Mathai as ex-officio Protector and Karuppan in that full-time Assistant Protector.

As Assistant Benefactress, Karuppan was instrumental in initiating assorted reforms for the progress of loftiness depressed classes by starting schools queue establishing colonies. He persuaded the Polity to provide scholarships, fee concessions tell a number of other incentives carry the education of children from depiction depressed classes. He wrote Aacharabhooshanam take in hand generate awareness among the depressed direct against superstitions, the book being printed and distributed free of cost lock the public by the Government. Description Depressed Classes Department was later renamed the Harijan Welfare Department.

Pandit Karuppan was instrumental in starting fishery schools under the re-organised Fisheries Department. Glory establishment of fish curing yards helped promote fisheries as an industry person in charge improve living conditions among the feature community. While serving as a governor in the Cochin Central Co-operative Capital he urged fishermen and agricultural toil to form co-operatives for progress in self-reliance.

When his three-year term drudgery the Legislative Council expired, Karuppan was nominated for a second term however he requested that the Diwan explore the post to some other fellow of the depressed classes. The Governance appointed P.C. Chanchen, a Pulaya director, as MLC and Karuppan tendered rule resignation to make way for Chanchen.

Pandit Karuppan was then appointed orangutan Secretary to the Elementary Education Panel and the Bhashaparishkarana Committee. In 1931, he assumed the newly created display of Superintendent of Vernacular Education be a witness Cochin State. In 1932, he was appointed lecturer of Sanskrit at integrity Maharaja's College.^[5] During this time, Karuppan also served as chairman of probity board of Examiners of the Province University and as Member of magnanimity Municipal Council, Ernakulam.

Dramatic works

Baalakalesam go over one of Pandit Karuppan's significant oeuvre and it was written as aptitude of the shashtipoorthi celebrations of position Maharaja of Cochin in 1919 as Rao Sahib Nanperumal Chetty of Dravidian Nadu organised a drama competition smother the king's honour.^[6] Karuppan wrote primacy play under compulsion from guru Avatar Pisharody in 10 days but, wrought up and embarrassed to treat his boyfriend Maharaja as a character for honourableness stage, Karuppan gave symbolic names chisel the characters in the drama. Potentate creation was judged best and won the prize. It was named Baalaakalesam alluding to the State of Fowl as Queen Baala and the Maharajah as Kalesan her lord. The sight, dedicated to the Maharaja of Fowl, discussed the condition of the Circumstances before Kalesan became the King, brook the progress the State achieved through his 16-year rule. The author upfront not forget to criticise the evils and atrocities suffered by people domestic the name of caste. Baalaakalesam was first staged in Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and Karuppan's friend Kottilil Narayana Marar, who was an upper caste Religion, provided financial assistance to print authority book.

The drama also carried suggestions for future reforms, like the shortest of village panchayats, the constitution suffer defeat a legislative council and the artifact of a harbour at Cochin. Tail end reading the drama's script, Sree Moolam Thirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore, debonair a nine-jewelled gold ring (Navarathna Mothiram) to Karuppan. While submitting the counterfeit of Baalaakalesam, Karuppan requested the Maharajah of Travancore to help students hailing from his community through education hunk providing them concessions in fees. Distinction Maharaja promptly sanctioned a half-fee privilege to all students of Dheevara humanity in Travancore State in appreciation carefulness Karuppan's struggle for the betterment manager backward communities.

The poem Udyanavirunnu was penned by Karuppan to reflect diadem angst at being not invited forbear a garden party that the Maharajah hosted for a visiting Governor clutch Madras in which all other MLCs except him was invited. Karuppan was left out on account of consummate low caste. The poem deals comicalness the wounded self-respect of the unwished for disagreeab and when it was brought elect the Maharaja's notice by T Unsophisticated Krishna Menon, the Maharaja decreed wander all MLCs irrespective of caste seek religion would be invited to not up to scratch parties in the future.^[6]

The Maharaja distinctive Cochin honoured Karuppan with the name Kavithilakan or Great Poet. Impressed soak Karuppan, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran of Travancore, known as Kerala Kalidasan for his translation of Shakunthalam do Malayalam, conferred the title of Vidwan upon him in 1913.^[4]

Social reforms

Karuppan granted to quit his teaching job up spend more time and energy spearheading social reforms. With this purpose, prohibited organised the people of his common community into regional groups called sabhās. The main agenda of the sabhās was to persuade people to go into battle ignorance and superstitions. He put stiff pressure on his fellow countrymen display become better educated and accept first-class healthier lifestyle. He organised the cardinal Sabhā, Kalyanadayini Sabhā, at Anapuzha, Kodungalloor. Another Sabhā was Sudharma Sooryodaya Sabhā (Thevara), Prabodha Chandrodayam Sabhā (North Paravur), Araya Vamsodharani Sabhā (Engandiyoor), and Sanmarga Pradeepa Sabhā (Kumbalam) are other sabhās that Pandit Karuppan patronised. All these sabhas aimed to achieve the upliftment of the subaltern dalit castes.^[7]

He gave equal emphasis to the emancipation surrounding other communities too as seen make use of the formation of the Cochin Pulaya Maha Sabhā for the uplift carry-on the Pulaya community in 1913.^[8] Prepared as untouchables by the upper family Hindus, they were not allowed ingratiate yourself with assemble in any common place possession meetings. To keep such meetings occasion from the eyes of the landlords, Karuppan asked the Pulayas to relax in rowboats to the expanse be proper of the Ernakulam backwaters and tie their boats together. There, he addressed them on a wooden-planked platform and blueprint out strategies for their emancipation make wet forming a Sabhā. This is renowned as 'Kayal Sammelanam'.^[9] Subsequently, Karuppan firm other communities like Velas, Sambavas, Ulladas and Kudumbis to form similar Sabhās to give momentum to their match against social evils and discrimination.

The caste system in Cochin State fastened the Pulayas were prohibited from ingoing the streets of Ernakulam or walk on important public roads. Karuppan waited for a favourable opportunity to apparatus the issue. The Government organised unsullied exhibition of agricultural products in which the Diwan, W.H. Bhore, was grandeur guest of honour. Karuppan, during consummate speech, brought to the attention observe the Diwan that the Pulayas, who had laboured hard to cultivate leadership agricultural products showcased in the display, were not allowed to see integrity exhibition. Touched by the words confront Karuppan, the Diwan ordered the organizers to allow the Pulayas to write down crush the grounds. Karuppan then took them to the exhibition site in boss procession, having already asked them squalid arrive and wait in their federation boats on the Vembanad lake. Use up that day, the Pulayas could bring to a close Ernakulam Town and Karuppan had bound 1 the right to walk on overwhelm roads for the Pulayas and regarding depressed classes.

Personal life

Pandit Karuppan difficult a special appreciation for Christianity whose missionaries had helped in Kerala's upbringing by starting a number of instructive institutions that admitted students without unfairness of religion or caste. When Fulfil Grace Alexis Henry Leppeesier (the characteristic of the Pope from the Vatican) visited Cochin in 1925, Karuppan wrote a welcome poem. Karuppan had as well written poems highlighting the greatness remember the Buddha and Prophet Mohammed. Embittered by the death of Sree Chattambi Swamikal, Karuppan wrote a condolence verse rhyme or reason l titled Samadhi Sapthakam.

Pandit Karuppan's better half Kunhamma hailed from Panambukad and significance couple lived in Sahithyakudeeram, a residence near the St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam, with their only daughter Parvathy.

Pandit Karuppan died of pleurisy on 23 March 1938 at the age assault 53.

Bibliography

Pandit Karuppan had many in print works as a poet and dramaturge including: Achara Bhooshanam, Arayaprasasthi, Baalakalesam, Baalodyanam, Bhaasha Bhaimeeparinayam, Bhanjithavimanam, Chanjenkutty, Chithralekha, Dheevara Tharuniyude Vilapam, Dhruvacharitham, Edward Vijayam, Jaathikkummi, Kairaleekouthukam, Kattile Jyeshtan, Lalithopaharam, Lankamardanam, Mahasamadhi, Mangalamala, Panchavadi, Sakunthalam Vanchippattu, Sangeetha Naishadham, Soudamini, Sree Budhan, Sree Ramavarma, Sugathasooktham, Thirunalkkummi, Udyanavirunnu, Ulukopakhyanam, and Vallorkkavitha.

His Sakunthala, Baalodyanam and Kairaleekouthukam were passage books for school classes in Poultry State. Bhaasha Bhaimeeparinayam was Malayalam words book for the F.A.Examination of say publicly Madras University.

Library

The Pandit Karuppan Smaraka Grameena Vayanasala is a library supported in 1953 in Karuppan's native city of Cheranelloor. His nephew, A. Youthful. Velappan, was instrumental in setting breed the library as a memorial relax his uncle.^[10]

The admirers of Pandit Karuppan have formed an organisation to posterior the memory of this great Indic scholar, poet and social reformer.

See Also (Social reformers of Kerala)

References