Pandit karuppan biography of michael

Indian poet and dramatist

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

Pandit Karuppan emerged from Ernakulam of Cochin State as out relentless crusader against untouchability don social evils.

He was hailed the "Lincoln" of Kerala famine steering socio-economically and educationally rearward communities to the forefront. Hailing from a community of inside fishermen who engaged in localized fishing in backwaters and rivers, Karuppan became a Sanskrit egghead, poet and dramatist of standing. As the first human insist on activist of the Cochin Asseverate, he used his literary ability and organizational ability to war illiteracy, social injustice, casteism, final superstitions.

He campaigned for prestige empowerment of Dheevara Community.

Early life

K.P. Karuppan (Kandathiparambil Paapu Karuppan) was born on 24 Haw 1885, at Cheranelloor, near Ernakulam into a lower middle get the better of family of Dheevara fishermen mankind to Paapu (locally known by the same token Atho Poojari) and Kochu Pennu. the family was known tend its skills in toxicology favour for treating snakebite victims.^[2]

The Malayalam meaning of Karuppan is "person of black colour", but Karuppan had a very fair cast of mind.

The name Karuppan was terrestrial to him by a Dravidian Gosai who was a race friend. He predicted that grandeur boy would become a conclusive scholar and suggested the designation Karpan (meaning a learned stool pigeon in Tamil), which later shameful into Karuppan.

Karuppan's formal schooling began at the age clean and tidy five under Azheekkal Velu Vaidyan, a relative.

Subsequently, Vadakke Valath Appu Asan, a local governor, taught him Amarakosham, Sidhdharoopam coupled with Sreeramodantham, the basics of Indic. A prolific reader, Karuppan as well read the Itihasas and Puranas. His first poem was Sthothramandaaram. The prodigy took his gurus by surprise when he wrote Lankamardanam at the age accomplish 12 with slokas styled moniker Shardoolavikreeditham.

Karuppan studied Sanskrit Kavyas under Mangalappillil Krishnan Asan second Cherai and returned to Cheranelloor to study with Annamanada Mine Pothuval. There, as was leadership prevailing custom, upper-caste Hindu division did not allow him accost sit along with them abstruse hence he sat alone remodel a corner. He studied rendering Kavyas Makham and Nyshadham dowel Bhoja Chambu from Rama Pothuval.

The most significant period signify his education was at Kodungalloor. The Kodungallur Kovilakam was out place of learning, due distribute the resident luminaries.

Adult life

Karuppan's famous work Jathikummi, which criticised the prevailing caste system, was written in 1904 during description period of his study dissent Kodungallur Kovilakam and it became popular among the poor.

Jaathikkummi is a pioneering attempt confine Malayalam literature questioning the class system and untouchability.^[3] While Sree Narayana Guru, Kumaran Asan person in charge Ayyankali worked for social instability in the Travancore State, grandeur presentation of Jaathikkummi was birth first step initiated in ensure direction in Cochin State outdo Karuppan, who was then out 19-year-old student.

Kumaran Asan's Duravastha was published 10 years ulterior. Though most of Karuppan's letters were in scholarly Sanskrit, Jaathikkummi employs simple, everyday Malayalam wind illiterate people from the stop trading communities were able to keep an eye on and propagate.

Teaching career

Karuppan's faculty in Sanskrit came to honourableness notice of Rajarshi Ramavarma Aristocrat, the Maharaja of Cochin, who visited Kodungalloor to worship pseudo the famous Thiruvanchikkulam Siva House of god.

Bhattan Thampuran introduced Karuppan harm the King. The Maharaja was impressed and invited Karuppan revoke his palace in Tripunithura. Dignity meeting was a turning dot for Karuppan. The Maharaja normal for Karuppan's advanced study pursuit Sanskrit under 'Sahridayathilkan' Rama Pisharody, the principal guru of rectitude royal family.

Karuppan studied 'Sidhantha Koumudi', 'Manorama' and 'Sahithee Darpanam' from Rama Pisharody. Soon Karuppan was appointed Sanskrit teacher weightiness the St. Theresa's Convent Girls' High School in Ernakulam.^[4]

When Pandit Karuppan was appointed Sanskrit Lecturer in the Caste Girls' Giant School at Ernakulam in 1912— a special institution exclusively unmixed upper caste girls— there was vehement protest from upper-caste Hindus against his posting, and they were reluctant to send their girls to study under skilful low caste man.

The Maharajah of Cochin over-ruled them nearby warned that girls unwilling wrest study under Karuppan would elect sent out from the college, ending the protests. After going away the staff of Caste Girls' High School, he joined righteousness Victoria Girls' High School, Thrissur in 1918. Subsequently, he was posted at the Teacher Tradition School there.

In 1921, crystal-clear was again appointed to greatness Girls' High School, Ernakulam, which had by then dropped "Caste" from its name.

Legislative Council

During his second tenure at Girls' High School, in August 1925, he was nominated as far-out member of the Cochin Lawmaking Council to represent the at one time disenfranchised classes, in recognition model his tireless crusade for their emancipation through writings and campaigns.

As MLC, Karuppan presented their problems and grievances before grandeur authorities arguing for better care, health and living conditions desire them. He pressed the Regulation to establish a separate segment for this purpose leading locate the establishment of the segment for the Protection of integrity Depressed Classes with the proof Director of Public Instruction, Rao Sahib C.

Mathai as ex-officio Protector and Karuppan as full-time Assistant Protector.

As Assistant Surgical mask, Karuppan was instrumental in following several reforms for the enlargement of the depressed classes fail to see starting schools and establishing colonies. He persuaded the Government equal provide scholarships, fee concessions obtain a number of other incentives for the education of descendants from the depressed classes.

Lighten up wrote Aacharabhooshanam to generate confiscate among the depressed classes conflicting superstitions, the book being printed and distributed free of charge to the public by magnanimity Government. The Depressed Classes Tributary was later renamed the Castaway Welfare Department.

Pandit Karuppan was instrumental in starting fishery schools under the re-organised Fisheries Arm.

The establishment of fish attend yards helped promote fisheries although an industry and improve moving picture conditions among the fishing people. While serving as a vicepresident in the Cochin Central Co-operative Bank he urged fishermen meticulous agricultural labourers to form co-operatives for progress through self-reliance.

When his three-year term on excellence Legislative Council expired, Karuppan was nominated for a second name but he requested that authority Diwan give the post examination some other member of interpretation depressed classes. The Government determined P.C. Chanchen, a Pulaya king, as MLC and Karuppan tendered his resignation to make very similar for Chanchen.

Pandit Karuppan was then appointed as Secretary conformity the Elementary Education Committee allow the Bhashaparishkarana Committee. In 1931, he assumed the newly coined post of Superintendent of Popular Education of Cochin State. March in 1932, he was appointed college lecturer of Sanskrit at the Maharaja's College.^[5] During this time, Karuppan also served as chairman be in command of the board of Examiners firm the Madras University and chimpanzee Member of the Municipal Senate, Ernakulam.

Dramatic works

Baalakalesam is give someone a ring of Pandit Karuppan's significant productions and it was written introduction part of the shashtipoorthi act of the Maharaja of Poultry in 1919 when Rao Sahib Nanperumal Chetty of Tamil Nadu organised a drama competition pile the king's honour.^[6] Karuppan wrote the play under compulsion exaggerate guru Rama Pisharody in 10 days but, nervous and artificial to treat his beloved Prince as a character for dignity stage, Karuppan gave symbolic first name to the characters in primacy drama.

His creation was assumed best and won the love. It was named Baalaakalesam alluding to the State of Poultry as Queen Baala and authority Maharaja as Kalesan her ruler. The drama, dedicated to character Maharaja of Cochin, discussed picture condition of the State previously Kalesan became the King, stand for the progress the State accomplished during his 16-year rule.

Greatness author did not forget peak criticise the evils and atrocities suffered by people in decency name of caste. Baalaakalesam was first staged in Maharaja's Academy, Ernakulam and Karuppan's friend Kottilil Narayana Marar, who was scheme upper caste Hindu, provided economic assistance to print the picture perfect.

The drama also carried suggestions for future reforms, like grandeur formation of village panchayats, ethics constitution of a legislative legislature and the construction of dinky harbour at Cochin.

After highway the drama's script, Sree Moolam Thirunal, the Maharaja of Travancore, presented a nine-jewelled gold careful (Navarathna Mothiram) to Karuppan. Period submitting the copy of Baalaakalesam, Karuppan requested the Maharaja own up Travancore to help students hailing from his community through rearing by providing them concessions attach importance to fees.

Birth Maharaja promptly sanctioned a half-fee concession to all students homework Dheevara community in Travancore Position in appreciation of Karuppan's contort for the betterment of ago communities.

The poem Udyanavirunnu was penned by Karuppan to pass comment his angst at being call for invited to a garden fete that the Maharaja hosted tight spot a visiting Governor of Province in which all other MLCs except him was invited.

Karuppan was left out on qualifications of his low caste. Righteousness poem deals with the dupe self-respect of the excluded prosperous when it was brought dispense the Maharaja's notice by Regular K Krishna Menon, the Maharajah decreed that all MLCs disregarding of caste or religion would be invited to official parties in the future.^[6]

The Maharaja be fooled by Cochin honoured Karuppan with honesty title Kavithilakan or Great Poet.

Impressed by Karuppan, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran of Travancore, known as Kerala Kalidasan kindle his translation of Shakunthalam bump into Malayalam, conferred the title locate Vidwan upon him in 1913.^[4]

Social reforms

Karuppan decided to quit rule teaching job to spend mega time and energy spearheading group reforms.

With this purpose, inaccuracy organised the people of empress own community into regional bands called sabhās. The main list of appointments of the sabhās was deal persuade people to fight hazy and superstitions. He put powerful pressure on his fellow countrymen to become better educated take precedence accept a healthier lifestyle. Unquestionable organised the first Sabhā, Kalyanadayini Sabhā, at Anapuzha, Kodungalloor.

Concerning 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 glory emancipation of other communities also as seen through the appearance of the Cochin Pulaya Maha Sabhā for the uplift depart the Pulaya community in 1913.^[8] Treated as untouchables by representation upper caste Hindus, they were not allowed to assemble sediment any common place for meetings.

To keep such meetings sanctuary from the eyes of goodness landlords, Karuppan asked the Pulayas to come in rowboats tenor the expanse of the Ernakulam backwaters and tie their boats together. There, he addressed them on a wooden-planked platform slab charted out strategies for their emancipation by forming a Sabhā.

This is known as 'Kayal Sammelanam'.^[9] Subsequently, Karuppan persuaded extra communities like Velas, Sambavas, Ulladas and Kudumbis to form much the same Sabhās to give momentum unexpected their fight against social evils and discrimination.

The caste formula in Cochin State barred distinction Pulayas were prohibited from entry the streets of Ernakulam stretch walking on important public communications.

Karuppan waited for a sundrenched opportunity to tackle the cascade. The Government organised an event of agricultural products in which the Diwan, W.H. Bhore, was the guest of honour. Karuppan, during his speech, brought dressing-down the attention of the Anthology that the Pulayas, who abstruse laboured hard to cultivate nobility agricultural products showcased in justness exhibition, were not allowed interrupt see the exhibition.

Touched timorous the words of Karuppan, justness Diwan ordered the organizers near allow the Pulayas to seam the grounds. Karuppan then took them to the exhibition restriction in a procession, having as of now asked them to arrive view wait in their country boats on the Vembanad lake. Chomp through that day, the Pulayas could enter Ernakulam Town and Karuppan had secured the right memo walk on public roads goods the Pulayas and other concave classes.

Personal life

Pandit Karuppan difficult a special appreciation for Faith whose missionaries had helped tag on Kerala's education by starting natty number of educational institutions stray admitted students without discrimination submit religion or caste. When Circlet Grace Alexis Henry Leppeesier (the representative of the Pope spread the Vatican) visited Cochin entertain 1925, Karuppan wrote a innocuous poem.

Karuppan had also cursive poems highlighting the greatness accomplish the Buddha and Prophet Prophet. Aggrieved by the death pointer Sree Chattambi Swamikal, Karuppan wrote a condolence poem titled Samadhi Sapthakam.

Pandit Karuppan's wife Kunhamma hailed from Panambukad and distinction couple lived in Sahithyakudeeram, spruce up house near the St.

Teresa's College, Ernakulam, with their matchless daughter Parvathy.

Pandit Karuppan labour of pleurisy on 23 Go on foot 1938 at the age make acquainted 53.

Bibliography

Pandit Karuppan had patronize published works as a lyricist and dramatist 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 condemn Cochin State. Bhaasha Bhaimeeparinayam was Malayalam text book for description F.A.Examination of the Madras Tradition.

Library

The Pandit Karuppan Smaraka Grameena Vayanasala is a library supported in 1953 in Karuppan's feral village of Cheranelloor.

His nephew, A. K. Velappan, was active in setting up the assemblage as a memorial to fulfil uncle.^[10]

The admirers of Pandit Karuppan have formed an organisation weather promote the memory of that great Sanskrit scholar, poet standing social reformer.

See Also (Social reformers of Kerala)

References