Kottarathil Sankunni
- Vasudevan Unni (father)
- Nangayya (mother)
Kottarathil Sankunni (born Vasudevan, 1855–1937) was an Indian writer of Malayalam literature. Best known as the author of Aithihyamala, an eight-volume compilation of century-old legends about Kerala,[1] Sankunni's writings cover prose and poetry, including verses for Kathakali and Ottan Thullal. He was one of the founding members of Bhashaposhini Sabha founded by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai and was also involved with Bharata Vilasam Sabha, another literary initiative. He died on July 22, 1937.
Biography
Kottarathil Sankunni was born on March 23, 1855, at Kodimatha, in Kottayam district of the south Indian state of Kerala (erstwhile Travancore) to Vasudevan Unni-Nangayya couple.[2] The boy, whose name at birth was Vasudevan but was called Thanku, Sanku and later Sankunni, did his early schooling under the tutelage of a local teacher and later, studied Sanskrit under Manarkattu Sanku Warrier and traditional medicine under Vayskara Aryan Narayanan Mooss. He joined Malayala Manorama in 1890 as the editor of their poetry section during which time he tutored a few Britishers the language of Malayalam. In 1893, he was selected as a Malayalam teacher at M. D. Seminary High School, Kottayam.[2]
Sankunni married for the first time in 1881 but after the death of his first wife, married Evoor Panaveliveettil Sreedevi Amma in 1887. he married twice more, the brides were Panaveli Lakshmy Amma and Pengali Thekkethu Devaki Amma. He died on 22 July 1937, at the age of 82.[2]
Legacy
Sankunni's contributions cover both prose and poetry, including Kathakali literature, Thullal, kilipattu, vanchipattu and other genres of literature.[2] His works include:[3]
- Aithihyamala, a collection of legendary stories including those about Kadamattathu Kathanar, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Parayi petta panthirukulam and others.
- Sreerama pattabhishekam (Kathakali)
- Adhdhyathmaramayanam (Translation)
He was also involved with two literary initiatives, the Bhashaposhini Sabha[4] founded by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai and the Bharata Vilasam Sabha, an organization where most of the literary figures of that period were members.[5]
Aithihyamala
Sankunni started compiling the legends of Kerala in 1909 and it took over a quarter to a century for him to complete the work. Aithihyamala (Garland of Legends), once completed was an eight-volume compilation of legends and old stories, popular in Kerala over the centuries. The work comprises eight volumes, containing 126 chapters.[6] It was first serialised in Bhashaposhini literary magazine. Later, it was published by the Reddiar Press in Quilon, in the early twentieth century. Kottarathil Sankunni Memorial Committee entrusted National Book Stall to reprint the work in 1974 and in 1991, D. C. Books published it in a new format.[7] The book is known to have sold over 150,000 copies until 2004.
Bibliography
Selected works
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (2015). Aithihyamala. Ḍi Si Buks. ISBN 9788126422906. OCLC 960468561.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1931). Kṣhēthr̲amāhātmyaṃ. Tr̥śśūr: Maṅgaḷōdayaṃ Pr̲ass. OCLC 43104218.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1935). Seemanthinīcharitaṃ: bhāṣānāṭakaṃ. Trichur: Keralodayam Press. OCLC 37527198.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1909). Kuchēlagōpālaṃ: nāṭakaṃ. Tr̥śśūr: Bhārativilāsaṃ Accukūṭaṃ. OCLC 38510750.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1980). Addhyātmarāmāyaṇaṃ (in Malayalam). Kottayam; Tiruvanantapuraṃ: Kottarathil Sankunni Memorial Committee ; Distributors, Kar̲ant̲ Buks. OCLC 11496946.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1908). Lakṣmībhāīśatakaṃ: maṇipr̲avāḷaṃ. Tr̥śśūr: Bhāratavilāsaṃ Pr̲ass. OCLC 38510783.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1908). Māṭhamahīśhaśatakaṃ: maṇipr̲avāḷaṃ. Tr̥śśūr: Bhāratavilāsaṃ. OCLC 39133272.
Translations into English
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1997). Tales from Kerala. Translated by Wood, Reade. India. OCLC 43779950.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Koṭṭārattil Śaṅkuṇṇi (2016). Aithihyamaala: the great legends of Kerala. Translated by Śr̲īkumāri Rāmacandran. Mathrubhumi Books. ISBN 9788182666252. OCLC 1032243481.
- Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (2006). Tales once told: legends of Kerala adapted from Kottarathil Sankunni's Ithihyamala. Translated by Eraly, Abraham. New Delhi; New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-309968-0. OCLC 76902803.
References
- ^ "Retelling culture". The Hindu. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ "Bhashaposhini Sabha". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1735–. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (2011). Aitihyamāla. Kottayam: D C Books. ISBN 9788126422906. OCLC 769743773.
External links
- "Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- Vishnu B (20 July 2013). "Kottarathil Sankunni – A Radio illustration". YouTube. All India Radio. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- v
- t
- e
- Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award
- Asan Smaraka Kavitha Puraskaram
- Cherukad Award
- Edasseri Award
- Ezhuthachan Puraskaram
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Biography and Autobiography
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Children's Literature
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Literary Criticism
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Miscellaneous Works
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Novel
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Scholarly Literature
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Story
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Travelogue
- Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship
- Mathrubhumi Literary Award
- Muttathu Varkey Award
- O. N. V. Literary Award
- O. V. Vijayan Literary Award
- Odakkuzhal Award
- Padmarajan Award
- P. Kesavadev Literary Award
- Ulloor Award
- Vallathol Award
- Vayalar Award
- Ajijesh Pachat
- Akbar Kakkattil
- Anand
- Anita Nair
- Anoop Sasikumar
- Appu Nedungadi
- Ashitha
- Ashtamoorthi K. V.
- Aymanam John
- Babu Bharadwaj
- B. M. Suhara
- B. Sandhya
- C. Radhakrishnan
- C. V. Balakrishnan
- C. V. Raman Pillai
- C. V. Sreeraman
- Chandramathi
- Cherukad
- E. Harikumar
- E. Vasu
- G. R. Indugopan
- George Onakkoor
- Gracy
- I. K. K. Menon
- Jayasree Kalathil
- John Abraham
- Jose Panachippuram
- Joy J. Kaimaparamban
- K. J. Baby
- Arch Deacon Koshy
- K. L. Mohana Varma
- K. N. Ezhuthachan
- K. P. Nirmal Kumar
- K. P. Ramanunni
- K. R. Meera
- K. Rekha
- K. Surendran
- K. P. Joseph Kalarickal
- K. Thayat
- Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai
- Kakkanadan
- Kamala Surayya
- Kanam EJ
- Karunakaran
- Karur Neelakanta Pillai
- Khadija Mumtaz
- Kottayam Pushpanath
- Kovilan
- K. V. Anoop
- Lajo Jose
- Lalithambika Antharjanam
- M. Govindan
- M. Mukundan
- M. Sukumaran
- M. T. Vasudevan Nair
- Madampu Kunjukuttan
- Madhupal
- Malayath Appunni
- Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
- Mallika Yunis
- Muttathu Varkey
- N. Mohanan
- N. N. Pisharody
- N. P. Chellappan Nair
- N. P. Mohammed
- N. S. Madhavan
- Nandanar
- Narayan
- O. V. Vijayan
- Omchery N. N. Pillai
- Oyyarathu Chandu Menon
- P. Ayyaneth
- P. Surendran
- P. F. Mathews
- P. K. Balakrishnan
- P. Kesavadev
- P. R. Nathan
- P. R. Shyamala
- P. Surendran
- P. Valsala
- Padmarajan
- Pamman
- Parappurath
- Pattathuvila Karunakaran
- Paul Chirakkarode
- Paul Zacharia
- Perumbadavam Sreedharan
- Ponjikkara Rafi
- Ponkunnam Varkey
- Punathil Kunjabdulla
- Raghunath Paleri
- S. Hareesh
- S. K. Pottekkatt
- Santhosh Echikkanam
- Sarah Joseph
- Sarah Thomas
- Savithri Rajeevan
- Socrates K. Valath
- Sudhakar Mangalodayam
- Sethu
- Shihabuddin Poythumkadavu
- Sohanlal
- Sreekrishnapuram Krishnankutty
- Subhash Chandran
- T. P. Rajeevan
- T. Padmanabhan
- T. V. Kochubava
- T. V. Varkey
- Tatapuram Sukumaran
- Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai
- Thikkodiyan
- Thomas Joseph
- U. A. Khader
- U. K. Kumaran
- Unnikrishnan Puthur
- Unnikrishnan Thiruvazhiyode
- Uroob
- V. K. N.
- V. P. Sivakumar
- Vaikom Muhammad Basheer
- Vallachira Madhavan
- Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar
- Vilasini
- Vinoy Thomas
- A. Ayyappan
- A. C. Sreehari
- A. R. Raja Raja Varma
- Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri
- Arnos Pathiri
- Attoor Ravi Varma
- Balachandran Chullikkadu
- Balamani Amma
- Bodheswaran
- Chandiroor Divakaran
- Changampuzha Krishna Pillai
- Cherukad
- Cherusseri Namboothiri
- D. Vinayachandran
- Edappalli Raghavan Pillai
- Edasseri Govindan Nair
- G. Shankara Kurup
- Irayimman Thampi
- K. Ayyappa Paniker
- K. C. Kesava Pillai
- K. V. Ramakrishnan
- Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
- Kadathanat Madhavi Amma
- Kadavanad Kuttikrishnan
- Kamala Surayya
- Kattakayam Cherian Mappillai
- Kavitha Balakrishnan
- Kumaran Asan
- Kunchan Nambiar
- Kureepuzha Sreekumar
- Lalitha Lenin
- M. Govindan
- M. P. Appan
- M. S. Banesh
- Manoj Kuroor
- Mary John Thottam
- Mohanakrishnan Kaladi
- Moyinkutty Vaidyar
- N. N. Kakkad
- N. V. Krishna Warrier
- Nalapat Narayana Menon
- Nellikkal Muraleedharan
- Niranam poets
- O. N. V. Kurup
- Olappamanna Subramanian Namboothirippad
- P. Kunhiraman Nair
- P. P. Ramachandran
- Pala Narayanan Nair
- Poonthanam Namboothiri
- Pulikkottil Hyder
- Punaloor Balan
- Puthussery Ramachandran
- S. Joseph
- Satchidanandan
- Satyan Madakkara
- Savithri Rajeevan
- Sugathakumari
- Thirunalloor Karunakaran
- Tholan
- Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan
- Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer
- Unnayi Variyar
- V. Madhusoodanan Nair
- V. C. Balakrishna Panicker
- V. M. Girija
- Vadakkumkur Rajarajavarmaraja
- Vallathol Narayana Menon
- Vayalar Ramavarma
- Veerankutty
- Vennikkulam Gopala Kurup
- Vijayalakshmi
- Vishnunarayanan Namboothiri
- V Madhusoodanan Nair
- Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon
- Sreedevi Kakkad
- Annie Thayyil
- C. N. Ahmad Moulavi
- C. S. Venkiteswaran
- Joseph Mundassery
- K. M. Daniel
- K. P. Appan
- K. P. Sankaran
- K. Damodaran
- K. M. George
- Kesari Balakrishna Pillai
- Kozhikodan
- Kuttikrishna Marar
- Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai
- M. K. Sanu
- M. Krishnan Nair (author)
- M. Leelavathy
- M. N. Karassery
- M. N. Vijayan
- M. P. Paul
- M. R. Chandrasekharan
- Narendra Prasad
- O. V. Vijayan
- P. Surendran
- S. Guptan Nair
- S. Rajasekharan
- Sabeena Rafi
- Sanjayan
- Sukumar Azhikode
- V. C. Sreejan
- V. T. Bhattathiripad
- Vijayakrishnan
- V. V. K. Valath
Grammarians
- Aalahayude Penmakkal
- Aalohari Anandam
- Aadujeevitham
- Aarachaar
- Akkapporinte Irupathu Nasrani Varshangal
- Anal Haq
- Anargha Nimisham
- Anuragathinte Dinangal
- Agnisakshi
- Ara Nazhika Neram
- Arabi Ponnu
- Arohanam
- Asuravithu
- Avakasikal
- Ayussinte Pusthakam
- Balyakalasakhi
- Barsa
- Chemmeen
- Cheviyorkkuka! Anthimakahalam
- Daivathinte Vikrithikal
- Delhi Gadhakal
- Enmakaje
- Ente Katha
- Ente Thankam
- Francis Itty Cora
- Gurusagaram
- Indulekha
- Kaalam
- Kayar
- Kesavante Vilapangal
- Khasakkinte Itihasam
- Kocharethi
- Kundalatha
- Manju (novel)
- Manushyanu Oru Aamukham
- Maranathinte Nizhalil
- Marthandavarma
- Mathilukal
- Maya
- Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil
- Mucheettukalikkarante Makal
- Mullappoo Niramulla Pakalukal
- Muthassi
- Naadan Premam
- Naalukettu
- Nakshathrangale Kaaval
- Ntuppuppakkoranendarnnu
- Odayil Ninnu
- Ormayude Arakal
- Oru Desathinte Katha
- Oru Sankeerthanam Pole
- Oru Theruvinte Katha
- Othappu
- Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha
- Pathummayude Aadu
- Peruvazhiyambalam
- Ponni
- Pravasam
- Premalekhanam
- Randamoozham
- Randidangazhi
- Rathinirvedam
- Sarada
- Shabdangal
- Smarakasilakal
- Sufi Paranja Katha
- Sundarikalum Sundaranmarum
- Thottiyude Makan
- Ummachu
- Vasanavikriti
- Vasanthathile Poomarangal
- Verukal
- Viddikalude Swargam
- Visappu
- Yakshi
- Yanthram
- Atmopadesa Śatakam
- Daiva Daśakaṁ
- Jnanappana
- Omanathinkal Kidavo
- Makarakoythu
- Puthen Pana
- Ramanan (play in verse)
- Rani (poem)
- Sree Bhoothanaathopakhyaanam
- Unnuneeli Sandesam
- Kuchelavritham Vanchippattu
- Krishnagatha
- Arabi Malayalam
- Arabi Malayalam script
- Chakara
- Malayalam grammar
- Malayalam poetry
- Mathrubhumi Yearbook
- Jewish copper plate
- Judeo-Malayalam
- Malayalam script
- Malayalam triumvirate poets
- Malayanma
- Mannan language
- Mappila dialect
- Mozhi (transliteration)
- Mullu Kurumba language
- Pandy Malayalam
- Romanisation of Malayalam
- Templates
- Category
- WikiProject
- India portal