Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran - Revision history

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{{short description|Malayalam-language poet and translator}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
[[File:Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran Changanassery Lakshmipuram Palace.jpg|200px|thumbnail|right|Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran [[Changanassery]] [[Laxmipuram Palace]]]]
'''Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CSI}} ({{lang-ml|കേരളവർമ്മ വലിയ കോയിത്തമ്പുരാൻ}}; 19 February 1845 – 22 September 1914) also spelt '''Kerala Varma Valiya Koilthampuran''' and known as '''Kerala Varma''', was a [[Malayalam]] - language poet and translator who had an equal facility in writing in English and [[Sanskrit]] from the Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref name=apmila>Paniker, Ayyappa, [https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA411&lpg=PA411&dq=%22Balijepalli+Lakshmikantham%22&source=bl&ots=uno9_V2xCS&sig=XpfTAeXSKMtdI3hUZ2fKJiNptqs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA231,M1 "Modern Malayalam Literature"] chapter in George, K. M., editor, ' 'Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology' ', pp 231, 236 published by Sahitya Akademi, 1992, retrieved 10 January 2009</ref> He was part of the royal family of erstwhile [[Parappanad]], [[Malappuram district]]. Kerala Varma is also known as the ''Kalidasa of Kerala''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sreedhara Menon|first=A.|title=Cultural Heritage of Kerala|page=199}}</ref>

Kerala Varma has been called "a colossal Renaissance figure in 19th century Kerala" and "perhaps the first of the major [Malayalam language] writers who consciously and deliberately began to absorb and celebrate the Western influence" on his native literature. He advocated resuscitation of [[Malayalam]] literature by absorbing selected Western influences combined with native Sanskritic elements in poetry, drama and prose.<ref name=apmila/>

==Life==
He was born in [[Changanacherry]] at the [[Laxmipuram Palace]] on 19 February 1845 (6 Kumbham 1020) in [[Pushya|Pooyam]] star{{Clarify|date=August 2011}}. His mother was Pooram Nal Devi Amba Thampuratti while his father was [[Cheriyoor]] Mullapally Narayanan Namboothiri, Perinchelloor Gramam ([[Taliparamba]]) in [[Kannur]] District. His family had fled [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] and sought refuge in [[Travancore]] during the invasion of [[Tipu Sultan]] towards the end of the 18th century. After peace was restored, however, the [[Parappanad]] Royal family agreed to accept a pension from the [[British Empire|British]] government as also from the [[Travancore]] government and stayed back in the latter state.

Although the Koil Thampuran was born at Changanacherry, his family subsequently moved to [[Haripad]] and settled at the Ananthapuram Palace. In 1859 he was married to Her Highness [[Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi]], the adopted niece of [[Uthram Thirunal]], then Maharajah of [[Travancore]]. His marriage to the Senior Rani thus brought him into close association with the [[Travancore Royal Family]]. Later, however, through palace intrigues and personal disaffection with the Maharajah [[Ayilyam Thirunal]] he was confined at [[Haripad]] forcefully in 1875, only to be released and reunited with his wife in 1880 by Maharajah [[Visakham Thirunal]]. He was made a [[Order of the Star of India|Companion of the Order of the Star of India]] in 1885 by the [[British Empire|British]] Government. After the death of his consort Rani Lakshmi Bayi in 1901 he was appointed the guardian of her two grandnieces, the Senior and Junior Ranis of [[Travancore]], including Maharani [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]]. He died in a car accident in September 1914. At that time, cars were rare in India, and only rich people like him had cars. According to the sources, Kerala Varma was going to [[Vaikom Mahadeva Temple]] with his nephew and disciple [[A. R. Rajaraja Varma]], another great scholar, called as 'Kerala Panini'. On the way of return, he stayed at [[Ananthapuram Palace]], [[Haripad]]. The next day, while going to [[Thiruvananthapuram]], his car got crashed, and he died on the hands of his nephew.

People from various spheres mourned his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in [[Changanassery]].

==Literary works==

Kerala Varma was in close touch with literary movements in both northern and southern parts of Kerala, including ''Bhashaposhini Sabha'' and magazines such as ''Vidya Vinodini'' and ''Malayala Manorama''.<ref name=apmila/>

His work ''Abhijnana Sakunthalam''(1898), a translation of Kalidasa's ''Sakunthalam'', is one of the most acclaimed works of poetry in [[Malayalam]] from that period. It influenced a number of other translations of Sanskrit classics into Malayalam and was a success on the stage. The subsequent spate of translations from English and Sanskrit into Malayalam was an important feature of Malayalam literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.<ref name=apmila/>

He has also written ''Mayoorasandesham'' (also spelt ''Mayura Sandesam''; 1894<ref name=apmila/>) on the line of Kalidasa's ''MeghaDooth''(aka ''Meghaduta''). In this poetry he has used the peacocks of [[Haripad]] temple to send his messages to his wife, the Maharani, in [[Trivandrum]]. His celebrated work ''Visakhavijaya'' was written after his release by [[Visakham Thirunal]].

==See also==
{{portal|Poetry}}
*[[Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Travancore State Manual by Velu Pillai
* Visakhavijaya- A Study by Poovattoor Ramakrishna Pillai

{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{Kingdom of Travancore}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thampuran, Kerala Varma Valiya Koil}}
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian Sanskrit scholars]]
[[Category:Translators of Kalidasa]]
[[Category:1845 births]]
[[Category:1914 deaths]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India]]
[[Category:Travancore royal family]]
[[Category:Road incident deaths in India]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:People from Changanassery]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian translators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian translators]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:15, 27 May 2025
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	[[File:Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran Changanassery Lakshmipuram Palace.jpg\|200px\|thumbnail\|right\|Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran [[Changanassery]] [[~~Laxmipuram~~ Palace]]]]		[[File:Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran Changanassery Lakshmipuram Palace.jpg\|200px\|thumbnail\|right\|Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran [[Changanassery]] [[Lakshmipuram Palace]]]]
	'''Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran''' {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|CSI}} (~~{{lang-ml\|കേരളവർമ്മ വലിയ കോയിത്തമ്പുരാൻ}};~~ 19 February 1845 – 22 September 1914) also spelt '''Kerala Varma Valiya Koilthampuran''' and known as '''Kerala Varma''', was a [[Malayalam]] - language poet and translator who had an equal facility in writing in English and [[Sanskrit]] from the Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref name=apmila>Paniker, Ayyappa, [https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C~~&pg=PA411&lpg=PA411~~&dq=%22Balijepalli+Lakshmikantham%22&~~source=bl&ots=uno9_V2xCS&sig=XpfTAeXSKMtdI3hUZ2fKJiNptqs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct~~=~~result#PPA231,M1~~ "Modern Malayalam Literature"] chapter in George, K. M., editor, ' 'Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology' ', pp 231, 236 published by Sahitya Akademi, 1992, retrieved 10 January 2009</ref> He was ~~part~~ of the royal family of ~~erstwhile [[Parappanad~~]], [[~~Malappuram district~~]]. Kerala Varma is also known as the ''Kalidasa of Kerala''.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sreedhara Menon\|first=A.\|title=Cultural Heritage of Kerala\|page=199}}</ref>		'''Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran''' {{post-nominals\|country=GBR\|CSI}}; (19 February 1845 – 22 September 1914) also spelt '''Kerala Varma Valiya Koilthampuran''' and known as '''Kerala Varma''', was a [[Malayalam]] - language poet and translator who had an equal facility in writing in English and [[Sanskrit]] from the Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref name=apmila>Paniker, Ayyappa, [https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&dq=%22Balijepalli+Lakshmikantham%22&pg=PA231 "Modern Malayalam Literature"] chapter in George, K. M., editor, ' 'Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology' ', pp 231, 236 published by Sahitya Akademi, 1992, retrieved 10 January 2009</ref> He was a prince of [[Parappanad]], and consort to the [[Travancore royal family\|Senior Rani of Attingal and Maharani of Travancore]], [[Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi]], intended to father future sovereigns of Travancore, although the couple was childless, necessitating the adoption of Lakshmi Bayi's grand-nieces. Kerala Varma is also known as the ''Kalidasa of Kerala'', and was both brother-in-law and cousin to painter [[Raja Ravi Varma]], also a prince of Parappanad, though from the [[Kilimanoor Palace\|Kilimanoor branch]], whom he presented with his first oil paints.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sreedhara Menon\|first=A.\|title=Cultural Heritage of Kerala\|page=199}}</ref> A third Parappanad prince, his grammarian nephew [[A. R. Raja Raja Varma]], is known as the ''Panini of Kerala''.

	Kerala Varma has been called "a colossal Renaissance figure in 19th century Kerala" and "perhaps the first of the major [Malayalam language] writers who consciously and deliberately began to absorb and celebrate the Western influence" on his native literature. He advocated resuscitation of [[Malayalam]] literature by absorbing selected Western influences combined with native Sanskritic elements in poetry, drama and prose.<ref name=apmila/>		Kerala Varma has been called "a colossal Renaissance figure in 19th century Kerala" and "perhaps the first of the major [Malayalam language] writers who consciously and deliberately began to absorb and celebrate the Western influence" on his native literature. He advocated resuscitation of [[Malayalam]] literature by absorbing selected Western influences combined with native Sanskritic elements in poetry, drama and prose.<ref name=apmila/>

	==Life==		==Life==
	He was born in [[Changanacherry]] at the [[~~Laxmipuram~~ Palace]] on 19 February 1845 (6 Kumbham 1020) in [[Pushya\|Pooyam]] star{{Clarify\|date=August 2011}}. His mother was Pooram Nal Devi Amba Thampuratti while his father was [[Cheriyoor]] Mullapally Narayanan Namboothiri, Perinchelloor Gramam ([[Taliparamba]]) in [[Kannur]] ~~District~~. His family had fled [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)\|Malabar]] and sought refuge in [[Travancore]] during the invasion of [[Tipu Sultan]] towards the end of the 18th century. After peace was restored, however, the [[Parappanad]] Royal family agreed to accept a pension from the [[British Empire\|British]] government as also from the [[Travancore]] ~~government~~ and ~~stayed back in the latter state~~.		He was born in [[Changanacherry]] at the [[Lakshmipuram Palace]] on 19 February 1845 (6 Kumbham 1020) in [[Pushya\|Pooyam]] star{{Clarify\|date=August 2011}}. His mother was Pooram Nal Devi Amba Thampuratti while his father was [[Cheriyoor]] Mullapally Narayanan [[Nambudiri\|Namboothiri]] of [[Perimchellur\|Perinchelloor]] Gramam in [[Taliparamba]], in [[Kannur]]. His family had fled [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)\|Malabar]] and sought refuge in [[Travancore]] during the invasion of [[Tipu Sultan]] towards the end of the 18th century. After peace was restored, however, the [[Parappanad]] Royal family agreed to accept a pension from the [[British Empire\|British]] government and also from that of [[Travancore]], in which several branches would remain, from among which future [[Prince consort\|princes consort]] of the seniormost two females in the [[Travancore royal family]], [[Rani of Attingal\|Senior and Junior Rani of Attingal]], each a Maharani of Travancore, were drawn.

	<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Lakshmibayi.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Her Highness [[Rani Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore]], wife of Kerala Varma]] -->Although the Koil Thampuran was born at Changanacherry, his family subsequently moved to [[Haripad]] and settled at the Ananthapuram Palace. In 1859 he was married to Her Highness [[Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi]], the adopted niece of [[Uthram Thirunal]], then Maharajah of [[Travancore]]. His marriage to the Senior Rani thus brought him into close association with the [[Travancore Royal Family]]. Later, however, through palace intrigues and personal disaffection with the Maharajah [[Ayilyam Thirunal]] he was confined at [[Haripad]] forcefully in 1875, only to be released and reunited with his wife in 1880 by Maharajah [[Visakham Thirunal]]. He was ~~made a~~ [[Order of the Star of India\|Companion of the Order of the Star of India]] in 1885 by the [[British Empire\|British]] Government. After the death of his consort Rani Lakshmi Bayi in 1901 he was appointed the guardian of her two grandnieces, the Senior and Junior Ranis of [[Travancore]], including Maharani [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]]. He died in a car accident in September 1914. At that time, cars were rare in India, and only rich people like him had cars. According to the sources, Kerala Varma was going to [[Vaikom Mahadeva Temple]] with his nephew and disciple [[A. R. Rajaraja Varma]], another great scholar, called as 'Kerala Panini'. On the way of return, he stayed at [[Ananthapuram Palace]], [[Haripad]]. The next day, while going to [[Thiruvananthapuram]], his car got crashed, and he ~~died on~~ the ~~hands~~ of ~~his nephew~~.		<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Lakshmibayi.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Her Highness [[Rani Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore]], wife of Kerala Varma]] -->Although the Koil Thampuran was born at Changanacherry, his family subsequently moved to [[Haripad]] and settled at the Ananthapuram Palace. In 1859 he was married to Her Highness [[Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi]], the adopted niece of [[Uthram Thirunal]], then Maharajah of [[Travancore]]. His marriage to the Senior Rani thus brought him into close association with the [[Travancore Royal Family]]. Later, however, through palace intrigues and personal disaffection with the Maharajah [[Ayilyam Thirunal]] he was confined at [[Haripad]] forcefully in 1875, only to be released and reunited with his wife in 1880 by Maharajah [[Visakham Thirunal]]. He wrote an apology letter to Ayilyam Tihirunal on 26 January 1877 admitting all charges including being in league with Visakham Thirunal and writing a letter to the diwan and later lying that he never wrote such a letter. He also admitted of being attracted to [[Christianity]] and addicted to [[Bhang]].<ref>{{citation\|work=The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore\|page=67\|editor-last1=Pillai\|editor-first1=Manu S\|title=Valiya Koil Thampuran\|url=\|publisher=Harper Collins\|year=2013}}</ref> He was awarded with the [[Order of the Star of India\|Companion of the Order of the Star of India]] in 1885 by the [[British Empire\|British]] Government. After the death of his consort Rani Lakshmi Bayi in 1901 he was appointed the guardian of her two grandnieces, the Senior and Junior Ranis of [[Travancore]], including Maharani [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]].

			He died in a car accident in September 1914. At that time, cars were rare in India, and only rich people like him had cars. According to the sources, Kerala Varma was going to [[Vaikom Mahadeva Temple]] with his nephew and disciple [[A. R. Rajaraja Varma]], another great scholar, called as 'Kerala Panini'. On the way of return, he stayed at [[Ananthapuram Palace]], [[Haripad]]. The next day, while going to [[Thiruvananthapuram]], his car got crashed, and he succumbed to his injuries two days later. It is regarded as first [[Road accident]] related death in India.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=India’s first motor vehicle accident led to the death of a Kerala prince in 1914 \|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/india-first-motor-vehicle-accident-led-to-the-death-of-kerala-prince-22-september-1914-ba3c60da \|access-date=2025-05-24 \|website=@mathrubhumi \|language=en}}</ref>

	People from various spheres mourned his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in [[Changanassery]].		People from various spheres mourned his death. He was cremated with full state honours at his home in [[Changanassery]].
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	==Literary works==		==Literary works==

	Kerala Varma was in close touch with literary movements in both northern and southern parts of Kerala, including ''Bhashaposhini Sabha'' and magazines such as ''Vidya Vinodini'' and ''Malayala Manorama''.<ref name=apmila/>		Kerala Varma was in close touch with literary movements in both northern and southern parts of Kerala, including ''Bhashaposhini Sabha'' and magazines such as ''[[Vidya Vinodini]]'' and ''[[Malayala Manorama]]''.<ref name=apmila/>

	His work ''Abhijnana Sakunthalam''(1898), a translation of Kalidasa's ''Sakunthalam'', is one of the most acclaimed works of poetry in [[Malayalam]] from that period. It influenced a number of other translations of Sanskrit classics into Malayalam and was a success on the stage. The subsequent spate of translations from English and Sanskrit into Malayalam was an important feature of Malayalam literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.<ref name=apmila/>		His work ''Abhijnana Sakunthalam''(1898), a translation of Kalidasa's ''Sakunthalam'', is one of the most acclaimed works of poetry in [[Malayalam]] from that period. It influenced a number of other translations of Sanskrit classics into Malayalam and was a success on the stage. The subsequent spate of translations from English and Sanskrit into Malayalam was an important feature of Malayalam literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.<ref name=apmila/>
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