Vallathol Narayana Menon (16 October 1878 – 13 March 1958) was a Malayalam poet and one of the triumvirate of modern Malayalam poetry, along with Asan and Ulloor. The honorific Mahakavi was applied to him in 1913 after the publication of his Mahakavya Chitrayogam. He was a nationalist poet and wrote a series of poems on various aspects of the Indian freedom movement. He founded the Kerala Kalamandalam and is credited with revitalising the traditional Keralite dance form known as Kathakali.
Early life
Vallathol was born in Chennara, Mangalam, Tirur, in Malappuram District, Kerala, as the son of Kadungotte Mallisseri Damodaran Elayathu and Kuttipparu Amma(Parvathy). He did not receive any formal education but was trained in Sanskrit language, first under the Sanskrit scholar Variyam Parambil Kunjan Nair(real name not known)and then under his own uncle Ramanunni Menon, who introduced him into the world of Sanskrit poetry. Ramanunni Menon also taught him Ashtanga Hridayam, a medical treatise, and young Narayana Menon soon began helping his uncle in medical practice and teaching. He earned the title Mahakavi after the publication of the Mahakavya Chitrayogam in 1913. Chitrayogam conformed to all the principles of a traditional Mahakavya and was divided into 18 Sargas. The story of Chandrasena and Taravali, taken from Kathasaritsagara, was the theme of this poetry work. Vallathol portrayed the protest of Parvati against Siva in the work Gangapati (1913) and of Usha defying her father for the sake of her love in Bandhanasthanaya Anirudhan (1914). The poet's own struggle with deafness from his early twenties features in the work Badhiravilapam.
The title "Kavisarvabhowman" was conferred upon him by the Maharaja of Cochin.
He was awarded Padma Bhushan title, India's third highest civilian award, in 1954.
Kathakali
Vallathol is credited with revitalising Kathakali. He played a prominent role in setting up the Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, near the banks of Bharathapuzha River. The revival of the art of Kathakali in modern Kerala was mainly due to the efforts of Vallathol and the Kerala Kalamandalam.
Involvement in Nationalist movement
Vallathol was a nationalist writing in the Malayalam language. He actively participated in the Nationalist movement. He attended the all India Conferences of the Indian Congress in 1922 and 1927 and rejected a royal honour bestowed upon him by the Prince of Wales during his India visit in 1922. Vallathol remained a great admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and wrote the poem "Ente Gurunathan" ("My Great Teacher") in his praise. At the same time, he felt attracted by the Communist ideology and wrote poems praising the achievements of the Soviet Union. He wrote several patriotic poems hailing India's nationalist movement.
Bibliography
The following is a list of works published by Vallathol Narayana Menon. The bibliographical details of subsequent editions are used wherever the details of the first edition are not available. Kerala University published a bibliography of the author in 1978 titled Vallathol Bibliography.
Poetry
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| c. 1896 || Vyasavatharam || (Periodical) || Manipravalam poetry
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| c. 1896 || Kirathashathakam || (Periodical) || Manipravalam poetry
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| 1896 || Sallapapuram || Pattambi: Vijnana Chitamani || First work published as a book; collection of 40 Manipravalam verses co-authored with Vellanassery Vasudevan Moossath; written under the name Kozhiparambil Narayana Menon; published by A. Raman Moossath
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| 1899 || Rithuvilasam || Kavanodayam || An imitation of Kalidasa's Ritusamhaara; 2nd edition of the book published by Vidya Vilasom, Calicut in 1922
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| c. 1901 || Parvati Padadi Kesanta Stavam || || Written for Parishkarabhivardini Nadaka Sabha || ||
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| 1922 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 3 || Trichur: Vidya Vinodini || With an introduction by P. Sankaran Nambiar in English
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| 1926 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 5 || Trichur: Mangalodayam ||
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| 1928 || Vishukkani || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam<br><small>(3rd edition)</small> || First edition in 1928; 3rd edition in 1941; 10 poems
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| 1929 || Kochu Seetha || Trichur: Mangalodayam || With notes by Kuttikrishna Marar
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| 1931 || Kavyamritham || Quilon: Sreerama Vilasom || 2nd edition; 17 poems
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| 1932 || Kairali Kadaksham Vol.1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3 || Trivandrum: V. V. Pub. House || Short poems for children
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| 1934 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 6 || Trivandrum: B. V. || 3rd edition; 15 poems
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| 1935 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 7 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 19 poems
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| 1935 || Veera Sringala || Trichur: Sundarayyar & Sons ||
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| 1936 || Achanum Makalum || Cheruthuruthi: Mangalodayam || With an introduction by C. S. Nair
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| 1936 || Kairali Kandhalam || Trichur: Sundarayyar & Sons || 14 poems
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| 1942 || Saranam Ayyappa || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam ||
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| 1943 || Indiayude Karachil || Palghat: Vellinezhi || With an introduction by T. C. Narayanan Nambiar
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| 1944 || Divaswapnam || Calicut: P. C. Brothers || 10 poems
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| 1944 || Ente Gurunathan || Palghat: Vellinezhi || With an introduction by O. M. C. Narayanan Nambudiripad
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| 1944 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 4 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 6th edition; 13 poems; With an introduction by Kuttikrishna Marar
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| 1944 || Sthree || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 7 poems; with an introduction by E. M. S. Namboodiripad
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| 1948 || Prakrithiyude Manorajyam || Alleppey: Vidyarambam || Prakrithiyude Manorajyam and Ulloor's Akkare Pacha combined in a volume titled Randu Tharangal
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| 1949 || Komala Sisukkal || Trivandrum: Balan || With an introduction by Mathew M. Kuzhiveli
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| 1949 || Padmadalam || Trivandrum: Kamalalaya || 15 poems
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| 1950 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 8 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 12 poems
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| 1950 || Onapudava || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 3rd edition; 14 poems
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| 1951 || Bappuji || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || With annotations by Ullattil Govindankutty Nair
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| 1951 || Russiayil || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 5 poems; with annotations; based on the 1951 journey to Russia
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| 1956 || Abhivadyam || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || With annotations; 9 poems
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| 1959 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 9 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 17 poems with annotations; published posthumously
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| 1960 || Dandakaranyam || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || Originally published in 1910 in Kavanakaumudi; with annotations
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| 1962 || Bhagaval Sthothramala || Cheruthuruthi: Mangalodayam || 2nd edition; With an introduction by E. V. Raman Namboothiri
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| 1962 || Nagila || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || With an introduction by P. Damodaran Pillai
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| 1962 || Vallathol Sudha Vol.1, Vol.2 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || Collection of poems in two volumes; compiled by Kuttipuzha Krishna Pillai
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| 1964 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 10 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 17 poems; published posthumously
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| 1965 || Khanda Krithikal || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 12th edition; With an introduction by P. V. Krishna Warrier; Collection of 15 works
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| 1968 || Allah || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || With an introduction by T. Ubaid; and a note by C. H. Mohammed Koya
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| 1970 || Sahitya Manjari Vol. 11 || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || 25 poems; published posthumously; with an introduction by C. Govinda Kurup
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| 1975 || Vallatholinte Padyakrithikal Vol. 1 || Kottayam: S.P.C.S. || With a biographical note by C. P. Sreedharan and an introduction by E. V. Raman Namboodiri
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| 1975 || Vallatholinte Padyakrithikal Vol. 2 || Kottayam: S.P.C.S. || With an introduction by N. V. Krishna Warrier
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| 1988 || Vallatholinte Khanda Kavyangal || Calicut: Mathrubhumi ||
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| 1994 || Kavya Manjusha || Calicut: Poorna || Collection of 10 poems and a study on Kochu Seetha; with an introduction by S. K. Vasanthan
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| || Triyamam || || Manipravalam work co-authored with Vellanassery Vasudevan Moossath; probably lost work
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| || Keechaka Vadham || || Kaikottikalippattu; probably lost book
|}
Others
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| 1904 || Arogya Chinthamani || || Health; Health; based on Kaikulangara Rama Warrier's Arogya Kalpadrumam; 2nd edition published by Yogakshemam, Trichur in 1926
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| 1928 || Grantha Viharam || Trichur: Mangalodayam || Literary criticism; collection of 44 articles published in Keralodayam and Atma Poshini; compiled by Kuttikrishna Marar
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| 1964 || Prasangavediyil || Cheruthuruthi: Vallathol Granthalayam || Collection of 12 speeches
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| 1978 || Vallathol Kathukal || Kottayam: DC Books || Letters to K. M. Panikkar; compiled by Kavalam Narayana Panicker
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| 1986 || Vallatholinte Grantha Nirupanangalum Prasangangalum || Calicut: Mathrubhumi || Collected speeches and articles from the books Grantha Viharam (1928) and Prasangavediyil (1964); with an introduction by Kuttikrishna Marar
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| || Arjuna Vijayam || || Sanskrit play;