Oyyarathu Chandumenon
Encyclopedia
Oyyarathu Chandumenon (9 January 1847-7 September 1899) was a Malayalam language
novelist from Kerala state, South India
who wrote Indulekha
in 1889, the first Malayalam fictional work which met with all the requisite characteristics typical of a novel
according to a widely accepted Malayalam literary convention. It is not the first novel per se, as Kundalatha
(a much inferior work) by Appu Nedungadi
pre-dates it by a year. Indulekha throws light on the Nair
community during the second half of the nineteenth century when it was undergoing a transformation following western influences and English education. It exalts education and satirizes the orthodox practices of temporary marital alliances between Nair women and Namboodiri men. Indulekha was translated into English 1891 by the-then Collector
of Malabar districtMalabar.
Chandumenon got his English education at the school level. He began his career as a clerk in the government service. He continued to teach himself English and won approval of English officials. William Logan
, author of the Malabar Manual
appointed him as a clerk at Sub-Collector's office. Through a series of promotions, he became a municiff, and in 1892 became the sub-judge of Calicut.
He began a second novel named Sarada
, the first part of which appeared in 1892.
Chandumenon made important contributions as a social reformer. He was a member of the committee constituted to inquire and report on the Malabar Marriages Bill. His observations on matriliny among Nairs and polyandrous matrimony of Nair women that prevailed during the time are of historical importance. He was bestowed with the title of Rao Bahadur
in 1898 for excellent service. Chandumenon died on 7 September 1899.
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
novelist from Kerala state, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
who wrote Indulekha
Indulekha
Indulekha is a Malayalam novel about a beautiful, well educated lady of a Nair tharavadu by Chandu Menon-Title:Indulekha, refers to the main character in this novel, a beautiful, well educated Nair lady of 18 years.-Background:...
in 1889, the first Malayalam fictional work which met with all the requisite characteristics typical of a novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
according to a widely accepted Malayalam literary convention. It is not the first novel per se, as Kundalatha
Kundalatha
Kundalatha is a novel by Appu Nedungadi, published in 1887. It is considered to be the first Malayalam novel.-External links:* *...
(a much inferior work) by Appu Nedungadi
Appu Nedungadi
Appu Nedungadi is the name of Rao Bahadur T.M. Appu Nedungadi, author of Kundalatha, which was published in 1887, making it one of the earliest novels in Malayalam language, spoken in Kerala state, South India.....
pre-dates it by a year. Indulekha throws light on the Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
community during the second half of the nineteenth century when it was undergoing a transformation following western influences and English education. It exalts education and satirizes the orthodox practices of temporary marital alliances between Nair women and Namboodiri men. Indulekha was translated into English 1891 by the-then Collector
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
of Malabar districtMalabar.
Chandumenon got his English education at the school level. He began his career as a clerk in the government service. He continued to teach himself English and won approval of English officials. William Logan
William Logan (Malabar Manual)
William Logan was a Scottish officer of the Madras Civil Service under the British Government. Before his appointment as Collector of Malabar, he had served in the area for about twenty years in the capacity of Magistrate and Judge. He was conversant in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu...
, author of the Malabar Manual
William Logan (Malabar Manual)
William Logan was a Scottish officer of the Madras Civil Service under the British Government. Before his appointment as Collector of Malabar, he had served in the area for about twenty years in the capacity of Magistrate and Judge. He was conversant in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu...
appointed him as a clerk at Sub-Collector's office. Through a series of promotions, he became a municiff, and in 1892 became the sub-judge of Calicut.
He began a second novel named Sarada
Sarada
Sarada , a novel by O. Chandhu Menon was published in 1892. Due to his death in 1899, Chandu Menon was not able to complete the second part of Sarada.-External links:*...
, the first part of which appeared in 1892.
Chandumenon made important contributions as a social reformer. He was a member of the committee constituted to inquire and report on the Malabar Marriages Bill. His observations on matriliny among Nairs and polyandrous matrimony of Nair women that prevailed during the time are of historical importance. He was bestowed with the title of Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur
Rao Bahadur was a title of honour issued in British India to individuals who had performed great service to the nation....
in 1898 for excellent service. Chandumenon died on 7 September 1899.