Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar
Encyclopedia
Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar (1861 - 14 November 1914) was a Malayali
barrister, landlord, journalist, essay writer, critic and short story writer. He was one of the pioneers in these fields in Kerala
.
family known as "Vengayil" in Chirackal Thaluk, North Malabar. He was born to Chavanapuzha Mundot Puliyapadamb Haridasan Somayaji, Namboodiri of Perinchelloor Grama (Taliparamb), and Kunjakkam Amma of Vengayil. Nayanar was educated in Calicut and Saidampetta Agricultural College.
, in 1913 he also moved a resolution at the Madras Governor's Council to have the Kasaragod taluk
merge with the Malabar District
. This was withdrawn, however, due to strong opposition from Karnataka
. On 1 November 1956, Kasaragod finally became part of Kerala.
. Under the pen names "Kesari", "Vajrasoochi","Vajrabahu", Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar's works obtained wide appreciation from all over South India. Kesari was a sharp critic of social reality, criticising social inequalities. He was also a close friend of Dr. Hermann Gundert
and William Logan
who did a lot of research on the history, language, culture of Kerala.
who only owned approximately 30000 acres (121.4 km²).
Vengayil Nayanar's grandson was K. P. Candeth, an alumnus of Military Academy, Sandhurst,UK commanded Operation Vijay to liberate Goa
from the Portuguese
occupation and served briefly as the Lieutenant Governor of the state. He was also the GOCinC West in the Indian Army, during the 1971 war for liberation of Bangladesh.
Malayali
Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...
barrister, landlord, journalist, essay writer, critic and short story writer. He was one of the pioneers in these fields in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Early life
Nayanar was born in an aristocratic NairNair
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...
family known as "Vengayil" in Chirackal Thaluk, North Malabar. He was born to Chavanapuzha Mundot Puliyapadamb Haridasan Somayaji, Namboodiri of Perinchelloor Grama (Taliparamb), and Kunjakkam Amma of Vengayil. Nayanar was educated in Calicut and Saidampetta Agricultural College.
Administration
In 1907 he became member of Malabar District Board. In 1912 he was elected to Madras Assembly. As a barristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, in 1913 he also moved a resolution at the Madras Governor's Council to have the Kasaragod taluk
Kasaragod taluk
Kasaragod, is a taluk which along with Hosdurg taluk constitute the Kasaragod district, Kerala, India.- External links :* *...
merge with the Malabar District
Malabar District
Malabar District was an administrative district of Madras Presidency in British India and independent India's Madras State. The British district included the present-day districts of Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad , and Chavakad Taluk of Thrissur District in the northern part of...
. This was withdrawn, however, due to strong opposition from Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. On 1 November 1956, Kasaragod finally became part of Kerala.
Literature
Nayanar came to the literary world through Kerala Pathrika. He wrote the first Malayalam short story, VasanavikritiVasanavikriti
Vasanavikriti is the first Malayalam short story written by Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar. It was published in VidyaVinodini magazine in 1891. The narration of story is bit of humour based.-Plot:...
. Under the pen names "Kesari", "Vajrasoochi","Vajrabahu", Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar's works obtained wide appreciation from all over South India. Kesari was a sharp critic of social reality, criticising social inequalities. He was also a close friend of Dr. Hermann Gundert
Hermann Gundert
Rev. Dr. Hermann Gundert was a German missionary and scholar, who compiled a Malayalam grammar book, Malayalabhaasha Vyakaranam , the first Malayalam-English dictionary , and translated the Bible into Malayalam. He worked primarily at Tellicherry on the Malabar coast, in Kerala, India...
and 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...
who did a lot of research on the history, language, culture of Kerala.
Vengayil Family
Kunhiraman Nayanar belonged to the "Vengayil Nayanar" clan, which were one of the most aristocratic landlord families in Malabar at the time, and owned more than 200000 acres (809.4 km²) including vast forest lands, more than the Chirakkal RajaChirakkal Raja
Chirakkal Raja is the title of the senior most king of the Chirakkal branch of the Palli division of the Kolathiri dynasty of the erstwhile feudal state of Kolathunadu in North Malabar, Kerala state, South India. Chirakkal Rajas and Kolathiris traces their ancestry back to the Mushika dynasty of...
who only owned approximately 30000 acres (121.4 km²).
Vengayil Nayanar's grandson was K. P. Candeth, an alumnus of Military Academy, Sandhurst,UK commanded Operation Vijay to liberate Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
from the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
occupation and served briefly as the Lieutenant Governor of the state. He was also the GOCinC West in the Indian Army, during the 1971 war for liberation of Bangladesh.
See also
- K. P. Candeth
- Kasaragod talukKasaragod talukKasaragod, is a taluk which along with Hosdurg taluk constitute the Kasaragod district, Kerala, India.- External links :* *...
- Madayi KavuMadayi KavuMadayi Kavu, also known as Thiruvar Kadu Bhagavathi Temple, is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kali Amma in Kerala, India. The temple, now under the administration of Devaswom Board, was originally under the control of the Kolathiri kings...
- Malayalam
- VasanavikritiVasanavikritiVasanavikriti is the first Malayalam short story written by Vengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar. It was published in VidyaVinodini magazine in 1891. The narration of story is bit of humour based.-Plot:...
External links
- Payyanur.com, "History"
- KSD.kerala.gov.in, "History of Kasaragod"
- PRD.kerala.gov.in, "The Essay"
- PRD.kerala.gov.in, "History of Press in India"
- Rediff.com, "Nayanars of Kerala"