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.
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. C. High School.[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]
Sankunni's contributions cover both prose and poetry, including Kathakali literature, Thullal, kilipattu, vanchipattu and other genres of literature.[2] His works include:[3]
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]
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.
Śaṅkuṇṇi, Koṭṭārattil (1997). Tales from Kerala. Translated by Wood, Reade. India. OCLC 43779950.
Koṭṭārattil Śaṅkuṇṇi (2016). Aithihyamaala: the great legends of Kerala. Translated by Śr̲īkumāri Rāmacandran. ISBN9788182666252. 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. ISBN978-0-14-309968-0. OCLC 76902803.
References
^"Retelling culture". The Hindu. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
^ abcd"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–. ISBN978-81-260-1194-0.
^. 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. ISBN9788126422906. 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.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kottarathil Sankunni.
January 09, 2023
kottarathil, sankunni, born, vasudevan, 1855, 1937, indian, writer, malayalam, literature, best, known, author, aithihyamala, eight, volume, compilation, century, legends, about, kerala, sankunni, writings, cover, prose, poetry, including, verses, kathakali, o. 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 Kottarathil SankunniBorn 1855 03 23 March 23 1855DiedJuly 22 1937 1937 07 22 aged 82 OccupationWriterNationalityIndianGenreNovel short StoryNotable worksAithihyamalaNotable awardsKavithilakanSpouseSreedevi Amma Lakshmy Amma Devaki AmmaRelativesVasudevan Unni father Nangayya mother Contents 1 Biography 2 Legacy 3 Aithihyamala 4 Bibliography 4 1 Selected works 4 2 Translations into English 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditKottarathil 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 C High School 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 Edit Bharatha Vilasam Sabha Kottarathil Sankunni Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer Kodungallur Kunjikkuttan Thampuran and Vallathol Narayana Menon are seen in the picture 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 EditMain article 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 EditSelected works Edit Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 2015 Aithihyamala ISBN 9788126422906 OCLC 960468561 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1931 Kṣhethr amahatmyaṃ Tr ssur Maṅgaḷōdayaṃ Pr ass OCLC 43104218 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1935 Seemanthinicharitaṃ bhaṣanaṭakaṃ Trichur Keralodayam Press OCLC 37527198 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1909 Kuchelagōpalaṃ naṭakaṃ Tr ssur Bharativilasaṃ Accukuṭaṃ OCLC 38510750 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1980 Addhyatmaramayaṇaṃ in Malayalam Kottayam Tiruvanantapuraṃ Kottarathil Sankunni Memorial Committee Distributors Kar ant Buks OCLC 11496946 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1908 Lakṣmibhaisatakaṃ maṇipr avaḷaṃ Tr ssur Bharatavilasaṃ Pr ass OCLC 38510783 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1908 Maṭhamahishasatakaṃ maṇipr avaḷaṃ Tr ssur Bharatavilasaṃ OCLC 39133272 Translations into English Edit Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 1997 Tales from Kerala Translated by Wood Reade India OCLC 43779950 Koṭṭarattil Saṅkuṇṇi 2016 Aithihyamaala the great legends of Kerala Translated by Sr ikumari Ramacandran ISBN 9788182666252 OCLC 1032243481 Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 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 Edit 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 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Saṅkuṇṇi Koṭṭarattil 2011 Aitihyamala Kottayam D C Books ISBN 9788126422906 OCLC 769743773 External links Edit 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 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kottarathil Sankunni Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kottarathil Sankunni amp oldid 1088187077, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
