Kumaranasan

N. Kumaranasan (1873 – 1924)

N. Kumaran Asan was one of the modern triumvirate poets of Kerala. He was a great philosopher-poet and social reformer. He was also one of the foremost disciples of Sree Narayana Guru.

Kumaranasan revolutionized Malayalam Poetry and influenced the Kerala renaissance movement to a greater extent. His works reflect the history of the struggle against the caste system as well as the history of development in Kerala.


Epithets

  • തൂലിക പടവാളാക്കിയ കവി,
  • Chinnaswami (by Dr. Palpu),
  • Sneha Gayakan (സ്നേഹ ഗായകൻ),
  • Ashayagambhiran (ആശയ ഗംഭീരൻ),
  • Divya kokilam (by Leelavathy),
  • വിപ്ലവത്തിന്റെ ശുക്രനക്ഷത്രം (by Prof. Joseph Mundassery),
  • Son of Honor (മാനസപുത്രൻ) to Dr. Palpu,
  • Poet of Revolution & Poet of Renaissance (by Thayat Sankaran),
  • Mahakavi Kumaran Asan (Mahakavi – by Prince of Wales, Madras University in 1922).


Timeline of N. Kumaranasan's Life Events

  • Birth

    • Malayalam Date – 1048 മേടം 1.
    • Place – Achenchuthengu Taluk, Kayikkara (Thiruvananthapuram).
    • House Name – Thommanvilakam (തൊമ്മൻവിളാകം).
    • Father – Narayanan Perungudi (നാരായണൻ പെരുങ്ങാടി).
    • Mother – Kaliamma/Kochupennu (കാളിയമ്മ/കൊച്ചുപെണ്ണ്).
    • Childhood name – Kumaru (കുമാരു).

  • Early Education

    Teachers
    • Thundathil Perumal Asan (തുണ്ടത്തിൽ പെരുമാൾ ആശാൻ),
    • In Sanskrit – Udayankuzhi Kochuraman Vaidyar (ഉടയാൻ കുഴിയിൽ കൊച്ചുരാമൻ വൈദ്യർ),
    • In Poetry– Manamboor Govindan Asan (മനമ്പൂർ ഗോവിന്ദൻ ആശാൻ).
    Joined 2nd Class of Kayikkara Chakkanvilakam Primary School.

  • As a Teacher

    • Joined as Teacher at Chakkanvilakam Primary School at the age of 14.

  • Employment

    • Worked as an accountant for a local wholesale merchant.

  • Sree Narayana Guru

    • Met Sree Narayana Guru.
    • Became disciple of Sree Narayana Guru.
    • At Aruvippuram – continued study of Sanskrit & Tamil.
    • Mastered Yoga, Vedic, Saivite & Advaita philosophies.
    • Met Dr. Palpu.

  • Bangalore

    • Joined Sri Chamarajendra Samskrita College with the help of Dr. Palpu (Studied Nyayashastra).

  • Madras & Calcutta

    • Stayed a few months in Madras for private study.
    • Joined Central Hindu College (Calcutta), studied Tharkasastra & English.
    • Stayed with a Brahmin family, later discontinued studies.

  • Back to Aruvippuram

  • SNDP

    • Formation of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (1903).
    • Became First General Secretary of the S.N.D.P. (until 1919).
    • Foundation and Editorship of Malayalam literary journal and the mouthpiece of SNDP, Vivekodayam.

  • Sree Moolam Popular Assembly

    • Elected as Member of the Legislative body of the Travancore state.
    • First Poet to become a member of Sree Moolam Popular Assembly.

  • Marriage

    • At the age of 45.
    • Wife – Bhanumathiamma (ഭാനുമതിയമ്മ), Cousin of Dr. Palpu (daughter of Thachakudy Kumaran, younger brother of Dr. P. Palpu’s father).
    • Children – Sudhakaran & Prabahakaran.
    • The marriage lasted only for 6 years until his death.

  • Resigned From SNDP.

  • Editor of "Pratibha"

  • Manager of Advaitashram, Aluva.

  • Union Tile Works

    • Started a clay tile factory at Aluva.
    • Later discarded the project due to pollution and handed over the land to SNDP

  • Settled at Thonnakkal (തോന്നയ്ക്കൽ), Trivandrum.

  • Sharda Book Depot (Printing Press)

    • First book printed and published from Sarada Book Depot – Subrahmanya Shatakam

  • Title of Mahakavi

    • Prince of Wales presented the title at the Madras University along with pattu and vala.
    • Only Malayalam Poet to become Mahakavi without writing a Mahakaavyam.

  • Meeting With Tagore

    • Met Tagore during Sivgairi Visit.
    • Translated dialogue between Sree Narayana Guru & Tagore.

  • Election

    • Contested in Assembly Election in Quilon.
    • Lost to Sankara Menon.

  • Death

    • Age – 51.
    • Place – Pallana River South of Alleppey.
    • Redmeer Boat Accident.
    • Place renamed as 'Kumarakodi'.


Famous Works

  • Poems – Leela (ലീല), Nalini (നളിനി), Pushpakavadi (പുഷ്പവാടി), Chandalabhikshuki (ചണ്ഡാലഭിക്ഷുകി), Chinthavishtayaya Sitha (ചിന്താവിഷ്ടയായ സീത), Veenapoovu (വീണപൂവ്), Karuna (കരുണ), Duravastha (ദുരവസ്ഥ), Shankara Shathakam, Bhaktha Vilapam, Kalakanda geetham.
  • Drama – Vichitravijayam (വിചിത്ര വിജയം) & Mrityunjayam
  • Translation – പ്രബോധ ചന്ദ്രോദയം, Sribuddha Charitham,


    Famous Words

    • 'സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം തന്നെ ജീവിതം സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം തന്നെ അമൃതം.'
    • 'മാറ്റുവിൻ ചട്ടങ്ങളെ സ്വയമല്ലെങ്കിൽമാറ്റുമതുകളീ നിങ്ങളെത്താൻ.'
    • 'സ്നേഹമാണഖിലസാരമൂഴിയിൽ സ്നേഹസാരമിഹ സത്യമേകമാം.'
    • 'ഒരുവേള പഴക്കമേറിയാൽ ഇരുളും മെല്ലെ വെളിച്ചമായി വരും.'
    • 'ഹ! ഇവിടമാണാത്മ വിദ്യാലയം.'
    • 'അന്തമില്ലാതുള്ളോരാഴത്തിലേക്കിതാ ഹന്ത! താഴുന്നൂ കഷ്ടം.'
    • 'ദുഃഖം കാണുന്നു സുഖകാലത്തും മർത്യൻ ദുഃഖകാലത്തും സുഖം കാണുന്നു.'
    • 'സ്ഥിരതയുമില്ലത്തിനിന്ദ്യമേ, നരത്വം.'


    Statues, Institutes & Memorials

    • Memorial – Thonnakkal (Trivandrum).
    • Kumaranasan National Institute of Culture (KANIC, Thonnakkal).
      • Founded in 1958.
      • Consists of archives, a museum, and a publications house.
    • Kumaranasan Statue – Palayam (Trivandrum).
      • Near Kerala University Campus at Asan Square.
    • School – Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School (CBSE school, under Asan Memorial Association).


    Books & Films on Kumaranasan

    • Asan Kavitha Oru Patanam – Prof. Joseph Mundasseri.
    • Asante Seethakavyam – Sukumar Azhikkode.
    • Kumaranasante Kavya Prapancham – M.K. Sanu.
    • Asanthiyil Ninnum Shanthiyilekku – M.K. Sanu.
    • Mruthyunjayam Kavyajeevitham – M.K. Sanu (Asan Award,1997)
    • Kaalam Pinneyum Kazhinju (Film) – K.P. Kumaran (Director).
      • Title – from "Karuna."


    Reference:


    📝 SideNotes:

    • Modern triumvirate poets of Kerala – Kumaranasan, Ulloor & Vallathol.
    • Asan Memorial Poetry Prize was instituted in the year – 1985.
    • Kumaranasan's poem 'Veenapoovu' was published in 'Mitavadi' – 1907.
    • First Malayali Poet to appear on Indian postal stamps – Kumaranasan (April 12, 1973, 100th Birth Anniversary).
    • Kumaranasan wrote "Prarodan" with condolences on whose death – A.R. Rajaraja Varma.
    • About whom Kumarasan wrote the lines 'ഭവാന്റെ ഗുളികചെപ്പേന്തുമേ ശിഷ്യരും' – A.R. Rajaraja Varma.