Love for Malayalam literature motivates 70-year-old's return to world of letters
At the age of 70, she has passed the Class X and also the Class XII equivalency exams with flying colours and going a step further, has also found wings to her literary ambitions.
A native of Mampazhakkara in Neyyatinkara taluk of Thiruvananthapuram, Chandramani came to know of the State Literacy Mission's Class X equivalency programme five years ago through her former ward councilor Jaya Dali. Though hesitant at first, it was the firm backing of her husband Sudarshanan K, a daily wage labourer, that prompted the reticent homemaker to give it another try at academics.
'I failed in my SSLC exam when I was 15. This was soon after my mother's death. In those days, failure in Class X exam means a full stop to your academic dreams,' Chandramani said.
Her love for Malayalam literature and stories of veterans like Bhageerathi Amma and Karthyayani Amma ignited the fire within her to study again. Though taunted occasionally by members of her age group, Chandramani did not step back.
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The Hindu
14 hours ago
- The Hindu
Award-winning teacher EC Sabu on teaching Malayalam to other language speakers for 35 years
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My first batch of class XII students are over 52 years old now,' he says as he reflects upon his 35-year journey in teaching. Around the same time, he also became a part of Coimbatore Malayalee Samajam's seven-month certificate course that opened its doors to learning Malayalam for non-native speakers. 'The course is on its way to set a record as the longest running course in any regional language. Kerala's State Resource Centre (under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India) was our sponsor for three decades. Now, with World Malayalee Council's online course for the last three years, the reach has been immense.' In the 1990s, Tamil speakers enrolled in large numbers, especially students of MA Tamil in Bharathiar University, he recalls. Poet Sirpi Balasubramaniam who headed the Tamil department made it mandatory for students to clear a paper in Malayalam. 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While teaching, his social outings come to a standstill. 'I have to thank my wife, K Chitra, a retired Hindi professor, my daughter S Lakshmipriya, my son-in-law J Murali Krishnan, my grand daughter Parvathi Krishna for being supportive. I feel charged when I am with my students. They understand what keeps me motivated,' he says adding that his high schooling at NSS High School at Pala in Kerala drew him closer to the language. 'Especially my Malayalam teachers like Raghavan Nair and Velu Pillai who introduced me to the nuances. It was a turning point in my journey. Later in college, the first batch of Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam, our vice-chancellor was U R Ananthamurthy, Gnanapith award winner.' Teaching Malayalam to a mixed group has become a part of his life, says Sabu. 'Learning a new language is not just about letters. It's an introduction to culture, geography, lifestyle. We highlight all these in the classes to make it engaging and alive. Based on my experience, I know the challenges faced by students in learning a new language, so my methodology takes into account these aspects. While joining the course, the question on everyone's mind is 'Is it possible to master a language in seven months?' But once I see the progress, I feel overjoyed.' As for his future plans, he wants to move back to his hometown Pala in Kerala and start farming. 'I have built a house there and we have already planted jackfruit, mango, and pepper. But, the online classes will continue without any break,' he says, adding, 'There is no full stop to learning.' To know more on the upcoming batches of online Malayalam classes, call 9486477891/ 6380701846
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
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Write and wrong: We're losing our last manual skill, says Charles Assisi
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Time of India
a day ago
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A Divine satirist
Basheer's irreverent humour, spiritual depth and unwavering humanist vision remain strikingly relevant—offering a luminous counterpoint to the discord of our polarized world The Sacred, the Silly & the Sublime By: Dr Azeez Tharuvana Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's works form a rich treasure mine—each reading reveals new layers of meaning that resonate with our times. Shabdangal (Voices) exemplifies this, especially relevant amid global wars, refugee crises and the search for human connection. Though short, the novel raises profound questions, like this conversation: 'Everyone has a philosophy for life. I try to live by mine.' 'I don't have a philosophy. Maybe because I don't feel connected to anyone?' 'But you do—you're connected to everyone.' 'What relationship?' 'Do you have a navel? It connects you to your mother—even if you never knew her… In the end, all of us are connected.' Basheer boldly explored themes like gender identity and the struggles of transgender individuals—topics still finding space in public discussion today. At the time, many conservative critics were shocked, but modern readers recognize his intent: To open up unfamiliar, often uncomfortable worlds to the Malayali imagination. His wide travels and deep empathy for the poor gave him a rare sensitivity. For Basheer, experience was everything. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Living with Sufis and mystics, working various jobs, and meeting people on society's fringes—hijras, male sex workers—he realized that life's truths came from lived realities. Phrases like 'Anal Haq' (I am the Truth) and 'Aham Brahmasmi' (I am the Brahma) shaped his spiritual worldview. He saw that organized religion often demanded blind submission. He believed so-called sinners and criminals were often just people who had lost their way seeking peace, dignity and redemption. From this emerged a new kind of spirituality—one that embraced compassion over dogma and change over obedience. Like in the story Bhoomiyude Avakaashikal (The Inheritors of the Earth), animals and birds appear frequently in Basheer's work. Long before environmental themes became common in Malayalam literature, Basheer was already weaving thoughts about nature and the environment into his stories. These early glimpses of ecological awareness reflect the depth of Basheer's philosophical thinking—a belief in the unity and sacredness of all living things. This is the philosophy of oneness that flows through all of Basheer's writing—a gentle, powerful consciousness that sees the whole universe as connected. His language—simple, direct and full of life—was unlike anything in Malayalam literature. As MN Vijayan said: 'He sang playful tunes to his deepest sorrows… He reminded us, 'I am my language.'' He stretched and reshaped the language, giving it new life. In fact, long before Dalit and feminist writers began questioning the limits of language, Basheer had already done so. He coined Lodkus Akhaya and Palungusan Vyakarana to poke fun at scholars but though some claimed he ignored grammar, Basheer in fact mastered and reshaped language with care and intention. Balyakalasakhi was a 500-page manuscript trimmed into a timeless 80-page classic. His works remain fresh because they can be read through many lenses—social, emotional, political, spiritual. At their core, they celebrate love, compassion, and unity. Basheer's spirituality transcended religion. He believed in a divine spirit that connected all beings. This gave rise to a a certain intensity, a kind of madness. His mind often wandered along the thin line between mysticism and what others might call the abnormal. His creativity flowed from this unique space—where spiritual insight and unconventional thoughts lived side by side. In a letter from a mental hospital, he wrote: 'I tried to understand everything… life, death… Is God a human idea? I believed—God exists. Call Him Allah, Khuda, or Lord—Allah exists…' To truly understand Basheer, we must open our hearts to the wide, tender world he saw so clearly. (The writer is assistant professor and HOD, Malayalam dept, Farook College)
