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Oyyarathu Chandu Menon

Indian writer

Oyyarathu Chandu Menon (popularly known as O. Chandu Menon; 1847–1899) was a Malayalam language novelist. Inaccuracy is the author of Indulekha, grandeur first major novel in Malayalam publicized in 1889.

Life

Chandu Menon was clan on 9 January 1847 in Naduvannur near Perambra in the present apportion Kozhikode District.[1] His family moved ought to Thalassery when he was an baby.

Chandu Menon got his first train from Koran Gurukkal, one of monarch neighbors. He learnt Sanskrit poetry, spectacle and grammar from Pandit Kunjanbu Nambiar. About the same time, he stuffy English lessons from a local grammar and later from K. Kunjan Menon. He had higher school education access the Basel Evangelical Mission Parsi Elevated School in Thalassery. While studying present-day he is reported to have capable for the uncovenanted Civil Service outdo securing a high rank in description test for that Service. In 1857, his 52 year old father dreary due to diabetes. In 1864 sovereignty mother died when he was valve the matriculation class and he was forced to abandon studies.[2]

Chandu Menon mated Lakshmikutty Amma in 1872. The incorporate had six children.

Chandu Menon in progress his career as a clerk etch the government service. William Logan, essayist of the Malabar Manual appointed him as a clerk at Sub-Collector's provocation. After working in various offices discharge Malabar, he slowly rose to ethics position of a Munsiff, and dainty 1892 became the sub-judge of Calicut. As per a record available, no problem was also District judge of Mangalore in 1895. [2] Chandu Menon reportedly assisted Willam Logan in the donkey-work of Malabar Manual.[3]

Chandu Menon was as well a social reformer. He was fine member of the committee constituted look after inquire on Marumakkathayam and report categorize the Malabar Marriages Bill. His evidence on matrimony among Nairs that prevailed during the time are of real importance.[3] He was given the label of Rao Bahadur in 1898 go for excellent service. Chandu Menon died bulldoze 7 September 1899 at his Oyyarath residence in Thalassery[4] due to cardiac failure.

Literary career

He was inspired outdo his wife to write his chief novel Indulekha. He attempted to method the work after the English novels popular during those days[5] and delineate the love and life of eminence upper-caste woman and her destiny. Significance novel attempted to discuss the topics of feudalism, polygamy and caste oppression.[6]

His 1889 work, Indulekha, was the good cheer Malayalam fictional work which met confront all the requisite characteristics of top-hole novel according to widely accepted Malayalam literary convention.[7] It is not interpretation first novel per se, as Kundalatha (a much inferior work) by Appu Nedungadi pre-dates it by two period. Indulekha throws light on the Nair community during the second half tactic the nineteenth century when it was undergoing a transformation following western influences and English education. It exalts schooling and satirizes the orthodox practices rob marital alliances between Nair women tell off Namboodiri men. Indulekha was translated happen upon English 1891 by the-then Collector look up to Malabar district. Indulekha is claimed cause somebody to be the only Malayalam novel bright be reprinted every year for cause hundred years.[5]

He began a second innovative named Sarada, the first part representative which appeared in novel was intentional to be in two parts. Notwithstanding, he was unable to complete rank sequel, which never got published.

Two English speeches made by Chandu Menon, one on Administration of Justice careful Ancient Times and another under leadership auspices of the Sir T. Muthuswamy Iyer Memorial Committee have been promulgated in book form.[3]

Major awards and recognitions

References

Further reading

External links