Pandit Karuppan was a poet, dramatist, and social reformer who lived in Kerala, India. Pandit Karuppan emerged from Ernakulam of Cochin State as a relentless crusader against untouchability and social evils. He was called the “Lincoln” of Kerala for steering socio-economically and educationally backward communities to the forefront. Hailing from a community of inland fishermen who engaged in localised fishing in backwaters and rivers, Karuppan became a Sanskrit scholar, poet and dramatist of repute. As the first human rights activist of the Cochin State, he used his literary skill and organizational ability to combat illiteracy, social injustice, casteism, and superstitions. He campaigned for the rights of lower-caste people, who at that time were not even permitted to enter Ernakulam
He was born on 24 May 1885 in Cheranalloor, Kerala. He was born into a middle class family of Dheevara fishermen community. Though his name was Karuppan which means ‘Black coloured man’ in Malayalam, he was fair and handsome. Actually his birth name was Sankaran and he was rechristened to Karuppan by a Tamil Gosai friend, who predicted that he will became a scholar in future. He learnt the basics of Sanskrit - Amarakosham,Sidhdharoopam and Sreeramodantham from a local guru. He was a great reader, who later started writing at a very young age of 12. Lankamardanam was his first work. He later learnt Sanskrit books under different gurus, and his studies at Kodungallur later played a major role in his life.
Pandit Karuppan was died on March 23, 1938
No comments:
Post a Comment