Kandathil Varghese Mappillai

Kandathil Varghese Mappillai was a multifaceted personality who turned everything gold by his mere touch. He is the founder of Bhashaposhini Sabha, ‘ Bhashaposhini’ magazine and Malayala Manorama. His contributions to Malayalam literature are innumerable and exemplary. "In Malayalam none has become so well reputed an owner and editor of a newspaper as Kandathil Varghese Mappillai. It is to be considered as a rare blessing for literature to get him as the competent successor to Kerala Varma Valiyakoi Thampuran," recorded by Mahakavi Ulloor in his ‘History of literature’. From AD 1890-1904 Varghese Mappillai worked hard to Malayalam par with other Indian languages.

Early life

In 1857 Varghese Mappillai was born as the fourth son of Karuthalil Eapen Mappillai. With the immense support from his great father, Varghese Mappilai was lucky enough to get access to English education. He had the perseverance to level all hurdles and studied up to F.A. Since he was weak in Mathematics, further studies were dropped. Varghese Mappillai had a good flair in literature and he was called Poet by classmates. After studies Varghese Mappillai joined as Treasury Officer (Muthalpadikkaran). He did not continue it for long. Afterwards he had taken up a job of ‘Munshi’ (Malayalam teacher) in CMS School for a short period. He was the editor of ‘Keralamithram’which was published in 1881 from Cochin. Journalistic mind and love for literature paved way for establishing Malayala Manorama Company. On 22 March 1890 (M.E 1065, Meenam 10th) the first issue of Malayala Manorama was published.

Kandathil Varghese Mappillai and literary contributions

Malayalam language and Journalism were the soul and spirit of Varghese Mappillai. Under his exuberant leadership and great vision Malayala Manorama progressed. He utilized the media to nourish and flourish Malayalam language and literature. O M Cherian, Kattakkayathil Cherian Mappillai, Kottarathil Shankunni, K C Keshava Pillai and C S Subramaniam Potti were his close associates. Varghese Mappillai became an established writer at his young age. The Malayalam Primer for Children written by Varghese Mappillai was not known to many.

‘Abrayakutty’, an independent drama, Malayalam translation of William Shaekspeare’s drama ‘Taming of the Shrew, ‘Keerthanamala were some of the contributions by him for Malayalam Literature. Varghese Mappillai pioneered in forming an association for Malayalam Writers, ‘Kavisamajam’. On the backdrop this he formed an association called ‘Bhashaposhini’and later on it turned into a magazine encouraging literature and language. Varghese Mappillai made noteworthy contributions in reforming Malayalam alphabets.