Summary
Thattarassery Mathai Chummar (13 October 1899 – 17 February 1987), commonly identified as T. M. Chummar, was an Indian academic and writer of Malayalam literature, best known for his books on its history. An associate of G. Sankara Kurup and Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon, Chummar's books on Kunchan Nambiar and C. V. Raman Pillai detail their literary contributions. He was a recipient of the title Sahitya Nipunan, conferred on him by the Rajah of Cochin. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi honoured him with the distinguished fellowship in 1986.
T. M. Chummar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 October 1899 |
| Died | 17 February 1987 (aged 87) Kerala |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, academic |
| Spouse | Brigitha |
| Parents |
|
| Awards |
|
Biography edit
T. M. Chummar was born on 13 October 1899, at Chirakkakam in Varappuzha, an islet in Ernakulam district of the south Indian state of Kerala to Thattassery Mathai Asan and Thressia.[1] His early education was from his father who was an ayurvedic physician and after learning the basics of Ayurveda and Sanskrit, he passed the Travancore Elementary School Leaving Certificate examination from a school in North Paravur. Subsequently, he started his career as a teacher and worked at various schools in and around Kochi, starting from the school in Varappuzha and moving to Edapally, Koonammavu, Manjummel and Munambam. He continued his studies simultaneously to pass the higher training, pundit and vidwan examinations, the last one in 1935 from Madras and joined Sacred Heart School, Thevara, only to shift to Sacred Heart College, Thevara, as a lecturer, in 1937 where he became the head of the department of Malayalam in 1942, a post he held until his superannuation from service in 1962.[2]
Chummar was married to Kunnathuveettil Brigitha from Kottuvally. He died on 17 February 1987, at the age of 87.[1]
Legacy and honours edit
Chummar was associated with several major literary figures such as G. Sankara Kurup, Vailoppilli Sreedhara Menon and A. D. Hari Sharma[3] and they worked together for promoting Samastha Kerala Sahitya Parishad, a Kochi based literary organization,[4] where Chummar served as a committee member and as a vice president.[5] He also served as the editor of the magazine published by the Parishad for a while. He published Baasha Vriththavum Samskritha Vriththavum in 1928 which was his first noteworthy article which was followed by several in Kairali magazine.[2] He published his first book, Padhyasahithya Charithram,[6][7] in 1936, which was one for the early writings on the history of Malayalam literature and the book was note for its content.[8][9] He also published another noted work on literary history in 1955 under the title, Gadhya Sahithya Charithram.[10] Besides publishing a number of books on literature, he also published three critiques on major poets; Mahakavi Kunchan Nambiar, C. V. yude Akhyayikakal, and Kavithilakan K. P. Karuppan.[11]
Ayodhya Sanskrit Parishad awarded Chummar the title of Sahityaalankara in 1955[1] and the Rajah of Cochin conferred the title of Sahitya Nipunan on him in 1960.[2] Kerala Sahitya Akademi honoured him with the distinguished fellowship in 1986.[12][13]
Bibliography edit
- Chummar T. M (1936). Padya sahithya Charithram. Kottayam: National Book Stall.
- Chummar T. M (1955). Bhasha gadya sahitya charitram. Kottayam: National Book Stall.
- Chummar. T. M (1959). Chinthapatham. Current Bks. Trichur: Current Books.
- Chummar. T. M (1968). Gadhya Sourabham. Narasimha Vilasam, Thuravur: Narasimha Vilasam.
- Chummar, T. M. (1969). Suvarna kairali.
- Chummar. T. M (1971). Sadhara Smaranakal. Auroville Publ: Auroville Pub.
- Chummar T. M (1971). Sadarasmaranakal. Kottayam: Vidhyarthimithram.
- Chummar. T. M (1972). Mahakavi Kunjan Nambiar. Auroville: Auroville Pub.
- Chummar, T. M. (1973). C V yude Akhyayikakal. Vidyarthimithram.
- Chummar. T. M (1974). Kavithilakan K. P. Karuppan. Sahithya Pra. Co. s: Sahithya Pra. Co. s.
- T. M. Chummar (1980). Kaviramayanayuddham. Cummar ; Kottayam : vitaranam, National Book Stall.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ a b c "Latin Catholics And Malayalam Literature". Enchanting Kerala. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Forgotten literary figures". The Hindu. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2019.[dead link]
- ^ "Awards motivate budding writers: C Radhakrishnan". Deccan Chronicle. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "chummar.t.m (keralaliterature)". keralaliterature.com. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ Mohan Lal (1992). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 4212–. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3.
- ^ "The Social Scientist -- Digital South Asia Library". dsal.uchicago.edu. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ K. M. George (1972). Western Influence on Malayalam Language and Literature. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 203–. ISBN 978-81-260-0413-3.
- ^ T. K. Krishna Menon (1990). A Primer of Malayalam Literature. Asian Educational Services. pp. 54–. ISBN 978-81-206-0603-6.
- ^ Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1226–. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
- ^ "List of works". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- ^ "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship - keralaculture". keralaculture.org. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
External links edit
- "Portrait commissioned by Kerala Sahitya Akademi". Kerala Sahitya Akademi. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- "Fr. Francis Sales Library". Sacred Heart College, Kochi. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
- Amaresh Datta (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Devraj to Jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 1226–. ISBN 978-81-260-1194-0.
- "State Central Library Catalog". State Central Library. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.