Writer’s critical remarks on Ezhuthachan spark off arguments on language, literature

An incidental critical remark on Thunchath Ezhuthachan, poet, translator, and a key figure in the Bhakti movement, by Kerala Sahitya Akademi award-winning author Vinoy Thomas has sparked off fierce arguments in favour of and against his position. Mr. Thomas, meanwhile, posted an apology on social media.

While delivering a lecture to mark the 140^th anniversary of Deepika newspaper in Kannur recently, the writer had attempted to give an alternative view on the evolution of Malayalam language. Mr. Thomas also spoke about the important role played by Christian missionaries in the process along with the intermixing of foreign languages and primitive Malayalam due to the influence of traders. In between, he challenged the role of Ezhuthachan as the “father of modern Malayalam language”. Mr. Thomas said there was no proof for Ezhuthachan’s existence or his literary works.

Though he had spoken also about the significant changes brought about by the Malabar migration and cultivation of rubber and tapioca, the remarks on Ezhuthachan were picked up and discussed threadbare on social media and among literary circles.