Mayyazhi puzhayudae theerangalil….

Mayyazhi puzhayudae Theerangalil…. M MUKUNDAN

1. Mayyazhi puzhayudae T heerangalil….

2. M. Mukundan Maniyambath Mukundan. Pioneer of modernity in Malayalam literature. Ingenious application of myths & folklores. ‘Mayyazhiyudae kathakaaran’.

3. Nostalgic look at the colonial past of Mahe. Tells the story of the freedom struggle in Mahe seen through the eyes of Dasan and his grandmother Kurambiamma. Captures the agony and angst of the young rebels , juxtaposing it with the nostalgia that the older citizens such as Kurambi a mma feel for a way of life that is to be lost forever.

4. Characters…. Natives of Mayyazhi French people Mooppan sayyiv Leslie sayyiv Missi Gasthon sayyiv Indian officials of state Mayor chekku mooppar Servant –en –retraite Kunhikannan Karunakaran Kurumbi amma. Dhamu Kawsuvamma Dasan Kunjanandan master Chandrika Kanaran master Pappan Vasootty

5. Tales popular in Mayyazhi…. Joan of arc. Vaishravanan chettiyar as a serpent. Kurumbanachan and gulikan. Origin of Virgin Mary’s church.

6. V elliyankallu Mysterious rock in the sea over which Mayyazhi's souls hover between lives. Dragonfly myth- dead souls fly as dragonflies over Velliyankallu Lingering theme of births , deaths, rebirths adds to the mystical and mythical overtones of the novel.

7. Dasan – t he tragic hero - Existentialist. Haunted by an identity crisis between his roles as son and freedom fighter - H i s p h i l o s o p h y i s t h a t o f h u m a n i s m a n d i n t e r p r e t s t h a t c o m m u n i s m i s h u m a n i s m R e f l e c t s t h e c o n v i c t i o n s o f t h e w r i t e r w h i c h e c h o t h r o u g h o u t t h e n o v e l - " I a m n o t a c o m m u n i s t , I a m a h u m a n b e i n g . "

8. " A Classic can only occur when a civilisation is mature, when a language and literature are m ature and it must be the work of a mature artist. " T.S. Eliot