Kapilavedhi
(Preface)
There are very few languages in this world that facilitate to express in beautiful literary phrases with grace and sweetness without losing the sweet melody and lyricism. Keralites can take pride in that; they have inherited such a language with all its glorious tradition. Researchers believe that origin of a language is from the social awakenings. Men roaming around as nomadics settled on the riverbanks and took to agriculture for their livelihood. When society started growing, life was enriched. When relationship acquired unity and depth along with individuality, language also elevated towards its finality.
If the origin of Malayalam literature is Puranas, its evolution from that age to modernity was guided by the flag bearers of its renaissance period. This renaissance period reached its glorious growth towards the last leg of the century just ended. This evolution from the individualistic to community and to social level stands out as the milestones of the development of Malayalam language. It can be seen that the new trend was developed very largely with an aura. Through the period of their growth, Malayalam language developed into various forms. That is how the literary treasure that originated from the depth of souls, flowed through various streams diversifying into manifold forms such as novels, short-stories, lyrics, collection of poetical compositions, narrative dramas, biographies, autobiographies, science-fiction and travelogues; scientific thesis flourished with all its glory and expressed itself as symbols of forthrightness and individual freedom. Research, scientific study and literary criticism lent high credence to the complete development and history of the language
The early decades of the twentieth century was a period of awareness to be reckoned with. Journalism grew as a backbone throwing light to this awareness. The scientific approach to translation of English poetical works and prose collections definitely changed the face of Malayalam literature. In the workshop for modernity the care with which the new faces struggled for coining new words, changed into unforgettable faces of Malayalam language. We still cherish the memories of the great poets and many other dignitaries in our hearts. Many of us forget, the innumerable faces in modern Malayalam literature flashing clearly in the minds of scholars, beyond the differences in time and place. We can not afford to forget the scholars, poets, critics and researchers who have struggled and are still struggling dutifully in lone corners with the pen in their hands, to add color to the feathers of the language, giving honey and 'vayambu' on the lips of those who observe and experience the beauty enjoying themselves like that of a cuckoo taking to wings When the people of Kerala traveled out in search of progress and excellence, we failed to know many of them from the new generation.. When some of them whose faces reflected in superhuman accomplishment s with earnings in foreign currencies, we came to know them. Let any one be at fault. If we try to do a research on that it is not going to be a remedy to cherish them in our hearts than see them in front of us. While giving due respects to those scholars who have embellished our spirits and for the happy experience in the literary field in this current golden era, we will strive to give an introduction of those in alphabetical order, in a small measure through "Kapilavedhi”.
Translated by
Lakshmy N