Abstract 65
Mary Haritha MC
Arnos Pathiri is an 18th century missionary, stands as the pioneer grammarian as well as the poet of Malayalam literature. His literary works were basically in verse form that supports his mission. Here I select one of his major works namely Chathuranthyam for conducting this study. His works are didactic in purpose and he was trying to create a parallel discourse in the absence of the text Bible in Malayalam. His acquisition of Malayalam language was also a part of a colonial enthusiasm towards the orient. Therefore his studies and his works on Malayalam literature is only a part of what Kipling defines as the “civilising mission”. As the ages passes the literature using biblical stories and myths have undergone a shift that depicts the post modern fragmented Meta narratives of human life. The pathetic condition of men pervades all religious myths. Here I select Zacaria’s short stories namely Asleelam Varuthi Vache Vina – Oru Duranda Sambhavam, Oru Nasrani Yuvavum Gauli Sasthravum, Oru Divasathe Joli, Alphonsammayude Maranavum Savasamskaravum and Joseph oru purohitan (Script) for the study.
Mary Haritha MC
Biblical Motifs in Early and Modern Malayalam Literature:
A Selective Reading of the Texts of Arnos Pathiri and Zacharia
A Selective Reading of the Texts of Arnos Pathiri and Zacharia
Abstract
This paper aims
to conduct a comparative study of the selected works of Arnos Pathiri
(1681-1732) and Zacharia. This attempt will help to analyse the shift that
occurred in the treatment of Biblical themes and analyse both the linguistic
and cultural effects of Bible on a diachronic basis. In the colonial and post
colonial phases of Kerala there were literatures that initiated counter
discourses using the Biblical themes and situations. It is through the writers
like Sara Joseph, M.P Paul, C.J. Thomas, Zacharia and N.S Madhavan that
questions the colonial Biblical agendas of sin and suffering in literature. The
treatment of themes in writers like Zacharia creates a post colonial counter
current against the colonial literature produced in Malayalam by writers like
Arnos Pathiri. And Zacharia’s way of narration using biblical language itself
has deconstructed the implicit holiness of the text, Bible. So If the Malayalam
served medium for Pathiri to colonise the mind of people into religion when it
comes to Zacharia Bible becomes a medium and signifier to free our language as
well as the psyche of people especially the Christian community who were
colonised by the fearful symmetry of faith and sin. So this selective study may
prove right in establishing that the Biblical narratives in Malayalam
literature as a powerful tool which can be used as a tool of the subversion
containment dialectic inside the community.Arnos Pathiri is an 18th century missionary, stands as the pioneer grammarian as well as the poet of Malayalam literature. His literary works were basically in verse form that supports his mission. Here I select one of his major works namely Chathuranthyam for conducting this study. His works are didactic in purpose and he was trying to create a parallel discourse in the absence of the text Bible in Malayalam. His acquisition of Malayalam language was also a part of a colonial enthusiasm towards the orient. Therefore his studies and his works on Malayalam literature is only a part of what Kipling defines as the “civilising mission”. As the ages passes the literature using biblical stories and myths have undergone a shift that depicts the post modern fragmented Meta narratives of human life. The pathetic condition of men pervades all religious myths. Here I select Zacaria’s short stories namely Asleelam Varuthi Vache Vina – Oru Duranda Sambhavam, Oru Nasrani Yuvavum Gauli Sasthravum, Oru Divasathe Joli, Alphonsammayude Maranavum Savasamskaravum and Joseph oru purohitan (Script) for the study.
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