Giving our mother tongue its due

Updated on: Wednesday, February 29, 2012

On all Fridays, underneath the canopy of Acacia trees, on scattered bamboo benches students sit with sheets of papers clutched in their hands, with journals spread open on their laps. The signboard next to the thatched entrance says “Thannal Muttam”.

It is a weekly forum comprising of students and professors of the Malayalam department in the University's Kariyavattom campus.

They meet to discuss stories and articles in journals and to flaunt their creative expertise and to listen and learn.

In an era where one’s mothertongue is reduced to second language periods in schools and colleges, it is nothing less than a wonder that a species of Malayalam language lovers are still glued to their language and literature. The Malayalam Department of UCK is celebrating its golden jubilee.

A yearlong fest with workshops, tribute to renowned writers, and national seminars on language, folklore, culture and cinema are spread on the platter.

“My father is a Sanskrit and Malayalam professor and hence loving the language came naturally to me. But I believe that the language is still powerful and is not devoid of prospects,” says Soorya P, an M Phil student of the college who aims to be a college lecturer soon.

“ It was in 1977, that the first Malayala Loka Samelanam was held by the university. We are planning to do it for the second time after a huge gap,” says Professor Prasad, the head of the Malayalam Department. Bhasha Sahithi, their quarterly magazine is releasing a special 100th edition as a part of their golden jubilee celebrations.

It was a session by the veteran poet, Madhusoodhnan Nair that prompted Sharika S, who had taken up journalism for her bachelor’s to shift to Malayalam for her post graduation. She is now doing research on the language.

“The language isn’t limited to its literature, it is replete with the culture of our society, philosophy and a lot more,” she adds. The department has had a lineup of many famous writers as professors including P. Bhaskaran, M. Mukundan, Valsala Devi, Dr K Ramachandran.

Pablo Neruda who wrote verses in his mother tongue has been translated to several tongues, and is still hailed as the most famous poet of all times. Language doesn’t limit, it is after all just a medium!with such activities,” says Suraj R., another student.

Giving our mother tongue its due

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