Quotes
- As a poet as a thinker, as a social reformer, as a legislator and political activist Asan stood up as a towering personality.
He was an original poet. More than that he rebelled against out-modeled literary conventions. He fought against the inequities of our cast-ridden society and passionately sang of individual dignity, social freedom and brotherhood of man. So nationalism was interwoven through his literary work. He was rightly said as a symbol of the consciousness of modernity. His shorter poems are charming children’s poems profound hymns of universal appeal, vivid descriptions of nature and moving inflictions on social evils. The vision he embodied informs of rare freshness of genuineness. He played a leading role in the evolution of modern poetry and in the transformation of modern Kerala society.
Asan was honored by Prince of Wales as a distinguished Indian poet and presented with silk shawls and a gold bracelet on 13th January 1922 at the Madras University Senate hall.
He has not decidedly participated in politics but his works inspired the downtrodden to be conscious about politics.
“The impartial world of sahrdayas place him in par with Ezhuthachan and Nambiar. With his undoubted mastery over poetic excellences like profundity of thought, incomparable concepts, unexcelled metaphors and fidelity in observation he was able to delight even connoisseurs with exceptional sensibility.
Each line of Asan is pregnant with meaning, each word is alive, each thought evoke emotional exuberance; each fancy arouses intense exhilaration. His incomparably superior creations and fame emanating from them will abide till Kerala is again swallowed by the sea during the coming deluge. The glow of the garland of his ambrosial aphorisms will radiate unchecked. Its fragrance will spread unchecked. Its aesthetic delight will course like an uninhibited flow. And with the hearts throbbing with gratitude and overflowing with regard for all time will this harbinger of bliss cherish, admire and worship "says Mahakavi Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer. It is only a factual statement.
Books and Works
| Sthothra Krithikal | 1901 | ||||||
| Veenapoovu | 1908 | ||||||
| Nalini | 1911 | ||||||
| Leela | 1914 | ||||||
| Maithreyi | 1914 | ||||||
| Rajayogam | 1914 | ||||||
| Oru Daivikamaya Prathikaram | 1915 | ||||||
| Randu Khandakrithikal | 1915 | ||||||
| Sree Budhacharitham | I | Vol. | & | ||||
| II | Vol. | 1915 | |||||
| III | Vol. | ||||||
| IV | Vol. | 1917 | |||||
| V | Vol. | 1929 | |||||
| Manassakthi | 1916 | ||||||
| Balaramayanam. |
Balakandam
|
1917 | |||||
|
Ayodhyakandam
|
1920 | ||||||
|
Aranyakandam
|
1921 | ||||||
| Gramavrikshathile Kuyil | 1918 | ||||||
| Prarodanam | 1919 | ||||||
| Chinthavistayaya Sitha | 1920 | ||||||
| Pushpavadi | 1922 | ||||||
| Chandalabhikshuki | 1922 | ||||||
| Duravastha | 1923 | ||||||
| Karuna | 1924 | ||||||
| Manimala | 1924 | ||||||
| Vanamala | 1925 | ||||||
| Prabodhachandrodayam | 1920 | ||||||
| Nirupanangal | 1930 | ||||||
| Mathaparivarthanarasavadam | 1933 | ||||||
| Vichithravijayam | 1934 | ||||||
| Sugathaprasthanam | 1935 | ||||||
| Navamalika | 1935 | ||||||
Compendium of Books on Kumaranasan
| Auther | Name of Book |
|
C.O. Kesavan |
Mahakavi Kumaranasan |
|
Prof. Joseph Mundasseri |
AsanKavitha Oru Patanam |
|
P.K.Balakrishnan |
Kavyakala Kumaranasaniloode |
|
Sukumar Azhikkode |
Asante Seethakavyam |
|
Dr. K.Ramachandran Nair (Ed:) |
Kumaranasante Kavyaprapancham |
|
Dr.T.Bhaskaran (Collection) |
|
|
M.K. Sanu (Ed:) |
Kumaranasante Kavya Prapancham |
|
K.Surendran |
Kumaransan |
|
Dr. M.M.Basheer |
Kumaranasante Rachanasilpam, Asan Grandha soochika |
|
M.K.Kumaran |
Kumaransan |
|
Dr. K.Sreenivasan |
|
|
Thayatt Sankaran |
Asan Navothanathinte Silpi |
|
E.M.S Namboothirippad |
Asanum Malayalasahithyavum |
|
C.Narayanapillai |
Asanum Sthuthigayakanmarum |
|
M.S.Menon |
Asante Kavyalokam |
|
Dr.P.K.Narayanapillai |
Asante Hrudayam |
|
A.P.P.Namboodiri |
Asan Nizhalum Velichavum |
|
Dr.T.Bhaskaran |
Ariyappedatha Asan |
|
G.Priyadarasanan |
Asante Ariyappedatha Mukhangal |
|
Dr.T.K.Raveendran |
Asante Vimarsanakala |
|
G.Kamalamma |
Asante Sahithya Pravesika |
|
M.K.Kumaran |
Asanum Adhunikakeralavum |
|
Nithyachaitharya Yathi |
Asan Enna Silpi Nalini Enna Kavya Silpam |
|
Dr..K.M. George |
Makers of Indian Literature |
|
Dr.T.K.Ravindran |
Asan and Social Revolution in Kerala |
|
K.Ramachandran Nair (Ed) |
Selected Poems of Kumaran Asan |
|
M.Govindran (Ed) |
Poetry and Renaissance |
Chronology of Events in the Life of Kumaran Asan
|
1873 |
Born April 12, at Kayikkara, a coastal village 40 km north of Trivandrum; there is now a memorial building built by the public of Kerala. |
|
1878 - 1888 |
Early education in Sanskrit under reputed scholars of the place. |
|
1889 |
Worked as a school teacher for some time. |
|
1890 |
Employed as an account’s clerk under a local wholesaler. |
|
1890 |
The young man of seventeen fell under the spell of Sree Narayana Guru, his life-long spiritual mentor. |
|
1891 – ‘92 |
At Aruvippuram in the hermitage of the Guru; continued study of Sanskrit, Tamil and Vedic and Saivite philosophy; mastered Yoga and Advaita. |
|
1895 |
At Bangalore: jointed the Sanskrit College; began learning English. |
|
1898 |
After two years of study in Bangalore, went to Madras; spent a few months in private study. |
|
1898 |
Proceeded to Calcutta to continue his Sanskrit studies. During the two year stay there joined the Central Hindu College for a degree in Tharkasastra and also gained mastery in English – came directly into contact with the Indian Renaissance. |
|
1900 |
Returned to the Guru’s hermitage at Aruvippuram. |
|
1901 |
Translation of Sree Sankara’s Soundaryalahari. |
|
1902 |
Published Sivastotramala and other hymns on Siva. Incomplete translation into Malayalam of Meghasandesam. |
|
1902 |
Vichitravijayam (A Strange Victory) – Malayalam play modelled on Sanskrit drama. |
|
1903 |
S.N.D.P Yogam was founded. Began translating The Light of Asia under the title. Sree Buddha, Charitham (The story of Sree Buddha) |
|
1903 – 1919 |
General Secretary of the S.N.D.P Yogam |
|
1904 |
“Vivekodayam”, the organ of the Yogam was started. |
|
1907 |
Veenapoovu (Fallen Flower) |
|
1911 – 1915 |
Translation of Swami Vivekanada’s Rajayogam |
|
1911 |
Nalini |
|
1913 – 1920 |
Member of the Legislative body of the Travancore state. |
|
1914 |
Leela |
|
1914 |
Begins Chintavishtayaya Sita (Sita Lost in Thought) |
|
1915 |
Sree Buddhacharitham Cantos 1 and 2 |
|
1918 |
Sree Buddhacharitham Cantos 3 and 4 |
|
1918 |
Marriage – wife Smt. K. Bhanumathi Amma. He had two sons – Sudhakaran and Prabahakaran. |
|
1918 |
Publication of Gramavrikshathile Kuyil (The Cuckoo of the Village Tree) |
|
1919 |
Resigned Secretaryship of the Yogam.
Published Prarodanam (The Lament) and |
|
1920 |
Editor of “Pratibha”, a literary magazine, and Manager of Advaitashram, Alwaye. |
|
1921 |
Settled down in Trivandrum. Subsequently shifted residence to Thonnakkal, a village 24 km north of Trivandrum; there the Kerala Government has founded the Kumaranasan National Institute of Culture. |
|
1922 |
Pushpavadi (A garden of Flowers) – a collection of lyrics. |
|
1922 |
Received from the Prince of Wales the title of Mahakavi. |
|
1922 |
Duravastha (Evil Plight) and Chandalabhikshuki (The Outcaste Nun) |
|
1923 |
Completed Karuna (Compassion) and Sree Buddhacharitham Canto 5 |
|
1924 |
January, 17. Drowned in a boat accident at Pallana, 24 km. south of Alleppey. The poet was fifty one. The river side grave where his mortal remains lie is a place of pilgrimage, celebrated as ‘Kumara kodi’. A School functions there as the poet’s memorial. |