KUMARAN ASAN

 He was born in Ezhava community on 12th April, 1873 at Kayikkara in Thiruvananthapuram

His father was Narayanan Perungudi and mother was Kaali. The chilldhood name was Kumaru

Kumaran Asan was one of the triumvirate poets of Kerala (the other two were Vallathol Narayana Menon and Ulluor S Parameswara Iye, he whe was also a philosopher, a social reformer and a disciple of Sree Narayana Guru

He is dubbed as 'Sneha gayakan' (Poet of Love) of Malayalam as he expounded the philosophy "Snehamanakhilasaramoozhiyil (Love is all ies this world) in his writings.

The richness of themes earned him the title 'Ashayagambhiran.

His first notable work was 'Veena Poovu' (fallen flower) which was scripted during hisisojourn in Jain Medu, Palakkad in 1907

It was published for the first time in the publication "Mithavadi and it marked the beginning of 'Khandakavya' in Malayalam

Kumaran Asan was the only poet in Malayalam who became 'Mahakavi without writing a 'Mahakavyam

The prefix 'Mahakavi' awarded to him by Madras University in the year 1922.

Pattum valayum from Prince of Veil

The work of Kumaran Asan that depicts the fact 'Mamsanibhadamalla Ragam (Love is not an artifact of flesh) is Leela

Kumaran Asan's longest work is 'Sribuddhacharitham' which is the translation of Light of Asia, a biography of Sri Buddha by Edwin Arnold

Asan authored Divya Kokilam as a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore.

Duravastha is set against the historical background of Moplah Rebellion.

He wrote two major poems on Buddhist legends: chandalabhikshuki and Karuna.

He is the first Malayalam poet whose picture was appeared on an Indian stamp (12th April 1973).

Kumaran Asan was the first General Secretary of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam.

He edited 'Vivekodayam', the mouth piece of SNDP Yogam.

Kumaran Asan was the founder of Sarada Book Depot.

He authored 'Divyakokilam' as a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore.

When Tagore visited Narayana Guru at Sivagiri in 1922, it was Kumaran Asan who translated the dialogue between Tagore and Guru into Malayalam

He died as a result of a boat accident on 16th January, 1924, aged 51. The boat capsized at Pallána and all on board drowned. 

The name of the boat was Redeemer

The spot where Asan met death is known as Kumarakodi.

Asan Memorial is at Thonnakkal in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Joseph Mundassery called him 'Viplavathinte Sukranakshatram'.

Asan World Prize was instituted in memory of Kumaran Asan.

First poet to legislative assembly, first Indian poet appeared in tapal Stamp

Sneha Gayakan

Major works:

Oru Simhaprasavam (1909)

Nalini (Subtitle: Allengkil Oru Sneham) (1911)

Leela (1914)

Sribuddhacharitham (1915) translation of The Light of Asia

Graamavrikshattile Kuyil (1918)

Prarodanam (1919)

Chintaavishtayaaya Sita (1919)

Duravasthha (1922)

Chandaalabhikshuki (1922)

Karuna. Last work (vanjipattu Vritham)

Vichthra Vijayam- Play

Mithryunjayam- Play