Kunjikkuttan Thampuran

Kunjikkuttan Thampuran is a famous Malayalam poet and Sanskrit scholar, born on 18 September 1864 in Kerala. He translated the entire Mahabharat within 874 days. He is titled Kerala Vyasa, meaning Vyasa of Kerala.

His first teacher was his family teacher, Valappil Unni Ashaan. He learned much beneficial knowledge from Moonnaamkoor Godavarma Thampuran. He learned Tarka Shastra from Vidwan Kunhirama Varman Thampuran and Jyothisha from Valiya Kochunni Thampuran.

At the age of 16, he turned out to write poetry in Sanskrit. Kunjikkuttan Thampuran emerged from the two literary movements in Malayalam: Pacha Malayalam (Pure Malayalam) and Puranetihasa Vivartanam (Translation of Itihasas and Puranas). Kunjikkuttan Thampuran got scholar friends and his meeting "Kavi Sammelanam" was also popular.

They both started writing poems in pure Malayalam, avoiding the influence of Sanskrit. This movement came to be known as the "Pacha Malayalam" Movement. He worked on 18 poems, 11 Ruupakams, 16 Gathas, 38 Khanda Kaavya, 3 in health, grammar, 18 translations.

His famous works poetries are Kavibharatam, Ambopadesham, Dakshayaga Satakam, Nalla Bhasha, Thuppal Kolambi, Palulli Charitham, Madirasi Yathra, Keerthirathna Panchakam, Kamsan, Keralam - Onnam Bhagam, Dronacharya (incomplete), Nalacharitam, Chandrika, Santhanagopalam, Seetha Svayamvaram,  Vikramorvashiyam, Shukasandesham, etc.