Myth and Literature MT Vasudevan
MT Vasudevan Nair (July 15 1933)
- One of the greatest contemporary Indian writers.
- Born in Kudallor Palakkad.
- He is a novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, film director, critic, and editor.
- He has the remarkable power of observation, vivid imagination, virility of ideas, and profound talent for narration.
- He usually tries to present the psyches of his characters and depict problems of human life in society.
- He was a sub-editor of Mathrubhumi Weekly in 1957 and Chief Editor till 1999.
- His literary career started with poetry and later he switched to short stories.
Major works
Novels
- Naalukettu (1958)- First major novel, Published at the age of 23, won Sahitya Academy Award in1958
- Manju( (Mist)
- Kaalam (Time)
- Asuravithu ( The Demon Seed)
- Randamoozham (The Second Turn)
Short story collections
- Iruttinte Athmavu
- Olavum Theeravum
- Bandhanam
- Varikkuzhi
- Dar-S-Salam
- Swargam Thurakkunna Samayam.
Awards
- Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award
- Kerala Sahitya Academy Award,
- Vayalar Award
- Vallathol Award
- Ezhuthachan Award.
An Introduction to Myth and Literature
- Myth and literature is an expert taken from his collection of speeches, Vakkukalude Vismayam
- The speech was delivered at Sahotya Akadami, in 1995
- In the speech, he discusses the way how myth, folklore, and legends influence Kerala literature.
Myth and Literature Critical Summary
According to MT Vasudevan Nair, Literature is always influenced by the history, geography, and myths of the places of its origin. The influence of various regions in India can be seen in Ramayana and Mahabharata. Such influences of different regions in India on literature are known as pan-Indian influences.
According to him, every region, community, and village have their own myths and legends. How far is our literature affected by these regional mythologies?
The pan-Indian influence can be seen in the book Aithihyamala written by KOTTARATHIL SANKUNNI. It is one of the best books that is sold in Kerala over several decades. It has published in eight-volume. It is a collection of stories where gods, sages, siddhas, yakshagandharvadis, rulers, great spirits, great wizards, poets, and nobles are the characters.
The origin of Kerala itself is connected to a myth. In order to get free himself from the sins of committing Kshatriya murders, Parasuraman donated all his ancestral property to Kasyapa Muni. When the muni reminded him that he doesn’t have an inch of land as his own, Parasuraman threw his axe into the sea, standing on Mount Gokarna. The sea withdrew from where the axe had fallen, giving up that piece of land to Parasuraman and this piece of land came to be known as Kerala. Therefore Kerala is known as ‘The Land of Parasurama’ Parasuraman is a part of Pan-Indian mythology, but this particular story is very regional. Thus he plays a central part in regional and pan-Indian mythologies.
The myth of Parashuraman is reflected in many Indian literary works. Some writers see this story as a depiction of the Aryan invasion of Dravidian regions and Parasuraman as a major figure leading this invasion. Some people accept this as history. Keralolpathi, an important book on Kerala history considers this story credible. As per this book, the societal structure, caste structure, temporal arrangements, customs, and practices in Kerala are mandated by Parashurama.
Further, MT says that the famous poet Balamaniamma, Vyloppilli Sreedharamenon, use the myth of Parashurama in their poems.
Kerala is a coastal area and the sea had a significant role in its history. Kerala has witnessed many struggles and battles connected with the sea. Arabs, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French, and the English have come to this nation through the coastal areas of Kerala. There are very few fictions from Kerala that are connected with sea-related legends. Our sea has witnessed many struggles and battles Still very rarely have our novelists written about the fights for dominion over the Arabian Sea.
Further MT Vasudevan Nair explains a myth connected with the sea. The sea is a major character in the popular novel Chemmeen written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai. In the novel Thakazhi presents a myth connected with the sea. In this novel, he considers the sea as a life-giver and life-taken at the same time. In the novel, he tells the story of Arayans, a fishing community on the Alappuzha coast. Arayans respect the sea as Kadalamma, the sea goddess. She is a motherly figure who protects men when the men engage in the act of fishing. At the same time, the women of the fishermen have to live free from all kinds of temptations and adultery. If they submit to any kind of temptations and adultery, the sea goddess punishes them by taking away the lives of their men.
When Thakazhi wrote the novel, Chemmeen, many criticized him severely for upholding superstitions. Another criticism raised was that his common theme of class struggle was forgotten when he authored a love story.
Myths and legends were never visible in the early fiction of the Malayalam language. Prominent Malayalam story writers began writing in their thirties or forties. They were always associated with the politically left ideology. So they were under the influence of the concept of class struggle. Therefore, they are always conscious about giving a realistic picture of Kerala society and they ignore myths and legends.
Thunchath Ezhuthachan is a father of the Malayalam language who considered myths and legends for his poems. He is the reincarnation of an ethereal spirit( gandharvan). Because he used the Gandharva myth in his poems. Even though he was born into a marginalized section of society, he became well-versed in Vedas and Upanishads and wrote the finest poetry.
There are also stories of divine and supernatural interventions in the lives of poets like Poonthanam Namboothiri and Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri.
Further, MT Vasudevan Nair says that our modernist litterateurs make use of regional folktales and myths in their fiction in order to acquire the status of parables and allegories. OV Vijayan, Kovilan, Punathil Kunhabdulla, NP Muhammed, M and M Mukundan have successfully incorporated these into their works.
Younger novelists like KP Ramanunni and TV Kochubava go against the traditional concepts of novel writing by disrupting linear storytelling and realistic portrayal. They attempt to recreate the folktales for contemporary times. In India there is no clear distinction between history and myths in several regions, they interact and commingle.
Modern scientists denounce myths and legends as the fantasies of an ancient pagan society. Pragmatism considered myths as fabrications. But the creative artist sees great significance in the myth and legends. These myths and legends are part of the Kerala culture and civilization. The sequence of the myths reminds us of the continuity of culture and civilization. Using myth and legends creative artists rediscover the past society and blend or connect it with the present. They use myths and legends and folktales not as historical events but present them in a realistic way in an imaginary world.
In this speech, MT Vasudevan Nair says that even though modern scientists and pragmatists reject myths and legends, it has a significant role and position in our society and literature. Many writers and poets including modern poets like Vyloppilli Sreedharamenon used it in their literary works.
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