Marthandavarma (novel)
Encyclopedia
Marthandavarma is a novel
by C.V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It is presented as a historical romance
recounting the history of Venad
(Travancore
) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma
.
The action of story takes place in Kollavarsham 901-906 (Gregorian calendar: 1727-1732). The story revolves around the main protagonists, Ananthapadmanabhan, Subhadra, Mangoikkal Kurrup who are trying to secure the title character from the plans of Padmanabhan Thampi & Ettu Veetil Pillamar
to oust him from the throne of Travancore
.
This novel initiated the historical romance
genre in Malayalam literature
by being the first historical novel
published in Malayalam language
. The story of Travancore
was continued in Dharmaraja and Ramarajabahadur. These three novels are together known as CV’s Historical Narratives (Malayalam: സിവിയുടെ ചരിത്രാഖ്യായികകൾ).
Marthandavarma is often considered as a classic blend of historical fiction
and romance
in Malayalam literature
.
, the Maharaja of Travancore
.
The authorship credit is C. V. Ramanpilla (സി. വി. രാമൻപിള്ള) in Malayalam literals where as its English counterpart is C. V. Raman Pillai
.
who ruled the southernmost parts of Kerala in the 18th century. The novel is based on the power struggle between King Marthandavarma and Ettuveetil Pillamar the powerful Nair
feudal lords who tried to assassinate the would be king at 1725 AD.
throne under the Matriarchal tradition. The Ettuveetil Pillamar (The lords from eight houses) were local feudal chiefs who supported the claims of Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi sons the previous king to a North Indian lady called Abhirami. In the medieval Kerala starting from 14th century Matriarchy
was practised. Though Patriarchy was practised by the earlier Tamil Chera kings it was replaced by Matriarchy around 14th century when new Naga dynasties started ruling Kerala. In the Matriarchal system which existed in Kerala in the 18th century the sons of the former king do not become heir to the throne but the nephew (son of eldest sister) of the King is the legal heir.
In this situation the Ettveetil Pillamar supported Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi the sons of former king in the power struggle for throne simulating Patrilineal descendency.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by C.V. Raman Pillai published in 1891. It is presented as a historical romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
recounting the history of Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
(Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
) during the final period of Rajah Rama Varma’s reign and subsequently to the accession of Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
.
The action of story takes place in Kollavarsham 901-906 (Gregorian calendar: 1727-1732). The story revolves around the main protagonists, Ananthapadmanabhan, Subhadra, Mangoikkal Kurrup who are trying to secure the title character from the plans of Padmanabhan Thampi & Ettu Veetil Pillamar
Ettuveetil Pillamar
The Ettuveetil Pillamar were a group of nobles from eight Nair Houses in erstwhile Venad in present day Kerala state, South India. They were associated with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram and the Ettara Yogam. They were known by the villages in which they resided and all of them...
to oust him from the throne of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
.
This novel initiated the historical romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
genre in Malayalam literature
Malayalam literature
The term Malayalam literature refers to Literature written in Malayalam language. Malayalam is the language spoken by around 35 million people, mainly the inhabitants of the state of Kerala and the union territory of Lakshadweep Islands in India. Malayalam is a Dravidian language and thus has close...
by being the first historical novel
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
published in Malayalam language
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
. The story of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
was continued in Dharmaraja and Ramarajabahadur. These three novels are together known as CV’s Historical Narratives (Malayalam: സിവിയുടെ ചരിത്രാഖ്യായികകൾ).
Marthandavarma is often considered as a classic blend of historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
and romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
in Malayalam literature
Malayalam literature
The term Malayalam literature refers to Literature written in Malayalam language. Malayalam is the language spoken by around 35 million people, mainly the inhabitants of the state of Kerala and the union territory of Lakshadweep Islands in India. Malayalam is a Dravidian language and thus has close...
.
Title
The title of the novel is a single word Marthandavarma (മാർത്താണ്ഡവർമ്മ). There is no space between the words Marthanda and Varma unlike the translated name of historical character Marthanda VarmaMarthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
, the Maharaja of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
.
The authorship credit is C. V. Ramanpilla (സി. വി. രാമൻപിള്ള) in Malayalam literals where as its English counterpart is C. V. Raman Pillai
C. V. Raman Pillai
Cannankara Velayudhan Raman Pillai was one of the great Indian novelists and playwrights and the greatest novelist and pioneering playwright and journalist in Malayalam...
.
Characters
- Marthanda VarmaMarthanda VarmaMarthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
- Ananthapadmanabhan / Brandan Chanan / Shamsudeen
- Subhadra / Chembakam Akka
- Shri Rayi Padmanabhan Thampi / Pappu Thampi
- Parvathi Amma / Parvathi Pilla / Parukutty / Thankam
- Shri Raman Thampi
- Mangoyikkal Kuruppu / Iraviperuman Kandan Kumaran Kuruppu
- Parameswaran Pilla
- Velukuruppu
- Sundrayyan
- Thirumukhathu Pilla
- Chulliyil Chatachi Marthandan Pilla
- Anantham
- Kodanki
- Kaalakutty
- Sivakami
- Abhirama
- Kudaman Pilla
- Ramanam Madathil Pilla
- Kazhakoottathu Pilla
- Chembazhanthi Pilla
- Marthandan Thirumadathil Pilla
- Venganoor Pilla
- Pallichal Pilla
- Thevan Vikraman Pilla
- Shanku Ashan
- Karthiyani Amma / Karthiyani Pilla
- Chembakasserry Mootha Pilla
- Beeram Khan
- Fathima
- Sulaikha
- Nuradeen
- Hakim
- Usman Khan
- Kochu Velu Thampi
- Krishna Kuruppu
- Narayanan
- Komaran
- Kochannan
- Kittan
- Karthika Thirunnal Ramavarma
- Raja Rama Varma
- Arumukham Pilla (Dalawa)
- Ramayyan (Rayasakkaran)
- Shankunni Menon (Diwan)
- Iravikutty Pilla
- Marthandan Pilla (Karyakkar)
- Ramayyan (Dalawa)
- Ayyappan (Dalawa)
- Marthandan Pilla (Dalawa)
- Shankarachar
- Pappu
- Kutti Pilla
- Pappanachar
- Chatayan Pilla
- Ooli Nayar
- Parappan Nayar
- Ozhukkan
- Koppilan
- Podiyan
- Nandan
- Rakithan
- Ponnan
- Poothaththaan
Chapter Summary
Chapter 1 : First chapter opens in Pancahvankadu where a young man (Ananthapadmanabhan) is found to be lying down with wounds and blood all over body. He tries to utter something and falls unconscious. Later two merchants (Beeram Khan and Hakim) with servants came along that way and takes away the young man.Marthanda Varma
Marthanda Varma was the powerful king belonging to the Travancore Royal familyTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
who ruled the southernmost parts of Kerala in the 18th century. The novel is based on the power struggle between King Marthandavarma and Ettuveetil Pillamar the powerful Nair
Nair
Nair , also known as Nayar , refers to "not a unitary group but a named category of castes", which historically embody several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom bore the Nair title. These people historically live in the present-day Indian state of Kerala...
feudal lords who tried to assassinate the would be king at 1725 AD.
The Ettuveetil Pillamar
Marthanda Varma had been adopted from the Kolathiri Kingdom of the North Kerala as an heir to the TravancoreTravancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
throne under the Matriarchal tradition. The Ettuveetil Pillamar (The lords from eight houses) were local feudal chiefs who supported the claims of Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi sons the previous king to a North Indian lady called Abhirami. In the medieval Kerala starting from 14th century Matriarchy
Matriarchy
A matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
was practised. Though Patriarchy was practised by the earlier Tamil Chera kings it was replaced by Matriarchy around 14th century when new Naga dynasties started ruling Kerala. In the Matriarchal system which existed in Kerala in the 18th century the sons of the former king do not become heir to the throne but the nephew (son of eldest sister) of the King is the legal heir.
In this situation the Ettveetil Pillamar supported Pappu Thampi and Raman Thampi the sons of former king in the power struggle for throne simulating Patrilineal descendency.
Adaptations
Film- 1933: Marthanda Varma (film)Marthanda Varma (film)Marthanda Varma is a 1933 black & white silent film directed by P.V.Rao based on 1891 Malayalam novel by C. V. Raman Pillai. This was the first film based on a Malayalam literature and next film of Malayalam film industry after Vigathakumaran.-Plot:...
– a silent black & white film directed by P. V Rao - 1997: Kulam - a loose adaptation directed by Lenin RajendranLenin RajendranLenin Rajendran is an Indian film director and screenwriter who has worked in Malayalam cinema.- Career :Beginning his film-making career as an assistant to director P. A. Backer, Rajendran made his directorial debut with Venal...
See also
- C.V. Raman Pillai
- Marthanda VarmaMarthanda VarmaMarthanda Varma , was the founder of the Indian Hindu feudal kingdom of Travancore from Venad SwaroopamHe ruled from 1729 till his death in 1758, having succeeded his maternal uncle Dharma Raja.King Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the "founder of Kingdom of Travancore" from...
- VenadVenadVenad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
- ThampiThampiThe Thampis are the sons of the Samanthan Nair Maharajahs of Travancore and their morganatic wives belonging to Illathu Nair or other similar Kshatriya castes...
- Ettara YogamEttara YogamThe Ettara Yogam or the Council of Eight and a Half was a body of Trustees of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple which is the richest and most well endowed temples in the world now ,situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore and religiously most important to the Maharajahs of Travancore.-Origin:The...
- KolathunaduKolathunaduKolathunādu was one of the three most powerful feudal kingdoms on the Malabar Coast during the arrival Portuguese Armadas to India along with Zamorin's Calicut and Venad. Kolathunād had its capital at Ezhimala and was ruled by Kolathiri royal family and roughly comprised the whole northern...
- MarumakkathayamMarumakkathayamMarumakkathayam is a matrilinear system of inheritance which was followed by all Nair castes including of Royal Families, some of the Ambalavasis, Arayars, Ezhava, some tribal groups and Mappilas in North Malabar of Kerala state, South India. Unlike other Brahmin families, Payanoor Nambootiris...
- PadmanabhapuramPadmanabhapuramPadmanabhapuram a city and a municipality near Thuckalay in Kanniyakumari district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-History:Padmanabhapuram was the old capital of the princely state of Travancore in India...
- Ettuveetil PillamarEttuveetil PillamarThe Ettuveetil Pillamar were a group of nobles from eight Nair Houses in erstwhile Venad in present day Kerala state, South India. They were associated with the Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram and the Ettara Yogam. They were known by the villages in which they resided and all of them...
- DalawaDalawaDalawa can be:*the number two in certain Asian languages*an alternative title for the Dewan of an Indian ruler, as in Travancore*a name...