Chattampi Swamikal

Caṭṭampi Swami, 1853-1924, Hindu sage and social reformer from Kerala, India.

Neelakanta Theerthapada; disciple of Chattampi Swamikal was a great scholar, poet, and social and religious reformer and was a lead figures of renaissance in Kerala. He has composed numerous works in Sanskrit and Malayalam. They became the theoretical base for the movements of the marginalized and were the agents that heralded social reformers. His works formed the most important contributions from Kerala to the spiritual and philosophical literature in Sanskrit of the twentieth century. After Sankara, there was no other scholar from Kerala who has composed Sanskrit works in quality and quantity to the extent to which Neelakanta Theerthapada has done. Any serious observation of the works of Theerthapada can reveal that they excel Brhatkatha of Gunadhya, beautiful words of Murari, meaningfulness of Bharavi, compositions of Kalidasa, works of Mayura, and Magha. With the use of simple and direct words they outshine Naishadha of Sri Harsha and Karporamanjari of Rajasekhara. This is the first book in English on the life and work of Neelakanta Theerthapada.

Dr. K. Vinod Chandran, is a prolific writer in English and Malayalam and has wrote many articles and studies related to philosophy, literature, criticism, cultural studies, and intellectual or cultural history. He had attended many of the International Seminars on History and philosophy as a resource person, mostly held in New Delhi, Manipal, Hydrabad, and Kerala from 1990 to the present time. Area of specialization : Cultural or intellectual history , Philosophy and Literary Criticism. Born in 7-9-1955, Vinod Chandran retired in 2011 as an associate Professor and Head of the department of History, Sree Kerala varma college Thrissur, Kerala. The Title of his doctoral work is “The Counter-narratives of Power and Identity In Colonial Keralam—A reading of C.V.Ramanpilla”. The thesis, done under the supervision of Dr. K.N. Panikkar, the renowned Cultural historian of India, was submitted in 2004 to the Center of Historical studies, J.N.U. New Delhi. He was awarded PhD in 2005. The author is now preoccupied with publishing books in Malayalam, especially on The poetry and thought of Narayanaguru , on the art of C.V. Raman pilla, one of the greatest novelists of Malayalam, and on the contemporary poetry and literature of Malayalam. Presently he resides in Thrissur, Kerala.

Hindu Nationalism in South India engages with a range of factors that shapes the trajectory of Hindu nationalism in Kerala, the southern state of India. Until recently, Kerala was considered a socio-political exception which had no room for Hindu nationalism. This book questions such Panglossian prognosis and shows the need to map the ideological and political growth of Hindu nationalism which has been downplayed in the academic discourse as temporary aberrations. The introduction to the book places Kerala in the context of South India. Arguing that Hindutva is a real force which needs to be contended within theoretical and empirical terms, the chapters in this book examine Hindu nationalism in Kerala in relation to themes such as history, caste, culture, post-truth, ideology, gender, politics, and the Indian national space. Considering the rise of Hindu nationalism in the recent years, this pioneering book will be of interest to a students and academics studying Politics, in particular Nationalism, Asian Politics and Religion and Politics and South Asian Studies.

This volume deals with the history of Kerala with special attention to selected historical personages who had played significant roles in shaping the history of Kerala through the ages.

Here is a biography of Narayana Guru, which introduces him, faithful to his true form, as an embodiment of Wisdom. Indeed, it has been written by someone who has dedicated her life to the learning and teaching of this very Wisdom, especially as we humans may actualize it in our lives of the here and now. Although most extant biographies of the Guru were written by persons belonging to his own geographical and cultural background, this one stands an exception in this respect. The author of this work, Nancy Yeilding, belongs to and lives in a region and culture at the opposite side of the globe. Yet this can be no obstacle, because the Wisdom taught by the Guru is one in essence, which is life’s highest aim, guide, and joy, irrespective of all geographical and cultural differences. – Guru Muni Narayana Prasad

“Religions must have evolved as a way of life, doctrines may fade as we move towards spirituality on the road to truth, which is bright as the day light” In this simple compilation I have thought about a few lives, I hope have showed us some light to carry us through in the dark pervasive days of human lives. I believe in merciful God who sends his messengers to take up missions dedicated and delicate as they deal human minds. There are a many more in the shadows working earnestly, never seen or heard much about, only God and they know how valuable their beautiful selfless works prevail. Thoughts came to me in the daunting times of COVID 19; the need looming large in acts of mercy and co-existence. My mind wafted into thin air and took me to people who were the winds of change. It recalled the road we travelled along. Many inspirers, who were a guiding light as lanterns on the lanes were seen as beacons of hope, but will they fade away…. Deviating halfway down the journey, we need to ask: • “Did we travel on the right path?” • “Will we inspire good minds to join us in the journey and embrace the unreached?” • “Will we ever try to live by the laws of nature?” India has been blessed by Gita, the epic, in which Lord Krishna says, “If you walk in the path of Dharma, if you absorb and follow the path of righteousness, then you not only emerge as a true leader but also serve and bring about a stronger nation, stronger universe and a stronger world.” “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” Bible – Colossians, Chapter 3; Verse 11 In the Quran: “The term Advaita translated into Arabic would read ‘Wahdahu-la-Shareek’—the one who has no second...” The time has come for us to rethink and reset our way of lives, embrace life in its fullest potential, hear a Coherent answer, attain a peaceful world, and a meet a merciful God. In this journey we need your loving hearts, your caring hands and merciful deeds. We have seen some great simple men and women do that in these dark days of sufferings. We shall Overcome… and make it a shining little blue marble, our home.

This Book, Based On A Study Carried Out In The Travancore Region Of Kerala, Attempts To Explain The Differential Influeces Of Many Demographic, Developmental And Cultural Variables That Influence Social Change Among Different Religious Groups And Also Ultimately The Fertility Behaviour.

R. K. Narayan (1906—2001) witnessed nearly a century of change in his native India and captured it in fiction of uncommon warmth and vibrancy. Swami and Friends introduces us to Narayan’s beloved fictional town of Malgudi, where ten-year-old Swaminathan’s excitement about his country’s initial stirrings for independence competes with his ardor for cricket and all other things British. Written during British rule, this novel brings colonial India into intimate focus through the narrative gifts of this master of literary realism.