Dr.Achyutha Menon Chelnat

DR CHELANAT ACHYUTHA MENON

1894-1952

Language researcher, literary critic, satirist, historian and academician.

Born in Chelanat House in Vellinezhi, a beautiful village in Palakkad district, widely regarded as the home of Kathakali, the classical dance form of Kerala.

Studied in the local school and completed his SSLC in 1913. Did his Intermediate at Zamorin’s College, Kozhikode before graduating from the Maharaja’s College, Tiruvananthapuram in 1917.

In 1917, he came to Madras and joined the Postal Audit department as a clerk. After just one year there, he moved into the state education directorate. From 1922 to 1929 he worked as a lecturer in Malayalam at the Queen Mary’s College. In 1929, he joined the University of Madras and lecturer in Malayalam.

It was while he was at the Madras University that he commenced his Doctoral research work on “Thunchath Ezhuthachan and his Age”. In 1936 he left for England to finalise his thesis at the University of Cambridge. In 1938 he received his PhD from there, before returning to India. On his return, he took over as the Head of Department of Malayalam in the University of Madras. He held this position for 14 long years till his death in 1952. During this period, he was also on the Board of Examinations and Text Book Committee of Both Madras University and Travancore University.

During an illustrious literary career he has penned several plays, satires, short stories, mythologies, novels, essays and poems. But to this day, he is remembered more for his works of Literary History and his research works.

If Malayalam cinema has seen several classics like Thacholi Odheyanan, Aromal Unni and Vadakkan Veeragaatha, substantial credit should go to Dr Chelanat for compiling the oral tradition of Vadakkanpattugal as two volumes of “Ballads of North Malabar”. Other research works include “Kali Worship in Kerala” and “Maavaratham Paattu”.

His satires and plays include Kinchisesham, Yogam, Punjiri, Annum Innum, Veeranganam, Meghanathan and Thacholi Chandu.

His Novel was titled Devidasan. His stories include Koman Nair and Veea Vilasam.

His compilation of mythological stories are Purana Manjari and Purana Ratnangal, while his poetry compilation was Minnal Oli. His essays include Pratakshinam, Poongaavu, Smaranaanjali and Vichaara Veechi.

During his lifetime, Dr Chelanat’s residence at Gengu Reddy Street in Egmore was a sathram for Malayalees coming to the great city of Madras in search of a livelihood. It was also a place where lovers of art and culture could find a home away from home. P Leela, the well known singer, who was no relative, stayed for years at Dr Chelanat’s residence while on the look-out for a career as a play-back singer. Kathakali artistes from Kerala used to stay for months while performing at the Malayalee Club here. Dr Louise Lightfoot, the famous Australian dances, who has done much for the integration of Western and Indian dance spent several months in the Gengu Reddy Street residence of Dr Chelanat, where he lived with his wife Narayanikutty Amma, their 8 children and a number of relatives, who were studying or working in Madras. Incidentally, in the 1940s, Dr Chelanat has served as General Secretary and President of Malayalee Club for several years. He was also the Honorary Presidency Magistrate.

His contribution to Malayalam language is immense. His contribution to Malayalee society in Madras is also immense. But like many great persons of his time, he is almost unknown to today’s generation. As a grandson, who has not had the fortune to even see this great genius, I am thankful to Malayalee Club for this opportunity to say a few words about Dr Chelanath Achyutha Menon.

--K P Sunil