Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 15

JANUARY, 1932)
A BALLAD OF KERALA
A BALLAD OF KERALA. BY M. D. RAGHAVAN, B.A., D.A. (OXON.), F.R.A.I., PERSONAL ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT,
GOVERNMENT MUSEUM, MADRAS. TAE folk songs characteristic of North Malabar are the well known Tacho!i Pattu,' which take their name from the first songs singing the exploits of Tachoļi Odênan, the Robin Hood of Malabar, whose adventures are still the favourite theme of the masses, and are sung with much enthusiasm. All popular songs similar in treatment have since been known as Tachóli Patu.
These songs are also known as Vadakkan Pattu or the Songs of North Kerala. They correspond to the ballads of English literature singing the praises of national heroes, throwing a flood of light on the customs, manners and institutions of the peoples of the time. The song narrated here describes a family dispute in high life, incidentally singing the prowess and valour of Valia Arômar Chekavar.
The old Kaima! of Kurungattidem in Prajapatinâd in his sixty-fourth year, sick of domestic worries resolves to set out on a pilgrimage. Putting on the robes of a sannyási he calls his nephew Uņikkônår, and handing over the keys to him, charges him to conduct the household affairs. Similarly he summons his other nephew Unichandrôr and addresses him
Onnindu kelkênam Unichandrörê. Just listen Uņichandrôr. Ninnal Tammilulla mūpilama
The question of seniority between you two, Atukondu ninnal pinannarutu
Do not be quarrelling on that account. Anmakkalonnum enikillallo
Sons have I none; Penmakkal rande enikatullu
Only daughters two have I. Marumakkal randu per ninnaļum You two are my nephews, Ninúalku pudavayum murichittilla And you have not had pudamuri" yet. Ninnalku karuti irikunnu ñán
I have reserved them for you. Avarku kașivan mutalundallo
For their livelihood, wealth and property they
have; Avareninnalum osikkarutu
You should not divorce them. Mêlûrum kîrûrum randuvidu
Mêlûr and Kifûr are my two houses; Kişûridattil Uņikkônårum
Uņikkonar in Kişûr house, Mélûridattil Uņichandrórum
And Uņichandrör in Mêlûr. Annine ninnal irunnukolļu
Thus shall you live. Vendum vidhattil kariññukollu Make yourself happy. Parayêndatokke paraññu nanum I have said all I have to say.
1 Cf. P. Govinda Pillsi, History of the Malayalam Language and Literature, vol. I, pp. 104 to 109.
A chief. Duarte Barbosa records (Hak. Soc. edn., vol. II, p. 13) that during the thirteen days follow. ing the death of the Zamorin of Calicut, the Kaimål governed the kingdom.
Though these places cannot be exactly identified, there is no doubt they are all in Kurumbranad taluk in North Malabar,
4 For the sake of uniformity and scientific accuracy, Grierson's system of transliteration has been uniformly adopted. The transliteration of certain words will thus be observed to be different from tho transliteration ordinarily adopted.
The question as to who is the elder, and who should succeed the old man as the Kaima!.
• The principal form of marriage among the Nayars, the essential part of which is the gift of cloth by the bridegroom to the bride. The insight this gives into the matriarchal organization of the Nåyar society in these early days is remarkable society being at once matrilineal and matrilocal.