The paper was presented in academic seminar organized by Linguistic department, University of Kerala
Linguistic Importance of
Mapila Malayalam
Abstract of
Glossary of Literary Terms in Mapila Malayalam, Its Originators and Propagandists.
Mapila Malayalam has a rich tradition of language and literature. It has played a significant role in formation and existents of mappila culture, especially in the legacy of mappila Malayalam. Mapila pattu, Malappattu, Kissapattu ...etc. are superior forms of Mapila Malayalam literary terms.
Literary terms are words used in, and having specific meaning in discussion, review, criticism and classification of literary works. Words that are used frequently for the purposes, these be recognized as literary terms1.
Mappila literatures are either poem or prose; the poems are commonly renowned as Mappila Pattu.
Mappila songs are simple lyric poem, which is serious in subject and treatment, elevated in style, and elaborated in its stanzaic structure. G Shankara Pilla says: " It may be difficult for one to enter into the complex ‘Manipravalam’(mixed language) of Arabi-Malayalam, into its poetic devices and decorations, but once these hurdles are crossed, a magical world of is awaiting him2".
Padappat (war song), Qissappatu(story song), Oppana pattu (wedding song), maduhu pattu(hymen), thalolappattu(lullabies), Naseehathu Pattu (advice songs) and malappattu(offering song), Kahtu pattu(Letter song), Kappapattu (Letter song), Vatta pattu, Kess, Urdie, are branches of Mappila pattu. . Moyin kutty vaidyar, Mahakavi (great poet), is historically considered as one of the most renowned poets of the Mapila pattu. Qasi muhammed3, Pilikottil Hyder sahib4, Kunjayi Musliyar, S.A Jameel are originators or propagandists of different types of Mapila Pattu.
Tharjuma, Thibbunnabi, Wit and Humour of Mappila and Fatwa are different types of pros. Mayin Kutty Eleya, Muhammed bin Abdul Kader Musliyar, Paloly Abdullah musliyar5 are propagandist of Arabic Malayalam prose.
Key words:
Mapila: The word derived from Maha pilla which mean great personaly.
Mapila Malyalam: It a language variety spoken mostly by Mappila Muslim community of Kerala state. It is called arabi Malayalam.
Malappattu : It is a long panegyric song about sacred personality.
Tharjuma : Tharjuma is arbic word which means transilation.
Reference
2 C.N Ahmed Maulavi & K.K Muammed Abdul Kareem, Mahatthaya Mappila Sahithya Paramparyam, page:142
3 M.Gangadaran, mappila parambaryam
4 Islamic Encyclopedia, Islamic Publishing House, vol. 7 page: 375
5Islamika Vinjanakosham(Islamic Encyclopedia), Poomkavanam Publiction, Vol. I, Page: 290
Glossary of Literary Terms in Mapila Malayalam, Its Originators and Propagandists.
Introduction
Mapila Malayalam has a rich tradition of language and literature. Most of literary works are either in poem or prose. Both of them have played a significant role in formation and existents of Mapila culture, especially in the legacy of Mapila Malayalam. Mapilapattu, Malappattu, Kissapattu,..etc. are the superior types of Mapila Malayalam .these classical literary styles of Mappila Malayalam reflect real cultural and linguistic traditions of a society which have achieved through long period .
Define Literary Term
Literary terms are words used in, and having specific meaning in discussion, review, criticism and classification of literary works such as stories, poetry, drama, and essays. Words that are used frequently for the purposes, these be recognized as literary terms.[i] There is no authorized list of such words. Different lists of literary terms have been compiled by different people. Some of such lists may list more than hundred terms.
Mapila literatures are either poem or prose; the poems are commonly renowned as Mappila Pattu.
1. Mapila pattu(poem) :
Mappila songs are simple lyric poem, which is serious in subject and treatment, elevated in style, and elaborated in its stanzaic structure. They have very important place in the songs of Kerala. G Shankara Pilla says: " It may be difficult for one to enter into the complex ‘Manipravalam’(mixed language) of Arabi-Malayalam, into its poetic devices and decorations, but once these hurdles are crossed, a magical world of is awaiting him"[ii]. Many poems rich with poetic devices such as upamalangaram, ulprekshalangaram and very original ideas are there. The rhyming sequences in Mappila songs make poets of other language wonder. The main kinds of rhyming (prasams) are kambi kazhuthu valkkambi and valinmel kambi. Unique vrithams(essentially a tune or a rhythm) are speciality of mappila songs. The songs which are bound to the rules are more beautiful.
There are many different branches of mappila song like padappat (war song), kissappatu(story song), mangalappattu(wedding song), maduhu pattu(stories of saints), thalolappattu(lullabies), upadeshappattu(advice songs) and malappattu(offering song). The songs of our grand parents come from a time beyond our perception, handed over through many generations.
Moyinkutty Vaidyar (1852–1892)[iii]
Moyin kutty vaidyar, Mahakavi (great poet), is historically considered as one of the most renowned poets of Mappila pattu, Kissa pattu, and pada pattu genre of Mappila malayalam and Malayalam language.
Moyinkutty was born in 1852 at Ottupara, near Kondotti in Malappuram district. Unni Mammad, father of Moyin kutty , was famous practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine and a poet too. He lived longer than his son and completed his unfinished work titled "Hijra" from the 27 the Ishal onwards. Moyinkutty continued his family tradition of Ayurvedic medical practice and learnt Sanskrit and Arabic languages. He died at the age of 40 in 1892 leaving behind two sons and a daughter.
At a very young age of seventeen, he composed the romantic epic Badarul Munir - Husnul Jamal (1872). It narrates a fictional love story between Prince Badarul Muneer, the son of the King Mahazin of Ajmeer, and Husnul Jamal, daughter of his minister Mazmir. Most of the events narrated are pure fantasy, with plots involving the transformation of the hero into a bird and back, and frequent interactions with Jinn.
Padappattu
Later works by the poet followed a very different pattern. These works were essentially war songs in nature. The Badar Padappattu andMalappuram Padappatt are the most popular songs of this genre.
Badar Padappattu Gazvathul Badarul Kubra, more popularly known as the Badar Padappattu is considered one of the finest compositions of Mapilappattu. It narrates the tale of the Battle of Badr by Prophet Muhammed and his companions.
Malappuram Padappattu
The Malappuram Padappattu (1883), also known as the Madhinidhi Mala describes the undercurrents of peasant life and struggles in Malappuram in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1763, a local landlord named Para Nambi had a dispute with one of his officers named Ali Marakkar. The dispute escalated to a major battle between the landlord's men and the Mappilas and the lower caste Hindus amongst the tenants. 44 Mappilas and a lower caste Hindu of the Thattaan (goldsmith) caste lost their lives in the battle. They were eulogized later by the Mappilas. Some time later, the Nambi felt remorse at his deed and decided to make up with the Mappilas. This was the theme of theMalappuram Padappattu. The work was composed with 68 ishals, four vambus and a kuthirachaattam. It also makes references to the story of the King Cheraman Perumal who is said to have journeyed to Makkah and converted to Islam.
Other works
Other major works of the poet include:
Salaseel, Elippada (The battle of the rats, based on a Panchatantra tale ), Ottakathinteyum maaninteyum katha ( The story of the camel and the deer), Baithila, Hijra, Kilathimala, Moolapuranam, Uhad Padappattu, Theevandichinth, Swaleeqath, Mullappoocholayil, Karamath Mala
Style
The songs of Moyinkutty Vaidyar are distinguished by their depth of imagination, the beauty of the metaphors used, the creativity comparisons involved and the variety of their ishals(tunes/modes). His poems depicted the emotional manifestation of Muslims of the day, using literary forms such as romanticism, devotionalism and social realism. The vivid portrayal of the movements of the horses in the battlefield in Vaidyar's Badar Padappattu is a particular example of the poet's style. The galloping of the stallions, their hoof-falls, their lightning speed, the tails fluttering and flying in the wind, the excitement of the riders pulling the bridle and the horses rearing up - together provide the reader a very peculiar effect.
Legacy
In 1999, then Chief Minister of Kerala, E. K. Nayanar inaugurated the Mahakavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar Smarakam at the poet's birthplace in Kondotty.
Literary terms of Mapila Malayalam
1. Malappattu :
A Malappattu is a long panegyric song composed on famous Sufi scholars or about the lives of saints and historical happenings, it may sacred and honoring to the poet. There are many anonymous songs in this category. It hardly believe that the originator of malppattu is Qazi Muhammed Abdul Aziz, Calicut[iv].
In the view of historians, Muhyadheen mala is the oldest mala. It was written at 1607 (H. 782) as mentioned in same book. So, it has a glorious history of five hundred years.
A number of Mala songs were written by known and unknown poets following the footprints of Muhiyudheen mala. The Badar mala, Rifai mala, Nafeesathu mala, Manjakkulam mala, Mampuram mala, Malappuram mala and Muhdu maala are other popular panegyric mala songs.
Qazi Muhammad: the originator of Malapattu
Khazi muammed abdul azis was a great poet in Arabic and mappila malayala literature, who composed more than 12 works. He was the author of ‘Al Fath ul Mubin’ and ‘muhyideen mala.
He was born one of the famous families named Qazi in 16th century. Historically the post of Qazi carries on that famous family, so they had reorganization in front of Samoothiry. He studied under, his own father and grant scholar, Abdul Azeez. Usman liba al qahiry and Shaik abdul azeez al maqdoom also his teachers. He had a special skill in Hadees, fiqh, fundamentals of fiqh, philosophy, geology and skill of correction the direction of Kiblah.
Muhayadheen mala is the masterpiece work of Qazi muhmmed in mappila Malayalam. It is renowned as first classical work of Mapila Malayalam. According to M.Gangadaran: “ when thunchath ezhuthachan started his writing in Malayam by mixing Sanskrit with equal and beautiful , then kazhi muhmmed had composed muhyidheen mala by the help of Mappila Malayalam”. There are 155 lines in muhyidheen mala as pries of great Sufi shaik Muhyidheen.
One of his compositions of ‘Al Fath ul Mubin’ is a historical theme and it seems that he was an eye witness to that event which determined the course of the Portuguese political power in the history of Kerala[v].
He held the post of Qazi after the death of his elder brother in H.1607. In H.1025/1616 he deceased and buried in Mishkalpally at Kozhikode[vi].
2. Qissa pattu:
Qissa pattu is a type of Mapila Pattu, which describing the historical, romantic or imaginary stories. Most of them are epic Islamic histories held at battle field. Qissa is Arabic word which means storey. About fifteen have composed on battle of Badar. The padapattu is one of subspecies of Qissa pattu, the stories of battle field of Muslims.
Thabook pada and qandak pada of ponnani noorudheen, fathhul furoos of cheriya Hassan gasvath fathhu makha of Machingalakath moidheen kutty molla, Hunain pada of Maliyekkal kuhahammed, Badar pada, Uhdu pada and Hijra pada of Moyeen kutty vaidyar, futhoohu sham pada of chettuvai pareekutty, Hijra pada of Musliyarakathu Ahmed musliyar, Qaibar pada of vadakiniyedathu Ahmed kutty molla and Mu’tha pada of Vallanchira moideen haji are the famous pada pattu[vii].
Yoosuf qissa pattu of Manchan Para Abdul Azeez, younus nabi qissa pattu and yousuf nabi kissa pattu of Parambil Muhmmed Kunj are famous qissa pattu. And there are more qissa pattu which unknown its authors, Daniyal Nabi Qissa Pattu, Isa Nabi Kissa Pattu, Ibraheem Nabi Qissa Pattu, are example of Qissa pattu.
3. Kathu pattu:
Kathu pattu is a letter which was written in the mode of songs. According to Nallalam Beeran Sahib, the famous mappila poet, “it is a form of letter which can simply read as letter and it is also a poem which can simply compos[viii]”. Most of the Kathu Pattu is consisting of interaction with husband in abroad, made by a wife who waiting the returning of her husband. And it is a lament on the absence of lover. It made a sad feeling in the mind of audience.
The history of kathu pattu begins in the earlier period. It has played a significant role in Malabar Muslims, at the period of independent movement especially in Malabar riot at 1921 as the many of mapila muslims were jailed. And in present condition they are working in abroad.
It was perfected by Puilkottil Hyder sahib. Moying kutty vaidyar, Chakery moideen kutty, Nechi Mannil Kunnhi Kammu Master, Ottayil Hassan Kutty Haji, Laa Haji, Kammuty Marakar, Kunhi Seethy Koya Thangal, Chinna Avaran, Palattu Kunhi Koya, Odayi Puram Chekutty, Nallalam Beeran, Thottapali Kuhalivi Master, Mambdu Unnippa, P.T Beeran Moulavi are the popular Kathu Patu writers.
The notable kathu pattu in mappila Malayalam are mariyakuttiude kathu written by pulikattil hyder , mullapoo beevikkariyan kuruthe kathu written by moyin kutty vydiyar, Padappellam padchu pottidum…. by P.T Beeran kutty maulavi, kallakavane sthutich kathakal kuriyil kurith by Puthoor Amina, Kandote policin mindattam maripoyi by C. Nainan kutty master.
The most resent famous kathu pattu is Ethrayum bahumana petta barthavu vayichariyuvan swantham bharya…by S.A jameel, it made a movement in Pravasies family, many of them returned to their home[ix].
The Kathu pattu has remained a popular form to present day and includes among its distinguished practitioners in the twenty first century.
1. Pulikottil Hyder Sahib
He is one of the most eminent personalities who has managed significant role in kathu pattu. His famous works are the letter to mambad leader, letter to N.C Koyakutty haji, reply to Ayammu molla, reply to Laa haji, Kathu pattu to P.T. Beerna kutty maulavi, Beedarude kathu, Thottapalykayacha kathukal, Kunhipoovikayach kathu, Kunhimolekayach kathu.
2. S.A Jameel
S.A Jameel is one of famous poet and singer. Sayyid Abdul Jameel is full name. he was born at Nilamboor, Malappuram in 1941.
He was very interest in reading at childhood. He was found of his own carrier in art and cultural sector. He is also an actor, played both in drama and cinema. Jj nalla mansanakan nouk and Dunnyavil jhan ottankan are dramas and Mudyanaya puthran,Laila majnu and Puthiya Akasham puthiya buomi are cinemas which he have appeared. When he went abroad, then he concentrated on writing and composing songs in his own tune. Dubai kathu pattu is his masterpiece work which makes him become fame (1977). Galfukarente Barya, Chakkara koppara, Galf nomabaram, Thangal kissa, Manyamaha Jamnam, Katha pattu and Ningalkirollahu pore? are his anther works.Virak suntary, Pathumma kutty and Panchara chenchundu are his love songs. Shariyo theto, Manushyan, Mahanya poth, Chekuthan and Piranth are his Mappila satire songs[x].
In February 5, 2011 he was died.
4. Kappa pattu:
‘Kappappattu’ is a very beautiful metaphorical poem. This form was originated by Kunjayi musliyar. The song starts with comparing human body to a ship. This ship is being attacked by four kinds of thieves. Wealth, desire for the body, men and the cursed devil are the four sea thieves[xi].
Kunjayi musliyar[xii]
Kunhain Musliyar was the originator of Kappa Pattu. He was also the Birbal of Malabar. The Musliyar received his education at Ponnani Juma’ Masjid. He was critical of the superstitions and evils in the society and openly criticized the misdoings of the authorities. Kunjayin Musliyar preached the religion with a sense of humor lived during 1700’s. There are a number of famous jokes on him connecting Mangattachan and the King Zamorin. Noolmala is , 300 years old, one of his work on pricing prophet Muhammad (s). There are not much authentic records regarding his life, but his jokes remain evergreen in the hearts of people. Although his tool was satire, it had plenty of food for thought. His jokes were full of wisdom and scholarship. He was no mere entertainer, rather a well versed scholar and an imaginative poet too.
Kunhain Musliyar is also associated with Mangattachan, the Hindu who belonged to Nair community. Many of the incidents in Musliyar’s life are associated with his Hindu friend. The two of them were the symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood.
His most famous works are the Noor mala and Kappa Pattu or the Ship Song, which was even translated into European languages. Surprisingly, it is a philosophical treatise on the meaning of life. The poet was inspired to write it when Zainudhin Makhdum, the Thucydides of Kerala, tired of Multiyear’s jokes, asked him whether he was trying to make a ship out of Man. It is noticed that famous western scholar and Dravidian researcher A.C Barner said that “The kappapattu or ship song is one much in favor and deservedly so…”
Kunhain Musliyar has also sang many poems in praise of the Holy Prophet
5. Opana pattu:
In mappila literature ‘Oppana Pattu’ denoted any poem written in ‘Opana’ meter. It has different stages which progress as level of song progress, which started slowly and turned to fast and high pitch modules as per the progress of Opana play. It have different types of subspecies, oppana chayal, chayal murukkam, murukkathikl chattu, murukathil churut chattu, murukathil thunda are the subspecies. Generally, it held at special ceremony like marriage and celebrations. It has renowned as also Mangala pattu.
The name oppana received only after 1946, it was renowned in the names of Kallyna pattu, Vattapattu and Mukathala pattu. It is noted that most of oppana pattu are in oppana meter, but simultaneously some are in kappapattu, thongal, vyneelam, Akasaboomi, Yamenkettu,kombu, Aramba, Hakkana meter too.
The term opana pattu started at earlier period; there many writers had given their own donations to opana pattu. Most of them write the opana pattu on the spot. Mangala pangara sangeetham of P.K koya, Mangalalangara Puthuka pattu of K.T Amina, Sabalangara sangeetham of K Muhammed kutty, Pnchakanaga Rathnamala of C.A Hassan kutty, saubagya sundari of Chettuvai Pareekutty, Purusaramangalam kalyana pattu of KT muhammed, Thashreef oppana pattu of Mattummal kunhi koya are famous Oppana pattu in Mappila Malayalam. There are many works which unknown its writers like Ammai pattu, Appapattu, Mailanchi pattu, Vettila pattu[xiii].
6. Vatta pattu:
Vatta pattu is subspecies of Oppan pattu and Kallyana pattu.
7. Kesses:
It is one of the branches of mappila pattu, which commonly use the colloquial language and it deal a specific topic, most of them are on panegyric, natural calamity and protest against superstitions. It is in an attractive faster tune in different Ishals. There are no classical songs of Mappila pattu in Kess. Pulikotil Hyder is significant person in Kess.
The popularity of kess is not less than others, by the causes of it keep rhythm and rhyming scheme and it is simple in recitation but serious in subject. There is its own Ishals for Kess, like Ishal vareeshamalar,and Ishal puthiyathu and Arshilae kadam, makhan nabi Idamurukkam, Muttivili thallam are used in Kess.
Kaliyugam, Uhdu kess, Kadukuthu mala, Durachara mala,Vellapokka mala and Kalapuotu of Pulikottil Hyder,Badarul muneer kess and Akhosha rasakara mala of Vazhapulliyil mamutty, Thollayirathi iruvathonnil mappilamar of PM Qasimi, Immalayalathikkuri vannapol of Pannur Abdul Kadir musliyar, Minnithilangum minnaminung of UK Aboosahla, Jannathul firdaus, Padam thandarul of Kadaykkal moideen kutty haji, Arudhathoru sorga kani of S.A Jameel, Pongichinahjettam and Attigale kayarittum kondu are famous kess pattu[xiv].
8. Thalola pattu:
It is a song in Mappila Ishal to lull a baby to sleep. Most of its line may be there Arabic prayers or hymn. It spread widely among Mapila ladies
9. Maduhu pattu:
It is song which includes hymen to the all mighty Allah or panegyrics on prophet muhammed (s).
10. Naseehathu pattu:
Naseehathu is Arabic word which means advise. Naseehathu pattu is song which advice the society, it included Islamic ideology and teaching of Allah and prophet (s). Muslim women used to depend on this poem for basic religious education. “Valiya Naseehathu Mala” by Manakkantakathu Kunjikkoya Thangal, is a Naseehathu poem writes at Hijra 1052. The Mavahibul jaliyya and mavahibulladunniya are most famous Naseehathu pattu written by Thazhava kunhi muhammed maoulavi
11. Urudies:
Urudies is the subspecies of Naseehathu pattu. It has a significant role in the propagation of Islamic messaged. When there was no idea about Islamic principles in privilege society, Islamic scholars found of new method to transform and spread wide the Islamic ideology in a simple way that was urdies. The word urdies generally used for preach in Muslim mosque on the occasion of Ramzan.
Prose
12. Tharjama:
Tharajuma is Arabic word which means translation. In mappila Malayalam most of the Tharjuma are the translation of holy Qur-an, it has a indefinable role in the spreading of wisdom of Qur-an and Islamic teaching.
The first translation of holy Quran in Malayalam was published in the last decade of 19th century. A most famous scholar Muhiyudheen-ibnu Abdul Khader (Mayin Kutty Elaya) of the Arakkal Palace, Kannur began the works of a Malayalam translation of Quran in 1855 (Hijara 1272) which was named ‘Tharjamathu-thafseeril Quran’.It took 15 years for him to complete the work and it was published in hijara 1294. It was in Arabi- Malayalam script and had 6 volumes and was based on Thafseer Jalalaini.
In 1918, a Malayalam translation of Quran’s first juzu’ by Vakkam Abdul Khadir Moulavi was being published in Deepika. In 1930, a Quran translation project was initiated by KM Moulavi, Seethi Sahib and Uppi Sahib and the first juzu’ was published in the leadership of Islamic Research Society. The Malayalam translation of holy Quran by CN Ahmed Moulavi was published in 1963 with the financial aid of central government. It was republished by National Bookstall. In 1954, a portion of the Malayalam translation of Quran by Moulavi P. Muhammed Edasseri was published by an Islamic literature publisher based in Banglore. In 1955 Veliyankodu Umer Moulavi translated the holy Quran into Arabi Malayalam which was named Tharjumanul Quran. It was published in Malayalam in the year 1970[xv].
The history of prophet, commandments of Allah and prophet, judgment also be translated to Arabi Malayalam.
13. Thibbu nnabi:
Thibbu nabi is Arabic word which means prophetic medicine. It is hardly believe that the fist printed Mapilla Malayalam prose is Thibbu nnabi written by Muhammed bin Abdul Kader Musliyar, Kozhikode, printed at Bombay in 1840.
Ilajul Athfal, Valiya balachikilsa and Mahasaram fi Janopakaram of Paloly Abdullah muliyar, is famous Thibbunnabi works in Mappila Malayalam[xvi].
14. Wit and humour of mappilas:
wit and humour designate species of the general class of the comic, that is, any element in a work of literature, whether a character, event or utterance, which is designed to amuse, or to excite mirth in the reader.
Wit once signified the human faculty of intelligence, inventiveness, and mental acuity. An example of humour is Kunjai Musliyarum Mangattachanum of Pakkar Panoor, Kunjaiyude thamashakal, Hoja Kathakal,and Mullanasrudheen are famous mappila wit work[xvii]s.
15. Fathwa: Fatwa is Arabic word which means judgment of scholar on a specific topic. There many fatwa in Arabic – Malayalam.
Reference
[ii] C.N Ahmed Maulavi & K.K Muammed Abdul Kareem, Mahatthaya Mappila Sahithya Paramparyam, page:142
[iv] M.Gangadaran, mappila parambaryam
[v] Dr. KKN Kurup, Mapila Parambaryam, page: 25
[vi] Prof.KM Bahahudheen, Kerala muslimingal cheruthu nilppinte charithram, page; 27
[vii] Islamika Vinjanakosham, Islamic Research Home, Vol. 10, page: 52
[viii] Pakkar Pannur, mappila kaladarppanam page: 34
[x] Islamika vinjana kosham, Islamic pubishing House, Vol.11 Page: 452
[xi] C.N Ahmed Maulavi & K.K Muammed Abdul Kareem, Mahatthaya Mappila Sahithya Paramparyam page: 165
[xii] Pakkar pannoor,Kunjai Musliyarum Mangattachanum, Page: 5,6
[xiii] Islamika vinjana kosham, Islamic Publishing House, vol. 7 ,page; 236-238
[xiv] Islamika vinjana kosham, Islamic Publishing House, vol. 8 ,page;341
[xvi] Islamika Vinjanakosham(Islamic Encyclopedia), Poomkavanam Publiction, Vol. I, Page: 290
[xvii] Pakkar punnur, Kunjai musliarum Mangattachanum, Page:5,6
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