The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Rare artefacts on show at Malayalam exhibition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Rare artefacts on show at Malayalam exhibition

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A manuscript that is fashioned like a ‘rudraksha mala,’ early translations of the Bible, the centuries-old ‘Chithra Ramayanam’ and historical documents such as the ‘Temple Entry Proclamation’ are among the artefacts that are on display at the exhibition ‘Malayalam-Yesterday, Today’ now on at the VJT Hall.

The exhibition that was inaugurated on Monday will be on till November 3. It is being organised in connection with the ‘Conference on Malayalam’ being organised by the University of Kerala from November 1.

Samples of ancient scripts of Malayalam including ‘Vattezhuthu,’ ‘Kolezhuthu’ and ‘Malayanma’ can be found in the section on Malayalam language.

The ‘Alphabetum Ganthonicum,’ one of the first books published in Malayalam, the ‘Pazhancholmala,’ the first encyclopaedias in Malayalam, are displayed in the section on literature.

The section also offers the visitor samples of the manuscripts of works by litterateurs like Kerala Varma, Chandu Menon, C.V. Raman Pillai, Munshi Ramakurup, Azhakathu Padmanabha Kurup and Thakazhi.

Among the exhibits put up by the Oriental Research Institute and Manuscripts Library is the 300-year-old treatise on antidotes to poison, ‘Lakshanamritham.’

Similarly, a book on Mahayana Buddhism written in the Nevari script, said to the only extant copy, is on display at the exhibition.

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