UPSC Optional Subject Syllabus- Malayalam Language

Paper-I

(Answers must be written in Malayalam.)

Section-A

Unit 1-Early phase of Malayalam Language:

• Various theories: origin from proto Dravidian, Tamil, Sanskrit.
• Relation between Tamil and Malayalam: Six nayas of A.R. Rajarajavarma.
• Pattu school-definition, Ramacharitam, later pattu works-Niranam works and Krishnagatha.

Unit 2-Linguistic features of :

• Manipravalam-definition. Language of early manipravala works-Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works. Later Manipravala works-medieval Champu and Attakkatha.
• Folklore-Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.
• Early Malayalam prose-Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.

Unit 3-Satandardisation of Malayalam

• Peculairities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.
• Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.
• Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam : Malayalam as administravie language. Language of scientific and technical literature-media language.

Section-B

Literary History

Unit-4 Ancient and Medieval Literature:

• Pattu-Ramacharitam, Niranam works and Krishnagatha.
• Manipravalam-early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
• Folk literature.
• Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

Unit 5- Modern Literature-Poerty

• Venmani poets and contemporaries.
• The advent of Romanticism-Poerty of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol
• Poetry after Kavitraya.
• Modernism in Malayalam poetry.

Unit 6- Modern Literature-Prose

• Drama
• Novel
• Short story
• Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.

Paper-II

(Answers must be written in Malayalam.)

This paper will requre first hand reading of the texts prescribed and is designed to test the candidate's critical ability.

Section-A

Unit 1

• Ramacharitam-Patalam 1.
• Kannassaramayanam-Balakandam first 25 stanzas.
• Unnunilisandesam-Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana
• Mahabharatham Kilippattu-Bhishmaparvam.,

Unit 2.

• Kumaran Asan-Chintavisthayaya Sita.
• Vailoppilli-Kutiyozhikkal.
• Sankara Kurup-Perunthachan.
• N.V. Krishna Variar-Tivandiyile Pattu.

Unit 3

• ONV -Bhumikkoru Charamagitam
• Ayyappa Panicker-Kurukshetram.
• Akkittam-Paudatha Messanthi
• Attur Ravivarma-Megharupan.

Section-B

Unit 4

• O. Chanthu Menon-Indulekha
• Thakazhy-Chemmin.
• O V Vijayan-Khasakkinte Ithihasam.

Unit 5

• MT Vasudevan Nair-Vanaprastham (Collection).
• N S Madhavan-Higvitta (Collection).
• C J. Thomas-1128-il Crime 27.

Unit 6

• Kuttikrishna Marar-Bharataparyatanam
• M.  K  Sanu-Nakshatrangalute snehabhajanam
• V.T. Bhattathirippad-Kannirum Kinavum.