4.3. Malayalam Periodicals

Malayalam language and literature has developed in various new ways under the influence of modern education and western literature. But it is a fact that Sanskrit still exerts direct and indirect influence in language literature and culture of Kerala. Because of the propagation of Sanskrit in the society and the growing enthusiasm of the young generation to acquire Sanskrit education some Malayalam periodicals and publications

257 publish Sanskrit related columns in their publications. A number of periodicals takes special interest in Sanskrit because of religious and cultural reasons. Janmabhumi. Janmabhumi is a right wing Malayalam newspaper committed to Hinduism, published from Kochi, Kozhikode, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram. This paper gives importance to the propagation of Sanskrit language. This daily publishes Sanskrit lessons in Malayalam titled 'Pathama Samskrtam' or 'Saralasamskrta patham'. Aim of this lesson is to enable the readers to read and understand Sanskrit in order to read puranas and epics without the help of a teacher. It also aims to improve the ability of the teacher to present his/her ideas through simple Sanskrit medium. It started publishing these lessons from Sept. 3rd 2005 in a very simple format. For example a particular vibhakti is introduced by giving a number of examples of nouns and pronouns in that vibhakti. This lesson is conducted by M.P Unnikrishnan from Chengannur. In addition to this on special occasions like Sanskrit day (19 th day of August 2005), this paper publishes special articles on the importance of Sanskrit. 10

258 Ksetrasakti It is a hindu religious magazine published from Kozhikode. Sri. N.M. Kadamban Namboothirippad, Sri. K. Ramachandran Master and Sharma Thevalassery are in the editorial board. This magazine offers Sanskrit lessons which are handled by P. Padmanabhan, Sanskrit teacher (2005- 06). The medium is Sanskrit in Malayalam script. Conversation and communication skills in Sanskrit are stressed. Name of this lesson is 'Vadama samskritam'. (content of the lesson is spoken Sanskrit). These lessons were completed in 2006 and then they started another lesson related to literature. Mayilpeeli It is a children's magazine in Malayalam, published from Kottayam which dedicates one chapter for short Sanskrit stories. Stories are written in simple Sanskrit language using Malayalam script for example Name of 11 one story is 'Nipunasya Upayah'." Purpose of this activity is to help character formation of children and to develop reading habits and create interest in literature and Sanskrit language. Indirectly it will motivate the readers to study Sanskrit language more.

259 Vijnanabharati It is a Malayalam magazine started in Sept. 2005 from Parambalam, Alapuzha District. K.R Manoj is editor of this magazine. In this magazine one chapter deals with Sanskrit lessons. Name of this lesson is Samskrita 18 Pathangal. These lessons are written by the famous Sanskrit pandit Prof. R Vasudevan Potti, Rtd. Prof. of S.S.U.S, Kalady. Medium of this lesson is Sanskrit in Malayalam script with meaning given in Malayalam. The purpose of this lesson is to acquire knowledge in Sanskrit language and then to read and understand Kavya, Purana, Itihasa etc. Matrvani It is a Malayalam relgious magazine published by Matha Amritanandamayi Mission Trust, Kollam, which dedicates one chapter for Sanskrit stories, using with Malayalam scripts. A number of Sanskrit slokas are also quoted in this from various Upanisads, Gita and so on. Piravi It is a Malayalam quarterly published from Ernakulam under the leadership of Dr. Sandeep, Chaithanya School of Bhagavadgita, Kaloor. The first issue of this magazine was started on 2008 Sept. In this magazine Asokan Puranattukara, Rtd., Sanskrit teacher writes Sanskrit

260 lessons under the title 'Aksharalokam'. In this part he teaches simple Sanskrit with the attractive heading of 'Lalitha samskrtam'. Pushpakadhvani This community based periodical is published by Sri. Puspakaseva sangam from Thiruvananthapuram in August 2008. This is a Malayalam magazine. But this magazine also deals with Sanskrit lessons for self learning purpose. T.R Paramesvaran a retired Sanskrit teacher handled this lesson. In the first lesson he introduces swarakshara and vyanjanakshara, then the relationship between these two. He uses the Malayalam script. Purnodaya It is a Gandhidarsan publication. This publication started a column for subhasitas from 2008 April. T.R Parameswaran was dealing this part. In the August 2008 he introduced the subhashita. ksharam jalam Varimucahpibanti tadeva krthva madhuram vamanti | santastatha durjjana durvacamsi peetva ca sukthani samudgiranti II

261 Then he explains the meaning of this sloka in Malayalam. This magazine is available in the schools and the students get the opportunity to read Sanskrit outside the text books. Other magazines Religious Magazines like Chakkulathamma from Chakkulathu kavu, Kollam, Jnanagita Anandasram Kanjangad, Kollam, Rsimukh by Sri. Sri Ravisankar Trissur, Aupanishaddharmapadam, Kollam and Arshanadam from Chengannur also dedicate some pages for Sanskrit language learning.