Literary Memorials in Kerala

A literary memorial is a dedicated museum, monument, or preserved home that honors a famous writer, poet, or the history of a language. Kerala has many literary memorials that honor the writers and poets who contributed the growth of Malayalam literature. Literary Memorials in Kerala are listed below.

Thunchan Memorial

A memorial was inaugurated on January 15, 1964 , at Thunchan parambu in Tirur to preserve the memory of Thunchath ezhuthachan. The aim is to pave the way for language development and cultural progress by providing study classes and research facilities, and to conduct studies on the writer. The famous 'Thunchan Utsavam' is held here every year in the first week of February. It has a research library, accommodation for writers, an auditorium, a literary museum and a language museum. The first chairman was K.P. Kesava Menon.

Kumaranasan Memorial

The Kumaranasan Memorial in Thonnakkal, Thiruvananthapuram district, consists of the house where the great poet Kumaranasan lived and the memorial hall attached to it. Asan's house and writing room have been preserved. It was inaugurated on July 26, 1966 by former Chief Minister R. Shankar. K. Prabhakaran was the first secretary. This institution is now the Kumaranasan National Cultural Institute. The Vivekodayam magazine, which Asan started, is published from here. It is the Ph.D. research center of the University of Kerala. The Kumaranasan National Museum, International Convention Center, Art Gallery and Library are located in the memorial. There are memorials to the great poet in Kaikkkara, where Asan was born, and in Pallana, where Asan witnessed the end of his life.

Mahakavi Ulloor Memorial

The Ulloor Memorial Committee was formed in 1955. P.K. Narayana Pillai was the founder and first president of the memorial. It is located in Jagathy, Thiruvananthapuram district. The memorial has a large public library. Awards are given annually for poetry and studies on Ulloor.

Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan

Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan is a multi-purpose cultural complex that started functioning in January 2001. The objectives of this institution are to promote Kerala arts, provide opportunities and encouragement to the youth in the field of art and culture, and provide a platform for artistic performances. The cultural complex has a library, museum, a Koothambalam built according to the Natya Shastra rules, and an auditorium with modern facilities. Certificate courses in Tamil, Kannada and Telugu languages ​​are also conducted here. The headquarters is at Nanthancode in Thiruvananthapuram.

Changampuzha Cultural Centre

A cultural center established in Edappally, the birthplace of the great poet Changampuzha, in memory of him. The activities of the cultural center include Changampuzha's birth anniversary celebrations, music-drama-dance festivals, lectures, and presentations of various arts.

Unnayi Warrier Memorial Art Gallery

This institution was started on 7th December 1955 in Irinjalakuda to preserve the memory of Unnayi Warrier, the author of Nalacharitham Attakatha. The aim is to promote and encourage Kathakali. Students are trained here in all branches of Kathakali. The Unnayi Warrier Prize is given annually to encourage Kathakali artists. Degree level courses have also been started here.

A.R. Rajarajavarma Memorial

A.R. Rajaraja Varma's house in Mavelikkara, Sharada Mandiram, was converted into a memorial in 1990. The aim is to conduct academic activities that will help in the growth of Malayalam literature and language.

Sarasakavi Muloor Memorial

Kerala Varma Soudham, the house of Muloor S. Padmanabha Panicker in Elavumthitta, was converted into Muloor Memorial on March 9, 1989. Its activities include publishing Muloor's works and promoting research and studies on him.

Appan Thampuran Memorial

The Ramavarma Appan Thampuran Memorial in Ayyanthole, Thrissur is a cultural institution that houses the Kerala Sahitya Akademi's periodical library and writers' museum, which has a large collection of about 3,000 different periodicals, from early Malayalam periodicals. This cultural institution has been working under the Kerala Sahitya Akademi since 1976. The Kumarapuram Palace, where Ramavarma Appan Thampuran lived, is known as the Appan Thampuran Memorial.

Thakazhi Memorial

The Shankaramangalam house where Thakazhi Sivashankara Pillai lived was converted into the Thakazhi Museum under the Department of Archaeology on February 8, 2001. Thakazhi's book collection, all his awards and writing instruments, including the Jnanpith and Padma Bhushan, are kept here.

Edasseri Smaraka Samithi

The Edasseri Smaraka Samithi was formed at the Edassery Memorial Meeting held at the Sahitya Akademi Hall on 24 December 1978 under the leadership of V.T. Bhattathiripad. The main activities of the memorial in Ponnani are the Edasseri Memorial Lecture, Malayalam literary studies and research, and the awarding of the Edasseri Award to an original work in the Malayalam language every year. The memorial also houses the library started by Edasseri.

Kunchan Nambiar Memorials

There are memorials to the great poet Kunchan Nambiar in Ambalapuzha and Killikurissimangalam. The Kunchan Nambiar Memorial was established in Ambalapuzha in 1967. This memorial is near the Ambalapuzha temple. The activities of the Kunchan Memorial include working for the overall development of Thullal, presenting Thullals, disseminating Nambiar poems, conducting research on Kunchan Nambiar and training in Velakali-Chenda. There is a library and a memorial hall associated with the memorial.

The Kalakkathu Bhavanam, where Kunchan Nambiar was born in Killikurissimangalam in Palakkad district, was turned into a Kunchan Nambiar memorial on May 4, 1978. Ottan Thullal, Mridangam, Carnatic music and Mohiniyattam are taught here. The Kunchan Nambiar Puraskaram is given every year to select the best Thullal artist in Kerala. The memorial has its own Ottan Thullal group.

Mahakavi P. Memorial

This is a memorial started in the memory of the great poet P. Kunhiraman Nair in his native place Kanhangad. The foundation stone of the memorial was laid on October 4, 1989. It has facilities for writers to write creatively and has facilities like a library and auditorium. Dance-music-painting training classes and a study and research center are conducted in the memorial.

Kannassa Smarakam

This memorial was started on August 30, 1981, in memory of the Niranam poets in Kannassan Parambu, the place where they lived. August 30 is observed as Kannassan Day. Publication of Kannassan works, poetry camps, cultural studies, etc. are conducted. The Kannassa Padanagaveshena Library is functioning in the building. The Kannassan Puraskaram has been awarded since 2003 .

Mahakavi Moyinkutty Vaidyar Smarakam

This is a memorial that was started in 1999 in Kondotty, the birthplace of the great poet Moyinkutty Vaidyar, the master of Mappila songs. The activities of the memorial include study and research on Mappila art and Arabi Malayalam. There is also a certificate course in Mappila songs and Mappila art. The first chairman was Ahmad Kutty Haji of Koramba.

Mundassery Memorial

The Mundassery Memorial began operations in Thrissur in 1983 with the objectives of holding symposiums and discussions on literary and cultural issues and publishing books of general importance and literary value .

Cherukad Smaraka Trust

In 1978, the Cherukad Memorial Trust was established in Thiruvananthapuram in memory of Cherukad. In 1984, its headquarters were shifted to Perinthalmanna. Since 1978, the trust has been giving awards for works in various literary fields under the name of Shakti Award. Now, this award is called Cherukad Puraskaram. Another activity is book publishing.

VKN Memorial Trust

The VKN Memorial Trust is an organization working in Thiruvilwamala, his birthplace, in memory of VKN. The main activities of the trust are organizing a commemoration on VKN Day, January 25, and presenting the VKN Memorial Story Award.

V.T. Memorial Trust

This trust was established in January 1989, based in Angamaly, the birthplace of V.T. Bhattathiripad. The trust's activities include organizing seminars and symposiums on topics of cultural importance, conducting literary camps, and awarding the V.T. Award for outstanding works.

O.V. Vijayan Smaraka Samithi

This is a committee started in Palakkad in memory of O.V. Vijayan. The aim of the committee is to promote studies related to O.V. Vijayan.

Sahodharan Ayyappan Memorial

On September 29, 1985, the government took over the birthplace of Sahodharan Ayyappan in Cherai and turned it into a memorial.

Shatkala Govinda Marar Smaraka Kala Samithy

The Shatkala Govinda Marar Smaraka Kala Samithy is a committee established in the memory of Shadkala Govindamarar for the promotion of all arts, including temple arts. It was established in 1980 under the leadership of M.P. Manmathan. Its headquarters are at Ramamangalam in Ernakulam.