Kandathil Varghese Mappilai (Makers of Indian Literature)

The present work is a monograph on Kandathil Varghese Mappilai (1857-1904), an outstanding writer cum journalist who made significant contribution to the development of Malayalam literature.

It was a pleasant surprise for me to get entrusted with the writing of this monograph. I am one who had the privilege to start my life as a journalist in 1957 at the Malayala Manorama, the most reputed daily newspaper of Kerala which Varghese Mappilai founded in 1890, before I took up teaching as my profession. The writing of this monograph was difficult, the source materials lacking and the time at my disposal limited.

However, as the writing progressed it became an enriching experience, the man I saw here being a model for ever. I place on record my thanks to the Sahitya Akademi for entrusting me with this work. I am also thankful to my friends Dr. K. M. Tharakan and Paul Manalil who were constantly enquiring about the progress of this work, to my daughter Bindu and son-in-law Anish for preparing the final copy of the manuscript with skill and to my wife Susan who spent many a night watching silently the beam of light piercing the pitch darkness from my table top.

**Content and Sample Pages**