KERALA RENAISSANCE AND JATHIKUMMI

This article deals with the social milieu of Kerala about a century ago when casteism with all it social vices prevailed and the movements organized against it. A number of literary works also had a major role in the process. Jathikummi, a poem, authored by Pandit Karupppan who had emerged from the fisherman community at Kochi is sought to be examined in this article. The study juxtaposes and examines the casteist scenario at the time of the composition of Jathikummi and the current social situation in Kerala Vis-a Vis the caste system.