Every language has its makers, and Malayalam’s greatest is remembered at Tirur, in Malappuram. Thunchath Ezhuthachan, a poet of the 16th century, is honoured across Kerala as the father of the Malayalam language — and the plot of land where he lived and worked, Thunchan Parambu, is now a memorial and pilgrimage of sorts for anyone who loves the language.
The father of Malayalam
Ezhuthachan’s achievement was twofold. He recomposed the great Sanskrit epics into flowing Malayalam verse — above all the Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu, the “parrot-song” Ramayana that was read in ordinary Kerala homes for centuries. And he helped modernise the very script, moving Malayalam toward the alphabet used today. Between the words and the letters, he did more than anyone to shape the language as it is now written and read.
Thunchan Parambu
His former home at Trikkandiyoor, in Tirur, is preserved as Thunchan Parambu. The sand of the grounds is considered sacred, and by long tradition children are brought here for Vidyarambham — the ceremony of writing their first letters in that sand, often on Vijayadashami during the Navratri season. To watch a small child trace its first Malayalam letter where the language was shaped is a quietly moving thing.
- Thunchan Parambu is at Tirur, easy to reach as Tirur is on the main coastal railway line.
- Vidyarambham draws large crowds around Vijayadashami (in the Navratri season, usually September–October) — dates follow the traditional calendar and shift yearly.
- It’s a place of reverence for the language and its poet — visit quietly and respectfully.
- Pair it with nearby Tirunavaya and the Bharathapuzha for a half-day of Malabar heritage.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Thunchath Ezhuthachan called the father of Malayalam?
The 16th-century poet recomposed the Sanskrit epics into popular Malayalam verse — above all the Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu — and helped modernise the Malayalam script, doing more than anyone to shape the language as it is written today.
What is Thunchan Parambu in Tirur?
It’s the preserved former home of Ezhuthachan at Trikkandiyoor in Tirur, now a memorial. Its sand is held sacred, and children are traditionally brought here for Vidyarambham, writing their first letters in it.
When is Vidyarambham held at Thunchan Parambu?
It centres on Vijayadashami, in the Navratri season (usually September–October). The exact date follows the traditional calendar and changes each year, so check before travelling.