Sreekanteswaram G. Padmanabha Pillai - Author of Malayalam Dictionary (1864 - 1946)

'Sabdatharavali' will remain immortal so far as Malayalam Language continues to be alive.

-Unknown quote

'Sabdatharavali' is the most authentic and widely used popular Malayalam dictionary written by Sreekanteswaram G. Padmanabha Pillai (1865–1946), popularly known as Sreekanteswaram, who was a lexicographer and scholar.

Sreekanteswaram was born on 27th November, 1864 in the family of Kulavaravilakam, Sreekanteswaram, in Thiruvananthapuram district, to Sri Parithikkattu Narayana Pillai and Smt Narayani Pillai. His father was a Tahsildar and mother was Chief Administrator in Travancore Palace. She was elder sister of Sri P.Govinda Pillai, who was the author of 'History of Languages' in Malayalam.

Sreekanteswaram learned Sankrit, Malayalam and Tamil languages and also Ayurveda. He could not complete Matriculation due to poverty. His formal education ceased. During this time, his father also departed. In his early life, Sreekanteswaram was very fond of 'Ottanthullal', he also wrote an Ottanthullal named, "Bali Vijayam." This was his first first literary work, but was not published. He turned to 'Kathakali' later. On a Sivaratri day he performed "Duryodhana Vadham" Kathakli along with some friends. He also wrote another attakatha called, "Dharmaguptavijayam."

Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai started the work of Malayalam dictionary 'Sabdatharavali' in the year 1896. He was 32 at that time. He collected Malayalam words from books, newspapers or magazines and through conversations. Then he arranged them in alphabetical order. He made notes on the root, usage and history of each word. He was disappointed as he could not find an end to this process even after nine years of hard work. So he decided to finish the work in the form of a small dictionary. Thus in 1905, a pocket dictionary was published. It had a grand reception among public. One thousand copies were sold out quickly. The recognition of the work inspired him. He again started the work of 'Sabdatharavali'. He continued his work for next five years.

One day he saw an advertisement of another dictionary named 'Shabdaratnakaram', in a newspaper. He stopped his work. But the publication of 'Shabdaratnakaram', which came out in magazine form stopped after six issues. Then Sreekanteswaram again started writing his Malayalam dictionary with renewed vigor. His effort bore its fruit in 1917. The work was successfully completed. Thus the work started at an age of 32 was completed at 52, taking two decades! It had 1600 printed pages. But a publisher was not available. Finally he decided to publish it as bimonthly. The first issue came out in 1918. In 1923, the 22nd issue, the last one was published.

Then it was published in full in 1923. Only 500 copies were published. In next 16 years, three editions of 'Sabdatharavali' came out. It brought him recognition and accolades. Sree Moolam Thirunal, The Maharaja of Travancore adorned him with a bracelet (Veerasrimkhala) and a couple of white shawls in recognition of his great work.

At the age of 68, Sreekanteswaram started writing another book called "Sahityabharanam" which narrated the life history of litterateurs and their literary works. It was published in different issues. He also started the work of a English-Malayalam dictionary in the name 'Shabdachandrika', but could not complete it because of his poor health. For an year or so, a monthly magazine called, "Bhashavilasam" was published under his editorship.

Varuvilakathu Ananda Pillai Lakshmi Pillai was his wife. On 24th March, 1946, he left the mortal world at the age of 82. His son, P.Damodara Pillai later compiled a concise edition of 'Sabdatharavali'.

While writing the dictionary he suffered a lot. His only stream of income was from writing which was very meager. In fact, he got a government job as a lexicographer, but he renounced it for the sake of his passion, ie, writing Sabdatharavali. He also stopped working in a lawyer's office.

He had written that he had never experienced, "Sukham" (Happiness), which he had explained in his dictionary, in his real life!!

Sreekanteswaram Padmanabha Pillai had risen to an immortal position through Sabdatharavali. He will continue to live in the minds of Malayalam language lovers and scholars.

Read more from my upcoming book : "Hidden Gems of Kerala - The Unsung Heroes"

Dr.Subramoniam Krishnan

Courtesy : Janma Bhoomi daily , November 27, 2024