The Literary Club of MI Training College, Ponnani, successfully held Episode 56 of its book review series “Literary Lens“ on 4th July 2024. This session focused on the famous Malayalam novel Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil, written by M. Mukundan. The review was presented by Husna P, a B.Ed. student from the 2023–25 batch. The session gave a good understanding of the novel’s literary, cultural, and historical background.
Husna started her presentation by introducing the author, M. Mukundan, who is often called the “Mayyazhiyude Kathakaaran” because of his well-known stories based in Mahe (Mayyazhi), a place that was once ruled by the French. She spoke about how important the novel is in Malayalam literature and explained the political situation of Mahe during the time of French rule. She also described the main character, Dasan, and his brave journey to free his homeland from the French. The sad love story between Dasan and Chandrika was also discussed.
The presentation looked into the differences between the older and younger generations shown in the novel. While the older people loved the French lifestyle, the younger generation wanted freedom and to be part of India. Husna also talked about characters like Kurumbi Amma, who missed the old days under French rule. She clearly explained important ideas from the novel, such as colonial rule, identity, resistance, and personal pain.
The session ended with a lively discussion. The audience shared their thoughts about how the novel relates to today’s world. The Literary Club thanked Husna for her thoughtful and well-prepared review. The episode helped students better understand Malayalam literature and the history of Mahe. The programme ended with a vote of thanks and positive feedback from everyone.
