Kozhikode: Hub of literary geniuses and UNESCO City of Literature

Kozhikode now holds a proud place in India as a UNESCO city of literature. For those familiar with Kozhikode's literary tradition, this comes as no surprise. The people of Kozhikode view this recognition as something that should have happened naturally. Traditionally known for its art and literature, Kozhikode was a recognised cultural centre even during the royal period, boasting numerous bookstores and art centres. At that time, the Travancore royal family, the Kochi royal family, and the Kozhikode Zamorin clan were among the most important local rulers in Kerala, alongside many lesser-known kovilakoms. Punam Namboothiri, a renowned poet, was a court-poet of King Manaveda of Kozhikode. The group he was part of is known as the ‘Psthinettara Kavikal’ ('Eighteen-and-a-half Poets'), where Punam Namboothiri was the only ‘arakkavi’ (half-poet). Unlike others who composed in Sanskrit, Punam Namboothiri wrote in Malayalam and thus held the position of the name.

Once, Uddanda Śāstrī, a Sanskrit scholar known for challenging scholars in every royal palace he visited, came to Kozhikode. Upon his arrival, all the other scholars — the eighteen great poets — fled without confronting him. Punam Namboothiri then recited a Malayalam hymn, praising his king, the Zamorin Raja. It is said that one expression in that verse in Malayalam made Uddanda Śāstrī bow his head. Typically, 'hanta' is an expression used in poetry to fill a gap, though it usually signifies a kind of sorrow. However, similar to how Kumaranashan used 'Ha!', Punam Namboothiri created a universe with 'Hanta'. Impressed, Uddanda Śāstrī offered a silk fabric, a symbol of recognition, stating "Antha hanthakku intha pattu" (“This silk for that ‘hantha’”)
A mere Malayalam poet in the court of the king of Kozhikode at that time upheld a literary tradition that even baffled great poets like Uddanda Śāstrī. This tradition has continued over the centuries, evident in the artists and writers who have emerged from Kozhikode.

Playwrights such as KT Muhammed and PM Taj, novelists and short story writers like SK Pottekkatt, PA Mohammed Koya, and NP Muhammad, as well as the greatest of all time, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, are remnants of this rich legacy. Kozhikode has forever been a hub for a vibrant literary community. Figures like director G Aravindan, renowned authors MT Vasudevan Nair, Pattathuvila Karunakaran, NP Muhammad, VKN, and many other writers gathered here. Subsequently, numerous literary groups emerged, centred around the Alakapuri Tourist Home. In those days, musicians playing the harmonium, tablas, and singers who selflessly expressed their art were seen everywhere in the small ‘peedika’ rooms across every suburb of Kozhikode city.

Kozhikode has always had a rich tradition of culture and art. Many songs, influenced by folk songs and Mappilapattu, were composed here and later poets and musicians like P Bhaskaran, K Raghavan Master, and MS Baburaj contributed significantly to the Malayalam film music tradition. All this cultural richness belongs to Kozhikode. Such works of numerous writers and artists across different eras manifest the cultural history of Kozhikode.  UNESCO is now recognizing all of it on the World Heritage List as a City of Literature. This recognition is thus extremely significant.