Mahakavi K. V. Simon: The Milton of the East

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The first English study of poet K. V. Simon (1883-1944), with sample translations, including of his 12,000-line epic Vedaviharam, and a critical biography. Opening with the story of South Indian poet laureate (or mahakavi) K. V. Simons heroic life, this book escorts its global reader through the legendary Malabar Coast, transiting into the densely rich Simon verse in translation, and closing with a comparative reading of a rewarding range of texts from Simon and Milton. When Simon's epic Vedaviharam, a verse rendition of The Book of Genesis, appeared in the Malayalam language in 1931, The Guardian hailed the multifaceted Simon as Indias veritable Milton. Like Milton, Simon was a polymath, poet, hymnodist, composer, religious reformer and an educator. Like Milton, he was a man of immense learning, writing prose and verse with equal brilliance. As a result of his writings in which he exhorted the Church of his era to seek scriptural literacy rather than uphold uncritical traditions Simon was catapulted into public life as a reformer, apologist, and a nationally known prophetic figure. In Mahakavi K. V. Simon: The Milton of the East, translations of Simons works cover a range, from purpose-driven topic studies to interpretive Bible commentaries, poems, and hymns. Scholarship has so far placed Simons poetical work on par with the bhakti classics of Ezhuthachen, the Father of modern Malayalam, and of Poonthanam, a Hindu metaphysical poet, both household names in India. But in this study, Varghese Mathai shows how Simon distinguishes himself by his contributions to numerous knowledge fields that bridge him to world literature, modern history, colonial studies, religion, apologetics, rhetorical studies, and more.

Author Bio

Varghese Mathai is Benjamin P. Browne Professor of English at Judson University, USA and a Fulbright scholar. He lectures internationally on classics and literature of translation. His recent publications include The Malabar Mandate (2013) and The Village Maestro and 100 Other Stories (2022).