UPSC IAS Malayalam Optional Syllabus 2020 | PDF Download

UPSC Malayalam Literature Syllabus For IAS Mains 2020

IAS Exam has one of the optional literature paper as Malayalam. It has two papers (1 & 2), each of 250 marks summing up to 500 for the paper. This paper proves to be a scoring subject for aspirants who are well versed & acquainted with the Malayalam language. Having knowledge of the grammatical aspects of the language is also important. It is easy to crack this optional subject for those who are native Malayalam speakers and familiar with it. This article provides you with the latest Malayalam optional syllabus for UPSC IAS Mains 2020.

UPSC Malayalam Syllabus Paper 1 & 2 – PDF Download

UPSC Mains Malayalam Syllabus Paper – I

Answers must be written in Malayalam

Section A

Unit 1 – Early phase of Malayalam Language

1.1 Various theories: origin from proto Dravidian, Tamil, Sanskrit.
1.2 Relation between Tamil and Malayalam: Six nayas of A.R. Rajarajavarma.
1.3 Pattu school-definition, Ramacharitam, later pattu works-Niranam works and Krishnagatha.

Unit 2 – Linguistic Features

2.1 Manipravalam-definition. Language of early manipravala works-Champu, Sandesakavya, Chandrotsava, minor works. Later Manipravala works-medieval Champu and Attakkatha.
2.2 Folklore-Southern and Northern ballads, Mappila songs.
2.3 Early Malayalam prose-Bhashakautaliyam, Brahmandapuranam, Attaprakaram, Kramadipika and Nambiantamil.

Unit 3 – Satandardisation of Malayalam

3.1 Peculairities of the language of Pana, Kilippattu and Tullal.
3.2 Contributions of indigenous and European missionaries to Malayalam.
3.3 Characteristics of contemporary Malayalam : Malayalam as administravie language. Language of scientific and technical literature-media language.

Section B

Literary History

Unit 4 – Ancient and Medieval Literature:

4.1 Pattu-Ramacharitam, Niranam works and Krishnagatha.
4.2 Manipravalam-early and medieval manipravala works including attakkatha and champu.
4.3 Folk literature.
4.4 Kilippattu, Tullal and Mahakavya.

Unit 5 – Modern Literature-Poerty

5.1 Venmani poets and contemporaries.
5.2 The advent of Romanticism-Poerty of Kavitraya i.e., Asan, Ulloor and Vallathol
5.3 Poetry after Kavitraya.
5.4 Modernism in Malayalam poetry.

Unit 6 – Modern Literature-Prose

6.1 Drama
6.2 Novel
6.3 Short story
6.4 Biography, travelogue, essay and criticism.

UPSC Mains Malayalam Syllabus Paper – II

Answers must be written in Malayalam.

This paper will require first hand reading of the texts prescribed and is designed to test the candidate’s critical ability.

Section A

Unit 1

1.1 Ramacharitam-Patalam 1.
1.2 Kannassaramayanam-Balakandam first 25 stanzas.
1.3 Unnunilisandesam-Purvabhagam 25 slokas including Prastavana
1.4 Mahabharatham Kilippattu-Bhishmaparvam.,

Unit 2

2.1 Kumaran Asan-Chintavisthayaya Sita.
2.2 Vailoppilli-Kutiyozhikkal.
2.3 G. Sankara Kurup-Perunthachan.
2.4 N.V. Krishna Variar-Tivandiyile Pattu.

Unit 3

3.1 ONV -Bhumikkoru Charamagitam
3.2 Ayyappa Panicker-Kurukshetram.
3.3 Akkittam-Paudatha Messanthi
3.4 Attur Ravivarma-Megharupan.

Section B

Unit 4

4.1 O. Chanthu Menon-Indulekha
4.2 Thakazhy-Chemmin.
4.3 O V Vijayan-Khasakkinte Ithihasam.

Unit 5

5.1 MT Vasudevan Nair-Vanaprastham (Collection).
5.2 N S Madhavan-Higvitta (Collection).
5.3 C J. Thomas-1128-il Crime 27.

Unit 6

6.1 Kuttikrishna Marar-Bharataparyatanam
6.2 M.  K  Sanu-Nakshatrangalute snehabhajanam
6.3 V.T. Bhattathirippad-Kannirum Kinavum.

Also, Check Other UPSC IAS Optional Subject’s Syllabus

Facts about the Malayalam Language

Malayalam is a language derived from two words, ‘Malay,’ meaning hillock, and ‘Alam,’ meaning a vast ocean. The mainland between the gigantic Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea in Kerala.

So the language of Kerala is known as Malayalam. The Malayalam language finds its earliest mention in a book of the scared mark. In 1841, references were made about the language in the name ‘Malayalim.’

It’s also interesting to note that in the above-referred era, the works that were originally in Sanskrit but later got converted to Malayalam were referred to as ‘Tamil Books’ and not Malayalam works, though the reason for this dilemma is still not very clear among linguists. Just like how Kannada and Telugu share a striking resemblance with each other, Tamil and Malayalam also share similarities with each other.

The journey of Malayalam as an independent, strong language can be traced back to the 9th century. Till then, Malayalam and Tamil were always considered going together on the same tracks. In the journey of Malayalam, the time frame between 9th and 13th century hold a prominent place as it was during this period that Malayalam became a truly independent language, taking its legacy away from the backbone and frame of Tamil in its entirety.

History of Dravidian languages has revealed Tamil to be amongst the oldest spoken languages of the world. So, in that case, it becomes natural for Malayalam to be put under the same grouping.

But this notion is entirely false. Malayalam actually is the last among the four Dravidian languages to develop an exclusive literature framework and build a legacy on this structure.

Also, Read Other UPSC 2020 Articles