Malayalam’s Ramayana tradition is one of India’s richest — and one of its most endangered. Dr. Harikrishnan, speaking for the first time in English on this subject, traces the evolution of Malayalam from its Tamil-Sanskrit roots to its extraordinary literary heritage, including texts like Lakshmanadesham — a distillation of the entire Upanishads — that are being quietly removed from school syllabi.
He explores the secularization of Onam, the sidelining of Trikkakarappan, and how poets like Vailar Ramavarma have written works that recast Ramayana characters like Thadaka as heroes. A passionate defense of Kerala’s Ramayana traditions against both deliberate distortion and institutional neglect.

About the Speaker:
Dr Harikrishnan is the Assistant Professor Sanskrit at the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham at Kollam. He is also the mentor at IKS in New Delhi.