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'''Kunnampurathu Varghese Simon''' (February 7, 1883 – 1944) was a [[1883 in poetry#Births|notable]]<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/district_handbook/Pathanam.pdf
|title=Pathanamthitta district handbook
|year=2006
|publisher=Government of Kerala
|accessdate=2009-09-24
}}</ref> [[Malayalam]] [[Christian]] poet. He was also a musician, a teacher, a reformer, a writer, a profound [[Bible]] scholar and [[apologist]]. Simon was the author of around 300 devotional songs or poems. He has also written about 30 books. K. V. Simon was given the title Mahakavi (Dean of Poets) by the Sahitya Parishad (Academy of Literature).<ref name="SakshiBio">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.sakshitimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304&Itemid=43
|title=Mahakavi K V Simon: Brief Biography of an Apologist and Excerpts of a Debate
|last=Thomas
|first=Jerry
|publisher=Sakshi
|accessdate=2009-09-24
}}</ref> His major work was ''Veda Viharam'', based on the first book of the Bible, [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]]. It was this work, published in 1931, that earned his name among great poets in Malayalam.<ref name="EncycloBio">
{{cite book
|last=Lal
|first=Mohan
|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian literature, Volume 5
|publisher=Sahitya Akademi
|year=1993
|volume=5
|pages=4101
|isbn=8126012218
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4101&lpg=PA4101&dq=veda+viharam&source=bl&ots=Y5Lwx6hFA3&sig=CeGYjaDHabdFvrY3a9b4R5COlIY&hl=en&ei=83CCSsW3G4a4sga3x9DUCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7#v=onepage&q=veda%20viharam&f=false
|accessdate=2009-09-24
}}</ref> The poet was a polyglot and a prominent leader of the [[Kerala Brethren|Brethren]] movement in [[India]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Poetry|Biography}}
{{Portal|Poetry|Biography}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
⚫
* [[Kerala Brethren]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
His legacy lives on in the numerous songs he has written. The reasons for the success of the Brethren movement in Kerala was to the fact that men like KVS made other capable men as disciples who in turn took the gospel work to other states and continued his work.
Mahakavi K V Simon (Poet Laureate; the highest rank given to a poet in India) was a towering apologist of the Christian faith in India. Born in 1883 in Kerala to Mr. Varghese (who had mastered Hindu Puranas) and Mrs. Kandama (who was a skilled poet), Simon grew up as a child with exceptional skills in poetry. Taught by his elder brother K V Cherian, Simon started writing poems by the age of 8. In 1885, Simon was born-again in a gospel meeting conducted by Tamil David. In 1886, he passed the examination in his native language, and became a teacher at the age of 13 in Marthoma School, Eduramala.


{{Indian name|Simon|Kunnampurathu Varghese}}
Mahakavi Simon was a scholar in Malayalam, Sanskrit, and Tamil. He also mastered English, Hindustani, Telugu, Kannada, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Syriac. In 1900, he married Ayroor Pandalapedika Rahelamma (later popularly called as Ayroor Amma). They had one daughter. Mahakavi Simon was one of the prominent leaders of the Brethren movement in India and a founding leader of the Brethren movement in Kerala. He mentored an astounding number of disciples including Pandit M. M. John, Pastor K. E. Abraham (the founder of the India Pentecostal Church), Evangelist K. G. Kurien, Evangelist K. G. Thomas etc. Through his Mahakavya ‘Veda Viharam’ (a poetical rendering of Genesis), Mahakavi Simon has inspired many in the following generations to write poems and even Mahakavya in Indian Languages.


'''''Mahakavi'' Kunnampurathu Varghese Simon''' (7 February 1883 – 20 February 1944) was a [[Malayalam]] Christian poet from [[Kerala]], [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/district_handbook/Pathanam.pdf|title=Pathanamthitta district handbook|year=2006|publisher=Government of Kerala|accessdate=24 September 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916040609/http://www.kerala.gov.in/district_handbook/Pathanam.pdf|archivedate=16 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was also a musician, a teacher, a reformer, a writer, a Bible scholar and [[apologist]]. Simon authored around three hundred hymns or poems and some thirty books. K. V. Simon was given the title Mahakavi (Dean of Poets) by the Sahitya Parishad (Academy of Literature).<ref name="SakshiBio">{{cite web|url=http://www.sakshitimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304&Itemid=43|title=Mahakavi K V Simon: Brief Biography of an Apologist and Excerpts of a Debate|last=Thomas|first=Jerry|publisher=Sakshi|accessdate=24 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727232207/http://www.sakshitimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=304&Itemid=43|archive-date=27 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> His major work was ''Veda Viharam'', based on the [[Bible|biblical]] [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]]. It was this work, published in 1931, that earned his name among the noted [[Malayalam]] poets.<ref name="EncycloBio">{{cite book|last=Lal|first=Mohan|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian literature, Volume 5|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1993|volume=5|pages=4101|isbn=8126012218|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4101 |accessdate=24 September 2009}}</ref> Simon was a prominent leader of the [[Kerala Brethren]] movement.
Mahakavi Dr. T. A Kurien who wrote Mahakavya in Hindi, ‘Yisu Charit Manas’ (Life of Jesus Christ, which according to Dr. Lakshminarayana Dhube, Professor at Sagar Hindi University is the first Hindi Mahakavya in 1000 years and first about the life of Jesus Christ), was inspired by Mahakavi K V Simon.


==Early life==
Apart from writing 300 songs/poems, Mahakavi Simon also wrote more than 30 books. A few of these works are in defence of the Gospel like ‘Satyaprakashini’, ‘Krushil Maricha Kristhu’ (Christ who died on the Cross), Prathiyukthi etc. ‘Satyaprakashini’ and ‘Krushil Maricha Kristhu’ are notes prepared from the rebuttals to the wild allegations raised by Gospel critics.
Simon was born in 1883 to Varghese, a scholar of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Puranas]], and Kandama, a poet. In 1900, he married Ayroor Pandalapedika Rahelamma (later known as Ayroor Amma). They had one daughter.


Mentored by his brother K.V. Cherian, Simon began writing poetry at the age of eight. In 1896, he became a teacher at the age of thirteen at [[MarThoma]] School, Edayaranmula.
Mahakavi Simon was known for conducting numerous rebuttals and debates. In the 1920s, Gospel critics such as Krishan Namboodri (who later became Swami Agamanda), Rishiram, and R. C. Das wrote and spoke against the Christian faith and opposed conversion. The entire Christian community in Travancore requested Mahakavi Simon to refute Krishan Namboodri and others.


Simon was a [[polyglot]]. He was a scholar in his native [[Malayalam]], as well as in [[Sanskrit]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and also mastered [[English language|English]], [[Hindi]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Kannada]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Latin]], [[Hebrew]], and [[Syriac language|Syriac]].
Mahakavi Simon conducted a series of rebuttals. There were public rebuttals as well as books written refuting the baseless allegations of these Gospel critics. Mahakavi Simon not only refuted the allegations of these Gospel of critics but also exposed their double standards by extensively quoting from the Hindu scriptures. This can be seen in his apologetics book ‘Satyaprakashini’.


==Simon as a religious leader==
Similarly, Mahakavi Simon’s knowledge of his contemporary scholarship is also demonstrated in his book ‘Krushil Maricha Kristhu’ (Christ who Died on The Cross). For example, regarding the allegation that Christ came to Kashmir, Mahakavi Simon wrote in ‘Christ Who Died on the Cross’:
⚫
{{main|Kerala Brethren}}


Although brought up in a Christian family, Simon claimed that he did not really understand the Christian message until he listened to evangelist Tamil David in 1895. He went on to become one of the pioneers of the [[Kerala Brethren]] movement, and a leading figure in the wider [[Indian Brethren]] movement. Many prominent Christian leaders in India, both Brethren and non-Brethren, were mentored by Simon. These included Pandit M. M. John, K. E. Abraham (the founder of the [[India Pentecostal Church]]), and K. G. Kurien and K. G. Thomas.
In 1887, a Russian named Nicolas Notovitch went to Ladakh via Kashmir and spoke to the Buddhist priests there. Seven years later, he wrote a book in which he said that the chief priest had showed him an old manuscript and read it to him in which it is said that Jesus came to India when he was 12 and studied under the Jain, Buddhist and Hindu teachers. This book of Notovitch, which was published in French and English, caused much dispute among the followers and scholars of these religions. However, in the 1894 October issue of the magazine ‘The Nineteenth Century’, scholar Max Muller wrote that this was a trick by the Buddhist priests to please Notovitch (knowing that Notovitch held the same opinion).


Simon was known as a debater. In the 1920s, he took on Krishan Namboodri (who later became known as Swami Agamanda), Rishiram, and R. C. Das, who were promoting [[Hindutva]] and opposing conversion. Some of his books covered areas of Christian [[apologetics]] such as ''Prathiyukthi'', and ''Satyaprakashini'' and ''Krushil Maricha Kristhu (Christ who died on the Cross)'', — which were compiled from notes prepared from his rebuttals to anti-Christian critics. He also wrote ''Satyaprakashini'', an apologetics book attempting to refute Hindu critics by quoting from [[Hindu scriptures]].
Since Prof. Archibald Douglas of the Agra Government disagreed with Muller’s theory that the entire story was fabricated, he went to Ladakh in the summer. When he told the story of Notovitch to the priests at the monastery, they were extremely angry. He came to know that there is no such record anywhere in Tibet, let alone in the collection of the monastery. Prof Douglas published his travel report in the 1896 April issue of ‘The Nineteenth Century’. As a result, it is generally agreed that Notovitch is an unreliable adventurist. Even then, Hindus and Muslims hold on to the fraudulent statements of Notovitch. Since there are many such fraudulent records and false histories being circulated in India and Europe, records about the tomb in Kashmir is also not acceptable unless we verify it.


Simon also spoke out against [[Russia]]n traveller [[Nicolas Notovitch]]'s controversial claims that [[Jesus]] had visited India between the ages of twelve and thirty, studying under [[Hindu]], [[Buddhist]], and [[Jain]] teachers. Notovitch claimed to have been shown ancient literature confirming these claims when he visited [[Ladakh]]. In ''Krushil Maricha Kristhu (Christ who died on the Cross)'', Simon cited research by [[Germany|German]] scholar [[Max Muller]], which he said exposed Notovitch's claims as a hoax.
There is another example that we would like quote which strengthens our assumption. J. N. Farkar M.A., D Lit, a great religious student and scholar, having exceptional knowledge of Hinduism, in his book ‘Modern Religious Movements in India’ writes this: “There is a tomb at Kannayar Lane in Srinagar of Kashmir. It is not more than 200 years old. Neighbours say that it is the tomb of Yusuf. Certainly it is the tomb of a saint in Islam. It does not have any special story behind it (Page 141). (Translation ours).


Simon composed more than 300 songs and lyrics (many of which are still) used among Christian groups. He rendered the entire book of Genesis in poetry, and named in Malayalam language as "Vedaviharam". It is a literary classic, and it earned him the title of Mahakavi (Dean of Poets), conferred on him by the Sahitya Parishad (Academy of Literature).<ref>{{Cite web |title=K V Simon - BrethrenPedia |url=http://brethrenpedia.org/index.php/K_V_Simon |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=brethrenpedia.org}}</ref>
All these rebuttals later culminated as a debate between Mahakavi Simon and Krishan Namboodri who presented a three hour case against the Christian faith. Then Mahakavi Simon gave a four hour rebuttal by presenting Biblical evidence and extensively quoting the Hindu scriptures in Sanskrit. It is said that the many Hindus enjoyed the rebuttal as Mahakavi Simon spoke fluent Sanskrit.

In the words of his disciple K. G. Thomas, ‘As Mahakavi Simon started speaking, it became a mighty wave and destroyed and washed away the mountain of criticism that Krishnan Namboodri built. This debate had helped to arrest the onslaught of Gospel critics against the Christian faith and edified and encouraged the Christian community’.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
Line 60: Line 29:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://pages.prodigy.net/sathi/ourhistory.html pages.prodigy.net]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090826003306/http://pages.prodigy.net/sathi/ourhistory.html pages.prodigy.net]
* [http://gracefullife.net/kvsimon.htm K. V. Simon - History]
* [http://gracefullife.net/kvsimon.htm K. V. Simon – History]
* [http://www.marthomaparishsharjah.com/downloads/ce_feb.pdf marthomaparishsharjah.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071021135515/http://www.marthomaparishsharjah.com/downloads/ce_feb.pdf marthomaparishsharjah.com]
* [http://www.keralabrethren.net/history_eng.asp Kerala Brethren History]
* [http://www.keralabrethren.net/history_eng.asp Kerala Brethren History]


{{Authority control|VIAF=28485509}}
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Simon, K. V.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Indian poet
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1883-02-07
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Edayaranmula
| DATE OF DEATH = 1944
| PLACE OF DEATH =Edayaranmula
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, K. V.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, K. V.}}
⚫
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
⚫
[[Category:Indian poets]]
⚫
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Plymouth Brethren]]
⚫
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
⚫
[[Category:Malayalam poets]]
[[Category:People from Pathanamthitta]]
[[Category:People from Pathanamthitta]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]
⚫
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Latest revision as of 16:31, 23 December 2023

In this Indian name, the name Kunnampurathu Varghese is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Simon.

Mahakavi Kunnampurathu Varghese Simon (7 February 1883 – 20 February 1944) was a Malayalam Christian poet from Kerala, India.[1] He was also a musician, a teacher, a reformer, a writer, a Bible scholar and apologist. Simon authored around three hundred hymns or poems and some thirty books. K. V. Simon was given the title Mahakavi (Dean of Poets) by the Sahitya Parishad (Academy of Literature).[2] His major work was Veda Viharam, based on the biblical Genesis. It was this work, published in 1931, that earned his name among the noted Malayalam poets.[3] Simon was a prominent leader of the Kerala Brethren movement.

Early life

[edit]

Simon was born in 1883 to Varghese, a scholar of the Hindu Puranas, and Kandama, a poet. In 1900, he married Ayroor Pandalapedika Rahelamma (later known as Ayroor Amma). They had one daughter.

Mentored by his brother K.V. Cherian, Simon began writing poetry at the age of eight. In 1896, he became a teacher at the age of thirteen at MarThoma School, Edayaranmula.

Simon was a polyglot. He was a scholar in his native Malayalam, as well as in Sanskrit and Tamil, and also mastered English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Syriac.

Simon as a religious leader

[edit]
Main article: Kerala Brethren

Although brought up in a Christian family, Simon claimed that he did not really understand the Christian message until he listened to evangelist Tamil David in 1895. He went on to become one of the pioneers of the Kerala Brethren movement, and a leading figure in the wider Indian Brethren movement. Many prominent Christian leaders in India, both Brethren and non-Brethren, were mentored by Simon. These included Pandit M. M. John, K. E. Abraham (the founder of the India Pentecostal Church), and K. G. Kurien and K. G. Thomas.

Simon was known as a debater. In the 1920s, he took on Krishan Namboodri (who later became known as Swami Agamanda), Rishiram, and R. C. Das, who were promoting Hindutva and opposing conversion. Some of his books covered areas of Christian apologetics such as Prathiyukthi, and Satyaprakashini and Krushil Maricha Kristhu (Christ who died on the Cross), — which were compiled from notes prepared from his rebuttals to anti-Christian critics. He also wrote Satyaprakashini, an apologetics book attempting to refute Hindu critics by quoting from Hindu scriptures.

Simon also spoke out against Russian traveller Nicolas Notovitch's controversial claims that Jesus had visited India between the ages of twelve and thirty, studying under Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain teachers. Notovitch claimed to have been shown ancient literature confirming these claims when he visited Ladakh. In Krushil Maricha Kristhu (Christ who died on the Cross), Simon cited research by German scholar Max Muller, which he said exposed Notovitch's claims as a hoax.

Simon composed more than 300 songs and lyrics (many of which are still) used among Christian groups. He rendered the entire book of Genesis in poetry, and named in Malayalam language as "Vedaviharam". It is a literary classic, and it earned him the title of Mahakavi (Dean of Poets), conferred on him by the Sahitya Parishad (Academy of Literature).[4]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Pathanamthitta district handbook" (PDF). Government of Kerala. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. ^ Thomas, Jerry. "Mahakavi K V Simon: Brief Biography of an Apologist and Excerpts of a Debate". Sakshi. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  3. ^ Lal, Mohan (1993). Encyclopaedia of Indian literature, Volume 5. Vol. 5. Sahitya Akademi. p. 4101. ISBN 8126012218. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  4. ^ "K V Simon - BrethrenPedia". brethrenpedia.org. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
[edit]
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