Library in Kottayam displays treasured old editions of Ramayana

Kurichithanam: As another Ramayana month begins, the P Sivarama Pillai Memorial People’s Library at Kurichithanam in Kottayam, proudly displays a rare 87-year-old copy of the Adhyatma Ramayanam in its possession. A treasure trove for literature enthusiasts, the library also boasts a rich collection of vintage Ramayanam editions.

The 87-year-old edition, printed at the Sreeramavilasam Press in Kollam during the Malayalam calendar year 1113 (AD 1938), was published by K G Parameswaran Pillai. Another prized copy in the collection is a Valmiki Ramayana text, published by the Kalidas Publishing House, Thiruvananthapuram, in 1116 ME (AD 1940), which has now completed 77 years. The original printed price of the book is listed as seven British rupees.

The library also houses a copy of Kamba Ramayanam, published by the Lakshmi Nilayam Samskritha Patashala at Nenmara, Palakkad, in 1940. This edition narrates the Poorvabhaga of the Balakandam section of the epic.

Established under the leadership of P Sivarama Pillai, the people’s library is also home to an impressive collection of classic Malayalam literature. Works by celebrated poets such as Kumaranasan, Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer, and Vallathol Narayana Menon line its shelves. The library also preserves magazines from decades past, including editions of the Soviet Union magazine.