Sharjah: Murali Mangalat, a native of Thrissur Thriprayar, who is widely regarded as a guardian of Malayalam in diaspora, poet, speaker and cultural activist, is returning home today (Wednesday) after ending his four-decade-long exile. As the Murali Mash yatra of the loved ones who gave up their lives for the sake of Malayalam language and literature, the diaspora world consisting of lovers of letters and literature, mournfully wish him farewell.
His colleagues and disciples in the UAE have been seen recalling those fond memories and the knowledge, guidance and advice they received from him in the last few days. Mash’s favorite Dubai New Indian Model School (NIMS) Malayalam department head Reeja Biju from Thiruvananthapuram and Ajman-based pharmacist and young poet Anisha P. from Palakkad share their thoughts and ideas about the recent changes in teaching and poetry in a gathering with Mash for Manorama Online.
∙ There is much to talk about poetry and teaching
Murali Mangalat started the talk by saying that there is a lot to talk about poetry and teaching at a time when changes are happening in every field in the world. My very life is progressing through many conversations. Anisha is my favorite poet. Reeja is also a favorite teacher. A poet has a lot to discuss about literature and a teacher has a lot to discuss about Malayalam, Malayalam studies and children.
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When V and teacher Murali Mangalat, poet Anisha P. and teacher Reeja Biju gathered. Image: Manorama
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Poet and teacher Murali Mangalat, Poet Anisha P., Teacher Reeja Biju. Image: Manorama
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Poet and teacher Murali Mangalat, Poet Anisha P., Teacher Reeja Biju. Picture: Manorama
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Poet and teacher Murali Mangalat, Poet Anisha P., Teacher Reeja Biju. Picture: Manorama
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When V and teacher Murali Mangalat, poet Anisha P. and teacher Reeja Biju gathered. Image: Manorama
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Reeja Biju. Image: Manorama
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Anisha P. Image: Manorama
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Murali Mangalat. Image: Manorama
∙ Returned immediately after receiving the gift due to exhaustion due to being pregnant
Anisha said that she came close to him after hearing Masha’s comment that she had won the second place in poetry in the poetry competition of the Palm Bookstore organization in the UAE years ago. When I was pregnant, I actually bought the gift and ran away due to exhaustion. Later I heard from others what Mash said in the speech. It built a bond between us. Later on, I kept hearing machete through the media.
Mashen took me to the rich heritage of Malayalam poetry, a modern representation of me. I, ignorant of the old poets, had a lazy disregard for them, and I traveled through the mash into their hardships. He began to understand poets like Ashan with a sense of awe, realizing that the poet of today must also know the poetic backgrounds of poets like Ashan. I was slowly freed from the accusations of my friends that the discipleship of the likes of Mache would drag me back into the old world. Poets traveling on a new path got a glimpse that the old ways also had to be abandoned. Masheni became a father and a teacher. Mash lovingly caressed and nurtured what flowed from within me, both rhythmic verse and non-rhythmic prose.
∙ Many of the exiled poets lack poetry
Murali Mangalat went on to say that he recognized the spark of Anisha’s poetry from the poetry competition. Poetry is scarce for many people here. I insisted that one who was good at it thrive on the foundation of tradition. Old poets also swam in the sea of sorrows which made the poem strong. Poonthanam’s Jnanapana and Aasan’s Nalini were written to overcome sadness. Anisha is also struggling to swim in the ocean of grief. Poetry should be powerful when it shares soul. The new generation can study Asan, Changampuzha, Vailopilly and Edassery in depth.
∙ Guidance in teaching
Reeja said that when he joined Nims in 2009, Murali Mash was the head of the Malayalam department there and he was his mentor then and later when he became the Malayalam HOD there. Even when Mash left there and joined another school, even today in 2025, I am strengthened by that vision. Even now, Mash is always there for any doubts and help in school and beyond. Last month, when a function at the school required a guest, the man was also found.
Mash can easily get along with kids of any age. The 9th to 12th graders in Nimes and the small class at Al Ameer English High School, where Mash currently teaches, are the same. The next day the Nims children of his 2001 batch were still young and surprised that we were old.
∙ Teachers and students discussing movies
Murali Mangalat commented that in the past teachers were all-rounders. Those who have crossed the ocean of knowledge. Today, they should be good at everything. They are also knowledgeable in the areas they are familiar with. Even if today’s teachers watch new Malayalam movies, they are not ready to share that experience with their children. I can’t do it. We must walk with them in the path of youth. Bring them with us then. I will also put reels on it. Convincing your teachers that not only you can reel in them will also add to the vibe of the classroom. Children will be fully immersed in learning.
Be a little more sentimental and a little more emotional with small children. Older children need to be sharpened intellectually rather than emotionally. Even the Pakistani, Sudanese and Misri (Egyptian) teachers in my school are my best friends. This will instill a wider embrace of humanity in children. The whole world will turn schools into nests of brotherhood as one family. They feel that the school holds them together like a family. Along with academics, human values will flourish.
∙ Can we expect values from today’s writers?
Anisha said that she doubts whether today’s poetry has lost its appeal and become a charred reed than the poetry of the past. Again, while Mash talks about rhythmicity and form, the problem today is that poetry loses its form. A poem becomes great when form and expression blend together. The old poets had done austerities to achieve that match. Aasan had patiently worked hard in the workshop for months and years to complete a poem. Today, before you even think about it, copy it, post it on social media, get likes and be satisfied. The poets of the past thought deeply about the plot and were firm in their own way of thinking. Nobody has time for today.
Everything should be quick. Values become worthless because this greed is rooted deep in the society. Some recent developments have shown that it is pure folly to expect the values of life which the society has imbibed in the past from the literary people including the young artists.
∙ The cook in the kitchen
Reeja noted that sir’s passion reaches not only in literature and the classroom, but also in the kitchen. No matter how late you stay, you will be in the kitchen before 5 o’clock. Rice, curry, thoran, idli, dosa and chutney will be prepared before arriving at the school bus stop at 6.30. Mash has often been vocal about the variety of varieties he makes. A special chamanthi recipe was also taught in the group. Poli Chammanthi made with only coconut oil, grated chillies, tomatoes, coconut and salt. A new curry with mudira and kappa was also described.