Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban – Nov 10 | First Translator of Bible into Malayalam
Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban, was a Syriac scholar belonging to the Malankara Orthodox Church who made the translation of the Gospel portion Bible for the first time to Malayalam.
He lived in Kayamkulam, in his family home, Mananganazhikathu, latterly it is known as Mananganazhikathu Rambachan’s House. Rev Claudius Buchanan, a missionary who visited Kerala in the early 19th century, persuaded Church leaders to translate the holy text into the regional language and gave guidance to local scholars. At that time Syriac was the liturgical language of Christians in Kerala. He started the translation of the gospel in 1806 and completed in 1807. ‘Four Gospels translated by Ramban was the first version of the Bible which appeared in book format in Malayalam’, were printed in 1811, printed in ‘Kallachu’ (lithographic printing), in at Bombay Courier (Koriyar) press and was known as the ‘Ramban Bible‘ for a long time. Buchanan took a handwritten copy to Bombay and had it printed at his own responsibility. Buchanan Bible and Ramban Bible, because of their involvement in the translation and publishing of this invaluable work. The book, composed in Malayalam was titled Visudha Veda Pustakam, helped the faithful get a better understanding of the scripture
“The New Testament of our lord Jesus Christ Translated into the Malayalam part I Containing the Four Gospels, Bombay printed at Courier Press 1811”. This book has 564 pages sized 26×19. Though it belongs to the Samkshepavedartham model, the types used are slightly big, squarish ones. An errata is also given. In short, like the Samkshepavedartham, ‘the layout’ of the Ramban Bible can be said to be scientific.
Just after this translation attempt, Church Mission Society missionary Benjamin Bailey started translating Bible to Malayalam which eventually became the first complete translation of Bible to Malayalam language. He completed his translation of the New Testament in 1829 and the Old Testament in 1841.
Ramban Philipose passed away in 1811, and his mortal remains were interred at Kannamcode St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral of the Malankara Orthodox Church, which is one of the prominent Worship center in Adoor, Kerala, India.
The Church commemorates Reverend Philipose Rambachan ‘Thulam 26th’, November 10.
1 Comment
George Joseph Enchakkattil · November 10, 2021 at 10:59 am
It is shame on our part that we have totally neglected the contributions of Philippose Ramban, but we are excited to celebrate him and his name wherever possible. Had we had even a semblance of respect for him, we would have continued his work and would have published Holy Bible in Malayalam including dueterro canonical books. We failed totally to resolpect this great Ranban.