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Readings on Kerala

7
Poem

No, not a single letter is seen

Poykayil Appachan

INTRO
Poykayil Appachan was a revolutionary Dalit leader and social reformer. His poems speak of
injustices and brutalities faced by the downtrodden and the wretched.
The poem, “No, not a single letter is seen” speaks about the criminal silence of history
when it is asked to speak about the history of the people of his race. The marginalised don’t
find room in the history books. He assumes that it is his duty to speak about his people.

ESSAY
1. Describe how the poem criticises written histories.

Poykayil Appachan was a revolutionary Dalit leader and social reformer. The poem, “No, not
a single letter is seen” speaks about the criminal silence of history when it is asked to speak
about the history of the people of his race.
The poet says that so many histories are seen in this world about so many races. But
not a single letter is seen on his race in any of these books. Even if one scrutinizes each one
of those history books, not a single letter is seen on his race. Ransack the entire stack of
history books of the world, not a single letter is seen on his race.
Poykayil Appachan says that it is a pity that there was no one on this earth to write the
history of his race in the olden days. He says regret fills within when he thinks of it. So, he
feels that it is his duty to speak about his people. In his own melody, he will sing the story of
a people who lived in Kerala since the ancient times.
The poet doesn’t feel ashamed to tell how his people became demon-like. He can very
well speak about the faults of his caste. It is not his fault that he became a cursed offspring
on the earth. He asks how it is possible for the world to blame them for all this till the end of
earth and sky. He also asks how God, who shaped everything, can allow this to happen on
earth today.

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SHORT ANSWER
1. Why does the poem scrutinise the histories of the world?
The poem scrutinises the histories of the world to see if anything is written about the
race of the poet.

2. What does the title of the poem mean?

The title means that in the entire stack of history books of the world, not a single letter
is seen on his race.

3. What strikes the poet as pitiable?

The poet says that it is a pity that there was no one on this earth to write the history of
his race in the olden days. He says regret fills within when he thinks of it.

4. What is the poem's take on God?

The poet asks how God, who shaped everything, can allow histories to be written with
nothing mentioned about the race of the poet. How can God allow this to happen on earth
today?

PARAGRAPH
1. What does the poet want to write about?
The poet says that so many histories are seen in this world about so many races. But
not a single letter is seen on his race in any of these books So, he feels that it is his duty to
speak about his people. In his own melody, he will sing the story of a people who lived in
Kerala since the ancient times. The poet doesn’t feel ashamed to write about how his people
became demon-like or about the faults of his caste. It is not his fault that he became a cursed
offspring on the earth.

2. Why was the history of his race never written?

Poykayil Appachan says that it is a pity that there was no one on this earth to write the
history of his race in the olden days. He ransacked the entire stack of history books of the
world, but not a single letter is seen on his race. The poet was a Dalit converted to a
Christian. Histories are stories about kings, nobles and the upper castes. Historians never
bothered to write about the poor Dalits who were the marginalized section of the society. The
downtrodden don’t find room in the history books.

3. Why does regret fill the insides of the poet?

Poykayil Appachan says that it is a pity that there was no one on this earth to write the
history of his race in the olden days. He says regret fills within when he thinks of it. So, he
feels that it is his duty to speak about his people. In his own melody, he will sing the story of
a people who lived in Kerala since the ancient times. The poet doesn’t feel ashamed to tell

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how his people became demon-like. He can very well speak about the faults of his caste. It is
not his fault that he became a cursed offspring on the earth.

4. What is the world's attitude to the people of his race?

The poet says that the world views his people like demons. It is no fault of theirs that
they became demon-like. He doesn’t feel ashamed to tell how his people became demon-like.
He can very well speak about the faults of his caste. It is not his fault that he became a cursed
offspring on the earth. He asks how it is possible for the world to blame them for all this till
the end of earth and sky. He also asks how God, who shaped everything, can allow this to
happen on earth today.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

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