Instruct: Given a question, retrieve relevant passages that can help answer the question.
Query: What is a Ezhuthachan?
Ezhuthachan(pronunciation, Malayalam: എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ, eḻuttacchan), also known as Kadupattan(pronunciation, Malayalam: കടുപട്ടൻ, kaṭupaṭṭan) is a caste native to the Indian state of Kerala.[1][2][3][lower-alpha 1] It is classified as an Other Backward Class by the Government of India under its system of positive discrimination.[6]
Dr.K. N. Ezhuthachan was the author of many books in Malayalam, including short stories, poems, and essays. His book, "The history of the grammatical theories in Malayalam" published in 1975, is considered to be a seminal work in the field of Malayalam grammar. He has also authored a research thesis on 
Thunchath Ezhuthachan's "Adhyathma Ramayanam" and scholarly article about Kilippattu.
In addition to these about twenty articles which published in Mathrubhumi weekly, Deshabhimani etc.
The essence of Ezhuthachan's essay is radical thinking, logic and simplicity. His essays are best examples for presenting most things in least words with obvious manner. He was co-author for a Malayalam - Kannada Dictionary also.
William Logan's Malabar Manual, page 92 - States that Thunjath Ezhuthachan was a man of Sudra(Nayar) caste. According to Arthur Coke Burnell in his book "Elements of South Indian Paleography(Second enlarged and improved edition)" page 42 states Thunchath Ezhuthachan belonged to 'Ezhuthachan (=School master)' caste. Writer K. Balakrishna Kurup also reports the same, in his book . E. P. Bhaskara Guptan a writer and 
independent researcher in local history from Kadampazhipuram; supports conclusion of K. Balakrishna Kurup about Ezhuthachan's caste background. Historian also expressing the same opinion.
The following are the winners of the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
They mainly belong to the districts of Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur of Kerala, has also presence outside and other parts of India. There are more people in the teaching sector in the community. Ezhuthachan is a caste who have teaching as a traditional profession.[2] There is an organization representing the community as Ezhuthachan Samajam.[7][8][9][10]
Avinissery was one of the main weaving centre of Thrissur. Ezhuthachan actively worked in "Cochi khadhi grama vyavasaya association" an organisation to spread the use of khadi. He also worked actively in the formation of khadi weaving centres in Thrissur and Ernakulam.
In connection with Quit India movement on 5th August 1942 a conference conducted under the leadership of Gandhiji and Nehru for All India Congress Committee at Bombay. Ezhuthachan and S.Neelakanda Iyer attended the conference by representing Praja Mandalam.
As part of Quit India movement Praja Mandala actively participated in strikes. During that time there was strong ban in functioning of the press, Praja Mandala started a newspaper called "Deenabandhu" with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as Editor-in-chief.
The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram is the highest literary honour that is given by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Government of Kerala. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, the father of the Malayalam language and consists of a cash prize of 5,00,000 and a citation. The prize money was enhanced by 50,000 in 2011. The award was instituted in 1993 and Sooranad Kunjan Pillai was its first recipient.
A group of young people who were displeased with the functioning of political movements in the erstwhile Kochi state, In the meeting held on 26 January 1941, under the leadership of Krishnan Ezhuthachan decided to form the Kochi Rajya prajamandalam. 'To end the sovereignty of Cochin king and to form responsible government' that was the main objective of Praja Mandala. On 9 February 1941 Prajamandal formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as founder general secretary.
To help the people of the Kingdom of Cochin from ravages caused due to the flooding in 1941, Prajamandalam formed "Cochin flood relief committee". V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan, C. Achutha Menon were secretaries of it. Ezhuthachan actively worked in this organisation by collecting donations and distributing brochures about calamities throughout Kingdom of Cochin.
E. K. Krishnan Ezhuthachan (4 January 1924 - 13 December 2005) was a legal expert and writer a native of Chettupuzha, Thrissur, Kerala. Ezhuthachan had served as Magistrate, Deputy secretary at Ministry of Law and Justice (India), Lawyer in the Supreme Court of India etc. He has authored several books. His book "Bharanaghatanakku Oru Bhashyam" had won the "Puthezhan Award".
Once, when Bhattathiri, unable to move, was carried into the Guruvayur temple, he met Tunchath Ezhuthachan, an eminent Malayalam poet of the time. Ezhuthachan advised Bhattathiri that he could be cured if he "began his treatment with fish". The disciples of Bhattathiri who heard this were shocked because Bhattathiri was a devout Brahmin and therefore a vegetarian who would consider it sinful to eat fish. Bhattathiri however understood what Ezhuthachan really meant - that he would be cured if he could compose a hymn glorifying the incarnations of Lord Krishna beginning with the fish incarnation, known as Matsya.
According to its website, the objectives of the university are as follows:
M. Phil & Ph. D programmes are offered in A study centre — Ezhuthachan Padana Kendram — is preparing an Ezhuthachan Lexicon and bringing out books on Ezhuthachan with a view to encouraging research on the great poet.
Ezhuthachan was born in Trikkandiyoor, near the present day Tirur municipality. After the birth of his daughter, Ezhuthachan became a monk and wandered throughout southern India before finally building his monastery at modern day Chittoor, Palghat. But at the same time another group believe he was a celebate throughout his life.
Ezhuthachan - although he lived around 16th century AD - is considered as the father of modern Malayalam language and Malayalam literature. No original compositions are attributed to Ezhuthachan. However, his contribution to the Malayalam language through "Adhyatma Ramayanam" is considered unparalleled.
There is no clear history about birth or life of Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan available yet. However there is a belief prevails as Thunchathth Ramanujan Ezhuthachan was a member of Ezhuthachan(Kadupattan) community.[58][59][60][61] Being a vaishnava(Ramanuja) sect member he was called as Ramanujan.[62] And his real name was Thunchan(The youngest child).[63] According to K. Balakrishna Kurup, Thunchchath Ezhuthachan was a member of Ezhuthachan(Kadupattan) community and Ezhuthachan led his life as a teacher by following celibacy throughout his life. [64][65] E. P. Bhaskara Guptan a writer and independent researcher in local history from Kadampazhipuram, Palakkad; supports conclusion of K. Balakrishna Kurup about Thunchathth Ezhuthachan's caste.[66] Historian Velayudhan Panikkassery also expressing the same opinion.[67]
Ezhuthachan Samajam started functioning from 1906 onwards. The first organizer was a Sanskrit scholar and a teacher Mr.Chakkulliyal Kunjunni Ezhuthachan who was a disciple of legendary Sanskrit scholar and teacher. Revered Punnasseri Nambi Neelakanta Sharma. He named the organization as Adhyapaka Samajam. Though Adhyapaka Samajam made several reformations in caste customs and rituals, Kunjunni Ezhuthachan's efforts were not successful and he abandoned his project.[12] Ezhuthachan samajam came in to being as a reality when Late Vakil P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan entered the arena. He was the real founder of the Ezhuthachan Samajam and architect of the present day Ezhuthachan community. He was also a freedom fighter, a member of the congress party and also in Cochin State Prajamandal, whose founder was Sri.V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan, his son-in-law. Later Mr.Krishnan Ezhuthachan stepped into the shoes of his mentor and father-in-law, Mr. Kumaran Ezhuthachan as Ezhuthachan Samajam president. Since both were immersed in Congress politics, freedom movement, peasant struggles and also in Cochin state Prajamandal, they found it difficult to continue in the Ezhuthachan Samajam movement. Towards late 1940’s Krishnan Ezhuthachan left the movement, so also Vakil. P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan. Kumaran Ezhuthachan left the movement after a personal tragedy - The death of his son P.Lakshmanakumar. After 1947 the Ezhuthachan community was orphaned and community became rudderless. There were some attempts to revitalize the community by some spirited people, but it didn’t reach anywhere. The services of Adv. Late M. Krishnankutty is to be mentioned in this context. In the Post era, from 1990’s onwards there was some resurgence in the community. From late 1990’s new thinking is visible in the community. From 2002, Mr.T.G.Ravi came into the scene and revitalized the samajam activities. The present president Prof. Dr. Lakshmanakumar is the grandson of Vakil. P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan and son of V R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan.[41][55]
The university is named after Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, a 16th-century CE Malayalam litterateur whose writings helped develop Malayalam as a language with a script of 51 letters, vocabulary, and literature. Thunchath Ezhuthachan — often described as "the Father of Malayalam language" — was born at Trikkantiyur in Thunchan Parambu in Tirur, in the state of Kerala.
After the introduction of modern public education system, traditional teaching methods were less important in the society. Many Ezhuthupallis(Traditional Village school) that ran by Ezhuthachans(Kadupattan) were converted to public school with modern teaching method.[52][53] In the 19th century when British rule introduced public education in Malabar, Ezhuthachan community made major contributions in the field of public education of Valluvanad.[54]
Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri, the author of famous "Narayaneeyam", was a friend of Ezhuthachan. It is said that when he sought the advice of Ezhuthachan about how to start his intended book, he gave him a cryptic advice to "start with fish", meaning to start with Matsya avatara - the fish avatar of god Vishnu. Bhattathiri understood the enigmatic message and started composing his poem in the Guruvayur Temple.
V.R Krishnan Ezhuthachan was born in Avinissery, Thrissur on April 25, 1909. As the tenth son of Vadakkoot Nelliparambil Raman Ezhuthachan and Njarasseri valappil Lakshmi amma. He completed his primary education from ezhuthupura(old traditional village school) which functioned in his own home.
After passing the 10th-grade securing gold medal, he completed graduation in Economics and Law(BL) by securing rank. When Gandhiji arrived Thrissur in 1925, Ezhuthachan met him and then stepped into the freedom struggle. P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan, an active member of the Cochin State Congress Party, was his mentor in politics.
With the formation and activities of Kochi Rajya prajamandalam, V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan made his own identity in the field of politics.
V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan (1909–2004) was an Indian freedom fighter, Gandhian, journalist, trade unionist and Indian National Congress leader from Thrissur city in Kerala, India. Ezhuthachan was the founder general secretary of Kochi rajaya prajamandalam which was constituted on 26 January 1941. He is also founder of the now defunct "Deenabandhu" daily published from Thrissur..
P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan was a politician and lawyer from Thrissur, Kerala. He was a leader of the "Cochin State Congress" a political party formed in 1936. Ezhuthachan was five time member in Cochin Legislative Council.
When prjamandal decided to face election. In 1945 Ezhuthachan unanimously elected to Cochin Legislative Council. Ezhuthachan was a member of Travancore-Cochin legislative council representing Nemmara. 
There are educational institutions under Ezhuthachan Samajam.[56][57]
T. G. Ravi V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan K. N. Ezhuthachan E. K. Krishnan Ezhuthachan Chembra Ezhuthachanmar
The madhom is flanked by temples of Rama and Siva and the street has an array of Agraharas (where the twelve Brahmin families migrated along with Ezhuthachan live). At the madhom, some of the instruments used by Ezhuthachan are still preserved. A Sri Chakra and a few idols worshipped by him, the stylus, the wooden slippers, and a few old manuscripts are exhibited for visitors. Ezhuthachan's samadhi is also situated there.