The Varthamanappusthakam

Book Review the Varthamanappusthakam
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Book Review the Varthamanappusthakam
Varthamanappusthakam is a Malayan travelogue written by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar. Explorers regard the book as one of the first travelogues scripted in the Indian language. During the 18th Century, a release of the book’s first scripture occurred but was later forgotten and later re-discovered in 1935 and printed first in 1936 by Luka Mathai Plathottam. The book contains the journey Kathanar undertook together with Mar Joseph Kariattil from Malabar Coast (present-day Kerala) to Rome via Lisbon and back. The primary purpose of writing the book was to document the author’s experiences during his religious voyage. In his book, Kathanar describes ‘quarantina’ as a crucial period for people visiting Italy.
Death, illness, courage, and heroism are the primary themes illustrated in the book. The author avers that smallpox was a fatal epidemic during that era, which led to many people’s death. Therefore, all persons visiting Italy through ships had to undergo...