Francis Itty Cora is a Malayalam novel written by T.D. Ramakrishnan, published in 2009. It is considered as one of the most innovative and complex novels in Malayalam literature, blending history, mythology, science, philosophy, and fiction in a postmodern style. The novel revolves around the life and adventures of Francis Itty Cora, a 15th century trader from Kunnamkulam, Kerala, who travels across the world and encounters various cultures, religions, and events. The novel also explores the secret history and legacy of his descendants, who are believed to be influential and powerful in the contemporary world, following their own set of customs and rituals based on the gospel of Itty Cora.
The novel consists of 23 chapters, each narrated by a different character or entity, ranging from historical figures like Vasco da Gama and Ibn Battuta, to mythical beings like Kali and Shiva, to fictional characters like a journalist and a hacker. The chapters are arranged in a non-linear order, creating multiple timelines and perspectives that challenge the conventional notions of history and reality. The novel also incorporates various genres and forms of writing, such as letters, diaries, interviews, reports, poems, songs, and codes.
The main plot of the novel follows the life of Francis Itty Cora, who was born in 1429 as the son of a Syrian Christian merchant and a Jewish woman in Kunnamkulam. He was named after St. Francis of Assisi, who visited Kerala in 1292. He grew up learning various languages, scriptures, and sciences from his father and his teachers. He also developed a keen interest in astrology and numerology, which he used to predict his own destiny and the future of the world. He became a successful trader and explorer, traveling to various places like Goa, Calicut, Hormuz, Mecca, Jerusalem, Cairo, Alexandria, Constantinople, Venice, Lisbon, Seville, Granada, Timbuktu, Mali, Ethiopia, China, Japan, Malacca, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines, Mexico, Peru, and Brazil. He witnessed many historical events and met many influential people during his travels. He also had many romantic and sexual relationships with women of different races and religions.
However, his life was also marked by tragedies and conflicts. He lost his father at a young age when he was killed by the Portuguese invaders in Calicut. He also lost his first wife and son when they were burned alive by the Inquisition in Seville. He was betrayed by his friends and business partners several times. He was involved in wars and rebellions against various rulers and empires. He was tortured and imprisoned by the Ottoman Turks in Constantinople. He was accused of heresy and blasphemy by the Catholic Church and the Islamic authorities. He was hunted down by the agents of the Templars and the Assassins.
Despite all these hardships and dangers, he never gave up his quest for knowledge and freedom. He also left behind a legacy for his descendants through his writings and teachings. He wrote a secret gospel called The Book of Itty Cora, which contained his revelations about the origin and destiny of the universe and humanity. He also founded a secret society called The Order of Itty Cora, which consisted of his loyal followers and family members. The members of this order inherited his wealth, power, and secrets through generations. They also followed his principles of tolerance, pluralism, and rationalism. They also practiced his rituals of sex, drugs, and music. They also pursued his goals of enlightenment, liberation, and transformation.
The novel received widespread acclaim from critics and readers alike for its originality, creativity, and complexity. It won several awards, including the Vayalar Award and the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award. It was also translated into English by Priya K Nair in 2018. The novel has been praised for its rich and diverse use of sources, references, and intertexts, ranging from ancient scriptures to modern theories, from eastern philosophies to western sciences, from classical literature to popular culture. The novel has been compared to works by authors like Umberto Eco, Salman Rushdie, Dan Brown, and Paulo Coelho. The novel has also been analyzed from various perspectives, such as postcolonialism, feminism, psychoanalysis, and posthumanism.
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Francis Itty Cora is a novel that offers a unique and unforgettable reading experience to its readers. It is a novel that challenges and enriches the mind and the imagination of its readers. It is a novel that celebrates and critiques the diversity and complexity of human history and culture. It is a novel that invites and provokes its readers to question and explore their own identity and destiny. It is a novel that deserves to be read and appreciated by all.
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