The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The evolution of regional cultures in India is often studied through the development of language and literature. The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram plays a pivotal role in the history of the Malayalam language, marking one of the earliest instances of a regional language being used for official administrative purposes in the subcontinent.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram was established in the ninth century in the southwestern part of the peninsula (present-day Kerala). Historical evidence suggests that Malayalam was likely spoken in this area during that period. The rulers explicitly introduced the Malayalam language and script in their inscriptions.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Far from prohibiting regional languages, the Cheras are historically significant for using the regional language (Malayalam) in their official records. This practice was a deviation from the sole use of Sanskrit in official texts, making it an early example of the official use of a regional language in Indian history.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The earliest literary works in Malayalam, dating to approximately the twelfth century, show a direct indebtedness to Sanskrit. For instance, the Lilatilakam, a fourteenth-century text on grammar and poetics, was composed in the Manipravalam style. Manipravalam literally means "diamonds and corals," referring to the blending of two languages: Sanskrit and the regional language.
Key Takeaway: The Cheras of Mahodayapuram (9th century) pioneered the use of Malayalam in official inscriptions. Early Malayalam literature was not independent of Sanskrit but rather heavily influenced by it, as evidenced by the Manipravalam literary style.