Malayalam Unicode Computing - a route map for implementation.

Jameskutty Thomas
Assistant Electrical Inspector
Department of Electrical
Inspectorate, Govt. of Kerala
james@jameskutty.info

Kerala Govt. Order No. GO(MS) 31/08/ITD dated 21/8/08 is giving direction to implement Malayalam
Unicode Computing in all the Government Departments. To obey with, for the implementation in the Department of
Electrical Inspectorate, this short write-up was prepared as a guide. I am sure this may help to many and hence the
easy reach of e-Governance. I like to ascertain that only a route map is explained here, the exact and detailed text is
available only on the Government web link http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php

Here I explain the implementation in Windows operated machines only. With the Linux operated machines,
the method is more over the same and explained with the Government site. For the reference here, let the machine
be operated with Windows XP.

There are mainly 3 stages for the implementation;

(1) Enable Malayalam in our Operating System
(2) Install Malayalam Unicode Fonts
(3) Installing a suitable Key Board, etc.

1. Enable Malayalam on Windows XP

To enable your PC for Malayalam Computing, you may refer to
http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php/EnableMalayalam
Please obey the direction as explained below. After enabling Malayalam, we will be moving to the
stages of installing Malayalam Unicode Fonts and the Keyboards. Check whether you are able to read
the Malayalam letters typed below ((If this file is in the format of PDF, please copy the Malayalam letters to MS
Word, Open Office, etc. and then check whether possible to read). Some times, you might be seeing only
some codes. If so, open your Browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) Now, click "View" Menu, then
through "Encoding", set for "Unicode(UTF-8)".
Control Panel-ല Regional Language Option'ല Language എന Tab എടത 'Install Files For Complex Script' എന
ക)ണ+കന കക)ള/ ട+ക ല1യ3+ടക5) എന പര+ക8)ധ+കക, ഇല< ങ+ല ട+ക ല1യക.

Win XP CD ആവ8EലFടകG)ള CD ഡJവ+ല

ഇട3+നക8ഷ/ അത പO രണ Q മ)യ+ Install ല1യക. തടരന
സ+സT / റVബOട ല1യക.
വV5/ Control Panel-ല Regional Language Tab-ല
Details ബടണ ക < +ക ല1യ ക. അകF)ള വരന Window-
യ+ല Add button ക< +ക ല1യക.
Input Language +സ T +ല ന+ന/ 'Malayalam (India) '
എന ഭ)ഷ ല3രലcടകക.

Language Bar Settings-ല ഇതരത+ ള ര5 ട+കകള

ഇടക.

ഇകF)ള ന+ങള ലട task bar-ല Language എന 1+ഹ/

ക)ണ)ന സ)ധ+ക/, as seen in the figure just above.
2. Installing Malayalam Unicode Fonts

Now, you have enabled your computer for Malayalam Unicode Fonts as explained above. Here, let us see how to
install the Malayalam Unicode Fonts.

Could you please visit the Malayalam websites;

http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php/
http://www.nattupacha.com/
http://urjasamrakshanam.org/
http://www.sarpagandhi.blogspot.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/varamozhi/
Able to read the web pages clearly? Sometimes, you may be facing difficulties to read "Chillukal" &
"Koottaksharangal". Or otherwise, now you may be seeing some rectangles or codes only in place of the letters.
There are many possibilities as explained below.
(i) Only some rectangles/codes in place of the letters. :- Atleast some of you might know, it is due to the lack
of fonts. But, if you use Malayalam Unicode Computing, the missed fonts could be replaced by the Windows
Default Unicode Fonts, and there by you will be able to read in Malayalam itself. Not clear?
Please enable Unicode(UTF-8), as explained above. Doing so, you can read the letters (but, Chillukal or
Koottaksharangal may not be clear), if you are using a "Fire Fox" Browser. But, may not be able to read if you
use "Internet Explorer". Why so? You are able to read in "Fire Fox" Browser, due to its default setting. The
browser itself was directing to replace the missed fonts with the default unicode fonts. You can enable the
same in Internet Explorer also as explained below: Move to Internet Options, see the General Tab, then to
Fonts as follows.

Select "Malayalam" in Language script. In the first row of "Web page font", select "Arial Unicode MS", keep the other
row of Plain text font, apply OK, OK. Now you can read like in the "Fire Fox" Browser.
Enjoy Malayalam Reading, even without Malayalam Fonts! (Sorry, it may not be perfect like Chillukal or
Koottaksharangal). Please disable Unicode(UTF-8) and feel the change.
(ii) Suppose, you were not seeing any of the rectangles/codes:- Even if you haven't yet installed any
Malayalam Unicode fonts, there were some Malayalam Unicode fonts already there. That was why you are
able to read the websites listed above. Now you may disable Unicode(UTF-8) and feel the change.
 Here we target how to install the "Malayalam Unicode Fonts". From the government website link
http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php/Fonts, we are getting lot of unicode fonts like Meera, Rachana, Dyuthi,
Suruma & Raghu. If you are much interested in Malayalam Old Lipi, you can download Anjali Old Lipi, Malayalam
Unicode Font also from the same page.
Suppose you are installing any one of the fonts, preparing a letter and sending to another office. But, in the other
office, let another font is being used. Never mind, the fonts will be automatically changed to the new unicode font.
So, download the above fonts and copy them to the folder (directory); Windows/Fonts.
Now your computer is installed with Malayalam Unicode Fonts as directed by the Kerala Government.

In the next part, we could see the Key Boards to be installed, so that to enable you to type in
Malayalam Unicode.

3. Installations of Key Boards

Hope by this time, you are well aware with Malayalam Unicode Computing except, the key boards.
We were discussing
(i) How to Enable Malayalam Unicode Computing in your computer &
(ii) How to install Malayalam Fonts.
Only if you are conversant with both of the above, it is advantageous in moving further for using the Key Boards
described.
Please again refer to the websites;
http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php
http://urjasamrakshanam.org/
http://www.nattupacha.com/ and check whether you able to read the pages of Malayalam.

Now, we start to understand, How to Type in Malayalam?

Please refer to the site http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php/InputMethods

Generally there are three types of Key Boards;

a. Inscript Keyboard
b. Type Write Keyboard or Remington Keyboard &
c. Phonetic Keyboard.
Here onwards I like to write in Malayalam only. If you are not able to read, kindly do the necessary settings as
explained in the above two sections. (If this file is in the format of PDF, please copy the Malayalam letters to MS
Word, Open Office, etc. and then check whether possible to read)
ലപ)തവ)യ+ 3 കVകബ)രഡകള)ണ ഉള3.

a. ഇനസp+പ T കVകബ)രഡ
b. ഡടF ഡററര കVകബ)രഡ അഥവ) ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)രഡ
c. ലt)ലണറ+ക കVകബ)രഡ
http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/index.php/InputMethods എന സര ക)ര ഡസറ+ലw കണ
Q +യ+ല കVകബ)രഡ
സ/ബന+ചള എ < ) ക)രEങള / വ+8ദമ)യ+ പ3+പ)ദ+ച+ട 5. എങ+ / ലപ)തവ)യ+ 1+ ക)രEങള ഇവ+ലട
സO1+F+കലട.

a. ഇനസp+പ
T കVകബ)രഡ
ഇനസp+പT കVകബ)രഡ ന+ര ബനമ)യ/ ഉപകയ)ഗ+കണലമന സര ക)ര ന+ര ക|8+ക ന. അട+സ})നപരമ)യ+
ഇനസp+പ T കVകബ)രഡ എന)ലണന മ കള+ല സO 1+F+ച കണ Q +യ+ല ന+ന/ മനസ • + )ക+യ ക8ഷ/ മ കG)ട
വ)യ+കന3 ഉ1+3മ)യ+ര+ക/. കട)ല3 http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/images/7/78/Inscript.jpg എന സ} ത ന+ന
ഭ+കന ഇനസp+പ T കVകബ)രഡ+ലw പട/ ന+ങളലട കGEOടറ+ല സ O ക+കനത/ ന< 3 ആയ+ര+ക/.
Zero Width Joiner (ZWJ), Zero Width Space (ZWS) & Zero Width Non Joiner (ZWNJ) എന+ങലന ഈ പടത+ല
ക)ണന3 ദയവ)യ+ ശദ+കക.

http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/images/9/92/Win-inscript.zip എന കണ
Q +യ+ല ഭ+കന കVകബ)രഡ ന+ങളലട
കGEOടറ+ല ഇനസ T )ള ല1യ ക. ഇകF)ള ന+ങള ലട കGE O ടറ+ല ഇനസp+പ T T )ള ല1യലFട . ഇ3
കVകബ)രഡ ഇനസ
ഉപകയ)ഗ+കന രV3+ പറക)ല പറയ)/.

b. ഡടF ഡററര കVകബ)രഡ അഥവ) ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)രഡ

നമള+ല പ ര ക/ പര+1+3മ)ണ ഡടF ഡററര മ യ)ള/ കVകബ)രഡ. സര ക)രസര ‰Vസ+ല ന+ വ+ ള ഡടF

ഡററര മ)ര പ ര/ പഠ+ച+ര+കനത/ ഉപകയ)ഗ+കനതമ)യ കVകബ)രഡ ഇ3 3ലനയ)ണ . ഇ3+ന ലറമ+ഗടണ
കVകബ)രഡ എന/ പറയ/. മകള+ ലത പട/ http://jameskutty.info/remington.gif എന കണ Q +യ+ല ന+ന ഭ+ക/.
ഈ കVകബ)രഡ എങലന ഇനസ T )ള ല1യ)/ എന കന)ക)/. ഈ കണ Q + കന)കക,
http://www.4shared.com/dir/3658225/b72036ff/sharing.html ഇ3+ല mlinremi.zip എന tയല ലഡ‘ണ ക )ഡ
ല1യ3 ഇനസ T )ള ല1യ3)ല ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)ര ഡ ന+ങളലട കGEOടറ+ല ഇനസ T )ള ല1യലFട . ഇത/ ഉപകയ)ഗ+-
കന രV3+ പറക)ല പറയ)/.
3. ലt)ലണറ+ക കVകബ)രഡ

മകള+ല ലക)ട ത+ര+കന ലt)ലണറ+ക കVകബ)രഡ+ലw പട/ ശദ+കക . അകരങളലട 8ബ ദവമ)യ+ സ)മE3യ ള
കVകബ)രഡ ആണ ഇ3 . മകള+ ലത പട/ http://malayalam.kerala.gov.in/images/2/2f/Ml-lipi.png എന കണ
Q +യ+ല
ന+ന/ ഭEമ)ണ. ഈ കVകബ)രഡ ഡകക)രE/ ല1യവ)ന യ)ല3)ര മന പര+1യവ / ആവ8Eമ+< . ഈ ഡടF ല1യന
രV3+ലയ മ/ഗളVഷ എന പറയന. അ3)യ3 മ യ)ളത+ലന ഇ/ഗളVഷ+ല ഡടF ല1യന.

കവണലമങ+ല http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/varamozhi/images/thumb/e/ef/Lipi.png/466px-Lipi.png എന
കണQ +യ+ ള പട/ കട+ ന+ങള ക പര+ക8)ധ+ക)വന3)ണ.

ലt)ലണറ+ക കVകബ)രഡ ഇനസ T )ള ല1യന3+ന)യ+

http://downloads.sourceforge.net/varamozhi/VaramozhiInstaller1.08.02.exe എന കണ
Q +യ+ല ന+ന/ ഭ+കന tയല
ലഡ‘ണ ക )ഡല1യ 3 ഇനസ T )ള ല1യ 3)ല മ3+ . ഇ3 ഇനസ T )ള ല1യ കG)ള ലമ)ഴ+ കVമ)F കട+ ഇനസ
T )ള
ല1യവ)ന ന+ര ക|8/ നല •ക.
T )ള ല1യലFട വരലമ)ഴ+ എഡ+ററ / (Varamozhi Editor) ലമ)ഴ+
ഇകF)ള ന+ങള ലട കGEOടറ+ല ഇനസ കVമ)F
ഉപകയ)ഗ+ച/ മ/ഗളVഷ+ല ഡടF ല1യ)വന3)ണ. ഇവ ര5/ Start ----> Programmes വഴ+ ഭ+ക/.
ഇനസT )ള ല1യലFട ഇനസ p+പ
T കVകബ)രഡ, ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)രഡ എന+വ എങലന
ഉപകയ)ഗ+ക/ ?
ന+ങളലട കGEO ടറ+ല ആദEമ)യ+ മ യ)ള/ enable ല1യ3കF)ള ഭ+ച Language Bar ഓര മയ5ക< )? Task Bar-ല
ഭ+കന ഈ Language Bar-ല 'EN' മ)റ+ 'MY' എന)കക. ഇകF)ള 'MY' യലട വ ത വ8ത)യ+ ഒര കട
ന+ങള ക ക)ണ)/. ഈ കടയ+ല അമര തകG)ള , ന+ങള ഇനസ T )ള ല1യ3 ഇനസp+പ T കVകബ)രഡ, ലറമ+ഗടണ
കVകബ)രഡ എന+വ ക)ണ)/. അങലന ക)ണന+ല< ങ+ല 3)ലഴ പറയന 3രത+ല ല1യക;

Control Panel ല Regional Language Tab-ല Details ബടണ ക< +ക ല1യ ക.അകF)ള വരന Window-യ+ല Add
button ക T +ല ന+ന/ ര5 Key Board Layout-കള/ 3+രലcടകക.
< +ക ല1യക. Input Language +സ

ഇകF)ള Language Bar പര+ക8)ധ+ച)ല 3Vര ചയ)യ/ ഈ കVകബ)രഡകള ക)ണ)വന3)ണ.

ഡടF ല1യനല3ങലന ?
ലt)ലണറ+ക കVകബ)രഡ ഉപകയ)ഗ+ച ഡടF ല1യന രV3+ മകള+ല പറc കഴ+c.
ഇനസp+പ T /ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)രഡ ഉപകയ)ഗ+ച ഡടF ല1യണലമനല5ങ+ല ആദEമ)യ+ ഡടF ല1കയ5 ന MS
Word, Open Office, Web Page, Note Pad, Word Pad ഇവയ+ല ഏല3ങ+ / Open ല1യ3 വയകക. Language Tab-
ല വഴ+ ഇനസ p+പ T /ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)രഡ ല3രലcടകക. 8ര+യ)യ മ യ)ള/ Unicode Font ല3രലcടത
ഡടF+/ഗ തടങ)/.

3)ലഴ ക)ണ+കന കടബ+ള ശദ+കന3 ന< 3)യ+ര+ക/.

ഇനസp+പ
T കVകബ)രഡ ലറമ+ഗടണ കVകബ)രഡ അഭ+പ)യ/
ര jd] g\~
ല nd] h\~
ള xd] x\~
ന vd] r\~
ഡ+F)ര ടലമw [fhdhejd]’d’dXczvdJd /je\elg\~m\m\:asr\y\ X അഥവ) : ഇ< )ല3 ഡടF
ല1യ3)ല - ഡ+F)ര ടലമw -
ആയ+ര+ക/ ഭ+കക. ഇ3+ല ല3റ
ശദ+കക (MS Word )ണ ഇ3
ല3റ)യ+ ക53)
ലw vdJz r\ys
1വന അകരത+ല ക)ണ+ച+ര+കനവയലട ഉപകയ)ഗ/ ശദ+കക

T ) (Vista) ആണ ഓFകററ+/ഗ സ+സ

ന+ങളലട കGE O ടറ+ല വ+സ T / എങ+ /, മകള+ല വ+വര+ച+ട ള 3രത+ല മ യ)ള/
യOണ+കക)ഡ കGEOട+/ഗ പ)കയ)ഗ+കമ)കവ)ന സ)ധ+ക/.

ഇകF)ള മ യ)ള/ യO ണ+കക)ഡ ഡടF+/ഗ ന+ങള ക അനകയ)ജEമ)യ കVകബ)രഡ+ല മനസ • + )യ+ എന കരത ന.
ഇന+ ന+ങള ക മ യ)ളത+ല ഈ-ലമയ+ല അയകകകയ), മ യ)ളത+ല ന+ങള ലട ലവബ കപജകള ഉ5)കകകയ),
മ യ)ളത+ല 1)റ ല1യകകയ) എനമ)ക)/. ഇലwര ലനറ+ല മ യ)ള ക )കകതക ന+ങള ക വ+രഹ+ക)/. ഇF)ള
ന+ങള https://sites.google.com/site/cibu/beginner എന കണ
Q + കട+ പര+ക8)ധ+കന3 ന< 3 ആയ+ര+ക/.

ന+ങളലട സ/8യങള ദയവ)യ+ james@jameskutty.info എന ഈ-ലമയ+ +ല അറ+യ+കക.