வாடாமல்லி ( Vadaamalli) - சு .சமுத்திரம்(S.Samuthiram)

 I came to know about this wonderful book through Writer Jeyamohan's website. After a long search , i found this book at National Library Book sales in 2012. Even though i got the book i did not read the book immediately . So confused to start the book . Before reading this book i read some other books including "வேதபுரத்து வியாபாரிகள்" ,"கோவேறு கழுதைகள்"  and   புனலும் மணலும்  . At last i read this book and finished in fairly quick time.

"மானுடத்தின் இந்த மூன்றாவது அலியை கிண்டல் செய்வதும் கேலி செய்வதும் காட்டுமிராண்டித்  தனம் . நமக்கு சாப்பிடுவது  எப்படி இயற்கையோ அப்படி அவர்களுக்கு பெண்ணாவவோ , அல்லது ஆணாவவோ பெண் உடம்பில் ஆணும் , ஆண் உடம்பில் பெண்ணும் இருப்பது இயற்கை . இதனால் இவர்கள் வீரத்திலோ விவகத்திலோ குறைந்தவர்கள்  அல்ல ."

This story made me to think a lot specially about our relationship with transgenders . Very very few occasions i had seen people behave properly towards them. We have taught even our kids to tease them and treat them badly. In fact most of the time we never accept them as a fellow human being. Shame on us. Congratulations and thanks to the author for bring the life of these wonderful people.

This novel tells the story of Suyambu an energetic young boy who with his good marks enters into an engineering college.But after two months he realized that he is feeling like a girl. His activities slowly changing.
Because of  this he was beaten and force to leave his village .The journey of Suyambu to become Megala was horrendous and told in a manner that the reader will start understand the life of these wonderful people.

The struggles these people undergoes in day to day work is terrible even today particularly the way the police treat them . The police always think these people as sex worker and do all sort of atrocities. In this novel too , the police are same. The story travels to different parts of India almost all are under developed or slums. There was a contrast in the jobs they do in different parts of India but they were treated bit better in Northern parts of India. Suyambu also goes to Delhi and adopted by an older one.There he was treated well by fellow transgenders .

The author details the various very painful rituals Suyambu undergoes and how he became Megala. I have never heard or read anywhere else about these rituals and their customs.Again , the author should be appreciated for shedding light on these rituals . The feeling of loosing their identity was told beautifully, very sad to read those part. My thoughts on transgender changed completely after reading these things.

 The way the author explores the relationship between Suyambu and his  family was very realistic. The doubt of his brother about his sexual orientation ,the villagers believes that Suyambu was haunted  and the girl's love towards Suyambu were realistic and  written well. The character of David portrayed beautifully along with Suyambu's love towards him.

"அலித்தன்மை வேறு .. பாலின  மாற்றம் வேறு ...அலி அலிதான். குழந்தை பெறவும் முடியாது . தரவும் முடியாது . திடீரென்று பெண்ணாய் மாறுகிறவர்களை அலின்னு தப்பா நெனைக்கோம் .. பொதுவா மானிடத்தை ஆண் பெண் என்று பார்ப்பதே தப்பு .ஆண் தன்மை அதிகம் உள்ளவங்க , பெண் தன்மை அதிகம் உள்ளவங்க என்றே பார்க்கணும் ..... அலித்தன்மை , மானுடத்தின் மூன்றாவது குலம் ."

This book really teach us something important that these transgenders too have life like us. Respect them and treat them well. A wonderful and painful journey into the world of transgender. This is my first book on transgender and it was a very good read. If anyone wants to know more about life of transgender , start with this book.

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