வாஸவேச்வரம் - கிருத்திகா (Vasavechvaram - Krithiga)

I was really shocked and surprised that this book was written by a woman ,that too in '60s , remarkable. Daring!  The reason being the subject - sexual relationships that too 'out of marriage' relationships.

The story is in a imaginary village called Vasavechvaram as author mentioned 'some village in southernmost part of Tamilnadu'. The people were all Brahmins. The author explores many contemporary topics through typical 'thinnai' talks, very common sight in villages those days. The main characters in this story is a newly wedded husband and wife - Chandrasekar aiyyar and Rohini and Pichaandi.

ஆணின் தன்னம்பிக்கை , பெண் அவனை பாராட்டுவதில்தான் இருக்கிறது . அவள் அவனைத் தினம் போற்றி வந்தால் ,அவன் உறுதிகொள்வான் ... அவளே அவனைப் பன்மடங்கு பெரிதாக எடுத்துக்கட்டும் பூதக்கண்ணடியாக இருக்கிறாள் .

Rohini is the most beautiful and educated girl in the village and this makes Chandrasekar angry and irritated. Their sexual life is not that much good.So Rohini expects 'these' things from Pichhandi.  Chandrasekar wants Rohini to surrender herself to her  but he knows it will not happen,on the other hand he himself cannot surrender to her because of social status. Chandrasekar finds faults in whatever she does and treat  her badly. The sexual desires of the the women and men moves the story to the stage where everyone sort of suffer (??!) .  Not only Rohini, many female characters keep their male counterpart at toes in regards to sex.

Pichaandi , the man who opposes Dr. Kandha's way of life and ready to change the society(Revolution, family planning etc). He opposes Chandrasekar in the local election but surrender himself to the beauty of Rohini. This desires leads him to meet Rohini before leaving the village but things goes wrong. Chandrasekar aiyyar was murdered and Pichaandi was accused. The relationship between another couple Subbaiah and Vichu gives another dimension to the murder. Subbaiah and Chandrasekar were grew up together, somehow Chandrasekar got everything he wanted. Vichu always compares Subbaiah with Chandrasekar.

Another important character is Periyapaatta , the head of the family , sort of leader of the community.  He was shocked and surprised by Pichaandi when he came to know about Pichaandi's decision to contest local election.  The village panchayat was Periyapaatta's and other Brahmin elders fort, they decide the course of action for everything in the village, he is not going to give up that position easily. The animosity started growing between these two groups of people.

The word Vasavechvaram means "the place where Lord Indra lives " .So do in this village too, as the below line says.

"வாஸவேச்வரத்திலே, ஆம்புள்ளேள் எல்லாம் கம்பீரமா, எடுப்பா, பாக்க நன்னா இருப்பா. சுறுசுறுப்பா, கடுபடியா காரியங்களே சாதிச்சுக்கவும் செய்வா…"

Another must read classic. Definitely a different experience .