அஸ்தினாபுரம் - ஜோ டி குருஸ்

The first question that came to my mind after reading this book was "how many Amudhans i knew?" and "Am i one of them?". Those who wants to live an honest and dignified life will definitely face similar problems like Amudhan in our society, ample examples are there.

The book starts with Amudhan and Punitha's marriage problem.  The divorce case is in court. Amudhan married Punitha with great expectations but everything collapsed in the very first night itself. Punitha dominates the relationship and slowly started controlling the family itself which Amudhan did not like.  He was forced into the marriage by his parents specially by his father.

தெரிஞ்சி செய்யிறதுல திரில்லே இல்ல. தெரியாம முட்டி மோதி செய்யிற பார்த்தியா அதுலதாம் திரில்லும், அதைவிடப் பெரிய பொக்கிஷமான அனுபவமும் இருக்கு. காரணம் சுயமா  சிந்திச்சிருப்ப”

He wanted to join in fisheries department but could not bear the politics and left to Mumbai, where he joined in export and import business at the port. He slowly and steadily climbed the professional later. He stood out in his work by doing some great and daring jobs. He never stop respecting others work specially the low level workers. This book has volumes and volumes of informations about Port and its politics. Never imagined these many processes involved in handling ships in the port. More the processes more the problems, so too the corruption.

Amudhan's brother and sister used him for their own good. All Amudhan did was love them. He did whatever he can to his brother in terms of finance and support but his brother without any particular reason - may be sibling jealous. He never listen to Amudhan. The portrayal of his brother is real , nowadays its very common among fisher folks. His mother's constant pressure on Amudhan  made him to think a lot  and at one point of time he was livid.  His father, Alvarz's life is interesting , typical to female dominant family, he loved Amudhan and his family , in fact he was happy that his son chose career in shipping industry.  There is a sequence in the book when Alvarz asks all sort of questions regarding his travel and stay in the city- simply good because its how fathers asks questions in this community. Amudhan treats his job and his colleagues as the extension of his family - he is same in and out. He lives his life honestly.

The gradual growth of Ananthi , Amudhan's second wife is realistic . She started as a innocent girl but slowly creates her own world with her relatives - specially with his brother and sister. The dialogue between Amudhan and his son is very important to understand Ananthi's character. And the explanation by Amudhan is beautiful.

All the characters are realistic. One memorable character which i liked was Gnanaseeli, the neighbour who helps Amudhan and Ananthi. She understood Amudhan better then his own family.Most of the dialogues are simple except some conversation on Shipping industry. The title of the book is justifiable . Historical Hastinapur was  a place of war and conflicting characters , so too this story.

"நீங்க எல்லை  மீறிப் போறது உண்மதான !

பாக்ஜலசந்தியில எல்லைங்குற பேச்சுக்கே இடமில்லை . அதுபோக , அங்க போய் வந்து இருக்கது தேசத்துக்கான பெரிய பாதுகாப்பு . இத சிலோன்காரம் கண்டிப்பா விரும்ப மாட்டாம்."

The whole Tamilnadu talks about retaking Katchadeevu  Joe D Cruz highlights the Indian government's attitude towards Srilankan fishermen. The Indian government freely allows the the lankan fishermen to fish at the "Wedge Bank' . I never heard or read anywhere about the Wedge bank before. The authors explanation makes sense. Amudhan gives a long speech about the fishermen issues starting from the history of Srilanka.

ரட்ட மடி அடிச்சி மீன்வளத்த அழிக்கிறது தப்பு , அதுக்கான முழு முதல் காரணம் தொலைநோக்கு பார்வை இல்லாத கண் மூடித்தனமான நம்ம மாநில அரசோட தொழில் நுட்பக் கொள்கை.

Its very clear that this book is sort of Auto-fiction , as the character Amudhan resembles exactly like the author himself. Another name popsup here and there that of Deevukavi Sagayam (Pamban)- who is this Sagayam? I never heard of him, is he a real man?.  During the book release Joe D Cruz told "‘கடல், கப்பல் மற்றும் அதைச் சார்ந்த பயணங்கள், பிரச்னைகள் தான் அஸ்தினாபுரம் நாவலின் மையம். இந்தக் கடலும் கடல் சார் வாழ்வுமே என்னுடைய படைப்பு மொழி. பரந்த நீர்ப்பரப்பின் ஒரு துளியாகவே என் எழுத்து உள்ளது. இந்த நாவலும் அப்படியே. இதில் அரசியல் கருத்துக்களும் உண்டு’" .  And its exactly there in the book.

A very good  read...!!