மிளிர் கல் (Milir Kal) - இரா.முருகவேள்

தமிழ்ல மாணிக்கம் ,மரகதம் ,கோமேதகம்னு சொல்றோம் இல்லையா அதுதான் . ஆங்கிலத்துல சபையர் ,ரூபி ,எமரால்டு, அக்வாமெரைன் .இந்த மாதிரி கர்களுக்குப் பொதுவான பெயர் ரத்தினம் .... நமது இலக்கியங்கள் இந்த வகைக் கற்களை மிளிரமணிகள்னு சொல்லுது.

After reading this novel the first man came to my mind was Dan Brown - a writer who uses historical themes, symbols and conspiracy theories in his thrillers. Murugavel succeeded in writing a good story with historical themes. I think this is the first Tamil book to do so. Another novel which came to my mind was  Sudhagar's 6174 . 6147 was good but failed in many areas and not a memorable one. The author made sure that the facts are correct and his language did not let him down.

I need to acknowledge that I have never read Silappathikaram fully before I start reading this book . As I was reading this book I also started reading the prose of those described in this novel. I think this book will be even more interesting and enjoyable if one knows Silappathikaram fully. Its a shame that our schools and colleges not teaching our epics any more. 

This is the story of Mullai , a Tamil girl born and living in Delhi, who wants to follow the footsteps of Kannagi from Poombugar to Madruai to Chera Kingdom. For Mullai Kannagi is fascinating , through her father's storytelling she imagined a lot about Kannagi which lead her to take a documentary on Kannai . She leaves Delhi and travels to Chennai to fulfil her dream. Naveen her college friend and a leftist helps her in filming. They were joined by Srikumar ,a professor later.  These three characters are very different from each other.  

Through their journey the author beautifully explains the precious stones trade and their history in Tamilnadu. As Mullai and Naveen starts from Chennai , a multinational gem company (JK Diamonds) starts their business of finding gem mining location.Without he himself knowing Professor Srikumar was helping them. The kidnapping of Srikumar , the arrival of Naveen's friend Kannan and the arrest of various activists creates a thriller like feel.  The author beautifully links corporate companies who are thousands of kilometres away to the local goons and farmers and how these people link to Kovalan and Kannagi.

Though Mullai and Naveen started the journey for the documentary they slowly understands the problems faced by the people and the real politics played out. Naveen ,though he is left leaning, this journey made him to see everything first hand.The author answers lots of difficult questions in a simple manner through conversations. The author explains how King Ashoka sent missionaries to bring the tribal people under his rule and how Jainism used the tribal people and later how Dravidian parties specially DMK made Kannagi as role model woman. Both Buddhism and Jainism were dominant religion of traders of those times.

The novel bring back the life of those times with excellent description of places and people. The namesake of Kovalan and the lifestyle of Madhavi and everything related to them were as real as one can get . As a crown to top it all, the authors description of Kannagi festival at Kodunganallur was simply amazing. During this festival the devotees sing songs with full of bad words . The way Dalits defended this festival from the high caste and the politics behind it are very important fact to know. For many communities Kannagi is a semi-god. The different beliefs of different communities regarding Kannagi makes her a mystic and fascinating.

Till I read this novel whenever someone said "kangeyam" I thought only of  bulls and Jallikattu but this book changed that, and its surprising to know Kangeyam's precious stone deposits and business. One thing this novel did to me was to read more about Silappathikkaram and our history. I already order Silappathikkarm and watched the movie "Poombuhar "- i think its better to stick with reading and not to watch that movie. This novel won many awards. The writing is simple and easy to read.

"தம்பி , பக்கத்தில் கோடியக்கரையிலயிருந்து மீன் பிடிக்க போன நம்ம ஆளுங்க இருபது பேர புடிச்சிட்டு போயிட்டாங்க . அதபத்தியும் ஏதாச்சும் படம் எடுங்க உங்களுக்கு புண்ணியமா போகும்." 

A shining light among Tamil historical fictions - must read!! 

ஐந்து முதலைகளின் கதை (Ainthu Muthalaikalin Kathai) - சரவணன் சந்திரன்

"திரைகடல் ஓடி திரவியம் தேடு "  - this is what I thought when I started reading this book. But the book talks many interesting things.  This is Saravanan Chandran's first novel and I should say he has a gift of writing.  This 167 page novel is a breeze and very interesting too. This is the story of five opportunistic men who in the name of business exploits the locals though they themselves are from poor and normal background.

வாழ்க்கை ஒரு காட்டாறு போல இருக்கும்பட்சத்தில் அதில் மிதக்கும் தக்கையைப் போல உன்னுடைய எண்ணங்களை மாற்றிவிடு . ஒரு விஷயத்தைப் பிடித்துத் தொங்கிக்கொண்டிருக்காதே . அதுவும் ஒரு அனுபவம் எனக் கடந்து விடு .

The author beautifully explains the mindset of a young man who wants to starts a business . The chosen place is Timor- a tiny country in Indonesia Archipelago. In spite of his father's effort ,the protagonist sells his house in the village and invest in  a business in Timor. The journey to start and run the business brings everything one can learn in human life - love , sex,  betrayal , booze and food. One can easily understand the mindset of village man in protagonist specially whenever he is down he thinks of those lovely village moments - days playing hockey specially the final minute goal, his friend's sister's love and affection -moments like these will take the readers back to their good old days.

தேவைக்கு அதிகமான விஷயங்களை நீயும் யாரிடமும் கேட்காதே . தேவைக்கு அதிகமான விஷயங்களை நீயும் யாரிடமும் சொல்லாதே .

The author introduces Timor as a place of wonderful opportunities and its true . I have talked to many people here in Singapore who told the same thing. East Timor got Independence from Indonesia only in 2002. This relatively new country invited everyone from everywhere to built the nation. Their life style is very simple. Their sex life is even simpler. But poverty is widespread. Everyone exploits them.  various customs of these people are very interesting.

வீணாக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு காசும் என் குழந்தைகளின் சிரிப்பு .

Lots of side stories which makes this book more interesting- the story of chef Jacob and the Buddhist monk Ajahan Siripanyo (Tharanisri),and the specifics of  Bird's Nest, the Timorian's death ceremony, Naasi Karang rituals etc The author also highlights some contemporary issues like the snuggling of Red Sandalwood and the operations of Sand mafia. I heard about Red Sandalwood only after the killing of Tamilians  near Tirupathi but its bit shocking and surprise to know the politics behind this wood. The Red Sandalwood is a natural nuclear reactor coolant!

In page 97 the author says that main occupation of fishermen in Pamban is sea cucumber catching(??!). Is that true? I have seen sea cucumbers drying outside of some buildings but its in very small percentage , may be I don't know much about it and its illegal to catch sea cucumber in India.  The author being a journalist explains the details of sea cucumber business and how Chinese believes in its medical power.

This is a very easy read,  everything told in a simple language and not in detail (the author did not describe much about Timor history or more of their customs, may be that's why this book is a good read, he just wrote what is needed , well done!). In many places one can find the journalist in author which is good for this kind of travelogue novel.

Another young Tamil writer along with Lakshmi Saravanakumar and Vinayaga Murugan whom everyone should read. Hope these writers continue to write good stories and enrich Tamil literature.

Good read!!

உப்பு நாய்கள் (Uppu Naigal) - லஷ்மி சரவணக்குமார்

One "Tour de force " novel by hugely talented Lakshmi Saravanakumar. This is the second book I read by this author. Uppu Naigal is undoubtedly the better of the two.  I felt like watching a movie and the one movie kept on coming to my mind was "Aranya kandam". The series of events and the way the author explains it  made it look like a movie.

யாருக்கும் சொல்லாத ரகசியமென்று ஒன்றுமிருக்க முடியாது. ஒருவனின் ரகசியங்களை அவனறியாமலேயே பார்ப்பதில்தான் சகமனிதனின் உச்சபட்சமான சந்தோசங்களிருக்கின்றன .

I have to say this is the story of the people whom we meet everyday in the crowded city.  The city in this story is Madras. People from different parts of the country keep coming to Madras. This story tells life of these people. Some readers will feel awkward when they read the same sex scenes , relationship between Mani and Sampath's mother and the sexual act between Selvi and Muthulakshmi. And some other readers will find it shocking about the Armenian Church priest's sexual fantasies ,dog butchering  and the children kidnapping.

ஒரு மனிதன் நிழலை மறைத்துக்கொள்ள முடிந்தால் எல்லா இடங்களும் அவனுக்கு உடமையாகிவிடுகின்றன .

Most of the story moves around Sambath, Selvi and Athamma. All three start their life in a very different way, the only thing that connects them all is poverty. Part one of the book is a breeze, pacy and thrilling. The Main Protagonist is Sampath, a very unique character. Whatever he do , he did it better than others. No one knows how he does and his whereabouts. His sexual exploits are unbelievable , at least for me. A nun trust him like she trust her God. A Marwadi girl ignore his husband and full-fill her sexual desires with him. Sampath is a typical example of man's boundless desire.The politics of north chennai is played out through Sampath and gangs.

குழந்தைகளுக்கு பயப்பட எதுவுமில்லை . பெரியவர்களிடமிருந்து  கற்றுக்கொள்கிற ஆபாசமான விசயங்களில் இந்த பயமும் ஒன்று.

Athamma and her family left Kadappa to Chennai in search of better life. Athamma is a wild girl - unafraid of anything . She was fascinated by the city lifestyle. Through Athamma , the author tells the story of a immigrant workers. Her father slowly leaves her and her mother and at one point he gave her mother to his Oriya friend. No one except Arti, an IT girl who works in one of the building they built, love her in this big city. She sort of adopted Athamma and her mother. The introduction of Arti looks cinematic and did not bring credibility to this part for the story.

ஒரு மனிதன் தான் ரகசியங்களை அளவுக்கு அதிகமாகப் பாதுகாக்க நினைக்கும் பொழுது அவன் தனக்கான முடிவுகளை எளிதில் தேடிக்கொள்கிறான் .

The story of Selvi and Thavudu is even more pathetic. From pickpocket to drug smuggling , their life is full of tragedy but that's reality. The  life of women in prison is shocking .Here too , the author highlights the atrocities of the police. The episode of sham travels and prostitution are real - many times we read these kind of things in newspapers.Another cinematic end to Thavudu , she started selling food items and leaves all the dirty works. I thought that Sampath , Athamma adn Selvi will come together at some point of time specially when Sampath starts kidnapping but author had other thoughts and it was good.

Another important story is Shivani and Mahesh's sexual escapades. Their sexual relation starts in a theatre -for Shivani its sort of necessity and freedom, . One can understand Shivani's position and feeling but how she overcome her traditional family values and lives her sexual life is something 'dark' ,again its believable.The author also tells the scary story of how SIM card can be dangerous through Mahesh. All characters make sense. Gopal - who left smuggling and start selling dog meat , Muthulakshmi - a bogus doctor with her cunning schemes, Babu- the smuggling boy who introduces Selvi to smuggling are all important characters which give continuity and credibility.

The author did not comprise the language and the details when he explained different crimes (should I say crime?!) and the lives of these people.  Felt like the author wrote from his own experiences,  One can also feel the familiarity of some characters. The life in darkness which we  everyday passes through.

To know the  real face of the city. Read it. A minor classic!

கானகன் - லக்ஷ்மி சரவணகுமார்

அவள் கண்ணீரும் ஒப்பாரியுமாய் அந்தக் காட்டின் ஆதிக் கதை நோக்கி தன்னை நகர்த்திக் கொள்ள நினைத்தவளாகவும் மனிதர்களின் மீதான அச்சத்தில் பைத்தியங்கொண்டவளாகவும் அரற்றினாள். ‘மனுசனுக்கு ஒரு பாடுன்னா தெய்வத்துக்கிட்ட போறோம-தெய்வத்துக்கு ஒரு பாடுன்னா அது எங்க போவும்…’  கிழவிகள் வாய்க்குள்ளாகவே புழுங்கிக் கண்ணீர் விட்டனர்.”

I heard about this novel after the announcement of Sakitya Academy award winners .  Few years back i read a short story written by Lakshmi Saravanakumar and like it . I never read any novel of this author. I was really excited to find this book in the library.  Finished the book in three days.

This is the novel of two sets of contrasting characters - father versus son ,and nature versus human, for harmony of all both these needs to support and live together. But in this story there is a constant tension between these two. Thangappan , a notoriously famous hunter who kills a Tiger. The revenge starts there.The very first scene about the setup for the hunt is very interesting and the author's attention to details made the scene memorable. I think no reader will forget that scene. He knows the forest inside out.

"காட்டுக்குள்ள திருடித் தின்னு பழக்கப்பட்டுட்டா மனுஷன் மிருகமாயிருவான் . அவனத் திருத்த முடியாது "

 Vaasi, stepson of Thangappan , is a son of Sadaiyan whom the tribal community leader think of as a forest child. Sadaiyan talks to the forest. Same like his biological father Vassi loves the forest so much that he is ready to give his life to protect it.  Thangappan wants Vaasi to learn hunting and he did but Vassi never used it unnecessarily. All three wives of Thangappan treats Vaasi as their own son and loves hims as one.

"வேட்டை ஒருவகையான யுத்தம் . ஆனால் தாக்குதலுக்கு எதிரியை அனுமதிக்காத யுத்தம் யுத்தமே அல்ல.அது  சூது ." 

The Casanova like lifestyle of Thangappan is something some readers will not accept but the author beautifully justifies the three wives of him with believable explanations.  All three wives are living together without any complaints, though Thangappan favours Chellayi more. Chellayi is the wife of Sadaiyan. She left Sadaiyan in pursuit of hunting and started living with Thangappan. Wherever Thangappan goes he mesmerises women . The sexual desires by various characters looks real (though many readers will not agree)- many out of marriage sexual acts in this story.

பொம்பள வாசம் இருக்கற வரைக்கும் தாண்ட ,ஆம்பளைக்கு உடம்புல வேகமும் தெம்பும் இருக்கும் .ஒரு பொம்பளைக்காக எதையும் செய்ய தயாரா இருக்க ஆம்பளதாண்ட எம்புட்டு காரியத்தையும் அசராம செய்வான்.

For the tribal people the forest is everything , the author tells their story from their point of view and it is very true. These communities lives should be documented and their knowledge should be shared and used. Its always the marginalised and tribal who gets affected most by deforestation.  These people knows that the forest provides whatever they needs and they are happy with that. But everything changed when men started destroying and accumulating more than needed.

தன் தாய்மையை அங்கீகரிக்கும் எல்லோரையும் ஒரு பெண்  அதீதமாய் நேசிக்கத்தான் செய்வாள் . 

The pain of these people and their inability to stop the deforestation will make the reader too to think of his or her inability to stop the exploitation of the natural resources by the various corporate companies.  In this story , these people realises the coming disaster but could not do anything except to go to safer place. Sadaiyan warns the people about the unhappiness of the forest and its disaster consequences.

வெறுப்பு ஒரு மாபெரும் நாக்கு , யாரோ ஒருவரின் மீது ஒருமுறை சுழன்று திரும்பிவிட்டால் பின்பு ஒருபோதும் அவரை விடுவதில்லை . 

At one point , the rivalry between Thangappan and Vaasi comes to blows when Vaasi  helps the elephants to escape from the trap . The possessed Thangappan wants to kill elephants and uses Vaasi to accompolish it. But Vaasi understood the trap and did whatever he could and helps the herd to escape. The animosity grew even more .

எல்லோருக்கும் காடு வேண்டும் , தனக்குத் தேவையான ஒன்றை என்ன விலை கொடுத்து வேண்டுமானாலும் வாங்க வேண்டுமென நினைப்பதுதானே மனித இயல்பு . 

I liked the characterisation of Poosani ,the community elder who discovered the talent of Sadaiyan and Vaasi.  He leads his community closer to the forest as much he could as his ancestors did.  Ansari , another important character who is with Thangappan throughout .Though Sagayarani loves Thangappan , he goes with Ansari and live with him. I really don't understand why the auhtor construct her story like this. All female characters are strong and sexually independent.

ஒரு மனிதன்  அல்லது இனம் ,சரணடைவதற்கு முன்பாக மரணத்தைத் தேர்வு செய்யும் ஆன்ம பலத்தைக் கொண்டிருக்காவிட்டால் அடிமையாவதுதான் தவிர்க்க முடியாத விளைவாக இருக்கும் . 

There is a shade of another novel "Kaadodi" but the language and the place made this novel different and interesting one. This is the forest around Madurai which brought me closer to the story. The ending is bit cinematic but I expected it. The tiger kills Thangappan with the help of Vaasi.  Though one can read this novel in one sitting but there are some places where I thought editing would have been better. This story is mixture of heroism, lust, sentiments and nature - typical to screenwriting. The author did a good job in making the mixture a interesting one with good pace and lyrical language.This book received Yuva Puraskar award.

A good read.

கீதாரி - சு.தமிழ்ச்செல்வி

This is the story of a nomadic community of goat herdsmen and women. The life of these people is something one cannot easily understand from outside. They keep moving from one place to another in search of food for their goats. For them everything is the herd. They take life as it comes and live with whatever they have . These people work doubly harder for their living. There is no rest for these people. Day and night they needs to be with goats. Even a light mistake will cause them a lot. Apart from the natural calamities there are problems with landlords like payment etc.

The story revolves around Ramu and his families. The story starts with the birth of twin girls(Karicha and Sivapi) to a mad woman .Ramu already have a daughter Muthamma. Vellachamy, one of his relative's son also lives with them.  Ramu and his wife Vellayai pulled the babies out as there was no doctors or neighbours nearby.  The landlords decided to handover the mad woman to the hospital and asked Ramu to take care of them . Initially no landlords came forward to adopt but one of them (Sambasivam) for the sake of his name told he will come and take one girl after few years and he did that  The girls were separated.

Karicha lived with Vellachamy and eventually married him after people started talking badly about their relationhip. Vellachamy loved her so much, apart from childlessness ,everything was fine between them but everything changed after he met his brother's family who convinced him and arranged marriage with sister-in-law's sister. Karicha heart broken left Vellachamy and moved with Ramu and family. After leaving Vellachamy , he came to know that he was pregnant but she decided to stay with Ramu.  On the other side, Sambasivam's two wives did not allow Sivapi to continue the education and was forced to work all day long. Sivapi died in a mysterious way- they did not inform the death to the family. Many suspected the death was due to Sambasivam's misbehaviour. What happened to Karicha ,Ramu and Vellachamy is the rest of story.

The author beautifully explains various customs and habits of these people.The marriage between Karicha and Vellachamy was unique. As Vellachamy was busy with his herd, Ramu took his staff and finished the marriage with that.Others like - arranging marriage with younger brother if elder one dies, bring back the dead body all the way to the native village for the burial. The way the housewives go to the villager's houses to grind their spices and masalas -and how they preserve it -amazing. They way these people prepare for the rainy season is very interesting but its very very hard.

Ramu's entire life is selfless . He did everything for others. He risked his life to bring Vellachamy out of the landlord and genuinely loved Karicha and Sivapi. The way he handles the problems of the people and his understanding of the environment and the goats showed his remarkable character.All the female characters in this story are very hardworking and strong.  One cannot finish the book without tears in the end.

The author said the following about the book:

வெயில், மழை, பனி, புயல் என அத்தனை இயற்கைச் சீற்றங்களை யும் வெட்டவெளியில் எதிர்கொள்ளும் அவர்களின் எளிய வாழ்க்கை என்னை வெகுவாகக் கவர்ந்தது. அவர்களைப் பற்றி எழுதவேண்டும் என்று தோன்றியது. அவர்களுடன் கலந்து பேசி அவர்களின் உரையாடல் களின் வழியாகத் தேவையான தரவுகளைச் சேகரித்துக்கொண்டு எழுதத் தொடங்கிவிட்டேன். எழுதி முடிக்கும் வரை கிட்டத்தட்ட ஒரு கீதாரிப் பெண் போலவேதான் என்னை நான் உணர்ந்தேன். அத்தகைய ஓர் உணர்வு இருந்ததால்தான் இது புழங்காத பகுதி, புதிய வாழ்க்கைமுறை, பார்த்திராத நிகழ்ச்சிகள் என்ற தயக்கங்கள் இல்லாமல் எழுதமுடிந்தது. கீதாரியை எனது படைப்பு மனதுக்குக் கிடைத்த வெற்றியாக நான் கருதுகிறேன்.

Remarkable book!