காவல்கோட்டம் - சு. வெங்கடேசன்

This is a huge book both in terms of pages and weight (!). I read everyday one to two hours for almost 3 months to finish this book.  The only motivation to start this book was "Madurai". For us southerners Madurai is a gateway to modern cities.  For everything from education to shopping we go to Madurai. But unfortunately no one taught us the history this wonderful city.  So when I got this book I immediately started reading.

This book is about 600 years history of Madurai starting from Viswanatha Nayakar reigns till the collapse of oor kaval. (1310-1910). The book details the administration under Viswanatha and various battles he fought and the construction of Madurai fort. The war scenes were beautifully portrayed specially the way the author name the different communities of soldiers under different banner.This part of the book is a fast read and interesting too. The rest of the book tells the decline of Nayak kingdom and rise of British rule.

The destruction of the fort was explained in a very emotional manner. The symbol of the glorious olden days was destroyed on the order of the collector Blackburn.The opening of the first police station and people's reaction towards it specially about the police dress was told in a enjoyable manner. The slow rise of Christianity and missionaries works were covered in the second part of the book specially towards 1900.

Many incidents described in this book are very interesting - one such incident was the story of "Aravan" movie.The second part of the book details life of  Kallar community and their reputation for thievery and Kaaval . I'm not sure why the author needs to give so much pages for this particular community. Is he glorifies the act of stealing?. So many rituals and customs of this community is explained in details - the story of "மொண்டிக்கொம்பு "  and "ராஜகளவு  - theft judged on the basis of technique and bravery not by the stolen things".  Very interesting and good to know.

The description of the Great Famine of 1876-1978 was something one cannot forget easily. The story of two remarkable women - Nallathangaal (நல்லதங்காள் ) and Kunjsaraththammaal (குஞ்சரத்தம்மாள் ) was something I will never forget. There are so many  related and unrelated stories throughout the book which gives lots of historical informations.

I think the author struggled to write a good story from the materials he collected from various resources like missionaries , British documents and people's memory. Apparently the author collected materials for this novel for ten years.I felt that many stories and historical informations were inserted as the story do not have any theme. May be that's the plus point of this novel. I do not have any idea of most of the historical events described in this novel . So I searched in internet and found some information. And I realized that the author did good job but may be good proof-reader would have made the whole content better.

On page 458 I read the name "Pamban" and about the prison there, wow, Pamban is my native but I never heard anything about the prison except there is a street called "Jail theru". I called many people there and asked them about it to my shock no one knows about it. I searched online but I did not succeed . Its a shame. On Page 485 to 487, there are some details of how the construction of the railway bridge was started.

• -First meeting headed by William Kare /Carey (Im not sure about exact name)
• -The plan was announced by Captain William Fraser
• -Work started in 1838
• -The pros & cons of the construction of the bridge was reported by Lieutenant Colonel Cotton
• -Total expanse 15 lac rupees
• - Reduce the journey European ships travelling to India by 36 hours
• - 100 feet light house was constructed with light reaching 14 miles

On page 629, the letter writtten by James Patricks to Richard Greenville explains why the British government decided to built the prison in Paman though there was no police station or court there, Britishers sent the accused and convicted to the prison in Pamban and used them for bridge construction work. Many fishermen were  arrested and forced to work on the construction,

Two of the great modern Tamil writers - Jeyamohan and S.Ramakrishnan wrote complete contrasting reviews for this book .I'm reading both these authors website daily -both their reviews make sense to me. The author did not give any credit to others and to make things worse there is no bibliography also. I don't know much about Madurai history and for me this book is neither fiction nor a non-fiction. I need to read more about this wonderful city.

The writing was mix of good ,flat and at times very hard to proceed. The language of the people did not change in 300+ years in this novel.  This novel received Sahitya akademi award.Read if you have time and want to know more about Madurai.

A classic and ordinary.!

கருக்கு - பாமா

Tour de force! One hell of a story. This is a story of a Dalit woman and her struggle against the caste system.  It seems this  novel is sort of auto-fiction and it makes real sense because of the emotion it brings.

கடவுள் அன்பு, இரக்கம், சாந்தம் கொண்டவர். பாவங்களை மன்னிப்பவர், பொறுமையானவர், மென்மையானவர், தாழ்ச்சி, கீழ்படிதல் உள்ளவர் என்று சொல்லித்தரும் கிறிஸ்துவ மடங்கள் அவர் நீதி, நேர்மை மிகுந்தவர், அநீதி கண்டு பொங்குபவர், போலித்தனத்தை எதிர்ப்பவர், ஏற்றத்தாழ்வு காட்டாதவர் என்பதை எப்பொழுதும் சொல்லித்தருவதே இல்லை.

The story starts with a introduction of the village and its settings- typical. The author highlights the conflicts between the two low caste people and how the police utilized those opportunities to beat up the lowest of them.  The author irrespective of caste issues finished her schoolings and college education and joined as a teacher in a school. After few years she joins in a convent hoping to serve poor but was struck by the vast indifference shown by the fellow nuns and the administration.  The author very painfully explains the deep rooted casteism in the convent. The author also highlights how in convent the students were brainwashed and made to obey orders without asking any questions. Wherever she goes the caste follows her.

ஆம்புள பொம்பல அம்புட்டுப்பேரும் இப்படித் தெனமும் தேஞ்சு போக ஒழைக்குறதுக்கு எம்புட்டு முன்னுக்கு வரலாம். அப்படின்னும் நெனப்பேன். ஆனா இவுக ஒழைக்குறதுக்குத் தக்கன கூலி கெடைக்குறுது இல்ல. அதுலகூட ஒரே வேலை ஆம்பளையும் பொம்பளையும் செஞ்சாக்கூட ஆம்பளைக்கு ஒரு சம்பளம் பொம்பளைக்கு ஒரு சம்பளம் தான் ஆம்பளைக்கு கொஞ்சம் கூடுதலான சம்பளம் தர்ராங்க ஏன்னுதான் வெளங்க மாட்டிங்குது

The essence of village life with its innocences and beauty comes alive in the initial chapters specially during author's childhood. The rituals and customs of the Christian Dalit community was told in a uncompromising manner specially how these people celebrates their festivals and how they were used by the priests.  The Dalits work from dawn to dust but they are struggling to have three meals a day - the author could not understand this initially.

ஊர்தேசம் போம்போது வண்டிகள்ள சேந்துகூட ஒக்கார அருவருப்பு படற அளவுக்கு என்னத்துல நாங்க அசிங்கமா போனோம்? என்னமோ பெருவியாதிக்காரன பாக்குற மரில்ல நம்மள பாக்குறாக. எங்குட்டுப் போனாலும் இடிதான் வலிதான். இதுக்கு ஒரு விடிவுகாலமே வராதா? படிச்சவ படிக்காதவன்னு வித்தியாசமே இல்ல. எல்லா பெய மக்களும் சாதிவெறி புடுச்சித்தான் அலையுதுக. எது என்ன, கடவுளுக்காக சேவ செய்யப் போறோம்னு சொல்லிக்கிட்டு போற கன்னியாஸ்திரிமாரு, சாமியாருக கூட சாதி வித்தியாசம் பாக்கத்தாஞ் செய்றாக. ஏந்தா இந்த சாதில பெறந்தோம்னு கூட நெனச்சு கஸ்டப்பட்டுருக்கேன். தலித்துகன்னா மனுசப் பெறவிக இல்லையா? இவுகளுக்கு புத்தி இல்லையா? மான மரியாத ஒன்னும் இல்லியா? அவுகளுக்குன்னு அறிவு, அழகு, அந்தஸ்துன்னு எதுவுமே இல்லியா? எதுல கொறஞ்சி போனாக?

It seems names and characters are  real, the author used these things as in her village .The author highlights the importance of education through her brother Raj Gowthaman - a writer, who encouraged her to study hard,She firmly believes that education will make these people question everything instead of just accept everything specially things related to their caste.

The author got lots of threats and comments from different people , in fact after the publication of this book she went to his brother's house and stayed  there for sometime. I wonder how come the church allowed the publication this book. On the other hand it was some priests who helped her to edit and publish it. The big highlight of this book is its language - the spoken language of this people, though bit hard at times to read but it perfectly makes sense.

This is not the story of the author alone, this is the story of millions of Dalits who faces discrimination everywhere. This book tells the particular communities life with its ups and down without compromising anything. This book was translated by Oxford publication and was introduced in English Literature courses as one of the book of Dalit literature.

A must read.

காதுகள் - எம்.வி. வெங்கட்ராம்

This is a very unique and uncategorised  novel.because it dwells into many layers of magical realism, fiction, auto-fiction and transgressive fiction etc. Very different and very thoughtful. This book got Sahitya Academy award.

பெண் இன்பத்துக்கு மிஞ்சின இன்பம் ஏது? Sex is the prime-mover of life இல்லையா? 

What will happen if ears started talking ? How a pious man will react ? The novel explores this situation.  The protagonist Mahalingam is a devotee of Lord Murugan. His life turns upside down as his business lost grounds and family pushed to poverty. Added to his situation , his ears started talking. Talking mostly vulgar things and negative things but most of the time shouting so much that Mahalingam could not listen to others.All the voices have names and special characters.Slowly all five senses starts behaving on their own (Autonomy of Sense Organs!!).

மகாலிங்கம் நிலை குலைந்தான். ஆனால், அவனுடைய புத்தியோ ‘நான்’ என்னும் உணர்வோ சிறிதும் பிசகவில்லை. தன்னுள்ளும் தன்னைச் சுற்றிலும் நிகழ்வதை ஒரு சாட்சியாக இருந்து கவனித்து வந்தான். அவன் ஒரு எளிய பக்தன்; திருமுருகன் என்னும் தெய்வத்தையே குருவாக வரித்துக்கொண்டவன். அருவருப்பு தரும் உருவங்கள் ஆபாசமான சொற்களை உமிழ்வதைச் சகிக்க முடியாமல் அவ்வப்போது தன் இஷ்ட தேவதையின் உருவப்படத்தின் முன்னிலையில் சென்று முறையிடுவதைத் தவிர அவனுக்கு வேறு வழி இல்லை.

The dramas acted upon his ears were remarkable. In one episode male, female  and even critics voices enact a drama using Mahalingam as a theme. The main character  is Kaali , the female goddess who wants Mahalingam not to trust Lord Murugan and wants to have relations with her. The author was really courageous to write about Kaali calling Mahalingam for sexual relationship. I cannot imagine what will happen if this novel releases now. 

ஒரு தெய்வம் காம உணர்ச்சியோடு வரும் என்று நான் புராணங்களில் கூடப் படித்ததில்லை…’

In another episode there was a conversation between Lord Rama and Karuppan who was searching for his wife. Rama wanted to help Mahalingam and Karuppan disturbed both. Both talks about different gods . One can feel the presence of these characters and the noise they make in their own ears - its so much real!

சத்தத்தை ஒடுக்க அதைவிட பெரிய சத்தம் போட வேண்டும் . கொல்லவரும் சொல்லை அதைவிட வலிய சொல்லால் அடித்துக் கொல்லவேண்டும் ..... தாமஸத்தை  வெல்ல சத்துவமே சிறந்த ஆயுதம் .ஒரு  hallucination-ஐ  மாய்க்க அதைவிடப் பெரிய  hallucination தேவை . மாயை என்னும் தோற்றத்தைக் கடக்க அதைவிடப் பெரிய தோற்றம் தேவை.

Through Mahalingam , the author makes the reader question very existence of God. In spite of all his good wills Mahalingam was shaken to the core both spiritually and worldly. Mahalingam was steadfast in his faith in Guru ,though he lost ways often and questions the existence. We as a reader also thinks the same. To find the truth one needs to go through many levels of understanding , that's what author portrays through Mahalingam . He went through different ways and people to find the solution to his problem and at last he understood what he needs to do.

ஆத்மஞானம் -SELF REALISATION என்பது இதுதான் . You realise yourself by transcending flesh by means of flesh.

Another important character in this novel is Kamatchi - I think without this character this novel would have been incomplete. She was a typical Tamil housewife .In spite of his physical conditions she willingly satisfies Mahalingam's sexual desires specially during her pregnancy.Through her the author highlights the nature of human fight against lust and also the 'typical' role of Indian women same like in this author's another book 'Nithyakanni'.

The writing is so fluent and it gives a strange feeling in a good way.  Read for a strange experience. A unique book in many ways.

மணிரத்னம் : தலைகீழ் ரசவாதி -B.R மகாதேவன்

This book discuss(criticize!!!)  some of Manirathnam's movies in a very detailed manner. First one must have great courage  being in the industry to write like this about a well known cinema director. As mentioned in the book, he might not get any chance in the industry after this book. And its true he never did.

I'm not a big fan of Manirathnam's movies , so I did not feel upset about the comments made in this book , in fact ,after watching many of his movies I felt that Manirathnam missed golden chances specially movies like "Kannathil Muthammittal" and " Roja".  This author says Manirathnam is good at marketing his products and I have to agree with him.  Almost all his movies songs are mega hit - meaning the director spent more time and energy in songs than the story.

சாதாரண தமிழ்ப்  படத்தில் பாடல்கள் இடம்பெறுவது வேறு . சீரியஸான முயற்சி ஒன்றில் பாடல் இடம்பெறுவது வேறு.

The cinematography in all Manirathnam movies looks good and colourful but in many scenes in many movies it doesn't make sense to the story.

வெறுமனே பிரேம் பியூட்டி என்பதற்கு மட்டுமே முக்கியத்துவம் தராமல் காட்சியிலும் பொருத்தமான விஷயத்தை கொண்டுவந்தால் படத்தின் தரம் நிச்சியம் உயரும் .

 The author gives a long list of cliches in Manirathnam's screenplays in his movies discussed in this book. Most of them are valid and these cliches make Manirathnam just like another masala director - may be talented one.

The biggest drawback of this book is the authors  proposed alternative stories and scenes - for me the authors stories too looked typical formula ones.  In fact its irritating. The author has all the rights to criticize the work of an another artist in public domain but it seems like he went bit too far.Personally after watching "Kadal" I felt disappointed , the story is neither fully nor correctly told.

Any one can read this book just for understanding missed opportunities in Manirathnam's movies.

வெள்ளையானை - ஜெயமோகன்

I felt strange feeling of helplessness and anger after finished reading this novel. I have read almost all of this author's articles and short stories published in his website and I'm familiar with his writing style which made me this novel reading experience something special.

This novel  explores the Great famine of 1870's and how the rulers and upper caste people suck the blood of the poor. The main protagonist of this novel is an Irishman Aidan who knew his fellow countrymen's suffering at the hands of British. I think as far as I read, this is the first Tamil novel with a foreigner as  a main protagonist. And this character selection was very important for this story. Aidan is not just a officer  but in his heart he was a soldier and that too who loves Shelly's revolutionary poems.

ஆட்சி என்பது என்ன? அது மேலோட்டமாக எவ்வளவுதான் சமத்துவம், நீதி, கருணை என்றெல்லாம் பேசினாலும் உள்ளே இருப்பது சுரண்டல்தான். அப்பட்டமான நேரடியான சுரண்டல். அந்தச்சுரண்டலைக் குற்றவுணர்ச்சியே இல்லாமல் செய்தால்மட்டும்தான் நான் நல்ல ஆட்சியாளனாக முடியும்.

The description of Ice House was brilliant - light coming through small window, the chillness and darkness of the place as well as workers.The various moods and emotions of  Aidan was portrayed beautifully. Aidan's mental struggle is the highlight of this novel. Basically kind hearted but he was helpless to do anything . When he wants to do something for the poor , even his Indian subordinates (high caste) not helping him in any manner. Initially he could not understand castes different but slowly through various events he understood it but hates it.

சர், இங்கே எல்லாருமே யாருக்காவது உயர்சாதிதான். எல்லாருமே யாருக்காவது தீண்டப்படாத சாதியும் கூட.
இந்திய அதிகாரம் இங்குள்ள உயர் ஜாதிகளாலானது. நமக்கு தோன்றும் இங்குள்ள ஒட்டு மொத்த அதிகாரத்தின் உச்சியில் பிராமணர்கள் இருக்கின்றார்கள் என்று. ஆள ஆரம்பிக்கும் போது தெரியும் அவர்கள் அங்கே அமர அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்கள். உண்மையான அதிகாரம் எங்குமிருப்பது போல எவரிடம் வாளும், நிலமும், பணமுமமிருக்கின்றதோ அவர்களிடம்தான்

The author brilliantly moves the readers to the First Workers Strike in India ever by making an British officer as a witness . Aidan himself saw the Ice House clerk beating two Dalits.  He was enraged and started digging deep. Though he found enough evidence he would not do anything. He was helpless. He was aided by Indian named Kathavarayan, Through him Aidan learns lot about Indians specially the situation of Dalits. Kathavarayan highlights the division among Dalits - rich and poor and their life style.

Through out the novel , one can feel the hatred of upper caste people towards Dalits and the helplessness of Aidan. This novel portrays upper caste Hindus as heartless and cruel.The author takes the reader along with Aidan to Chengalpattu to check the impact of famine. Through out that journey I cried , a powerful imageries and credit should go to the author.  The cry of "தொர ,தொர" resonated in me for many days.

பஞ்சத்தை கொண்டு வந்தது நீங்கள்தான். வேறு இடங்களில் இருந்து வரவேண்டிய விளைச்சலை முழுக்க நீங்கள் அள்ளிக்கொண்டு செல்வதனால் வந்தது. உங்கள் துறைமுகங்கள் முழுக்க எங்கள் உணவு மலையாக குவிந்துக்கிடக்கிறது. அங்கே எலிகள் உண்ணும் தானியம் கிடைத்தால் கூட எங்கள் பிள்ளைகளில் பாதியை சாகாமல் காத்துக்கொள்வோம்.

மதராஸப்பட்டினத்தில் இருந்தும் நாகப்பட்டினத்தில் இருந்தும் விசாகப்பட்டினத்தில் இருந்தும் சென்றுகொண்டிருக்கும் தானிய ஏற்றுமதியை நிறுத்தினாலே போதும் ஒரு வாரத்தில் பஞ்சம் நின்று விடும். அதை அறியாத எந்த பிரிட்டீஷ் அதிகாரியும் இங்கில்லை 

There are many memorable characters - the church priest Brenen, Joseph , wagon driver who speaks about women, Marisa - anglo-Indian girl who sleeps with Aidan, a typical character expected then the grandma who share the Palm fruit with Aidan, the American Nic Palmer,  British officer Russell  and Andrew, the Scottish missionary .. all the characters made their mark.

Its very sad to know the way the  missionaries approached the famine and how they utilized it to 'harvest the souls' of the dying man and the capitalistic approach of the British officers and the rich to get the maximum out of the poor.  In fact , many of the buildings in Chennai were built during the famine years, built with the blood of those people.The book gives lots of new information on various things. The pictures and the drawings adds another level of understanding and emotions.

In preface , the author says  the below and how true it is.
உலக வரலாற்றின் மாபெரும் பஞ்சங்களில் ஒன்றால் இந்தியாவின் கால்வாசிப்பேர் செத்தொழிந்த காலம். ஏகாதிபத்தியத்தால் அம்மக்கள் அழித்தொழிக்கப்பட்டார்கள். மறுபக்கம் நம்முடைய நீதியுணர்ச்சியும் அவர்களைக் கைவிட்டதென்பதும் வரலாறே.நாம் அத்தனைபேரும் ஏதோ ஒருவகையில் அந்த அழிவுக்குக் கூட்டுப்பொறுப்பேற்றாக வேண்டும். 

A must read book.