TAMIL
Malayalam short Stories
MALAYALA SIRUKADHAIGAL — Short Stories from Malayalam: Sura — Tr. in Tamil; Rajamanikkammal Veliyeedu, 3, Appa Garden, Taylors Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-600010. Rs. 30.
THIS BOOK is a collection of five Malayalam stories by three writers translated into Tamil by Sura. Three are by S. K. Pottekkatt. In "Nisagandhi" the narrator, after admitting that this is his most favourite flower, discloses that in his own garden he does not grow this plant. Why?
The narrator in "Dharmasalaiyil...", set in Benares, is approached by a visually challenged singer who pleads with him that he vacate the choultry room for him for the particular night. Behind his insistence is a splendid gesture that becomes clear in a story within the story. The female companion who accompanies the man has another story, if sleazy. "Thozhi" is a tale of spontaneous and pure friendship between two girls that admits of no social barriers.
In Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's "Vatsarajan", a poor young man, by his noble deed earns the eternal gratitude of the narrator. As the good turn that he does is chronicled, we have a glimpse of the lives of freedom fighters and a cynical look at the state of the nation after Independence.
Kakkanadan's "Irandam Piravi" is a long story of an uncommon friendship between two respectable people in a village. It is packed with events but moves leisurely. People come and go but the focus is always on the central characters. Even the elements are a witness. Often one situation foreshadows another, encouraging readers to make their own inferences about the drift of the story. The serene atmosphere suddenly changes and events come to a head. The author's wry humour and shrewd remarks on current events are noteworthy.
The book is well got up. The names of the original writers are mentioned on the cover but this cannot be an excuse for the omission of a table of contents
C. G. RISHIKESH
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