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Book Review
KANNADA
Epic novel
V. GOPALAKRISHNA
HAGGA — Parts I, II, and III: Kannada translation by K.K. Nair and Ashok Kumar of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s Malayalam novel ‘Kayar’, Sahitya Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-110001. Rs. 825 for the set.
THIS MODERN Malayalam epic comprising more than 1400 pages is regarded as one of the longest novels in world literature. A masterpiece in Malayalam literature, the novel deals with several aspects of the socio-political developments in Kerala over a period of two centuries covering nearly six generations. Though the author focusses on the life of the people during the rule of Travancore kings in the beginning, the stories and legends retold by various characters interconnect several ancient families giving details of their customs and manners, more particularly about the life in matrilineal joint families.
The author gives several graphic descriptions of the transition in the lifestyle of people at various stages.
The author goes very deep into the details of the life of many characters including landlords, priests, rich and poor farmers, educated and uneducated peasants, fishermen, agricultural labourers and so on. Hundreds of characters peep in and vanish.
The novel in particular is a chronicle of Kuttanad, the central part of Kerala. But it chronicles several details of the freedom struggle, the Second World War and its effect, influence of Gandhiji on the youth, atrocities of the landowners on the farmers, untouchability, religious conversions, introduction of English education and its impact on culture, which are almost the same in other parts of the land. All kinds of oppressions and exploitations of the labour class are presented in a lively atmosphere. The translation is good.
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