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Book Review
Fiction rooted in India’s cultural ethos
PREMA NANDAKUMAR
A FEELING FOR FEMINISM — Collected Stories: V. K. Subramanian; Abhinav Publications, E-37, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016. Rs. 400.
Generally known for his faultless 10-volume series on Indian mystic poetry, V.K. Subramanian has attuned himself to the Indian ethos in every way. Hence it need not surprise us that his fiction also draws sustenance from India’s past. The title is understandable.
The stories are woman-centric. Though the term “feminism” does not evoke the kind of passion as it did in academic circles as before, A Feeling for Feminism does ignite a spark or two for the need of feminist ideology. As, for instance, the opening story, “Kamala”.
There lies the rub. What lovely names we give to women in India! Kamala, Janaki, Aarti, Indira, Sobhana. And what is their portion in life! Married under duress, mistreated, and rejected. The momentary joy of motherhood soon replaced by more drudgery.
A feeling of depression is unavoidable when reading this volume because the author sees women mainly as home-makers. Marriage, child birth, the tragedy of still-born children or the drudgery of changing nappies fill up every page.
Incisive lessons
Subramanian is a careful watcher of the ways of men. The roving eye of the male of the species is underlined with red. Home-made or foreign-returned, Subramanian’s young men usually have a turn towards female flesh. As for the female, it is marriage and this fails unless she gets a child. With this constrictive societal view on hand, Subramanian has not much chance to soar on the wings of creative imagination. However, neither he nor the reader need despair. Truth is stranger than fiction! And we recognise the various social truths that have been imbedded by him in “This love, this bliss, this pain.” The novelette has a promising start with a philosophical overture on how woman is the angel, is life itself.
A suggestive commentary on contemporary marriages with no frills attached, the tale carries incisive lessons for the younger generation. Instead of apportioning blame one must find out ways of adjustment to make a marriage work. Which is what is done by the young widower Madhavan when he has to save his sister’s marriage. A Feeling for Feminism offers more than mere fiction. The author has put to good use his vast readings in India’s cultural texts (including Kannadasan and Kalki) and injected wholesome advice at the appropriate places in the stories.
His statement on what a woman wants from life is accurate: “What a woman wants is love, understanding and affection and if she misses out on these, she becomes a problem for herself and for society.” How true!
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