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Book Review
TAMIL
Racy novel
PREMA NANDAKUMAR
KALACHAKKARAM — The Wheel of Time: Narasimma; Vanathi Pathippakam, 23, Deenadayalu Street, T. Nagar, Chennai-600017. Rs. 120.
IS THE 20th century Tamil novelist trying to get at the mechanic who has created a machine called the universe which obeys rational laws? Whimsy or monitored programming, Narasimma has produced a blend not unlike the Cutty Sark whisky. He is also blessed with abundant self-confidence about his creation: “Like the Siddhas of old who cast the figure of Palani Muruga with herbs, I have put into my crucible politics, science, law, medicine, love, devotion, black magic, Tantra, yoga, humour, mystery and culture which are the special elements that make up the holy land of India. All these good things (nalla vishayangal) make up Kalachakkaram.”
Need anything more be said after this tempting introduction? We get tossed across space and time experiencing the twists and turns, scratches and slashes, bravely trying to register the realism of the fleeting moment.
The exodus of the Pundits from Kashmir, the Sri Chakra, Gujjeswari temple here, Nikumbiladevi niche in Ceylon, Tamil cooks preparing jangiris, the burying of skulls under a Murraya Koengii tree. Eeek!
The novelist also gets dead men impregnating living women. Well, one could not ask for more. Narasimma compels his readers to suspend their disbelief totally with a racy style. Racy characters too, for action is the word for Kalachakkaram.
Endless remembrances of things past get tangled with predictions of an uncertain future. Faster and faster we gyrate but Narasimma is not cruel. He gives out the secret of Swami Sukrananda’s parentage. Surely a helpful novelist for an unprecedented rainy season.
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