TAMIL
Short story anthology
Se. Ganesalingan
MEENDEZHUTHAL: L. Vincent; Amrudha Pathippagam, 5, 5th Street, S.S. Avenue, Sakthi Nagar, Porur, Chennai-600116. Rs. 80.
THIS IS a collection of 15 short stories by the author published in various literary periodicals.
The first thing that impresses is the author’s powerful narration of events, even minute incidents, using both literary and colloquial Tamil. Second, is his choice of a wide range of characters, from toddy-tapper to weaver, the downtrodden to the middle class, and information technology (IT) student to school teacher.
In two stories, one of which involves an IT student, the events and dialogues reflect realism and reveal the dominant conflicts in families. The story is in the form of the student’s letters to her parents who made her study, day and night, and divulges the daughter’s psychological reaction, which shocks the parents.
The story of the weaver’s family is very bold and tragic. Feudal superstitious ideas and ignorance are exposed in the story “Ravikai”.
Other memorable stories are on Jalli Kattu, a toddy-tapper, a weaver, and drinking water. There are also stories involving Christians, Muslims and caste Hindus.
All stories have tragic endings revealing the author’s anger at the present structure of society.
The book must be read by all writers and literary-conscious readers, as they will not come across such literary works in popular commercial magazines.
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