MALAYALAM
History through novel
K. KUNHIKRISHNAN
JANAKATHA — Novel: N. Prabhakaran; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs. 110.
EVERY VILLAGE has its share of folklore and history. History is normally about the rulers and the elite in society. Therefore a group of youngsters sets about searching for the real picture of the village and connects the characters of the Chenkara village, in Kannur district, which is evident from the local slang.
They explore the lives of myriad colourful characters, and this technique of narration has been used with telling effect to portray the village’s folklore, history, rituals, arts, culture, tradition and politics.
The narration also covers a period of the 20th century and the social and economic development and transformation in this village. The divergence and range of characters are amazing and they share their experiences, hopes and illusions; they are ordinary people with rich experiences which leave an indelible impression on the reader’s mind. Yet, the novel is not the conventional recording of the life history of this people, but a lyrically charming fabric of the variety of life, with its local north Kerala flavour, that makes the novel out of the ordinary.
Characters vary from the atheist to the communist turned believer, and to an assortment of other men and women like Gurukkatthiyamma, Padmettan, Maartha and Marathan, as well as animals like the dog Gunner and Mayi, the monkey. The strong strands of history traverse from the traditional to the modern.
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