MALAYALAM
Historical novel
K. KUNHIKRISHNAN
KARUTHA PONNINTE KATHA: Anuradha; DC Books, DC Kizhakemuri Edam, Good Shepherd Street, Kottayam-686001. Rs.140.
FROM TIME immemorial, spices of Kerala attracted foreign traders from all over the world. The spice trade also caused many bitter and disastrous battles among the small kingdoms of the region.
This novel connected with history, is about the lost battles of the rulers of the then Cochin, Kozhikode and Kolathunadu and their local chieftains, after the landing of the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama near Kozhikode in 1498. Portuguese sailors who came for commerce changed the history of Kerala by influencing the rulers. Loyal and daring naval lieutenants of the local rulers lost the battles in the sea while trusted officials cheated the king of Cochin by leaking strategic information for money.
The novel also is about the intense love between Kunhulakshmi, a Saamoothiri princess and Unnithampuran, Kolathiri prince, who was in hiding and at Cochin between Sreedevi and Kuttan Thampuran. Their ardent love met with obstacles as the kings were bitter foes. All ended well and the lovers were united and the Kolathiri king built a palace at Nileswaram for the new couple.
The novel is poorly researched from the historical angle and the plot is very stretched out, with facts given a go by. As there are too many subplots, the main story is not focused.
The novel brings out the rivalry and petty personal ambitions among the then rulers, who unwittingly dug their own graves.
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