KANNADA
Historical novel
V. GOPALAKRISHNA
SUNDARIYARU MATTU SUNDARARU: Uroob, Mohan Kuntar — Tr. in Kannada; Sahitya Akademi, 35, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi-110001. Rs.250.
THE MALAYALAM original of this novel has the distinction of winning the Sahitya Akademi award besides some prestigious prizes. The story is framed by pre-Independence events which include the World Wars, the Khilafat movement and the freedom struggle.
The novelist provides a wide variety of characters combining imagination with historical facts to give a comprehensive picture of the cultural history of Kerala for a period of half a century.
The novel is planned so meticulously that each of the seven chapters can be read as a separate long story. Characters like Raman Nair, a poor teacher, who despite his own hardships offers timely help by accommodating a pregnant woman who was a victim of the Khilafat movement.
The description of the school days of Karthikeyan and Kunjiraman in the wake of the Salt Satyagraha and prohibition of foreign goods to protest against British rule is quite emotional, encouraging and appropriate to the situation.
Some of the characters show a great affinity to the political parties after witnessing rich people exploiting the poor.
The translator is at home in both the languages for it is evident from the translation that the dexterity, loyalty and newness of the original language have been successfully brought out in the target language.
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