The languages represented are Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Most of the writers are already well-known. Some of the stories have appeared in other anthologies. The collection has been edited by Subashree Krishnaswamy and K Srilata, who are eminent writers. There is also an introduction on issues of culture and translation by Mini Krishnan.
Thoughtful selection and translation make the book a showcase of literary gems. After each story the editors have given questions for analysis and reflection to add to the reader's experience. Reproductions of the original script, as well as neat profiles of the authors, make the book a unique and well-planned project.
In the Kannada section Veerabhadrappa’s ‘A Sweet Dish’ describes the trauma of a child who is sold by his parents who are too poor to feed him. ‘Seemantha’ by H Nagaveni shows a child’s pain at being rejected by her aunt. ‘Annaya’s Anthropology’ by A K Ramanujan, deals with a young man reading a book on Indian rituals only to find a picture that shocks him to the core.
‘Wooden Cradles’ in Malayalam by Lalithambika Antherjanam speaks of nostalgia and the story tellers of old. Vaikom Muhammad Basheer’s ‘The World Renowned Nose’ describes the success and ultimate betrayal of a person who is famous for his long nose.
Paul Zacharia takes a humourous dig at masala films in ‘The last show’.
In Tamil C S Lakshmi— “Ambai”— depicts a shifting world of dreams and reality in her story, ‘Squirrel’. Ashokamitran embodies a rat— ‘The Rat’— to reveal the poignancy of loss. K I Rajanarayanan narrates the macabre adventures of a chair bought by a family in a village in ‘The chair’.
The Telugu stories begin with Arburi Chaya Devi. ‘The Touch’ talks of how a daughter longs to be close to her father but cannot because of social taboos. ‘The Rain’ by Raavi Sastry shows a dramatic mental turn around in a man under pressure. In ‘Taatayya’ by Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao, a child expresses its bewilderment at the dos and don’ts of a rigid caste system.
All the stories show polished craftsmanship. They reveal harsh truths through a gentle exposition, hiding the sting of a scorpion’s tail under the delicate texture of butterfly wings.
A must buy book for anyone who enjoys reading.
