Oka Hijra Katha

This is a collection of 8 stories translated from Urdu and Hindi by Paravastu Lokeswar. Of the eight, three are by Khushwant Singh, all historical works depicting 19th and pre-19th century Delhi. The other works are by Ismat Chugtai, Qurratulain Hyder, Kamala Das, Abdul Jabbaar, and Kishan Chander, which dealt with different topics. The stories are all very interesting and the translation of Lokeswar ensures that the collection is a great read. The translation is good and natural.

My favorites from this collection include:

• Gruha Nirmata by Ismat Chugtai (I've read her before in another collection and with this story, I've taken a special liking to her work)
• Paruvu - Prathista by Qurratulain Hyder
• Meet Taki Meer by Khushwant Singh (This is the life story of a renowned Urdu poet of 17th and 18th centuries)

The title story "Oka Hijra Katha" by Abdul Jabbaar is also good.


Publishers: Gandhi Prachuranalu
Price: Rs. 50

Alochinchu

Picked up this novel by Malathi Chandoor driven by the positive review by an acquaintance. But I'm extremely disappointed. In fact, I'm so outraged by the novel. The writing is good but the story and the message it conveys didn't ring well with me. I'm actually impressed by her portrayal of lead characters in the first half of the story and didn't quite understand how she could degrade her characters to such an extent in the later half. The story is about a couple with liberal views and high individuality. They undergo civil marriage against the wishes of their families and stick to their principles through thick and thin. But for not too long, it turns out to be. The change in the husband is gradual and the wife gets puzzled over this but could do nothing about it. All this is well and good but here comes the shift: the husband gets involved in illicit affairs. What is truly disconcerting about this is that the wife keeps quiet about it despite her obvious displeasure. The usual reasons are given : family, kids etc. Her world shatters when the husband declares that he needs to go for second marriage as the object of his illicit pleasure is pregnant and he is morally obligated to marry and protect her and the offspring. He stresses that he has no other choice and is clearly aware of the pain it causes to the wife. He assures that he cares for her a lot and that's the reason why he informed her about his decision before acting. (Ridiculous!) Indeed, the wife's world shatters, and she goes into severe depression and finally takes solace in the teachings of a swamiji and finds a purpose to her life (social service).

Given the strong character of the wife, it isn't clear why the author didn't make her stand up for herself. The wife undergoes a lot of turmoil, hates the husband (actually, the opening and ending notes of the story convey her feeling of resentment towards him), hates the life in general. The most atrocious of all is the view that "men have such weakness by their biological structure, they can't help it and hence illicit relationships are common and should be ignored". This perspective is conveyed by both the erring husband and god forbid, the swamiji. Swamiji urges the wife to "think" from others' (husband and the other woman) perspective and understand them. He says that separating from the husband is not a solution because the question of self-esteem doesn't come into the picture. The husband still cares for her and is not physically hurting or ignoring the wife. So, the reason why the wife is so devastated is only because her ego had been hurt.

I lost it there. What nonsense is this? What use is the intellect,the reasoning capability, and individualistic character of the wife if she finally accepts the swamiji's advice? (She argues with the husband that "biological differences may exist, but isn't adultery a moral issue and aren't morals same for all?) She isn't happy by no means at the end, but at least she has found the courage to take on life. My question is, why should she? By being with the husband, whether whole-heartedly or not, she seemed to have supported his actions, if only indirectly and after lot of tamasha. The thing is, the husband never feels that he has done anything wrong. The problem arose and he had to trouble the wife only because the other one became pregnant.

The author depicted the inner struggle of the wife commendably and put forth valid points and arguments but she spoiled it all by making her react as she did. One probable reason why it's impossible for the wife to desert the husband is her love for him. He is the world for her and now that he has cheated her (she feels so cheated only when he marries another woman, not during his uneventful affairs), she couldn't bear it. So, what about his love for her? Is it possible to simultaneously love the wife and be promiscuous? (The novel seems to say so.) If so, what kind of love is it? Is that valid?

A perfect story with flawed message.

Amma Ki Aadivaaram Ledaa?

This is a collection of 52 stories by Ranganaayakamma. Like her novels, I loved this book too. Reading her is like education. She strives to bring clarity between the good and the bad in her stories and characters. She doesn't like to be ambiguous about such things like some others do and it's such a relief.

I'm really surprised, rather pleasantly, to read about how she makes changes and improves her works in subsequent editions depending on how her own opinions change owing to greater knowledge and expereince. I wonder how many authors do this kind of exercise.

In these stories I got the taste of her sarcasm and also humor apart from her usual style. Notable sarcastic/ humorous stories include - Pellaniki Premalekha - which tells that a wife expects to be loved by her husband, not just needed; Kanipinchutaledu - funny naration by a husband of a "muggu" addict wife; Pelli chesesaam - about people who regards acceptance to social norms is the only way to live; Kutra - very fuuny account of how revolutionists are conspiring against people by writing their literature in a wrong and complex language.  There are also many stories which make us think and learn something. But I assure you that they are equally or even more entertaining.

I'm very much impressed by her feminist ideas and also her principled nature. She is a marxist and one can find more than a few stories in this collection in which she expresses those ideas. She believes that marxism is the only knowledge worth enough to know, the dearth of which makes lives worthless. According to her (marxism), accumulation of wealth is a crime. If there is wealth, it comes only by exploiting others. When a landlord sits at home, has servants to do the work both in the house and the land, he is just exploiting them. I'm not sure I agree with all this. Or it might just mean my ignorance about the valuable marxism and am in a hopeless state.

Matti Manishi

Matti Manishi by Vasireddy Sitadevi is a remarkable novel and undoubtedly one of her best. It is about land and fuedalism. The story is mainly about Sambaiah, who is a devout farmer and his love for land/earth. When he gets his son married to the daughter of a feudal lord in decline, everything changes. The daughter-in-law, Varudhini, separates the father and the son and gradually disposes off the family wealth. Upon the tragic demise of Varudhini and of everything she stood for, her son comes back to Sambaiah to learn the ways of land and share his grandfather’s love for it.

I found a few traces of Buck’s classic The Good Earth in this novel, especially while reading about Sambaiah and his steady growth to richness. Matti Manishi is a riveting read of conflicting emotions and beliefs.

Seela Veerraju Kathalu

I just finished reading a collection of short stories by Seela Veerraju. I’m still reveling those wonderful stories. These are by far the best stories I’ve ever read. I loved the author’s beautiful descriptions of nature and beauty. I never read anything so enthralling before. The characters and the plots stay with you long after you’ve finished reading them. The language was delectable and the simplicity and depth of the stories captivated me. I really am neither able to express how much I liked the collection nor what joy I felt reading those stories. It’s pure joy of experiencing fine talent.

I’m grateful to my grandpa who kindly lent me the book and thus introduced me to this amazing literary work. I was thrilled to note that it’s a signature copy. I later discovered that the author had been a personal acquaintance of my grandfather,and I was like “wow!”.

“Seela Veerraju Kathalu” would remain one of my all-time favorites. This book includes 34 stories.

Chick Lit Hub

Here's an amazing website for all those chick-lit lovers: Chick Lit Books. You can get here a view at the latest featured books and lots of reviews.

Enjoy!!

Legacy - Danielle Steele

One of my favourite writers,definitely a page turner!!

This is the story of a 38 yr old lady named Brigitte whose life changes when she is dumped by her boyfriend after 6 yrs of relationship and is laid off by her employer.She is a gal who would never want to take risks, either personally or professionally. She helps her mom on a family geneology project and falls in love with the character of her ancestor who is a Dakota Sioux named Wachiwi and travels to salt Lake and then to Paris and Brittany in search of her family history.

She happens to meet a writer named Marc at the National Library at Paris who helps a lot in her research of family history and changes her life from then.

Wachiwi is the great-great-great-grandmother of Brigitte, who travels from the Dakota Sioux - New orleans - Paris to marry her man who is the brother of French Marquis but marries the Marquis himself.

I personally fell in love with Wachiwi and Marquis, the perfect couple!!

Matters of the Heart-- Danielle Steel

Hope Dunne a famous photographer, married at an early age of about 22yrs to a doctor and enjoyed the joy of motherhood and also the heartbreak of divorce and loss of her only daughter.She travels to India and Tibet and heals her wounds of heart staying at the ashramas in Rishikesh and Tibet. She falls in love with one of her subject Finn O'Neill, who is a famous Writer. She gets carried away by his warmth but finds it irresistible to get along with him because of his past, lies, jealousy and greed for her money.She discovers that Finn is a Sociopath. Sociopath is someone who destroys you and your heart and your existence as a whole. He appears to be very loving at the beginning but as days pass on leaves her traumatized,and threatens to kill her for money. Her one year relationship with Finn kills her heart and soul.

Hope finds it impossible to continue the relationship with Finn and takes the help of her friend Robert who is an attorney at Dublin and ends up in India in the ashramas to heal.Its a blend of suspense and drama dealt neatly and very close to heart.

Ontari Nakshatram - Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani

Too much of family drama, main lead both male and female very immature, everything revolving around money...somehow was not a pleasant one for me..
For a moment I did not even get what was happening, story ending with a generation leap.

Anuhya - Balabhadrapatruni Ramani

A typical Ramani types with a beautiful and innocent heroine born and brought up in an orthodox family in a remote village, gets married. She seldom tries to express her views and feels suffocated in the relationship. She starts exploring life after the couple plan for divorce on mutual agreement. Time pass story!!

The Prodigal Daughter - Jeffrey Archer

Top writing and a page turner, I could not put the book down literally.

The story is about the daughter of a Polish Immigrant to US of A, who is a famous hotelier. Florentyna daughter of Abel dreams to become the first female President of US of A. Her life in past,future and present involving lots of twists and turns. The endless obstacles in her journey from a daughter of a successful hotelier to President of US of A. Success never comes easily, simple concept explained very well. There is an involvement of real life politicians in this story which is very gripping with good timing. Added advantage is I could know the elections procedure in US of A. A book worth the time spent reading.

Big Girl - Danielle Steele

Victoria, daughter of Jim and christine undergoes a lot of emotional abuse by her own parents since she had no resemblence to them, was obese and a little smart and less beautiful according to her parents. Victoria loves her younger sister Grace who receives unconditional love from her parents based on her beauty and she being their replica. Victoria's accomplishments never get acknowledged by her verbally abusive dad. She accepts a job in NY and moves away from her family to overcome the feeling of worthlessness and realises her value.

This is one of the latest books of DS. I was a little disappointed with the plot, obese daughter treated very badly, and parents never realised their mistake. And to my surprise a blonde with big blue eyes is made to feel inferior in respect to beauty!!! Gal who never had a date all through her college is considered a loser by her parents :) Very light read.

Sudha.

HRF Bulletin…Visthaapana – Vidhwamsam

Ee bulletin lo mana Govt chesthunna (chesthunnaamani cheppukuntunna) development projects gurinchina detailed reports, vaati pros and cons annee vunnaayi…Govt approve chesina SEZs, Projects kosam gather chesina bhoomulu, vaati valana asrayam kolpoyina vaalla problems, Coastal corridor peru tho pollute avuthunna environmental balance ilaanti issues gurinchi enno vishayaalu vunnaayi…

Prasthutham adhikaaramlo, prathipaksham lo vunna ye party ni adiginaa thama aim state ni develop cheyyadame ani chepthaaru…but development ante vaalla definition enti? Andarikee manchi education, thindi, arogyam, illu veetitho comfortable life ivi provide cheyyadam anukundaam…kaanee jaruguthunnadi totally different…Abhivrudhi perutho corporate companies ki mana statelo vunna human and natural resources oppachepthunnaaru kadaa…deeni valla equal oppurtunities atunchi pedda pedda companies laabha paduthunnaayi….. poor ppl emo vunna kastha aadhaaram (bhoomi, neeru, adavulu veeti meeda depend ayi brathukuthunna ppl) pogottukuni homeless avuthunnaaru…Societylo differences peruguthaayi + Natural resourcesni chethulaara maname nasanam chesukuni muppu techukuntunnaam…chaalaa mandi argue chesthaaru…Govt vaallaki vere alternatives provide chesi, kothaga start chesthunna works lo vallaki employment provide chesthondi kadaa ani…Deeniki example gaa mana Govt approve chesina SEZs gurinchi discuss chesaaru….

Kotha companies, industries pedithe andulo employement provide chesthaam asrayam pogottkunna vaallaki ani chepthaaru…Mana govt approve chesina 57 SEZs lo 39 IT related vi…veetilo poor n uneducated ppl ki udyogaalu ivvaleru…so baagupadedi chaduvukunna vaallu, nastapoyedi chaduvuleni (chaduvukoleni) village ppl…vaalla lands, houses annee govtki dhaaradhattam chesi…alanee Pharma SEZlu…ee IT companies construction stagelo vundagaa labour work avee vuntaayi, kaanee avi temperory ne kadaa..aa tarvatha vaallu ekkadiki vellaali? Ponee kotha industries ki related townships lo veellaki employment vuntundaa ante enthamandiki provide cheyyagalaru? Factorieslo labour work ichinaa andulo labour laws n rights ki sambandhinchi chaalaa exceptions ichaaruta….Ee SEZla kosam bhoo sekarana valla niraasrayulayyedi ekkuva mandi elaanti technical skills, chaduvu, exposure leni aadivaaseelu, chepalu patte vaallu, tribals…edo real estate market perigi ekara, rendekaraalu vunna farmers polaalu ammukuni aa dabbutho bagupaddaa, oorlaki oorlu khaalee chesthunnappudu ee chinna raithula sankhya enthalo vuntundi? polaalu leni, unnaa sarayina documents choopinchaleni vaalla sangathi enti? asalivemee leni tribals, fishermen veellanem chesthaaru? Inni lakshala mandiki upadhi (permanentga) ekkada, elaa provide chesthaaru? Ee issues annee ee bulletinlo discuss chesaaru.

Idanthaa oka vepu ayithe, maro vepu future generations ni effect chese environmental pollution…ee points annee validgaane anipinchaayi naaku…ye party powerlo vunnaa development ante ento question chesukokundaa ilaantivannee approve chesthundemo…so independant organisations, prajaa sanghaalu, victims veellantha kalsi fight chesthene ilaanti disastrous development ni aapagalaru…and alaanti fights mana statelo chaalaa takkuva rangelo jaruguthunnaayi…ee vishayaalu manam books chadivo, meetingski attend ayo thelsukuntaam…asalu veeti valana directgaa nastapoye vaariki matram ee information anthaa elaa cheruthundo, vallani gather chesi protest elaa cheyyaalo mari…Govt edo relief package provide chesthundi ane kaanee daani valana labha nastaalu ento identify chesukunelaa vaallunnaara?

Ee bulletinlo Vizag agency area lo Baxite ganula thavvakam, Singareni opencast projects ilaa chaalaa vaati gurinchina details vunnaayi….and HRF vaallu last year publish chesina pamplets annee koodaa vunnaayi…thappakundaa manamanthaa chadivi thelsukovaalsina vishayaalu chaalaa vunnaayi…ee books Navodaya bookhouse lo dorukuthaayi.

--Keerthi Cherukuri

Recommendations from fellow TIAians - III

Veellanem Cheddam

This novel by Yandamoori Veerendranath first came out in 2009, almost a decade after he wrote his last novel Antharmukham. Ever since that novel, which was triggered by his father's death, he hasn't written any fiction. However, he commenced writing non-fiction a short while later and managed to gain popularity in that genre too.

Veellanem Cheddam addresses the increasingly corrupted, greedy and selfish nature of the current society. He questions why someone needs to amass huge amounts of wealth by corrupt means only to leave it to one's future generations who wouldn't even remember them. He points out that by leaving almost unlimited wealth to the youngsters, the immensely rich are responsible for making them lazy, irresponsible and spoiled. He also calls attention to the role of writers to influence the society.

This is the most matured novel by Yandamoori I've read. And it's both though provoking and highly readable. The latest edition (fourth) also comes with an interview of the author, which is an added attraction.

Krishnaveni (8th Edition)

Just finished reading this popular novel by well-known author - Ranganayakamma. It's her first novel, written at the age of 19 in 1959. The latest edition has a specialty: the author added a new foreword and lots of footnotes. The author has ruthlessly played the role of self-critic and pointed out the many awkward things in her work. She honestly attributed her inadequacy to her immaturity at the time of writing it.

I never read this novel before but reading it along with the author's current analysis of the story and the characters felt like an education to me. The work completely awed me. I'm sure the effect would have not been the same without the footnotes, though I suspect that I would have been appalled by the protagonist's foolish behavior. I couldn't approve the whole love story part since the scenes seemed too far-fetching. Also, Madhav failed to make an impression on me. As the author herself admitted, the characters lacked clarity and are a mix of good and bad. I agree with the author's hindsight that the only solid character was Renuka and she had potential to occupy a greater part of the story.

The way, the author dissected the characters and certain conversations and opinions provided so much food for thought. I know that Krishnaveni doesn't need an introduction to Telugu literature lovers but this 8th edition is truly remarkable for the aforementioned reasons and more.

Tender Hooks

Moni Moshin's Tender Hooks is a delightful read. It's outright hilarious. I couldn't help laughing out load many a times. Decent and nothing over the edge.  It presents the Pakistani high-society life in a slightly sarcastic way and is very entertaining.

The novel is written in the form a dairy, which notes the significant political happenings that affect the country. Tender Hooks is a kind of sequel to Moshin's popular The Dairy of a Social Butterfly. Apparently, Tender Hooks features the gregarious Butterfly of the prequel.

I liked Moshin's writing so much that I'm really looking forward to read her other two works. Besides the two books I mentioned above, she also authored an award-winning novel - End of Innocence.

I discovered Tender Hooks from an article in The Hindu and am glad I did.

Price: Rs. 199

Pages: 250

Urban Shots

Urban Shots is a collection of 29 short stories by 13 authors put together by Paritosh Uttam. As the title implies, these stories are set in urban cities and are about relationships, love, friendship, angst and longing. Besides being interesting and engaging, these stories evoke various emotions in one's heart. This is at once both a light and in-depth read. These stories reflect the present life style and provide an insight into the lives of people.

It is priced at Rs.145, which makes it all the more attractive. :-) I got this from flipkart.com at an awesome price of Rs. 100 after discount. And free shipping too! So, what are you waiting for? Go and grab your copy asap. It's worth it all.

Inscrutable Americans

This novel by Anurag Mathur gives a hilarious account of the experiences of an Indian young man, Gopal, during his one year stay in America.  It's outright comical and entertaining. There were many "Lol" and "Rofl" moments in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I'm sure you'll too.

I don't think I'll ever forget the first taste of side-splitting laugh that is to be continued throughout the book: "The strangest thing about America is that it is full of Americans. "

Initially, the intriguing title got me wondering whether it would have any offensive content. But to my relief I found that it demeans neither America nor India. As one reviewer (on the back cover) expressed, Inscrutable Americans is a celebration of both India and America.