Gopallapurathu Makkal by K Rajanarayanan

I first read this novel, Gopallapurathu Makkal by K Rajanarayanan, when it was written as a series in a Tamil weekly journal, Ananda Vikatan. After many years, I found this novel as a book of fine printing from the publishing house Annam, at a makeshift bookstore. It is a master piece on the lives of Karisal region in Tamil Nadu.

The story starts at some point in the British-occupied India, when Gopallapuram, a remote village, was not yet impacted by the occupation. As a series of short stories is told, the plot slowly moves from one generation to the next. As the stories roll, we get a glimpse of the villagers' lives and their customs, indigenous and colorful.

The short stories are so rich and deep, they deserve to be novels in their own rights. One of the stories, that of Kittappan and Achindalu, their love for each other and their tradition-breaking reunion was told with a poetic beauty. There are very few authors that can handle the love-making of two animals and the longing of a lonely woman that happens to witness the intense act, without slipping into the realms of obscenity.

As the stories dwell into our nation's struggle for freedom, we get to see the then political events with new perspectives. Be it the hanging of Bhagat Singh or the functioning styles of Congress leaders or the beliefs of the communists or that of a deserted soldier, we get to see each event from a new angle.

In spite of the fine printing and quality packaging, the most I missed in the book are the drawings of Adimoolam, which featured every week in Ananda Vikatan and added an additional dimension to the stories.

This book is a Sakithya academy winner, a work that must be read by every Tamilian and if translated into other languages, by everyone.