Cave

 

Along With The Sun - Book Review

A unique anthology of short stories from the 'Karisal' or 'Black Soil' region of Tamil Nadu.

Edited by Ki. Rajanarayanan, one of the most acclaimed and influential writers in Tamil, these stories tell, with genuine affection and concern, of the lives of people living against the backdrop of the black soil land. Here the rain plays hide-and-seek, sometimes oppressing them with drought, sometimes with floods; caste and religion still form a large part of the social order; cattle and moneylenders decide the fate of populations; and local gods are a very real presence.

Written by celebrated contemporary Tamil authors in a range of literary styles, these are stories that will resonate universally long after they are read.

About the Authors

Ki. Rajanarayanan (b. 1922) is an acclaimed writer and folklorist. He started writing in the late 1950s. With his firm conviction that the spoken language was the correct language to use while writing, he was a pioneer in the introduction of dialect in his works. He has over thirty books to his credit, the most recent being the novel Andarandap Pakshi (The Andaranda Bird). In 1991, he was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award for Gopalapurathu Makkal (The People of Gopalapuram), a novel about a community of Telugu-speaking people who had migrated to Tamil Nadu. He was also the recipient of the Ilakkiya Chinthanai Award in 1979, as well as a Literary Achievement Special Award from the Toronto-based Tamil Literary Garden in 2016. From 1998 to 2002, he was a member of the General Council and Advisory Board of the Sahitya Akademi. As a member of the Communist Party of India, he was twice imprisoned in the late 1940s and early 1950s, for his support for and participation in peasant rebellions. To mark his sixtieth birthday celebrations in 1982, he embarked on the publication of this anthology, Karisal Kadaikal. He lives in Puducherry.

Padma Narayanan (b. 1935) is a short-story writer and the translator of numerous works of literary fiction from Tamil to English, including a collection of stories by the noted writer Imayam (forthcoming), Aadhavan's I, Ramaseshan (2008), La. Sa. Ramamritham's Apeetha (2014), Indira Parthasarathy's Poison Roots (2014), Ramamritham's The Stone Laughs and Atonement (2005), and two collections of short stories by Appadurai Muttulingam (2009 and 2017). Her work has appeared in Agni (Boston), Words Without Borders, and elsewhere. Her translation of Dilip Kumar's 'The Story of a Clerk', published in Caravan in 2012, inspired a celebrated movie adaptation, Nasir (2020). She has also translated several books from English into Tamil, and has written and spoken on the subject of translation. She lives in New Delhi.

One of the things that I really admire about my country is its diversity. There are innumerable cultures to delve into, numerous languages to communicate, and a variety of people with whom one can interact. These bring out a wide plethora of stories which have unique regional fragrances in them. Take for instance my latest read, ‘Along With The Sun’, which is laced with beautiful tales of Tamil Nadu’s black soil.

One assurance that I can provide you is that this book will keep you hooked. There are multiple stories, each exploring a different theme, written by a different writer. As such, the writing style and plots are unique in itself. No two stories are alike, but they do have a beautiful similarity in backdrop that binds them together – the black soil region of Tamil Nadu.

The stories revolve around subjects like broken dreams (‘Along With The Sun’), devotion (‘A Fierce Love For One’s Soil’), politics (‘Helpless’), rituals (‘Gruel For Rain’), and so on. The tales are well laid out, and do touch the inner chords of one’s heart. Special credit should be given to Ki. Rajanarayanan for the flawless editing and Padma Narayanan for the brilliant translation. The cover too is beautiful, reflecting the plethora of stories that can be found in its pages.

Though there is a ‘Glossary and Notes’ section towards the end, I felt an index of regional words with their meanings/ descriptions with the exact page number would have helped. Often, when I came across a regional word that I was not acquainted with (and there were several of them), I had to browse through ‘Glossary and Notes’ to comprehend it. Mention of exact page number where that word was defined would have been more helpful.

Nevertheless, I do recommend this book, not only to those who would like to connect with the regional flavors of the beautiful Tamil Nadu, but also to all those book lovers who are in search of good stories. Do give it a try and let me know what you think about it.

Title: Along With The Sun

Editor: Ki. Rajanarayanan

Translator: Padma Narayanan 

Publisher: Harper Perennial India

Publication Year: 2020

Language: English

Binding: Paperback

No. of Pages: 314

Price: INR 399

My Rating: 4/5

Ice Cream Love From Artiste

Nothing can beat the urge to have an ice cream on a hot summer day. My heart, thus, leaped in joy when I received the handcrafted ice creams from Artiste Handcrafted Ice-Cream

What is so special about this particular brand, you might ask. There are so many variants of ice cream out there in the market, then why 'Artiste IceCream'. 

Let me first highlight the factors that make this brand, well, different. 

• Not mass produced but crafted in small batches. As such, utmost care is taken on every pack. 
• Made with fresh cow's milk, fresh cow's cream, natural honey, jaggery and fresh fruits. Thus, milk powder, preserved butter and vegetable oil, processed sugars and preserved fruits are completely discarded.

With natural and fresh ingredients, this ice cream brand carved a deep impression on my mind, heart, and taste buds. I experienced the following variants, and all of them were absolutely heavenly. 

• Sitaphal
• Chocolate Roasted Almonds
• Chocolate Mocha
• Mango Avocado

120 ML (Pack of 4) comes at a decent price of INR 600. Same is the price for 250 ML (Pack of 2), as well as 500 ML. 

The brand, as its name suggests, also believes that art is about spreading love. This clearly shows in the delectable tastes they offer. I was impressed by the overall service and products of 'Artiste IceCream' and have penned a few lines dedicated to them.

 

you've often been lured

by deceptions, and falsity

why not then choose

a brand promoting artistry

honest in their effort

so delicious is their variety

you should give a try

handcrafted goodness from Artiste

You can order via Whatsapp (±91-9319960028). They are also available on Swiggy and Zomato. You can also check their wide range of products at https://www.artistes.in/

October

This October, what do you wish for?

Universe

 

We are the tiny specks of this universe. Isn't it, then, obvious that we are influenced by the ever changing dynamics of this vast uncharted space?

Karna's Wife - Book Review

 

Being an ardent fan of Hindu mythology, I have always viewed Karna as a doomed Hero. His prowess, valour and strength were often downplayed because of his upbringing, and an identity crisis that haunted him until his death. Karna's mind was bonded by loyalty and devotion towards Duryodhana, as he found himself stuck between righteousness and wrong. But what about his wife?

'Karna's Wife' by Kavita Kane paints the story of Uruvi, the Princess of Pukeya, right from her childhood. Being a free spirited girl, she turned out to be a bold lady whose decisions were often not appreciated by the royal lineage.

The love between Karna and Uruvi was as powerful as their misfortune. It was not supposed to be a happy ending, and this was accepted by both of them. It was this fear of loss that accentuated their love, and made their union everlasting.

Karna and Uruvi both fought their own battles, the former with bows and arrows, and the latter was bruised by conflicts between her mind and heart. They held on together, even in the most testing of times, making us believe that love is stronger than all other forces.

However, having read 'The Fisher Queen's Dynasty' by the same author before, I couldn't stop myself from comparing the two. Fisher Queen is a winner to me all along, right from its bright cover to the events that unfold in the book. Satyavati as a character had a greater impact than Uruvi, and left a lasting impression. Also, being a decision maker in the growth of the Kuru Dynasty, the journey of Satyavati was more intriguing than that of Uruvi.

With You

 

How do you explain the feeling of love? You can't.

It's simply meant to be lived and cherished. Isn't it?

Evening

 

It's important to stay happy, to count on what we have achieved today, and open up to a better tomorrow. 

Be positive. It matters. 

A lot.  

Little Birdie

 Ever wished for a good company while it rains?

Keep your doors and windows open, you never know who might drop in next.

DesignCap - Your Perfect Partner For Designing

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Let’s get to something where we invest most of our free time. Social Media. Wouldn’t you want your Facebook or Instagram Covers to look absolutely stunning, with a mix of your pictures, text and graffitti.

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DesignCap seemed too good to be true, and for someone who has faced disappointments in the past trying and testing so many tools, I wasn’t convinced initially. However, as I navigated more, the faith started building. There are thousands (yes, you heard that right) of templates for use, and one could easily create Infographics, Presentations, Posters, Flyers, Social Media Graphics, Invitations, Resumes, and what not. It’s a whole creative treasure that is out there in this site. One has to sign up to use the features. There are several plans (including a Free plan), and one can select as per his requirements.

The User Interface is well built, and one would not feel lost in this site. There is a Tutorial Section for the beginner, where examples have been demonstrated in layman terms. Within minutes of using this site, one can start designing high quality templates as he/ she had always desired.

Once you have designed your template, you can share them on your social media, or download and save them. As there is a wide variety of designs for every requirement, you will be spoilt for choices, which is the best thing about this site. Another plus is that anyone from a beginner to an expert can use this site. You don’t need any previous experience of designing to create those professional looking banners from DesignCap.

I have been using DesignCap for about a couple of weeks now, and am mighty impressed with whatever it has to offer. If you are seeking that perfect designing tools for all your needs, look no further. Go with DesignCap and let me know your views.