Check in every Wednesday for a new set of five! This week's selection includes Paralysis by Chandrakant Bakshi and Janamtip by Ishwar Petlikar.
Paralysis by Chandrakant Bakshi
The novel tells the story of a widowed professor, and deals with themes such as loneliness, defeat, detachment, and ennui. Gujarati critic Chandrakant Topiwala praised it for its "skilled narrative designs”. It was translated into English by the author in 1981, and has also been translated into Marathi and Russian. Bombay TV later broadcast a play based on the novel.
Andhali Gali by Dhiruben Patel
Andhali Gali is a psychological novel, which gives insight into life of a woman named Kundan, who decides to marry at the age of forty five. The Handbook of 20th Century Literatures of India, edited by Nalani Natarajan, observes that “in her writings, Dhiruben reveals her understanding of the human mind and builds up the characters and situations, forming a natural pattern. She writes with ease and a sense of humour, encompassing in her works the life of men and women at various levels.”
Janamtip by Ishwar Petlikar
Transliterated as ‘Life Sentence’, the novel is about a socially and economically deprived family. It was adapted into film directed by Feroze A. Sarkar in 1973.
Kimbal Ravenswood by Madhu Rye
It is a story of a non-resident Indian searching for a bride in India. The story was later adapted into plays in several languages including ‘Yogesh Patelnu Vevishal’ in Gujarati and ‘The Suitable Bride’ in English. It was also adapted into a TV series titled ‘Mr. Yogi’ in 1989 and a film directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar named ‘What’s Your Rashee?’ in Hindi cinema (from the blog “Matrubharti”).
Fero by Radheshyam Sharma
A couple, who have a mute, only-child, take a long journey to the Sun temple with the hope that the gift of speech is granted to their child. The trip is an attempt to appease their God.
With a view to capture inner reality of life as well as to ardently reflect the alchemy of human connections, he resorts to ‘collages’ from cinematic angularity. At times, the bizarre images projected within the architecture of narratology evoke the macabre effect. The style modulates in mood from darkly humorous to grim to positively eerie (from Contemporary Gujarati Short Stories, edited by Dr. Kishore Jadav).
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