The Cage, originally written by P N Srinivas and translated by Dr PS Phalgun- is the story of Vasu, a village lad who outgrows the binding atmosphere around him to become a scientist, achieves great heights; still feels entrapped in the memories of his past, missing it always, and never coming out of the cage of nostalgia, always wanting to obtain what is far from him.
Everyone in the novel is tied up in the 'cage' - the cage of poverty, loveless, freedom less invisible cage that leaves them dreaming of escaping from it. Vasu, the protagonist, grows in forest village for some years, with his uncle and aunty who do not have any children. The Chik aunty, a child widow, keeps
Vasu's spirits alive with her stories, love and caring. The novelist describes the village atmosphere in great detail, with the vivid description of the orchard, various fruits, trees and more. In this atmosphere, Vasu feels the lack of love and yearns to get out the 'cage'.
At some point, his father takes him and his brothers back to city. Though a bright student, Vasu is not able to score high in exams, as his intelligence remains unpolished, limiting him to study for the sake of knowledge.
During his degree, he gets a mentor - Puttappaiah, a character that stands as a symbol of unconditional selfless love, a great teacher and a humanist. He brings out the scientist in Vasu, which gets Vasu a chance to go to the US for higher studies with a chance to earn.
He decides to go to America, to realise the dream of earning for his family.
The culture shock, coupled with low salary and intellectual thefts do not hinder Vasu’s curiosity. He passes his MS in nine months. He learns ‘bow his head and walk within system’, receives his doctoral degree, and one day gets out the trap of the intellectual theft he was in, only to get absorbed in a company that manufactures cultured human tissues. Cameras and bugs everywhere, he loses freedom to interact or discuss with the people around. He feels the secrecy code of the company invade his private life too.
Finally, after his contract with the company expires, he escapes and comes back to Bangalore. The changed Bangalore, with everything - lives, atmosphere, landscape - changed beyond recognition, welcomes him with its coldness.
Not finding the warmth expected with his homecoming, Vasu yearns to go back to the forest area he grew up in.
There too, much has changed. However, with much thought and introspection, Vasu finds a purpose in life, and decides to dedicate himself and his intellect to save the land and culture.
The symbolic ‘cage’ is depicted in the novel in various circumstances and forms. The rural areas of Karnataka come alive in the beginning of the novel and take the reader on to a journey to a wonderland.
Though initially not a page-turner, the novel leaves haunting pictures in the reader’s memory, and leaves behind unanswered questions on purpose of life.
Though it is a translation of the novel in Kannada, the translator has been able to capture the originality of the work, yet making it enjoyable for an English reader.