What does two-faced Janus see, looking backward and forward at the beginning of 2009? Did anything extraordinary happen in the past year in Malayalam writing? A new voice, a new wave, a novel use of language? None of that has happened and yet there have been good books in various genres, books have dealt with new subjects, some controversial, some not, which is always a heartening sign for anyone who loves a language.
Looking at the “Pick of 2008” lists, a couple of books seem to have found their place in most of them. One is Ghoshayatra by T J S George, the other Pravasam by M Mukundan. Sara Joseph’s Ooru Kaval too has a place. Other books like P K Rajasekharan’s journeys through fiction from all over the world and some poetry too find their way into the lists. Aswathi Tirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bai’s Malayalame Mappu brought out by Rainbow Books, a collection pieces which appeared in
Malayala Manorama gives a cross section of the not too serious preoccupations of the Kerala society at various times, mostly regretful, sometimes hopeful. Professor M N Karasseri’s Ummamarku Vendi Oru Sankada Harji speaks in a measured tone of social evils. The author’s lack of dramatics while speaking of burning issues always makes the impact stronger. Dr Suvarna Nalappat’s Nadalayasindhu — Ragachikitsamritam is, as the name implies, a study of different effects of music, the use of music therapy, and suggestions for further projects in the field. Another interesting book was Dr Shirley Vasu’s Post Mortem Table, narrating her experiences in forensic medicine, a novel field in Malayalam writing. Looking forward, one can only hope for that fresh voice, the exciting discovery that 2009 might bring. The periodicals too are full of interesting writing, though once again I mourn the fact that there is more interesting non-fiction than fiction. One certainty is that the language is still definitely alive and vibrant and stories of its demise have been grossly exaggerated.
The Mathrubhumi Award this year has been conferred on Akkitham. N K Desam’s collection Mudra, with its mellifluous poetry that speaks from the heart, has been selected for the Vennikulam award. Padmaprabha Puraskaram has gone to U A Khader whose Thrikkottur with its rich mine of myth and fantasy has peopled our imagination with powerful characters. K P Appan has been given the Sahitya Akademi Award for his Madhuram Ninte Jivitam. The Sanjayan Puraskaram given for “bringing about a change in the world of thought” has been awarded this year to M V Devan.
December was witness to the loss of K P Appan, whose critical analysis and insight have been guidelines for a generation of readers, in whose hands criticism became a creative art in its attitudes and discoveries.
Another loss, of an older December, comes to memory — that of Malayatoor Ramakrishnan whose narrative skills brought so many worlds, real and fantastic, to the reader in the 1960s and 70s. His Verukal which was really rooted in the world of the village and the psychological thriller Yakshi kept us waiting for the next installment when serialised.
January too brings its reminder of loss. It has been twenty-two years since N N Kakkad, the poet who combined the wisdom of an ancient tantric tradition and a modern sensibility died of cancer. His poems were excoriated for being unmusical, nonsensical, harsh, when they first came out but played an important role in moulding the sensibilities of a couple of generations. A number of poets who write now have benefited from the sharpness of his blue pencil. His knowledge and willingness to share it made a whole generation of us aware of worlds we would never have known otherwise. He greeted death as a friendly clown and converted the burning pain of his illness into bright poetry. Poorna Books has brought out a representative selection of his poetry aptly named Agniratham. Apt because he converted the fiery pain of his body into the liquid fire of poetry. His last poem, Agniratham (in a rough translation) ends like this:
The nerves burn as fire/The eternal flame spreads/Breath burns, covers the earth/And water by its seven tongues./It is time for the journey — I prepare myself.
