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A Tiger At Twilight And Cyclones
Manoj Das . . . [will] take a place on my shelves beside the stories of Narayan — Graham Greene
This volume presents two celebrated novels by Manoj Das, one of India’s most illustrious authors, who has been writing in English and Oriya (Odia)for over six decades.
In A Tiger at Twilight the erstwhile raja of Samargarh returns to his abandoned palace in Nijanpur, after years of self-exile, with his sick daughter and his supposed half-sister, and immediately assumes the responsibility of killing a man-eating tiger. Assisting him are a few noted men of the valley including Dev the owner and manager of a resort. But as the hunt intensifies Dev realizes that things aren’t as they seem: Heera, the raja’s sister, has an inexplicable power over the men in the hunting party and a strange connection with the tiger. As the men get closer to killing the beast, bizarre things begin to happen, hinting at the influence of the supernatural.
Cyclones is set in Kusumpur, a small coastal village, during the struggle for Independence. The village is devastated by a cyclone and Sandip, the scion of the zamindar (land-lord) family, helps restore it. The war-time colonial government, though, wants to turn the sleepy hamlet into a busy port town. They plan to fill up the river that flows by it, in the process angering all the villagers, including Sandip. But when the contractor for the project is found murdered, Sandip is accused of the crime, forcing him to flee from the authorities. This is the start of a series of adventures that take him from a remote ashram in a forest to the city where communal violence is rife. Cyclones is a powerful novel about the metaphorical storms that gripped the nation during the most turbulent period of its modern history.
- GenresFiction
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1991
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263 people want to read
About the author
Manoj Das
109 books90 followersManoj Das, a prolific author, is among India's foremost short story writers. He writes both in Oriya (Odia) and English, and is a Professor of English at the Sri Aurobindo International University, Pondicherry.
Manoj Das was born in a small coastal village named Shankari in Balasore district, Orissa State. Since 1963, he has been an ashramite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. He is presently concentrating on writing novels.
Manoj Das is perhaps the foremost bilingual Oriya writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Oriya short stories and novels. He says that:
Manoj Das was born in a small coastal village named Shankari in Balasore district, Orissa State. Since 1963, he has been an ashramite at Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. He is presently concentrating on writing novels.
Manoj Das is perhaps the foremost bilingual Oriya writer and a master of dramatic expression both in his English and Oriya short stories and novels. He says that:
"Characters follow the theme of a story, and the words are merely added by author to represent the thoughts of the character."That is the precise reason why Das's characters in fiction are from so many varied backgrounds, and display many different dimensions of human nature. He is a philosopher, a thinker-writer whose works can be defined as a quest for finding the eternal truth in everyday situations.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 3, 2019
A tiger at twilight and Cyclones
By Manoj Das
State: Orissa
This book was a compilation of two celebrated novels of various prestigious awardee-Manoj Das
A Tiger at twilight
Devdas, a wealthy young orphan owns and resides in a mansion at Nijanpur, a mountain village of Samargarh in Orissa. He with his few elderly friends meets with the King of Samargarh who has returned to Nijanpur in self exile. The village fears a man eater who has killed many for which the King sets himself to kill it.
Devdas with his elderly crew joins with the King and his so called half sister, Heera to kill the tiger. Once they get nearer to the tiger strange things start unveiling. Situation gets in hold of untouched things for decades like - a abandoned temple, forgotten bizarre ritual, a chest, truth about relations etc... All these makes the reader witness an end of awe and agony.
It was an intense read which dealt with immense psychological pressures and pleasures.
Cyclones
The story set in couple of years prior to Independant India gives us the cons of independence, political clashes, bloodsheds due to partition and philosophies of truth through Sandip, a youth whose origin it itself a mystery.
A series of events on which Sandip has no control, carries him from Kusumpur( a village) to a hot-spot city of religious clashes. In it are weaved the stories of a boy who yearns for a family, a loyal mentor, youth love, power of money, a strange murder and Sandip's search for soul truth.
On a whole, both the stories were deep, fast moving and mystical.
By Manoj Das
State: Orissa
This book was a compilation of two celebrated novels of various prestigious awardee-Manoj Das
A Tiger at twilight
Devdas, a wealthy young orphan owns and resides in a mansion at Nijanpur, a mountain village of Samargarh in Orissa. He with his few elderly friends meets with the King of Samargarh who has returned to Nijanpur in self exile. The village fears a man eater who has killed many for which the King sets himself to kill it.
Devdas with his elderly crew joins with the King and his so called half sister, Heera to kill the tiger. Once they get nearer to the tiger strange things start unveiling. Situation gets in hold of untouched things for decades like - a abandoned temple, forgotten bizarre ritual, a chest, truth about relations etc... All these makes the reader witness an end of awe and agony.
It was an intense read which dealt with immense psychological pressures and pleasures.
Cyclones
The story set in couple of years prior to Independant India gives us the cons of independence, political clashes, bloodsheds due to partition and philosophies of truth through Sandip, a youth whose origin it itself a mystery.
A series of events on which Sandip has no control, carries him from Kusumpur( a village) to a hot-spot city of religious clashes. In it are weaved the stories of a boy who yearns for a family, a loyal mentor, youth love, power of money, a strange murder and Sandip's search for soul truth.
On a whole, both the stories were deep, fast moving and mystical.
October 20, 2023
I read "A Tiger at Twilight" in a week, breaking it into eight sittings. The author's storytelling is versatile and vivid, making the scenes feel real. I was particularly struck by the scene where the tribal people greet their king and his impactful choice between remaining king or becoming a minister.
The story, for the most part, is peaceful, although it slows down a bit during Sharma and Heera's tale. The narrator, Deb, comes across as someone who's lived through many generations.
Other characters, like the king, Sahu the merchant, Heera the tigress, Vimala the caring mother, and Balika, the sick yet endearing girl, all find their place in the story, forming meaningful connections that lead to a beautiful ending.
Delving deeper, the book explores the king, his ancestors, and a mythological goddess guarding Nijanpur. The tigress appears to play a pivotal role in the story.
The book also delves into nature, life post-Indian independence, and the loyalty people hold for their king. It's notably free from modern technology, keeping the story straightforward and enjoyable.
In summary, "A Tiger at Twilight" is a literary gem and a must-read.
The story, for the most part, is peaceful, although it slows down a bit during Sharma and Heera's tale. The narrator, Deb, comes across as someone who's lived through many generations.
Other characters, like the king, Sahu the merchant, Heera the tigress, Vimala the caring mother, and Balika, the sick yet endearing girl, all find their place in the story, forming meaningful connections that lead to a beautiful ending.
Delving deeper, the book explores the king, his ancestors, and a mythological goddess guarding Nijanpur. The tigress appears to play a pivotal role in the story.
The book also delves into nature, life post-Indian independence, and the loyalty people hold for their king. It's notably free from modern technology, keeping the story straightforward and enjoyable.
In summary, "A Tiger at Twilight" is a literary gem and a must-read.
July 10, 2021
This book comprises two novellas, different yet similar.
The first novella - A Tiger At Twilight - is a first person narrative about a sequence of events happening in his rural village after the demise of zamindari. The writing is transportative and enthralling and the ending lingers on.
The second novella - Cyclones - is set when independence is birthing in India. The setting is rural with urbanization threatening demise of the unruffled feathers of a village. The novella starts like a whirling cyclone and multiple characters are introduced rapidly, and there are a number of sub-plots getting constructed and deconstructed for the reader to fully digest.
Nevertheless, each story is unique, set during the turbulent times and tinged with mysticism and philosophy - trademarks of Manoj Das! Read each over a weekend with warm cups of tea to accompany with.
The first novella - A Tiger At Twilight - is a first person narrative about a sequence of events happening in his rural village after the demise of zamindari. The writing is transportative and enthralling and the ending lingers on.
The second novella - Cyclones - is set when independence is birthing in India. The setting is rural with urbanization threatening demise of the unruffled feathers of a village. The novella starts like a whirling cyclone and multiple characters are introduced rapidly, and there are a number of sub-plots getting constructed and deconstructed for the reader to fully digest.
Nevertheless, each story is unique, set during the turbulent times and tinged with mysticism and philosophy - trademarks of Manoj Das! Read each over a weekend with warm cups of tea to accompany with.
March 3, 2020
One of the finest novels I have ever read in my life!!! As a review reads "A Tiger at Twilight, is first and foremost an absorbing story which transports the reader into a lost wonderland of men and beasts. But the wonderland was true till the other day, lands lying enchanted under their native deities and hoary legends and in the shadows of hills and forests."!!! Blessed to be a reader of such book!
December 30, 2020
This has to be a must read for all fans of this genre
May 22, 2021
This book is a collection of two great stories written by one legendary Odia author Manoj Das. The stories are mystical and will keep you hooked until the last word is read.
A Tiger at twilight is an emotional yet thrilling story of Devdas, a young orphan hunting for a man-eater tiger, whereas Cyclones is the story about another youth named Sandip and his struggles during a period when India was battling for independence.
One tale is supernatural, and the other metaphorical, but both contained a mystical element that makes this a great read—two tales with two different perspectives.
EBR
A Tiger at twilight is an emotional yet thrilling story of Devdas, a young orphan hunting for a man-eater tiger, whereas Cyclones is the story about another youth named Sandip and his struggles during a period when India was battling for independence.
One tale is supernatural, and the other metaphorical, but both contained a mystical element that makes this a great read—two tales with two different perspectives.
EBR
October 4, 2024
A Tiger At Twilight
Set in the peri independence era where the monarchs have lost their glory and power, the self exiled Raja of samargarh returns to his abandoned palace with his daughter who is frequently sick and his half sister (Heera) who is a thing of beauty. Dev is the main character who's family had bought Heera Mahal which he renovated as a resort. The resort is nestled near a mountain and now with the return of the royal family, there's a hint of strangeness in the air. A man eater tiger has become a nuisance to the village people. The King makes it his purpose to put an end to the tiger while Heera has her own ambitions and covert ways of getting what she wants. Dev and his friends are invited to the castle to join the hunt and noone leaves the same.
Cyclones
Coastal odisha is known to be a victim of cyclones. With one having wrecked the village of kusumpur, Sandip, the heir of the Zamindar returns to help the villagers through the hard times. Sandip has my heart. He's an innocent soul who cuts his heart out for others while they end up trampling it. He recalls the events at school and it just made me teary eyed. The colonising government wants to destroy nature and build a port there. There's murder and mayhem and Sandip is on the run. Sandeep has a drive for spiritual enlightenment but forced to deal with the wretched doings of humans in the name of religion, power, money and politics. He feels like the rest of us. Small in the this world of big players. Manoj Das too spent his last years in an ashram in Pondicherry. writers always leave of bit of the themselves in their works.
A definite recommendation for Indian literature lovers, nature lovers and seekers of nostalgia.
Set in the peri independence era where the monarchs have lost their glory and power, the self exiled Raja of samargarh returns to his abandoned palace with his daughter who is frequently sick and his half sister (Heera) who is a thing of beauty. Dev is the main character who's family had bought Heera Mahal which he renovated as a resort. The resort is nestled near a mountain and now with the return of the royal family, there's a hint of strangeness in the air. A man eater tiger has become a nuisance to the village people. The King makes it his purpose to put an end to the tiger while Heera has her own ambitions and covert ways of getting what she wants. Dev and his friends are invited to the castle to join the hunt and noone leaves the same.
Cyclones
Coastal odisha is known to be a victim of cyclones. With one having wrecked the village of kusumpur, Sandip, the heir of the Zamindar returns to help the villagers through the hard times. Sandip has my heart. He's an innocent soul who cuts his heart out for others while they end up trampling it. He recalls the events at school and it just made me teary eyed. The colonising government wants to destroy nature and build a port there. There's murder and mayhem and Sandip is on the run. Sandeep has a drive for spiritual enlightenment but forced to deal with the wretched doings of humans in the name of religion, power, money and politics. He feels like the rest of us. Small in the this world of big players. Manoj Das too spent his last years in an ashram in Pondicherry. writers always leave of bit of the themselves in their works.
A definite recommendation for Indian literature lovers, nature lovers and seekers of nostalgia.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews