A trifle disappointing but Bhyrappa's ingenuity shows
AnveshaNa is a sequel to the epic, 'Gruhabhanga' but comes no where near it. Pretty much like movie sequels where 'Part-2' is more often than not, disappointing (except for honorable exceptions like the Godfather series), the book fails to live up to expectations. However, Bhyrappa's ingenuity and mastery in story telling is evident throughout the novel.
(If you haven't read the novel and plan to, feel free to skip the following)
AnveshaNa ('The search'), in physical terms is the story of a grandpa's(Kanti Jois) search for his grandson (Vishwanath) who separates from his family after his mother's death and the family falling apart. However, it is also Vishwa's search for truth and a life of integrity.
Picking up from where Gruhabhanga left off, Vishwa is brought up by a mendicant, Mahadevaiah, wholly unknown to his surviving father and maternal grandpa and uncle. After many years, the horse riding grandpa is obsessed in finding Vishwa and runs from pillar to post despite his mystery ailment. He is full of repentance and is always blaming himself for letting things come to such a pass. He realizes that it is a wild goose chase and resigns himself to dying without getting a glimpse of his grown up grandson. The latter part of the novel, is devoted to the trials and tribulations of the often confused but idealistic Vishwa. Most of it, the reader learns through narration from his close associates or people who consider him their protege - like the lawyer who gets him released from jail; the tailor 'Ganganna', his close friend; the headmaster, etc. In spite of several missteps and yielding to baser temptations, Vishwa is a man of integrity, always thoughtful, knowledge seeking, unconventional, independent and skillful and dedicated in anything he does. His close associates respect him but he also poses as an enigma to them.
The story ends with Vishwa trying to make amends with his wife after deserting her and his new born son. He is overcome with pity after learning she had lost their son after an attempt at suicide.
His wife seems to have spurned him, but it is finally left to the reader's imagination whether they finally unite, with the headmaster in a dilemma whether he should intervene to patch things up.