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ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು [Mookajjiya Kanasugalu]
Mookajjiya Kanasugalu (literally "the dreams of a mute grandmother") which tries to unveil the secrets of nature. The story revolves around a Granny and her visions on various aspects of life, from religion to social relationships. Its all about the conversations between granny and Subbaraya alias Subbanna that runs throughout the book on various issues that he encounters in his life. ~ from wikipedia
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
1174 people are currently reading
16722 people want to read
About the author
Kota Shivarama Karanth
95 books452 followersKota Shivaram Karanth was a Kannada writer, social activist, environmentalist, Yakshagana artist, film maker and thinker. He was described as the "Rabindranath Tagore of Modern India who has been one of the finest novelists-activists since independence"by Ramachandra Guha. He was the third person among eight recipients of Jnanpith Award for Kannada the highest literary honour conferred by the Govt. of India.
Shivaram Karanth was born on 10 October 1902, in Kota near Udupi in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a Kannada family.He was influenced by Gandhi's principles and took part in Indian Independence movement while he was in college. He did not complete his education and went to participate in the Non-cooperation movement and canvassed for khadi and swadeshi for five years up to 1927. By that time Karanth had already started writing fiction-detective novels, to begin with as well as plays.
Karanth was an intellectual and environmentalist who tremendously contributed to art and culture of Karnataka. He is considered one of the greatest novelist in Kannada. Apart from his 47 novels, he also wrote 31 plays, four short stories, six books of essays and sketches, thirteen books on art, 2 volumes of poems, 9 encyclopedias, and 100+ of articles on various issues and subjects, including a history of world art in Kannada and a work on Chalukyan sculpture and architecture, a standard treatise on the Yakshagana (with which dramatic form, his name is identified), a three volume book of knowledge for children, a four volume encyclopedia on science for grown ups, 240 children's books, six books on travel, two books on birds, three Travelogues, an autobiography.
He has received several literary awards,.Namely, Jnanpith Award, Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Academy award and Pampa Award.
He passed away on 9th December 1997 in Manipal, Karnataka.
Shivaram Karanth was born on 10 October 1902, in Kota near Udupi in the Udupi district of Karnataka to a Kannada family.He was influenced by Gandhi's principles and took part in Indian Independence movement while he was in college. He did not complete his education and went to participate in the Non-cooperation movement and canvassed for khadi and swadeshi for five years up to 1927. By that time Karanth had already started writing fiction-detective novels, to begin with as well as plays.
Karanth was an intellectual and environmentalist who tremendously contributed to art and culture of Karnataka. He is considered one of the greatest novelist in Kannada. Apart from his 47 novels, he also wrote 31 plays, four short stories, six books of essays and sketches, thirteen books on art, 2 volumes of poems, 9 encyclopedias, and 100+ of articles on various issues and subjects, including a history of world art in Kannada and a work on Chalukyan sculpture and architecture, a standard treatise on the Yakshagana (with which dramatic form, his name is identified), a three volume book of knowledge for children, a four volume encyclopedia on science for grown ups, 240 children's books, six books on travel, two books on birds, three Travelogues, an autobiography.
He has received several literary awards,.Namely, Jnanpith Award, Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Academy award and Pampa Award.
He passed away on 9th December 1997 in Manipal, Karnataka.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
November 10, 2013
"ಹೆರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಇರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಸಾಯೂವುದು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?
ಗಂಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಸೆದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಕ್ಕೋ ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೋ, ದು:ಖಕ್ಕೋ ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ? " .. an interesting book which tells the naked truth about what human life is about, bit difficult to digest for those who are adherent Hindus. The Kannada slang in the book used is more of havyaka brahmin making it a bit difficult for the other Kannadigas to understand the witty humour in the book.The western ghats has been explained in a different manner when compared to KUVEMPU or Poornachandra Tejaswi, since the author see the ghats from the coastal side rather than the highland(BayaLuseeme)side.Most of the questions in our day to day life is well answered by the Grandmothers vision. The last sentence in the novel gives a hint about the question about homosexuality but remains unanswered.
ಗಂಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಸೆದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಕ್ಕೋ ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೋ, ದು:ಖಕ್ಕೋ ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ? " .. an interesting book which tells the naked truth about what human life is about, bit difficult to digest for those who are adherent Hindus. The Kannada slang in the book used is more of havyaka brahmin making it a bit difficult for the other Kannadigas to understand the witty humour in the book.The western ghats has been explained in a different manner when compared to KUVEMPU or Poornachandra Tejaswi, since the author see the ghats from the coastal side rather than the highland(BayaLuseeme)side.Most of the questions in our day to day life is well answered by the Grandmothers vision. The last sentence in the novel gives a hint about the question about homosexuality but remains unanswered.
March 14, 2022
Probably would've been banned if it had been written in these charged up days, or at least raised a fair bit of controversy considering the fate of works like Ramanujan's 300 Ramayanas. There are many who claim that this is an all-compassing moral compass, philosophy umbrella work. I did expect something like that. But it is not entirely that. Unlike English books, there is not much of a blurb of the story on the back of Kannada books, so you make do with what you've heard or read somewhere. And even that is not exactly easy. There is very little documentation or independent reviews of Kannada works online.
This book was written in 1968 and Shivarama Karanth was an atheist, environmentalist among many other things. But there are tinges of homophobia in the work which is surprising, coming from Karanth. But then considering the time it was written, it is possible. Would he have changed his mind if he had lived in different times? Tricky question.
The central premise can be summarized within this: ಹೆರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಇರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಸಾಯೂವುದು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ? ಗಂಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಸೆದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಕ್ಕೋ ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೋ, ದು:ಖಕ್ಕೋ ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?
When you say there is God and He created Man and Woman, what's right in saying their Union is wrong, that the concept of Samsara is something that should be spurned. Wouldn't that be doing something unnatural?
Through the 'visions' seen by Mookajji Karanth traces the growth of belief and the 'creation' of multiple Gods and the shifts in the balance of power among different Gods. Sometimes it is Shiva, sometimes Vishnu, once it was Indra, Varuna etc. If these are man-created, which is the actual God? If birth is supposed to be because of Karma, what Karma did your very first birth have?
"ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇವೆ, ಕೈ, ಮೂಗು, ಬಾಯಿ, ಪಡೆದು. ಅವೆಲ್ಲ ಇರುವುದು ಯಾತಕ್ಕೆ? ಕಚ್ಚಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಹುಲಿಯ 'ಬಾಯಿ ಕೊಡು', ಹೊರಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಆನೆಯ 'ಮೈ ಕೊಡು', ನುಸುಳಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ನುಸಿಯ 'ಶರೀರ ಕೊಡು' ಅಂದರೆ ಹೇಗಾದೀತು? ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಅವನು ಕೊಡುವುದಾವುದು ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದ? ಅವನೇ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಎಂತ ತಿಳಿಯುವುದಾದರೆ, ಕೊಡುವಷ್ಟನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟೀ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ - ಎಂತ ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು."
"ಗುಡಿಯೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ; ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ದೇವರೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾದ ದೇವರು ಇದ್ದನೆಂದರೂ, ಅವನು ಎಂಥವನೆಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಎಟುಕಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮ ಬುದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಸಮನಾಗಿ, ನೂರು, ಸಾವಿರಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು 'ಇದೇ ನಿಜ' 'ಅದೇ ನಿಜ' ಎಂತ ಮರುಳು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದವರು. ಸಂಕಟ ಬಂದಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ದೇವರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೋಗಿ 'ಅದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು, ಇದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು' ಎಂದು ಬೇಡಿದವರು."
It is heavy with criticism of religion and the concept of prayers, worship, Karma, the whole works, and he does raise important points. There is some criticism that this is not a proper novel as such. But then, that would be limiting what someone could write. Mookajji, Subbaraya, Seethe, Anantaraya exist as totems for different belief systems and mainly to create the arguments and get the points across. But the writing and narrative is kept interesting so it doesn't feel like someone is standing on a stage and lecturing away. As Karanth mentions in the preface - there are no protagonists or antagonists in this book.
Definitely a must read if you know Kannada. Not sure how good the translation is.
This book was written in 1968 and Shivarama Karanth was an atheist, environmentalist among many other things. But there are tinges of homophobia in the work which is surprising, coming from Karanth. But then considering the time it was written, it is possible. Would he have changed his mind if he had lived in different times? Tricky question.
The central premise can be summarized within this: ಹೆರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಇರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಸಾಯೂವುದು ಅಲ್ಲ, ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ? ಗಂಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಸೆದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಕ್ಕೋ ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೋ, ದು:ಖಕ್ಕೋ ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?
When you say there is God and He created Man and Woman, what's right in saying their Union is wrong, that the concept of Samsara is something that should be spurned. Wouldn't that be doing something unnatural?
Through the 'visions' seen by Mookajji Karanth traces the growth of belief and the 'creation' of multiple Gods and the shifts in the balance of power among different Gods. Sometimes it is Shiva, sometimes Vishnu, once it was Indra, Varuna etc. If these are man-created, which is the actual God? If birth is supposed to be because of Karma, what Karma did your very first birth have?
"ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೇವೆ, ಕೈ, ಮೂಗು, ಬಾಯಿ, ಪಡೆದು. ಅವೆಲ್ಲ ಇರುವುದು ಯಾತಕ್ಕೆ? ಕಚ್ಚಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಹುಲಿಯ 'ಬಾಯಿ ಕೊಡು', ಹೊರಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಆನೆಯ 'ಮೈ ಕೊಡು', ನುಸುಳಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ನುಸಿಯ 'ಶರೀರ ಕೊಡು' ಅಂದರೆ ಹೇಗಾದೀತು? ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಅವನು ಕೊಡುವುದಾವುದು ಎಲ್ಲಿಂದ? ಅವನೇ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ ಎಂತ ತಿಳಿಯುವುದಾದರೆ, ಕೊಡುವಷ್ಟನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟೀ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾನೆ - ಎಂತ ತಿಳಿಯಬೇಕು."
"ಗುಡಿಯೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ; ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ದೇವರೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾದ ದೇವರು ಇದ್ದನೆಂದರೂ, ಅವನು ಎಂಥವನೆಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಎಟುಕಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮ ಬುದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಸಮನಾಗಿ, ನೂರು, ಸಾವಿರಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು 'ಇದೇ ನಿಜ' 'ಅದೇ ನಿಜ' ಎಂತ ಮರುಳು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದವರು. ಸಂಕಟ ಬಂದಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ದೇವರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೋಗಿ 'ಅದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು, ಇದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು' ಎಂದು ಬೇಡಿದವರು."
It is heavy with criticism of religion and the concept of prayers, worship, Karma, the whole works, and he does raise important points. There is some criticism that this is not a proper novel as such. But then, that would be limiting what someone could write. Mookajji, Subbaraya, Seethe, Anantaraya exist as totems for different belief systems and mainly to create the arguments and get the points across. But the writing and narrative is kept interesting so it doesn't feel like someone is standing on a stage and lecturing away. As Karanth mentions in the preface - there are no protagonists or antagonists in this book.
Definitely a must read if you know Kannada. Not sure how good the translation is.
July 30, 2021
यह मेरी दूसरी पुस्तक है जो कि शिवराम कारंत ने लिखी है। पहले पुस्तक का नाम मृत्यु के बाद (ಅಳಿದ ಮೇಲೆ/Alida Mele) था। कहानी वास्तव में अद्भुत है। दादी कुछ रोचक कहानियाँ बताती हैं। वह भविष्यवाणी कर सकती है जो इसे और भी अद्भुत बनाती है। बीच में कहानी थोड़ा उबाऊ हो सकता है क्योंकि लेखक पात्रों को पेश करने की कोशिश करता है। एक बार जब कहानी अंदर आते है, तो आप कभी नहीं जानते कि आप कहां हैं। कपोल कल्पित और सच्चाई के बीच की पतली रेखा को सुंदर तरीके से संकुचित किया गया है और इसे दो संबंधित अध्यायों में रखा गया है। यह पुस्तक मूल रूप से कन्नड़ में लिखी गई थी लेकिन मैंने हिंदी में पढ़ी।
November 30, 2012
I have no idea whether this is a fiction or not but there is a certain logic in this book. The granny being married at the early age (child marriage was often common in old India) and widowed just after few days of her marriage comes back to her paternal house and stays with her sibling.as time pass all of the older generation dies including her brother and his wife except granny who is now survived by her nephews (brother's two male children).
The elder boy comes back to the village house after his education in history and get marries and stays in the inherited house looking after the farm and other things. The younger one stays in the city after education and becomes a high school teacher.
The elder is most fond of the granny and since she is the eldest person in the house there is a special respect, but the granny is realistic she has her own way of picturing gods and past history and as a added advantage she has inherited the power to see the
past in her mind y either going to a certain historic place or by feeling a historical thing in her hands and often she will start mumbling to herself about the visions. Due to which others think that she has lost her mental balance and become crazy.
Not only she is able to see the history but can also see what really the person is and his doings by looking at him/her, it’s like she's and oracle but who only tells what has happened and what might happen in few hours or so, there is not much of extended inputs about her future sights.
Well as the elder sibling is a student of history he wants to go in and around his village and see the old caves where there is mounting of ash, he visits and in the ash mound he collects certain things. Back in the house he already knows about his granny who has these extraordinary psychic powers and gives the finds to his granny who by touching explains its past and so on he goes here and there collects even more things and finds about them.in many cases he is even accompanies by his granny visits certain places where he is able to get some more information from her.
there is too much to this which can’t be explained in simple terms. The book has won Jnanpith Award in 1977 a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Academy Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country. I will surely want the interested reader to read this book and review it themselves.
Kannada Version: https://www.sapnaonline.com/index.php...
English Version: it is called mookajji's visions but no idea where it is available. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
The elder boy comes back to the village house after his education in history and get marries and stays in the inherited house looking after the farm and other things. The younger one stays in the city after education and becomes a high school teacher.
The elder is most fond of the granny and since she is the eldest person in the house there is a special respect, but the granny is realistic she has her own way of picturing gods and past history and as a added advantage she has inherited the power to see the
past in her mind y either going to a certain historic place or by feeling a historical thing in her hands and often she will start mumbling to herself about the visions. Due to which others think that she has lost her mental balance and become crazy.
Not only she is able to see the history but can also see what really the person is and his doings by looking at him/her, it’s like she's and oracle but who only tells what has happened and what might happen in few hours or so, there is not much of extended inputs about her future sights.
Well as the elder sibling is a student of history he wants to go in and around his village and see the old caves where there is mounting of ash, he visits and in the ash mound he collects certain things. Back in the house he already knows about his granny who has these extraordinary psychic powers and gives the finds to his granny who by touching explains its past and so on he goes here and there collects even more things and finds about them.in many cases he is even accompanies by his granny visits certain places where he is able to get some more information from her.
there is too much to this which can’t be explained in simple terms. The book has won Jnanpith Award in 1977 a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Academy Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country. I will surely want the interested reader to read this book and review it themselves.
Kannada Version: https://www.sapnaonline.com/index.php...
English Version: it is called mookajji's visions but no idea where it is available. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
September 18, 2020
Why was it picked?
One of those books where procuring the book itself feels like an achievement :)
Originally written in Kannada, this Jnanpith Award winner was highly recommended by an office colleague. I had been desperately hunting for an English or Hindi translation of this book for around a couple of years.
Couldn't find it on any of the regular online platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, eBay) or the regular bookstores (Crossword, Sapna). No luck with second hand stores either - Blossoms, Bookworm, BookChor and many other tar-mortar and online stores. Checked a few public and private libraries (Jayanagar, JustBooks, Kwench) but to no avail. While attending a colleagues marriage in Hubli, had hopes of finding it in author's hometown. No luck there either!
Written in 1968, it was translated in many Indian languages such as English, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Oriya and Malayalam.
Where did all those translations vanished?
Last month, I came across a few sample scanned pages in Hindi from GoogleBooks, and traced the publishing house contact details located in Delhi. Fortunately, got response from one of those emails, and voila! I now have a Hindi translated Hardcover 2011 edition (after following up and sharing address and transaction details over email).
About the book:
Story of an old lady(80+) with no direct family, living in her nephew's house in a village. The whole village considers her crazy, as she keeps mumbling random meaningless somethings. But apparently all those random mumblings are meaningful when taken in context - whether or not God exists? Who created humans? Who created God? Of truth and deception, life and death… and matters beyond the realm.
She is gifted with one supernatural sensory power (what others write off as hallucinations!) via which she percepts the origin of anything that comes in contact with her.
Along with this root theme, which creates interesting conversations, there are glimpses of regular rustic village life of 70s. Houses made of mud and clay, usage of jaggery water as welcome drink, disinfecting the floor using cow dung, travelling on foot or at max bullock carts, things people do in their regular day to day lives.
I hope there is more demand, and publishing is revived for such books.
One of those books where procuring the book itself feels like an achievement :)
Originally written in Kannada, this Jnanpith Award winner was highly recommended by an office colleague. I had been desperately hunting for an English or Hindi translation of this book for around a couple of years.
Couldn't find it on any of the regular online platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, eBay) or the regular bookstores (Crossword, Sapna). No luck with second hand stores either - Blossoms, Bookworm, BookChor and many other tar-mortar and online stores. Checked a few public and private libraries (Jayanagar, JustBooks, Kwench) but to no avail. While attending a colleagues marriage in Hubli, had hopes of finding it in author's hometown. No luck there either!
Written in 1968, it was translated in many Indian languages such as English, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Oriya and Malayalam.
Where did all those translations vanished?
Last month, I came across a few sample scanned pages in Hindi from GoogleBooks, and traced the publishing house contact details located in Delhi. Fortunately, got response from one of those emails, and voila! I now have a Hindi translated Hardcover 2011 edition (after following up and sharing address and transaction details over email).
About the book:
Story of an old lady(80+) with no direct family, living in her nephew's house in a village. The whole village considers her crazy, as she keeps mumbling random meaningless somethings. But apparently all those random mumblings are meaningful when taken in context - whether or not God exists? Who created humans? Who created God? Of truth and deception, life and death… and matters beyond the realm.
She is gifted with one supernatural sensory power (what others write off as hallucinations!) via which she percepts the origin of anything that comes in contact with her.
Along with this root theme, which creates interesting conversations, there are glimpses of regular rustic village life of 70s. Houses made of mud and clay, usage of jaggery water as welcome drink, disinfecting the floor using cow dung, travelling on foot or at max bullock carts, things people do in their regular day to day lives.
I hope there is more demand, and publishing is revived for such books.
August 22, 2015
Mookajjiya kanasu is the first ever kannada novel that I have read in all my 25 years of life. Soon after I finished the finished reading it, I bought two other kannada novels. Such was the impact this gem of a book had on me. The simplicity of the book, its description of everyday life, the thought process of the and the way the story and characterization follow are some of its many USPs.
Simply put, it is the story of a septagenerian agnostic granny who seems to have incredible insight (quite literally) into the lives and minds of those around her. It follows her thoughts and ideals as narrated to her brother’s grandson. Widowed at an early age, she has earned the name Mookajji (which translates to ‘mute granny’) due to her sparse use of words and also because her name in Mookambika. Mookajji is perhaps one of the best characters that I have come across in all of the books that I have read. Considering the epoch that she is from, there is a stark contrast between her beliefs and what was perhaps then considered norm in the society. We don’t know her to be well-educated or well-read, yet the kind of thinking that she displays is far ahead even five decades after the book was released. The simplicity with which she describes her beliefs, her open criticism of some of the senseless norms prevalent in our society, her interpretation of mythological stories would lead you to introspection of one’s own viewpoints. As the story moves ahead, her routine soliloquies under her ashwathada katte become the scenes you most eagerly look forward to.
Mookajjiya kanasugalu has made me fall in love with kannada literature. Perhaps its too much to say just after reading one kannada novel, but I’m certain there will be many more to come. I will recommend this book to everyone with most certainty.
Simply put, it is the story of a septagenerian agnostic granny who seems to have incredible insight (quite literally) into the lives and minds of those around her. It follows her thoughts and ideals as narrated to her brother’s grandson. Widowed at an early age, she has earned the name Mookajji (which translates to ‘mute granny’) due to her sparse use of words and also because her name in Mookambika. Mookajji is perhaps one of the best characters that I have come across in all of the books that I have read. Considering the epoch that she is from, there is a stark contrast between her beliefs and what was perhaps then considered norm in the society. We don’t know her to be well-educated or well-read, yet the kind of thinking that she displays is far ahead even five decades after the book was released. The simplicity with which she describes her beliefs, her open criticism of some of the senseless norms prevalent in our society, her interpretation of mythological stories would lead you to introspection of one’s own viewpoints. As the story moves ahead, her routine soliloquies under her ashwathada katte become the scenes you most eagerly look forward to.
Mookajjiya kanasugalu has made me fall in love with kannada literature. Perhaps its too much to say just after reading one kannada novel, but I’m certain there will be many more to come. I will recommend this book to everyone with most certainty.
June 22, 2024
ಪ್ರಾರಂಭಿಕ ಓದಿನ ತೀವ್ರತೆ ಉತ್ಕೃಷ್ಠ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನೆಲ್ಲ ತ್ವರೆಯಾಗಿ ಓದುವ ದುರಾಸೆಯನ್ನು ಕೊಡುತ್ತದೆ, ಈ ತೀವ್ರತೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಓದಿದ ಕೃತಿಗಳು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟದೇ ತಲೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಹಾಯ್ದು ಹೋಗಿ ನಿರುಪಯುಕ್ತವಾಗುತ್ತವೆ. ಹೀಗೆ ಓದಿದ ಕೃತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು. ಇದೇನು ಹೀಗಿದೆ ಕೃತಿ ಎಂದು ಅಸಡ್ಡೆಯಾಗೇ ಹಲವಾರು ವರ್ಷಗಳನ್ನು ಕಳೆದಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
ಆದರೆ ಈ ಕೃತಿ ಈಗ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಅನುಭವ ಅಮೋಘವಾದದ್ದು, ಕೆಲ ಕೃತಿಗಳು ಓದುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ತನ್ನದೇ ಆದ ಗಾಢ ಅನುಭವ ಬೇಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ಅನುಭವ ನನಗೆ ದೊರಕಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ದಾರ್ಷ್ಟ್ಯದ ಮಾತಾದೀತು, ಅಂದು ಓದಿದ ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಈಗಿನ ಅನುಭವ ಬಡ್ತಿ ಪಡೆದಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ನಿಜವಿರಬಹುದು, ಮುಂದೆ ಮರು ಓದಿದರೇ ದೊರಕುವ ಅನುಭವ ಇದಕ್ಕೂ ಮಿಗಿಲಾಗಿಯು ಕಾಣಬಹುದು ಕಾಣದೆಯು ಇರಬಹುದು,
ಈ ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಎರಡು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಬಹುದು, ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಆಚರಣೆಗಳ ವಿಕಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಅವನತಿಯು ಕೊಡುವ ಪ್ರಭಾವ ಮತ್ತು ಪಾಠ, ಇನ್ನೊಂದು - ಒಂದು ತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ಹಲವು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಮಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟ ಬಂದ ಹಾಗೇ ರೂಪಾಂತರಿಸಿ ಅದೇ ಸಾರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ ಸತ್ಯವೆಂದು ನಂಬುವ ವರ್ಗದ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ (ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ನಂಬುವ ಬಗೆಯೂ ಸೇರಿ). ಹೀಗೆ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಬ್ಬರಾಯರ ನಡುವೆ ನಡೆಯುವ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಕೃತಿಯ ಹೃದಯ ಭಾಗ. ಈ ಭಾಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಲೇಖಕರು ತೋರಿರುವ ಜಾಣ್ಮೆ ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ವತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯದ್ದಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾರಂತರಂತ ವಿಶಾಲ ಅನುಭವ ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ವತ್ತು ಇರುವಂತ ಲೇಖಕರು ಮಾತ್ರ ಬರೆಯಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ.
ಆದರೆ ಈ ಕೃತಿ ಈಗ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಅನುಭವ ಅಮೋಘವಾದದ್ದು, ಕೆಲ ಕೃತಿಗಳು ಓದುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ತನ್ನದೇ ಆದ ಗಾಢ ಅನುಭವ ಬೇಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಆ ಅನುಭವ ನನಗೆ ದೊರಕಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ದಾರ್ಷ್ಟ್ಯದ ಮಾತಾದೀತು, ಅಂದು ಓದಿದ ಅನುಭವಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಈಗಿನ ಅನುಭವ ಬಡ್ತಿ ಪಡೆದಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದು ನಿಜವಿರಬಹುದು, ಮುಂದೆ ಮರು ಓದಿದರೇ ದೊರಕುವ ಅನುಭವ ಇದಕ್ಕೂ ಮಿಗಿಲಾಗಿಯು ಕಾಣಬಹುದು ಕಾಣದೆಯು ಇರಬಹುದು,
ಈ ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಎರಡು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಬಹುದು, ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕ ಆಚರಣೆಗಳ ವಿಕಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಅವನತಿಯು ಕೊಡುವ ಪ್ರಭಾವ ಮತ್ತು ಪಾಠ, ಇನ್ನೊಂದು - ಒಂದು ತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ಹಲವು ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಮಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟ ಬಂದ ಹಾಗೇ ರೂಪಾಂತರಿಸಿ ಅದೇ ಸಾರ್ವಕಾಲಿಕ ಸತ್ಯವೆಂದು ನಂಬುವ ವರ್ಗದ ನಡವಳಿಕೆ (ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ನಂಬುವ ಬಗೆಯೂ ಸೇರಿ). ಹೀಗೆ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಬ್ಬರಾಯರ ನಡುವೆ ನಡೆಯುವ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ ಕೃತಿಯ ಹೃದಯ ಭಾಗ. ಈ ಭಾಗಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಲೇಖಕರು ತೋರಿರುವ ಜಾಣ್ಮೆ ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ವತ್ತು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯದ್ದಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಕಾರಂತರಂತ ವಿಶಾಲ ಅನುಭವ ಮತ್ತು ವಿದ್ವತ್ತು ಇರುವಂತ ಲೇಖಕರು ಮಾತ್ರ ಬರೆಯಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯ.
March 22, 2021
No wonder it won a Jnanapeetha award!
This book questions lot of our beliefs. Well I read it twice to understand those questions.
Wish I had such Mookajji with modern thoughts. Beautifully explained the relation between men and women... a belief called God, religion, culture etc.. Just wonderful.
Looking forward to watch the movie which is releasing soon.
This book questions lot of our beliefs. Well I read it twice to understand those questions.
Wish I had such Mookajji with modern thoughts. Beautifully explained the relation between men and women... a belief called God, religion, culture etc.. Just wonderful.
Looking forward to watch the movie which is releasing soon.
December 15, 2020
There are two kinds of writer,
1. Moulding a story around an ideolagy
2. Constructing a story to raise a question over agreement and disagreement.
Shivram Karantha falls into the Second category of writers, Throughout the book Characters are in introspection of themselves by re-thinking of conditioned knowledge of religion, morals, society values, and human relationships. The protagonist in the book is an old widow go by the name "Mukaji", Introverted Personality of Mukaji may seem rebellious and questionable due to her straightforwardness in approach. But as the story progresses, Her words strike down all the walls constructed around us in thunderbolt speed.
The dialectic between grandson and Mukkaji feels like a guru showering immense knowledge to her shishya(Disciple) to discover the truth. Mukkaji openness to understand the subtle problem of humans without an ideological framework immerse us in philosophical speculation.
Characters like Anatharaya and Janardana are examples of the modern generation, whose action don't match their words. Some of the conversations between Ajji and grandson cut deep into the hypocrisy and bias of civilized society. The dialectic between characters also highlights the flaws and dark roots thriving in man and woman relations.
The Subbu and Sita mutual respect for each other as a couple add sweetness to the content, Though Sita is not formally educated, Her senses of humor with Subbu and acceptance of difference in opinions commanded respect among strong characters like Mukkaji and subbu.
Since I read this book along with friends, it offered a platform for debate and disagreement to uncover the truth in our delusions. We planned for 4 weeks, But we finished it within 2 weeks due to praiseworthy characters and contents in narration.
1. Moulding a story around an ideolagy
2. Constructing a story to raise a question over agreement and disagreement.
Shivram Karantha falls into the Second category of writers, Throughout the book Characters are in introspection of themselves by re-thinking of conditioned knowledge of religion, morals, society values, and human relationships. The protagonist in the book is an old widow go by the name "Mukaji", Introverted Personality of Mukaji may seem rebellious and questionable due to her straightforwardness in approach. But as the story progresses, Her words strike down all the walls constructed around us in thunderbolt speed.
The dialectic between grandson and Mukkaji feels like a guru showering immense knowledge to her shishya(Disciple) to discover the truth. Mukkaji openness to understand the subtle problem of humans without an ideological framework immerse us in philosophical speculation.
Characters like Anatharaya and Janardana are examples of the modern generation, whose action don't match their words. Some of the conversations between Ajji and grandson cut deep into the hypocrisy and bias of civilized society. The dialectic between characters also highlights the flaws and dark roots thriving in man and woman relations.
The Subbu and Sita mutual respect for each other as a couple add sweetness to the content, Though Sita is not formally educated, Her senses of humor with Subbu and acceptance of difference in opinions commanded respect among strong characters like Mukkaji and subbu.
Since I read this book along with friends, it offered a platform for debate and disagreement to uncover the truth in our delusions. We planned for 4 weeks, But we finished it within 2 weeks due to praiseworthy characters and contents in narration.
April 23, 2021
ಮರು ಓದು...
September 16, 2016
Mookajji is a modernist of 1968 who enlightens us to think with a broader perception towards religion, culture, god, gender etc. More you read, more you think and more you question.
November 23, 2024
இந்நூல் தமிழில் 'பாட்டியின் கனவுகள்' என்ற பெயரிலும், ஆங்கிலத்தில் 'Mookkajji's Visions' என்ற பெயரிலும் வெளிவந்துள்ளது. இந்த இரண்டு மொழியாக்கங்களும் இணையத்தில் படிக்கக் கிடைக்கிறது. ஆர்வமுள்ளவர்கள் பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளவும்.
July 4, 2013
What would you feel when someone very close to you, has the eye to see the future, past and the present.
Mookajjiya Kanasugalu tells a story of "Mookajji" who has a divine power of seeing the past, future and things that people believe because they are made to believe.
We humans most of the times lack the ability to question certain beliefs that we grew up with. We just blindly accepted them without further questioning. When we ask ourselves as to why we believe, or are we enforced to believe, then is when go deeper and try to find the truth.
"Mookajjiya Kanasugalu" is such an extraordinary( yet put very simple words) volume that makes us think after reading each and every line.
We can only imagine after the book, what a humongous personality Dr.K.Shivarama Karanth was!
Mookajjiya Kanasugalu tells a story of "Mookajji" who has a divine power of seeing the past, future and things that people believe because they are made to believe.
We humans most of the times lack the ability to question certain beliefs that we grew up with. We just blindly accepted them without further questioning. When we ask ourselves as to why we believe, or are we enforced to believe, then is when go deeper and try to find the truth.
"Mookajjiya Kanasugalu" is such an extraordinary( yet put very simple words) volume that makes us think after reading each and every line.
We can only imagine after the book, what a humongous personality Dr.K.Shivarama Karanth was!
June 21, 2021
ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಬಹಳ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳು!!
ಹಿಂದೊಮ್ಮೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕಂದಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದಿದ ನೆನಪು.. ಆದರೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ ..ಈಗ ಮತ್ತೆ ಓದಿದೆ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಬಹು ಭಿನ್ನ ಕತೆ..ನಮ್ಮ ಯೋಚನೆಗೂ ಅತೀತವಾದದ್ದು ಪರಿಧಿಗೂ ಮೀರಿದ್ದು... ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಅದೆಂತಾ ಕನಸಿದು..!! ಆತ್ಮ ,ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ,ದೇವರು,ಅವತಾರ ,ಆಚಾರ ,ವಿಚಾರ,ಗಂಡು ,ಹೆಣ್ಣು,ಕಾಮ,ಮೋಕ್ಷ,ಸಂಸಾರ,ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ,ಭಯ,ಭಕ್ತಿ,ಪ್ರೀತಿ,ನೀತಿ,ಹುಟ್ಟು,ಸಾವು,ಜನ್ಮ,ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮ.. ಏನಿಲ್ಲ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ...?ಇದೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಇದೆ..
ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಿಷ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಪರಿ ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಚಂದ!!
"ದೇವರಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನೇನು ಬೇಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ .. ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾನೆ ".. "ಅಮ್ಮ ಕರೆಯುವಾಗ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಬಳಿ ಹೋಗಲು ಭಯವೇಕೆ.. ?".. ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತಟ್ಟಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳಿವು.... ಇಂತಹ ಹಲವು ಮನ ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಇದರಲ್ಲಿವೆ.. ಬದುಕಿನ ಮೂಲ ನಮಗ್ಯಾರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿಯದು.. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ತಿಳಿಸಬಲ್ಲದು.. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ "ಕತೆ ಯಾವುದಾದ್ರೂ ನಾನು ನಂಬುವದು ಅದ್ರಲ್ಲಿರುವ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು "... ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತುಗಳಿವೆ, ನಂಬುವಂತದ್ದು!!ಇದೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಬಿಡಿ ಬಿಡಿಯಾಗಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿಟ್ಟ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳು ಹೌದು... ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಬಹಳ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳು!!
ಹಿಂದೊಮ್ಮೆ ಚಿಕ್ಕಂದಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಓದಿದ ನೆನಪು.. ಆದರೆ ಅರ್ಥವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ ..ಈಗ ಮತ್ತೆ ಓದಿದೆ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಬಹು ಭಿನ್ನ ಕತೆ..ನಮ್ಮ ಯೋಚನೆಗೂ ಅತೀತವಾದದ್ದು ಪರಿಧಿಗೂ ಮೀರಿದ್ದು... ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಅದೆಂತಾ ಕನಸಿದು..!! ಆತ್ಮ ,ಪರಮಾತ್ಮ,ದೇವರು,ಅವತಾರ ,ಆಚಾರ ,ವಿಚಾರ,ಗಂಡು ,ಹೆಣ್ಣು,ಕಾಮ,ಮೋಕ್ಷ,ಸಂಸಾರ,ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ,ಭಯ,ಭಕ್ತಿ,ಪ್ರೀತಿ,ನೀತಿ,ಹುಟ್ಟು,ಸಾವು,ಜನ್ಮ,ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮ.. ಏನಿಲ್ಲ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ...?ಇದೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಇದೆ..
ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವಿಷ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಕಟ್ಟಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟ ಪರಿ ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಚಂದ!!
"ದೇವರಲ್ಲಿ ನಾನೇನು ಬೇಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ .. ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾನೆ ".. "ಅಮ್ಮ ಕರೆಯುವಾಗ ಅಮ್ಮನ ಬಳಿ ಹೋಗಲು ಭಯವೇಕೆ.. ?".. ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ತಟ್ಟಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳಿವು.... ಇಂತಹ ಹಲವು ಮನ ಮುಟ್ಟಿದ ಮಾತುಗಳು ಇದರಲ್ಲಿವೆ.. ಬದುಕಿನ ಮೂಲ ನಮಗ್ಯಾರಿಗೂ ತಿಳಿಯದು.. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಎಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ತಿಳಿಸಬಲ್ಲದು.. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಹೇಳುವಂತೆ "ಕತೆ ಯಾವುದಾದ್ರೂ ನಾನು ನಂಬುವದು ಅದ್ರಲ್ಲಿರುವ ನಾಲ್ಕು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತುಗಳನ್ನು "... ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಒಳ್ಳೆ ಮಾತುಗಳಿವೆ, ನಂಬುವಂತದ್ದು!!ಇದೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನು ಬಿಡಿ ಬಿಡಿಯಾಗಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿಟ್ಟ ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜನ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳು ಹೌದು... ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ ಬಹಳ ಹಿಡಿಸಿದಳು!!
February 28, 2017
ಮನೋಜೀವಿಯಾದ ಮಾನವ ಕುಲವು ಈ ಭೂಮಿಯ ಮೇಲೆ ನೆಲೆಸಿದ ಅಲ್ಪಾವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಮಿತ ವಿಶ್ವಗಳಿಂದ ಕೂಡಿರುವ, ಬಿಳಿಯಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಕಾಣಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದ ಮಹಾ ಮಹಾ ಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಬಾರಿಯ ಸೆರಗೊಂದರ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಎಳೆಯನ್ನು ಕೂಡ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಕಂಡಿರಲಾರದು. ಆದರೆ ಆತ ತನ್ನ ಅಲ್ಪಮತಿಗೆ ಗೋಚರಿಸಿದ ಅದ್ಭುತ ,ಆಶ್ಚರ್ಯಗಳಿಂದ ಚಕಿತಗೊಂಡು - ಈ ಜಗತ್ತೇನು ? ಯಾರು ಅದನ್ನು ಸೃಷ್ಠಿಸಿದರು, ಯಾಕೆ,ನಾನು ಎಂಥವ ,ಯಾತಾಕಿದ್ದೇನೆ -ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕೇಳತೊಡಗಿದ . ಬರಿದೆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಕೇಳಿದರೆ ಸಾಲದಲ್ಲ ; ತನ್ನ ಎಟುಕಿಗೆ ಸಿಗದಂಥ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದಂತೆಯೇ ನೆನೆದು , ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಕಲ್ಪನಾಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹರಿಯಗೊಟ್ಟು , ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡ ಕನಸನ್ನು ನಿಜ ,ಸತ್ಯ ಎಂದು ಸಾರುತ್ತಲೂ ಬಂದ.
-- ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜರ ಮುನ್ನುಡಿ , ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು
Good read and food for thought :)
-- ಕಾರಂತಜ್ಜರ ಮುನ್ನುಡಿ , ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು
Good read and food for thought :)
January 16, 2025
ದೇವರೆಂಬ ಕಲ್ಪನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಕುರಿತಾದ ಜಿಜ್ಞಾಸೆ, ಅಜ್ಜಿ-ಮೊಮ್ಮಗನ ನಡುವೆ ನಡೆಯುವ ಚರ್ಚೆಗಳು , ಬದುಕಿನ ಆಗುಹೋಗುಗಳನ್ನು ಮನುಷ್ಯರು ಸ್ವ���ಕರಿಸಬಹುದಾದ ರೀತಿ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯನ್ನು ಉತ್ತಮತೆಗೆ ಅರ್ಹವಾಗಿಸಿವೆ.
ಬಹುಶಃ lgbtqia+ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ವಿಚಾರವಾಗಿ ಈಗಿನ ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮುಕ್ತತೆ, ಒಳಗೊಳ್ಳುವಿಕೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಇದನ್ನು ಓದುವಾಗ ಕಾರಂತರು ಇದೇ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯನ್ನು ಈಗಿನ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅದರ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಹೀಗೇ ಇರುತ್ತಿತ್ತೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಎಂಬ ಯೋಚನೆ ಕಾಡದೇ ಇರದು.
ಬಹುಶಃ lgbtqia+ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ವಿಚಾರವಾಗಿ ಈಗಿನ ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಮುಕ್ತತೆ, ಒಳಗೊಳ್ಳುವಿಕೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಇದನ್ನು ಓದುವಾಗ ಕಾರಂತರು ಇದೇ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯನ್ನು ಈಗಿನ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅದರ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಹೀಗೇ ಇರುತ್ತಿತ್ತೋ ಇಲ್ಲವೋ ಎಂಬ ಯೋಚನೆ ಕಾಡದೇ ಇರದು.
August 20, 2022
ಕೋಟ ಶಿವರಾಮ ಕಾರಂತರರ, ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ "ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು " ಕಾದಂಬರಿ, ನಾನು ಓದಿದ ಮೊದಲ ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ ವಿಜೇತ ಕೃತಿ ಇದು. ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಪುರಸ್ಕೃತ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಎಂದರೆ ಸಹಜವಾಗಿಯೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಆಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆಗಳು ಹೆಚ್ಚು.ಓದುಗನ ಯೋಚನೆಯ ಪರಿಧಿಯಾಚೆಗಿರುವ ಅದೆಷ್ಟೋ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಒಂದೊಂದಾಗಿಯೇ ತೆರೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾ ಹೋಗುತ್ತದೆ.ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಕೊನೆವರೆಗೂ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯು ದೇವರು, ದೇವರ ಮೇಲೆ ಇರುವ ಅವರ ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳ ಆಧಾರ, ಅವರು ಧರ್ಮ-ದೇವರು, ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡುವ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾತನಾಡುತ್ತಾರೆ
August 10, 2012
Amazing jnanapita award winning Novel. Must read kannada book.
November 9, 2022
5 star is also very small.... amazing book i ever read ✨
August 17, 2021
ಹಿಂದೆ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯಂತವರು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ನೋಡಲು ಸಿಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಬೇಗ ವೈಧವ್ಯ ಪ್ರಾಪ್ತಿ ಆಗಿ ಗಂಡನ ಅತ್ವ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಆಸರೆ ಇಲ್ಲದೆ, ಅಣ್ಣನೋ ಅಥವಾ ತಂದೆಯ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲೋ ಕಾಲ ಕಳೆಯುವವರು.
ಜೈನ , ಬೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮಗಳ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆ, ಎಲ್ಲ ಧರ್ಮಗಳ ಪುರಾಣ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಆಗಿರಬಹುದಾದ ಕಾರಣಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನ ...ಕೊನೆ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಅನಂತ ರಾಯರಿಗೆ ಹೇಳುವ ಬುದ್ದಿವಾದ ...
ನಾಗಿಯನ್ನ ಅವಳ ಗಂಡನ ಸೇರುವ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು....ಅದ್ಬುತ.
ತಿಪ್ಪಾಜಿಯ ಸಾವು ಕಣ್ಣಂಚಲಿ ನೀರು ತರಿಸಿದ್ದು ಸುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲ.
ಜೈನ , ಬೌದ್ಧ ಧರ್ಮಗಳ ಸ್ಥಾಪನೆ, ಎಲ್ಲ ಧರ್ಮಗಳ ಪುರಾಣ ಕಥೆಗಳ ಹುಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಆಗಿರಬಹುದಾದ ಕಾರಣಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನ ...ಕೊನೆ ಅಧ್ಯಾಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಅನಂತ ರಾಯರಿಗೆ ಹೇಳುವ ಬುದ್ದಿವಾದ ...
ನಾಗಿಯನ್ನ ಅವಳ ಗಂಡನ ಸೇರುವ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದು....ಅದ್ಬುತ.
ತಿಪ್ಪಾಜಿಯ ಸಾವು ಕಣ್ಣಂಚಲಿ ನೀರು ತರಿಸಿದ್ದು ಸುಳ್ಳಲ್ಲ.
October 27, 2025
Well deserved book for Gynapita ..in life we are always in Chase for something..but this book gives you a perspective of Life, that you are born one day and definitely will die one day...no need to worry much for a shortfall...that you are left with something to do here..just calm down, Do your job... leave it for next generation they will continue
March 6, 2022
ಜೀವನದ ತರ್ಕವನ್ನು ಅಥೈರ್ಸಿ ಮತ್ತಷ್ಟು ತರ್ಕವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಲು ಉತ್ತೇಜಿಸುವ ಪುಸ್ತಕ
July 22, 2017
ಒಂದು ದೇವ-ಹಲವು ನಾಮ, ಬಂಧನ-ಮುಕ್ತಿ, ಒಲವು-ವೈರಾಗ್ಯ, ಸೃಷ್ಟಿ ನಿಯಮ, ಜಾತಿ-ಧರ್ಮ-ಕರ್ಮಗಳ ಮರ್ಮದ ಕಂತೆಯನ್ನು ಎಳೆ ಎಳೆಯಾಗಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಕಾರಂತರು.
ಅರಳಿಕಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತು ಹೇಳುವ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಬಾಳಕಟ್ಟೆಯಿಂದ ಬೂದಿಕಟ್ಟೆಯ ಪಯಣದ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಸಾರುತ್ತವೆ.
ಅರಳಿಕಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕುಳಿತು ಹೇಳುವ ಅಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಬಾಳಕಟ್ಟೆಯಿಂದ ಬೂದಿಕಟ್ಟೆಯ ಪಯಣದ ಸಾರವನ್ನು ಸಾರುತ್ತವೆ.
September 2, 2025
ಅಂತು ಸುಬ್ಬರಾಯನ ಅನ್ವೇಷಣೆ ಮುಗಿಯಿತು!.
ಕಾರಂತರಿಗೆ ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ತೆತ್ತ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಇದಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವರು ಬರಹವನ್ನು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜನರೂ ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತರಾಗಿರುವ ನಮಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಅನೇಕ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಕಾಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಹುಡುಕಲು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವಚೈತನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಅವರು ಸಾರಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಗಂಡು–ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಮದುವೆಯ ಕುರಿತು ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ಸತ್ಯ–ಅಸತ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಅವರು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕಾಡಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಧ್ಯಾನಮಾಡುವುದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಾಧನೆ ಅಲ್ಲ; ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲೇ ಉಳಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಿದರೆ ಅದೂ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಾಧನೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಪಾತ್ರ ಬಹಳ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅವರ ಸಂದೇಶವೆಂದರೆ:
“ಇರುವಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ವರ್ತಿಸಿ, ನಾಲ್ವರಿಗೆ ಹಿತವಾಗುವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬದುಕಬೇಕು.”
ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮದ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರಂತರರು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನವನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದೇವರ ಮೇಲಿನ ನಂಬಿಕೆ, ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಉಪದೇಶಗಳು, ಅಹಲ್ಯೆಯ ಕಲ್ಲಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ, ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ — ಇವೆಲ್ಲವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸತ್ಯ–ಸುಳ್ಳಿನ ವಿಚಾರ ಬದಿಗಿಟ್ಟು, ಅವು ನೀಡುವ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಸಂದೇಶವನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಬೇಕು.
ದೇವರ ಮೇಲೆ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇರುವುದು ತಪ್ಪೇನಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ನಂಬಿದುದನ್ನು ಅರಿತು ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಬದುಕುವುದು ಮುಖ್ಯ; ಬರೀ ಮಾತಾಡುವುದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನವಿಲ್ಲ....Enjoyed reading this book. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು Mookajjiya Kanasugalu Kota Shivarama Karanth
ಕಾರಂತರಿಗೆ ಜ್ಞಾನಪೀಠ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ತೆತ್ತ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಇದಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವರು ಬರಹವನ್ನು ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜನರೂ ಅರ್ಥಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ.ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತರಾಗಿರುವ ನಮಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದಲೇ ಅನೇಕ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳು ಕಾಡುತ್ತವೆ. ಆ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಉತ್ತರ ಹುಡುಕಲು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಜೀವಚೈತನ್ಯವನ್ನು ಅವರು ಸಾರಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಗಂಡು–ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಮದುವೆಯ ಕುರಿತು ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಇರುವ ಸತ್ಯ–ಅಸತ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಅವರು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಕಾಡಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಿ ಧ್ಯಾನಮಾಡುವುದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಸಾಧನೆ ಅಲ್ಲ; ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲೇ ಉಳಿದುಕೊಂಡು ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಅರ್ಥಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಿದರೆ ಅದೂ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಾಧನೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಪಾತ್ರ ಬಹಳ ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅವರ ಸಂದೇಶವೆಂದರೆ:
“ಇರುವಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಇಲ್ಲಿರುವವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ವರ್ತಿಸಿ, ನಾಲ್ವರಿಗೆ ಹಿತವಾಗುವ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬದುಕಬೇಕು.”
ಪುನರ್ಜನ್ಮದ ವಿಚಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾರಂತರರು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನವನ್ನು ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ದೇವರ ಮೇಲಿನ ನಂಬಿಕೆ, ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣನ ಉಪದೇಶಗಳು, ಅಹಲ್ಯೆಯ ಕಲ್ಲಾಗಿ ಪರಿವರ್ತನೆ, ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ — ಇವೆಲ್ಲವುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸತ್ಯ–ಸುಳ್ಳಿನ ವಿಚಾರ ಬದಿಗಿಟ್ಟು, ಅವು ನೀಡುವ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಸಂದೇಶವನ್ನು ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಬೇಕು.
ದೇವರ ಮೇಲೆ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇರುವುದು ತಪ್ಪೇನಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ನಂಬಿದುದನ್ನು ಅರಿತು ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ ಬದುಕುವುದು ಮುಖ್ಯ; ಬರೀ ಮಾತಾಡುವುದರಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯೋಜನವಿಲ್ಲ....Enjoyed reading this book. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು Mookajjiya Kanasugalu Kota Shivarama Karanth
February 17, 2022
ನಾನು ಇಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಓದಿದ, ಕೇಳಿದ ಕಥೆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬರುವ ವಿಧವೆ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಚಿತ್ರಣವೇ ಬೇರೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಬಂದಿರುವ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಚಿತ್ರವೇ ಬೇರೆ.
ಒಂದು ವೇಳೆ ಕಾರಂತರು ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ಈ ಪಾತ್ರದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಕುರಿತು ಖಂಡಿತವಾಗಿಯೂ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದನೋ ಏನೋ.
ಇದು ಕಥೆ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಕಾರಂತರು ಸಮಾಜದ ಹಲವಾರು ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಮ್ಮ ನಿಲುವನ್ನು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಕಡೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಷಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅವರು ಮಾಡಿರುವ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನ ಆಳವಾದ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗೆ ದೂಡುತ್ತೆ. ಕಾರಂತರು ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದ ಅನುಭವವನ್ನ, ಬದುಕಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡುಕೊಂಡ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಹೇಳಿಸಿ ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಕಡೆ ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಸರಿಯಾದ ನಿಲುವಿಗೆ ಬಾರದೆ ಸತ್ಯ ಮಿತ್ಯಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ವಾಲಾಡುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಮಾತುಗಳು ನನ್ನ ಆ ತೊಳಲಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ನೆಲೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಬದುಕಿನ ಆಳ ತಿಳಿಸಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.
ಒಂದು ವೇಳೆ ಕಾರಂತರು ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದರೆ ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ಈ ಪಾತ್ರದ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯ ಕುರಿತು ಖಂಡಿತವಾಗಿಯೂ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದನೋ ಏನೋ.
ಇದು ಕಥೆ ಅಲ್ಲ. ಕಾರಂತರು ಸಮಾಜದ ಹಲವಾರು ನಂಬಿಕೆಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ತಮ್ಮ ನಿಲುವನ್ನು ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಕಡೆ ಒಂದು ವಿಷಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅವರು ಮಾಡಿರುವ ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆ ನಮ್ಮನ್ನ ಆಳವಾದ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗೆ ದೂಡುತ್ತೆ. ಕಾರಂತರು ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನದ ಅನುಭವವನ್ನ, ಬದುಕಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡುಕೊಂಡ ಸತ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಹೇಳಿಸಿ ದಾಖಲಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಎಷ್ಟೊಂದು ಕಡೆ ಕೆಲವೊಂದು ವಿಷಯಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸು ಸರಿಯಾದ ನಿಲುವಿಗೆ ಬಾರದೆ ಸತ್ಯ ಮಿತ್ಯಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ವಾಲಾಡುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಮಾತುಗಳು ನನ್ನ ಆ ತೊಳಲಾಟಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ನೆಲೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಬದುಕಿನ ಆಳ ತಿಳಿಸಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕ.
Read
November 4, 2013One of the most thought provoking book. It gives diversified views on many aspects of social life. Every time I read the book I get new perspective about life. When I read first time, it made me wonder why it received Gnyanapeeta award. It took me three readings to realise it deserved a better place than it has now.
January 30, 2013
book is classic as are any of sir karanth's books, if one can just connect with the narration with open mind ul enjoy the story...
March 7, 2013
This book nicely tells how and why we should treat life is more greater than any religion and GOD.
April 26, 2015
ನೇರ ಮತ್ತು ದಿಟ್ಟ. ಪುರಾತನ ಹಾಗು ಆಧುನಿಕ. ನಿಷ್ಪಕ್ಷಪಾತ ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ಕನ್ನಡಿ ತೋರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿ.
Simply brilliant piece of work. Completely deserving of the Jnaanapeetha award.
Simply brilliant piece of work. Completely deserving of the Jnaanapeetha award.
March 15, 2019
I've known to read and write kannada since the age of 9, but despite having consistently read short stories and articles in the language, I hadn't read a single kannada novel until I was 21. ಮೂಕಜ್ಜಿಯ ಕನಸುಗಳು (Mookajjiya Kanasugalu) was the first full fledged kannada novel that I read - and I have a distinct regret in my heart that it took me so long.
This book is a social commentary, which K Shivarama Karanth weaves through the magical medium of Mookajji - an old woman who can see the past and present of anything she comes in close proximity with. It could be the true nature of a man hiding his true intentions, or an old relic from an abandoned cave - Mookajji and her visions can revisit every event that has involved them.
This book was written in 1968 and it is at once a blend of magical realism, social critism and a deep scrutiny of the human condition - which through its myriad characters explores the different stigmas and blind beliefs present in our society and tries to lay it bare through Mookajji's piercing words. Such is the nature of her arguments that they stay relevant even today, more than five decades after it was first published. There is a statement about the book by one of the reviewers etched at the back of the hardcover - "Karanth proves here that modern thought is not necessarily born out of western influence" and he is indeed right.
Mookajji is a character who will forever stay in my memory and is arguably one of the most distinct and memorable characters you will ever come across. There is no particular story here. The characters are written such that each of them represent a certain belief system and the dialogue presents valuable insights to ponder over.
The writing is very lucid and simple and can be read by anyone who has learnt to read kannada in school. If you can read kannada, there is no reason why you shouldn't read this book. As for me, I now a have healthy list of kannada books to read that I've missed all this while.
“ಗುಡಿಯೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ; ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ದೇವರೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾದ ದೇವರು ಇದ್ದನೆಂದರೂ, ಅವನು ಎಂಥವನೆಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಎಟುಕಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮ ಬುದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಸಮನಾಗಿ, ನೂರು, ಸಾವಿರಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ‘ಇದೇ ನಿಜ’ ‘ಅದೇ ನಿಜ’ ಎಂತ ಮರುಳು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದವರು. ಸಂಕಟ ಬಂದಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ದೇವರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೋಗಿ ‘ಅದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು, ಇದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು’ ಎಂದು ಬೇಡಿದವರು.”
“ಹೆರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಇರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಸಾಯುವುದೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ? ಗಂಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಸೆದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಕ್ಕೋ ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೋ, ದು:ಖಕ್ಕೋ ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?”
“ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟರು ದಾಸರು. ವಿಠಲನನ್ನು, ನಾರಾಯಣನನ್ನು ನಂಬಿ ಹಾಡಿದರು. ನಂಬಿದ್ದೆ ನಂಬಿದ್ದು ಹಾಡಿದ್ದೆ ಹಾಡಿದ್ದು .ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹೆಂಡಿರನ್ನು ದಾರಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೆಡೆದು ಹೋದದ್ದು ನಿಜ. ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಬೇಡಿದ್ದು ಯಾರನ್ನು?ತಂತಮ್ಮ ಹೆಂಡಿರೊಡನೆ ಸುಖವಾಗಿ ವೈಕುಂಠದಲ್ಲೋ, ಕೈಲಾಸದಲ್ಲೋ ಇರುವಂಥ ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ,ಶಿವನನ್ನು. ಅವರೇನು ಕೊಟ್ಟಾರು? ಅವರಿಗೂ ಅವರ ಹೆಂಡಂದಿರಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಸಿಗದೇ ಇರುವಾಗ ?”
This book is a social commentary, which K Shivarama Karanth weaves through the magical medium of Mookajji - an old woman who can see the past and present of anything she comes in close proximity with. It could be the true nature of a man hiding his true intentions, or an old relic from an abandoned cave - Mookajji and her visions can revisit every event that has involved them.
This book was written in 1968 and it is at once a blend of magical realism, social critism and a deep scrutiny of the human condition - which through its myriad characters explores the different stigmas and blind beliefs present in our society and tries to lay it bare through Mookajji's piercing words. Such is the nature of her arguments that they stay relevant even today, more than five decades after it was first published. There is a statement about the book by one of the reviewers etched at the back of the hardcover - "Karanth proves here that modern thought is not necessarily born out of western influence" and he is indeed right.
Mookajji is a character who will forever stay in my memory and is arguably one of the most distinct and memorable characters you will ever come across. There is no particular story here. The characters are written such that each of them represent a certain belief system and the dialogue presents valuable insights to ponder over.
The writing is very lucid and simple and can be read by anyone who has learnt to read kannada in school. If you can read kannada, there is no reason why you shouldn't read this book. As for me, I now a have healthy list of kannada books to read that I've missed all this while.
“ಗುಡಿಯೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ; ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ದೇವರೂ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಲ್ಲ. ಒಬ್ಬ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾದ ದೇವರು ಇದ್ದನೆಂದರೂ, ಅವನು ಎಂಥವನೆಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಎಟುಕಿಗೆ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ನಮ್ಮ ಬುದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಸಮನಾಗಿ, ನೂರು, ಸಾವಿರಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ದೇವರನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ‘ಇದೇ ನಿಜ’ ‘ಅದೇ ನಿಜ’ ಎಂತ ಮರುಳು ಮಾತನಾಡಿದವರು. ಸಂಕಟ ಬಂದಾಗೆಲ್ಲ ಅಂತ ದೇವರ ಹತ್ತಿರ ಹೋಗಿ ‘ಅದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು, ಇದನ್ನು ಕೊಡು’ ಎಂದು ಬೇಡಿದವರು.”
“ಹೆರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಇರುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವಲ್ಲ; ಸಾಯುವುದೂ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಹುಟ್ಟಿಸುವುದು ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ? ಗಂಡು ಹೆಣ್ಣುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಬೆಸೆದು, ಒಳ್ಳೆಯದಕ್ಕೋ ಕೆಟ್ಟದ್ದಕ್ಕೋ ಸುಖಕ್ಕೋ, ದು:ಖಕ್ಕೋ ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯವೇ?”
“ಹೆಂಡತಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟರು ದಾಸರು. ವಿಠಲನನ್ನು, ನಾರಾಯಣನನ್ನು ನಂಬಿ ಹಾಡಿದರು. ನಂಬಿದ್ದೆ ನಂಬಿದ್ದು ಹಾಡಿದ್ದೆ ಹಾಡಿದ್ದು .ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹೆಂಡಿರನ್ನು ದಾರಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಕೆಡೆದು ಹೋದದ್ದು ನಿಜ. ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಬೇಡಿದ್ದು ಯಾರನ್ನು?ತಂತಮ್ಮ ಹೆಂಡಿರೊಡನೆ ಸುಖವಾಗಿ ವೈಕುಂಠದಲ್ಲೋ, ಕೈಲಾಸದಲ್ಲೋ ಇರುವಂಥ ವಿಷ್ಣುವನ್ನು ,ಶಿವನನ್ನು. ಅವರೇನು ಕೊಟ್ಟಾರು? ಅವರಿಗೂ ಅವರ ಹೆಂಡಂದಿರಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಸಿಗದೇ ಇರುವಾಗ ?”
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