Sanjshakun

by G.A. Kulkarni

The stories in this collection are a miniature version of the author's usually leisurely and expansive style.

Genres: Marathi

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

G.A. Kulkarni or simply "GA” was a legendary Marathi writer of short stories.

GA, who bought new strength and vitality to the Marathi short story, is admittedly the most distinguished exponent of that genre. He did not subscribe to the cause of modernism in literature. He charted his own separate course and cultivated new acuity and taste for a class of faithful readers.

GA created a world of his own in his short stories where his characters are in pursuit of the unknowable destiny. A dark mode reflects the inscrutable ways in which destiny shadows his characters. His use of symbolism, allegory and irony provides his stories a unique texture and ethos. His world encompasses a wide diversity of locales, situations, characters and experiences. The mythic, allegorical experiences make it difficult to sort out the realities from the dreams, themes, and meditations. Yet, it is possible for the reader to identify with is characters, places, and experiences because of his keen observation of human, animal, and social worlds in their beauty and deformity.

Critics observe that characters in GA’s world are multifaceted, but they are not independent. They lead their lives as if they are puppets guided by an unseen hand are unable to change the direction. Why they follow that path to their demise or why they cannot change it by their volition is not known. In that sense, his work is a reversal of direction fostered by the modernist short story in Marathi. GA's earlier short stories depicted the tragic and cruel aspects of human situation.

Reviews

[Aniket Patil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book which I read when I was on a holiday. amazing book. Almost Every story takes you to abstract and unknown world, what an imagination of author. Those who loved his book "Ramalkhuna " will love this one as well.

Almost every story is about unavoidable fate, metaphoric message, some messages underlines the deep truth of life they are composed with philosophies of life. Really amazing book.

Speciality of this author is, he takes you to some other world where pain, fate ,magic ,brutal and bitter truth of life is there. Once you understand his style then you will automatically become his fan and will read all of his books. His literature is of global level.

[Kiran Gavhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raltmukhi and sarpa are the best story in it. Other are also new and good.

[अनिकेत · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notable stories -Paanmai,raktmukhi,aham,prasad
U will find allegories in the entire book, each story is structured in a way where its words & characters interpret altogether different meaning, its all a play of reading between the lines, while reading this book, its upon readers to finally find the thread of story linked to inevitable play of destiny to mankind & a helpless human life.thats the unique special feature of G As writing & very few realize it

[Shardul Kulkarni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read read of you are fan of good storytelling. I read pravasi in satyakatha and thought nothing can top it. To my surprise, every story in this collection is at par with pravasi, and more importantly, unlike pravasi, can be read in short bursts.
Be warned though, as the stories are very dark, gritty and always depressing.
I especially liked stories built around well known historical/mythological figures ( Gautam, Ashwatthama, Judas, Prometheus ) Highly recommended.