The Grip of Change

by P. Sivakami

The Grip of Change is the English translation of Pazhaiyana Kazhithalum, the first full-length novel by P. Sivakami, an important Tamil writer. This translation also features Asiriyar Kurippu, the sequel in which Sivakami revisits her work. The protagonist of Book 1, Kathamuthu, is a charismatic Parayar leader. He intervenes on behalf of a Parayar woman, Thangam, beaten up by the relatives of her upper caste lover. Kathamuthu works the state machinery and the village caste hierarchy to achieve some sort of justice for Thangam. The first Tamil novel by a Dalit woman, Pazhaiyana Kazhithalum, went beyond condemning caste fanatics. Sivakami is critical of the Dalit movement and Dalit patriarchy, and yet does not become a ‘caste traitor’ because of her participation in the search for solutions. The novel became an expression of Dalit youth—eager and working for change. In Book 2, Author’s Note, Kathamuthu’s daughter Gowri, the author of Book 1, traces the circumstances and events of her novel. The result is a fascinating exploration of the disjunctures between what happens in the author’s family and community, and her fictional interpretations of those happenings. The Series: The books in the Literature in Translation series are translations of significant literature from Indian languages. The books in the Dalit Studies series deal with Dalit life and thought.

Genres: Indian Literature, India, Classics, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

P.Sivakami (ப. சிவகாமி - தமிழ்விக்கி பக்கம்) is an Indian Dalit-Feminist writer, former IAS officer and activist predominantly writing in Tamil. Her notable works include Pazhayana Kazhidalum, Kurruku Vettu, Nalum Thodarum and Kadaisi Mandhar. Apart from being one of the most prominent Dalit novelists in India, she has also constantly voiced her opinions on contemporary social and political issues. An author of six novels and more than 60 short stories. P. Sivakami has regularly kept in touch with editing and has actively contributed to the monthly magazine Puthiya Kodangi since 1995.

Since 1995, she has been centrally involved in the publication of the literary journal Puthiya Kodangi and has a lively investment in issues that touch Dalit and other backward castes and women in Tamil Nadu. She is the first Tamil Dalit Woman to write a novel Pazhiyana Kazhidalum in 1989. A literary and commercial success, the novel created a stir by taking on patriarchy in the Dalit movement. The novel is translated by the author herself and published in English as The Grip of Change (2006). Her second novel Anandhayi is about the violent treatment of women and was translated into English by Pritham K Chakravarthy as The Taming of Women in 2011. Her first poetry collection, Kadhavadaippu, was published in October 2011. Sivakami has written four critically acclaimed novels, all of them centred on Dalit and Feminist themes. She has written numerous short stories and poems focusing on similar issues. Sivakami's novels portray the rustic story of women who suffer at the hands of men who strongly believe in and stand for patriarchy. The conflicts and struggles are between tenacious women and tyrannical men in the contemporary society.

Sivakami made a short film Ooodaha (Through) based on a story written by one of her friends. Set in 1995, it was selected by the National Panorama and won the President Award the same year.

Reviews

[Shoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn. One of the most jarring and enlightening read for me this year. I'll take a few days to process it entirely. Book 1shows us the intricacies of caste system and how Dalit women are forced into the three dimensional oppression based on caste, class and gender. Book 2 titled 'Author's notes' analyses Book 1. It literally had me questioning my entire understanding of Book 1. Sivakami interrogates her writing process and poses some really interesting questions for all the writers out there. It's an amazing book,TIME TO READ IT ASAP.

[Carolyn Crocker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 1989 novel presents a portrait of rural village life and a culture very foreign to me, but the reading experience is is immersive and powerful. Gowri is a daughter whose coming-of-age is marked by the universal experience of discovery, a broadened awareness of the world, and disillusionment with her once-idealized father. The Author's Notes, which follow the novel, present the novelist's very real struggle with creativity, imagination, truth and the inevitable conflict with the shared stories--a struggle inherent in the creation of all fiction. Fascinating!

"Can life and writing be possible without generalisation? If there was no generalised perception of life, how would novels be written?" p. 180

[Ahmad Saidullah]

Inaugurates a new generation of Dalit writing which questions patriarchy and Dalit literary tradition. The sequel interrogates the writer and her first novel. A dazzling book.

[Afnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 is remarkable. But the sequel, "Author's Notes," broke and rearranged my world over and over again in ways I am wordless to explain.

[Kanarese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally written by Sivakami, is a Kannada translation of the Tamil work "Pazhaiyana Kazhiithalum." The story revolves around Kathamutthu, a lesser-known Dalit leader who supports his community with persuasive mouth while also exploiting them.

The narrative begins with Thangam, a Dalit woman who is beaten by a group of upper-caste individuals for her illicit affairs with their family.

The story is subtle, offering detailed insights into the caste barriers within the so-called 'oppressed' classes and their internal conflicts.

[Victor Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Exact story of the Dalit people who are suffering till today in the mobile village areas. The story contains all the colloquial words of Dalit and it add more value to the story.

[Freya Abbas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those novels that left me speechless. It's underrated and deserves to be more popular. The form is very original and creative. It's divided into two parts. The first tells the story of the agricultural labourer Thangam. The second is a metafictional postmodern reflection on the first story. I've never seen a writer be able to put aside their ego to write the kind of reflection that Sivakami does, where she makes herself a critic of her own writing. The prose of the first section is often beautiful when describing nature, incorporating Tamil words into the translation, and describing the Marriamman festival. In my opinion, Dalit identity is not just about victimhood or oppression. They also have their own literary traditions and aesthetics, which is shown very clearly in this novel. Even though horrible things happen to Thangam, she respects herself and does not view herself as a victim.

[Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

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