Padmavati

by A. Madhaviah, A. Mātavaiyā

A. Madhaviah, an outdoorsman and a lamplight scholar-writer, was fired with ardour to remove the evils that beset his Iyer Brahmin sub-caste as well as the larger southern society - a concern reflected in his writings. This is the story about the maturing of a spirited girl born into the rigid confines of orthodox brahmin domesticity, "Padmavati", a hundred year old novel, sketches a true-to-life picture of Brahmin life in the rural south and student life in Madras. The novel captures glimpses of three strata - a rich landholder, a dependent widow and the indigent student.

Genres: India

250 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2002

About the author

A. Madhaviah (Tamil: அ. மாதவையா) or Anantanarayanan Madhaviah (16 August 1872 – 22 October 1925) is one of the pioneer Tamil writers, novelists and journalists. His writings were about social reformation and misogyny in society. He is the author of one the early Tamil Novels named Padmavathi sarithiram.

His book Muthumeenakshi is a commentary on marital politics, sexuality, female illiteracy and patriarchy in his time in south India. His take on the reformation in society can be achieved through education.

Reviews

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the beautiful narration i have read after such a long time. This one gave me Malgudi days vibe. I can imagine how beautiful it must be in original language Tamil. Those who can read Tamil should look for "Padmavati Charithiram". Translation is very well done by author's grand daughter.

This story revolves around late 1900s. I love the way author show lifestyles of people and atmosphere of that time. Book is really superb and gives us a realistic picture of the society in those days in Tamilnadu Brahmin community and others as well. I specially love the friendship of Narayanan and Gopalan. And i liked the character Padmavati. I think this book was way ahead of its times specially considering child marriage and girl's education. The story is very gripping and i was keep on looking for what is going to be next story line.

Thanks to author for triggering interest in Kamba Ramayanam.

[Smitha Murthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy that my friend has introduced me to the joys of Indian literature in translation. Picking up ‘Padmavati’ by Madhaviah seemed a bit of a gamble. There was hardly any information about this extremely prolific Tamil writer. And I am saddened at that. Written in the late 19th century, and finally translated into English only recently, ‘Padmavati’ is an aching portrayal of a world gone by. Giving us a peek into the Tamil Iyer society of that time, Madhaviah tackles issues that may have seemed revolutionary at that time, including women’s education!

I am a bit unsure why he called it ‘Padmavati’ after one of the characters because the titular characters here are Narayanan and Gopalan. Tracing their life and friendship, you are taken into the world of Tamil rituals, secrets, and societal mores of that time. It’s for this reason that I rate the book so highly. It’s not meant to be a great story - it’s a powerful narration where the translation seems to have been remarkable in preserving the original nuances of Tamil. I was at once gripped and engrossed, turning over page after page to find out “what happens.” This is one of my favorite classic reads of the year.

[Deepti · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a Tamil writer born in the 1800s to write with such insight and breadth of vision about education for women, falling in love, etc. is marvellous. Kudos to Madhaviah!

[Alka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based in Tamil Nadu of late 19th century it has the old world charm. The story meanders gently and touches all kinds of human relations and emotions. Some old customs which Have lost relevance and therefore understanding are recounted to a good effect. The story also weaves in advice and learnings at frequent intervals using episodes or characters to demonstrate the principle enshrined. It's a translation, done authentically, by the author's grand daughter. With neat illustrations accompanying each chapter. It was published by Katha and gleefully procured by me in this year's world book fair , Delhi. It is NOT about a queen, real or otherwise

[Swati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, the most radical voices come not from our present but from the past. I found A. Madhavaiah’s ‘Padmavati’ to be one such voice. Written in the late 19th century and counted as one of the earliest Tamil novels, ‘Padmavati’ unfolds within the world of Tamil Iyer Brahmins as a family saga, chronicling the intertwined lives of Narayanan, Gopalan, and Padmavati, whose destinies are shaped as much by social expectation as by personal frailty.

Madhavaiah charts the lives of Narayanan and Gopalan, best friends who live next to each other like family, from their boyhood to adulthood. Narayanan marries Padmavati, his childhood sweetheart. It appears like nothing can separate them, as they respect each other immensely, and consider each other their equal, a rarity for those times. However, life is not blissful for too long as unprecedented events shake their world.

The story itself is nothing exceptional with a narrative filled with betrayals, misunderstandings, jealousies, and moral conflicts, resembling a television soap. Where ‘Padmavati’ stands out is in the way Madhavaiah tackles themes of child brides, widows, or wives confined by patriarchal customs. Known to be a man of progressive thought and liberal vision, he was firmly for educating women and enabling them to break free of the shackles of household duties. Yet, ironically, we see Padmavati mostly through the lens of the men around her and not enough of her inner world. The title, too, is misleading as Madhavaiah lingers less on the character of Padmavati compared to Narayanan and Gopalan.

I relished Madhavaiah’s descriptions which were like a social documentation of the time as I was transported to the courtyards and temple towns of rural Tamil Nadu, where rituals dictate rhythm, and reputation defines worth.

I enjoyed and appreciated Meenakshi Thiagarajan’s translation. As Madhavaiah’s granddaughter, she approaches the text with deep familiarity but resists devolving into sentimentality. She captures the cadences of the Tamil idiom without flattening it into bland modern English, preserving the texture of a bygone world. The text is supported with hand-drawn sketches by her uncle, which add an extra charm.

A quaint yet fierce novel for the times it was written in, I loved reading this one. Do pick up this literary gem.