What do you think?
Rate this book
മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ | Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil
Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil (On the Banks of the River Mayyazhi) is a Malayalam language novel by M. Mukundan.
Widely regarded as the author's magnum opus, the novel vividly describes the political and social background of Mahe (Mayyazhi), the former French colony, in the past, in a mystical way. The novel was translated into English and French, both the versions winning accolades.
Widely regarded as the author's magnum opus, the novel vividly describes the political and social background of Mahe (Mayyazhi), the former French colony, in the past, in a mystical way. The novel was translated into English and French, both the versions winning accolades.
250 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1974
877 people are currently reading
15531 people want to read
About the author
M. Mukundan
84 books401 followersM. Mukundan(Malayalam: എം. മുകുന്ദൻ) is one of the pioneers of modernity in Malayalam literature. He was born on 10 September 1942 at Mayyazhi in Mahe, a one-time French territory in Kerala. He served as the president of Kerala Sahitya Akademi from October 2006 until March 2010.
Mukundan is known in Kerala as 'Mayyazhiyude Kathakaaran' (The story-teller of Mayyazhi). His native village of Mayyazhi figures in his early works: 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil', 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal', 'Appam Chudunna Kunkiyamma' and 'Lesli Achante Kadangal'.
His first literary work was a short story published in 1961. Mukundan has so far published 12 novels and ten collections of short stories. Mukundan's latest four novels 'Adithyanum Radhayum Mattu Chilarum', 'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha','Kesavante Vilapangal' and 'Nritham ' carries a change in structure and approach.
'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha' reveals how Vasundhara, an actress has been insulted in the course of acting due to some unexpected situations. It proclaims the postmodern message that martyrs are created not only through ideologies, but through art also.
'Kesavante Vilapangal' one of his most recent works tells the story of a writer Kesavan who writes a novel on a child named Appukkuttan who grows under the influence of E. M. S. Namboodiripad. 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal' bagged the Kendra Sahithya Academy award and NV Prize. 'Ee Lokam Athiloru Manushyan' bagged the Kerala Sahitya Academy award. Daivathinte Vikrithikal has been translated into English and published By Penguin Books India.
In 2008, Mukundan's magnum opus Mayyazhi Puzhayude Theerangalil fetched him the award for the best novel published in the last 25 years. Three of his novels were made into feature films in Malayalam . Mukundan wrote the script and one of them bagged a state film award.
Mukundan's latest novel is "Pravasam" (sojourn in non-native land) and tells the story of a Malayali whose journeys carry him around the world.
The French government conferred on him the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1998 for his contribution to literature.
Mukundan is known in Kerala as 'Mayyazhiyude Kathakaaran' (The story-teller of Mayyazhi). His native village of Mayyazhi figures in his early works: 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil', 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal', 'Appam Chudunna Kunkiyamma' and 'Lesli Achante Kadangal'.
His first literary work was a short story published in 1961. Mukundan has so far published 12 novels and ten collections of short stories. Mukundan's latest four novels 'Adithyanum Radhayum Mattu Chilarum', 'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha','Kesavante Vilapangal' and 'Nritham ' carries a change in structure and approach.
'Oru Dalit Yuvathiyude Kadanakatha' reveals how Vasundhara, an actress has been insulted in the course of acting due to some unexpected situations. It proclaims the postmodern message that martyrs are created not only through ideologies, but through art also.
'Kesavante Vilapangal' one of his most recent works tells the story of a writer Kesavan who writes a novel on a child named Appukkuttan who grows under the influence of E. M. S. Namboodiripad. 'Daivathinte Vikrithikal' bagged the Kendra Sahithya Academy award and NV Prize. 'Ee Lokam Athiloru Manushyan' bagged the Kerala Sahitya Academy award. Daivathinte Vikrithikal has been translated into English and published By Penguin Books India.
In 2008, Mukundan's magnum opus Mayyazhi Puzhayude Theerangalil fetched him the award for the best novel published in the last 25 years. Three of his novels were made into feature films in Malayalam . Mukundan wrote the script and one of them bagged a state film award.
Mukundan's latest novel is "Pravasam" (sojourn in non-native land) and tells the story of a Malayali whose journeys carry him around the world.
The French government conferred on him the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1998 for his contribution to literature.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
May 11, 2023
Thalassery, Mahe, Kannur, and Calicut have been integral to my life. I like to divide all my interactions in this region into two. The period before reading Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil and the period after reading it. This book is a magnum opus by M. Mukundan that changes your outlook toward life.
M. Mukunda has written it so that the character, Dasan will sink right into your heart and then rip you apart. There are only very few books that will be present on the favorite lists of every reader. This is one among them.
If you are in two minds about whether to read this book and stumbled upon this review accidentally, my only request is to don't think twice; please go for it.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Twitter ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
M. Mukunda has written it so that the character, Dasan will sink right into your heart and then rip you apart. There are only very few books that will be present on the favorite lists of every reader. This is one among them.
If you are in two minds about whether to read this book and stumbled upon this review accidentally, my only request is to don't think twice; please go for it.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Twitter ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
June 4, 2013
അങ്ങകലെ ഒരു കണ്ണുനീര തുള്ളി പോലെ വെല്ലിയങ്കല്ലു കാണാമായിരുന്നു .. അവിടെ ഇപ്പോഴും ആത്മാക്കൾ തുമ്പികളെ പോലെ പറന്നു നദകുന്നതു കാണാമായിരുന്നു .. ആ തുമ്പികളിൽ ഒന്ന് ദാസനും മറ്റേത് ചന്ദ്രികയും ...... ബുക്ക് വായിച്ച തീർത്ത ശേഷം ഏതാനും ദിവസം മയ്യഴിപുഴയിൽ തന്നെ അയ്ര്നു ഞാൻ ........
November 25, 2015
Mahe is a small town on the banks of the Mayyazhi river in northern Kerala. What makes this place rather unique is that like Pondicherry, it was a former French colony. Till recently, they did not need a passport to travel to France: even now, there are a few people who have opted for French citizenship. French is an official language.
Mahe is known to the majority of Keralites as the place to get good liquor dirt cheap (there are no taxes): for the booklover, it is the birthplace of M. Mukundan, the chronicler of Mayyazhi (as this place is known locally). In this novel (the name of which translates as "On the Banks of the Mayyazhi River"), and its sequel (ദൈവത്തിന്റെ വികൃതികള് Daivathinte Vikruthikal), Mukundan charts the mythology and legends of this magical region, existing in the twilight zone between colonialism and democracy.
An indispensable part of the landscape of my youth, and I suspect, of many others.
Read
December 5, 2014മയ്യഴിയുടെ സ്വന്തം കഥാകാരൻ അദ്ധേഹത്തിന്റെ ഭാവനയിൽ മയ്യഴിയെ വളരെ ഭംഗിയായി വരച്ചിട്ടു . ഒരു നനുത്ത വേദനയോടെ വായന അവസാനിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടും ആ തീരത്തുനിന്ന് മടങ്ങാൻ മനസ്സനുവദിക്കാത്ത പോലെ തോന്നി. അക്ഷരങ്ങളാൽ തീര്ക്കുന്ന ആഖ്യാനത്തിന് ആകര്ഷണം എന്ന അലങ്കാരം കൂടി ചേർത്ത് നമ്മളെ മയ്യഴിയോടു ചേർത്ത് നിരത്തുന്ന എഴുത്തിലെ മാന്ത്രികത . കഥാപാത്ര വർണനയിൽ ആണ് മികവു എന്നുതോന്നി ചിലപ്പോളൊക്കെ ,അത്രയ്ക്ക് ആഴത്തിൽ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങൾ കയറിക്കൂടി മനസ്സിൽ. ദാസനും ചന്ദ്രികയും മാത്രമല്ല , അതിലും ഉപരിയായി കുറുമ്പി യമ്മയും , ലെസ്ലി സായ്വും , പിന്നെ ഒരു വേദന ആയി ഗസ്തോനും . വീണ്ടും ഒരിക്കൽ കൂടി വായിക്കാവുന്ന വരികൾ എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞു മാത്രം മാറ്റി വയ്ക്കുകയല്ല , ഇടയ്ക്കു ചെന്നിരിക്കണം മയ്യഴിയുടെ തീരത്ത് ,ദാസനെ തിരയുന്ന കണ്ണുകൾക്ക് കൂട്ടായ്. (രാധിക)
November 13, 2013
This book more or less defined a phase of my reading life. I used to walk to my school reading this book, and naturally,would hit a stone on the road or a tree and hurt myself.I read this when I was in eighth standard and used to have such fond memories of Dasan as if I had grown up with him. I am reminded of him even now, when I see on someone, that curly hair, falling onto the right eye,those small eyes which hide a naughty smile..That is how I think of dasan. Now when I look back, I don't really see why I adored M Mukundan those days, if it was not for creating Dasan.
July 30, 2017
ഒരിക്കലെങ്കിലും മയ്യഴിയിൽ പോകണം, ഞാൻ പോയിട്ടുണ്ട്, പക്ഷെ അന്നു ദാസനേയും ചന്ദ്രികയേയും എനിക്കറിയില്ലായിരുന്നു. ഇനി ഒരിക്കൽ കൂടി പോകുമ്പോൾ വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ല് കാണണം, അവിടെ ജനനത്തിനും മരണത്തിനുമിടയിൽ വിശ്രമിക്കുന്ന ആത്മാവുകളേയും കാണണം.
January 14, 2012
M.Mukundan was a name I heard over and over again when I started off reading Malayalam. Anyone worth their salt in reading malayalam would tell me to read this work. The title translates to On the banks of the river Mayyazhi . It's the story of a landscape called Mahe which was one of the few French colonized locales in India & grew up to be on its own only by 1954. Mahe still remains a Union Territory within India, which in simple terms means it is directly under the jurisdiction of the central government of India. That's the history part of it !
Mahe is called by a more seductive name in Malayalam : Mayyazhi . I call this word beautifl because it means The eye of the sea . Mukundan calls you to walk the streets of this place as the last French citizen seems to be withdrawing. The people here are not quite sure whether to rejoice their new found freedom or to lament the absence of their human gods. The reader is treated to a varied slice of a small town with all its overwhelming simplicity and ruggedness. It is by parts a coming-of-age story, a story of love, rebellion, understanding and also the legend of this unique piece of land that became a curiosity to the subcontinent that surrounded it.
If memory serves me right, I read this book as much as six years ago but some of the images fleeted across my mind as I started keying in this review. The middle aged man who went around lighting lamps at sundown, the old woman who wailed aloud at the thought of her French monsieur leaving her to go to Europe, the ever present sea and the souls of the departed who became dragon flies and traversed the sea to that distant island of souls !
Mahe is called by a more seductive name in Malayalam : Mayyazhi . I call this word beautifl because it means The eye of the sea . Mukundan calls you to walk the streets of this place as the last French citizen seems to be withdrawing. The people here are not quite sure whether to rejoice their new found freedom or to lament the absence of their human gods. The reader is treated to a varied slice of a small town with all its overwhelming simplicity and ruggedness. It is by parts a coming-of-age story, a story of love, rebellion, understanding and also the legend of this unique piece of land that became a curiosity to the subcontinent that surrounded it.
If memory serves me right, I read this book as much as six years ago but some of the images fleeted across my mind as I started keying in this review. The middle aged man who went around lighting lamps at sundown, the old woman who wailed aloud at the thought of her French monsieur leaving her to go to Europe, the ever present sea and the souls of the departed who became dragon flies and traversed the sea to that distant island of souls !
November 28, 2016
(This contains a slight spoiler at the end)
The first book through which I experienced literature as a painful lump in my throat! കണ്ഠത്തില് കുരുങ്ങിനില്ക്കുന്ന വേദനയായി സാഹിത്യത്തെ ഞാന് അറിഞ്ഞ ആദ്യത്തെ കൃതി!
ദാസന് ഇന്നും എന്റെ ഹൃദയത്തില് മങ്ങാത്ത ഒരു വിങ്ങലായി നില്ക്കുന്നു.
മയ്യഴിയുടെ ചരിത്രം!! ഇതിലെ ഓരോ കഥാപാത്രവും അവിസ്മരണീയം! ദാസന്, കുറമ്പിയമ്മ, ദാമുറെെറ്റര്, ലെസ്ലി സായിവ്, ചന്ദ്രിക, കുഞ്ഞനന്ദന് മാസ്റ്റര്, പപ്പന്, അച്ചു, ഗിരിജ, കുഞ്ചക്കന്, കുഞ്ഞാണന്..... മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കള്!!!
സാഹിത്യത്തോടും, പുസ്തകങ്ങളോടുമുള്ള എന്റെ ഭ്രാന്തമായ അഭിനിവേശത്തിന്റെ പ്രഥമ സാക്ഷിയാണ് ഈ മഹത്തായ കലാസൃഷ്ടി!!
'' അല്പകാലം കഴിഞ്ഞാല് അവളുടെ കണ്ണും കരയാതെയാവും. പക്ഷേ, കഥകളും ഐതിഹ്യങ്ങളും അവിടെ അവസാനിക്കില്ല. ഴാന്താര്ക്കിന്റെയും വെെസ്രവണന് ചെട്ടിയാരുടെയും കഥകള് പറഞ്ഞു കൊടുക്കുവാന് മുത്തശ്ശിമാര് ഇനിയുമുണ്ടാകും.
അവരുടെ മടിയിലിരുന്ന് അ കഥകള് കേള്ക്കുവാനായി വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ലില് നിന്നു തുമ്പികള് ഇനിയും വരും... ''
'' അനാദിയായി പരന്നുകിടക്കുന്ന സമുദ്രത്തില് അങ്ങകലെ ഒരു വലിയ കണ്ണീര്ത്തുള്ളിപോലെ വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ലു കാണാമായിരുന്നു. അവിടെ അപ്പോഴും ആത്മാവുകള് തുമ്പികളായി പാറിനടക്കുന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ആ തുമ്പികളില് ഒന്ന് ദാസനായിരുന്നു.'' !!!
Still gives me goosebumps when reading those last lines.
The first book through which I experienced literature as a painful lump in my throat! കണ്ഠത്തില് കുരുങ്ങിനില്ക്കുന്ന വേദനയായി സാഹിത്യത്തെ ഞാന് അറിഞ്ഞ ആദ്യത്തെ കൃതി!
ദാസന് ഇന്നും എന്റെ ഹൃദയത്തില് മങ്ങാത്ത ഒരു വിങ്ങലായി നില്ക്കുന്നു.
മയ്യഴിയുടെ ചരിത്രം!! ഇതിലെ ഓരോ കഥാപാത്രവും അവിസ്മരണീയം! ദാസന്, കുറമ്പിയമ്മ, ദാമുറെെറ്റര്, ലെസ്ലി സായിവ്, ചന്ദ്രിക, കുഞ്ഞനന്ദന് മാസ്റ്റര്, പപ്പന്, അച്ചു, ഗിരിജ, കുഞ്ചക്കന്, കുഞ്ഞാണന്..... മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കള്!!!
സാഹിത്യത്തോടും, പുസ്തകങ്ങളോടുമുള്ള എന്റെ ഭ്രാന്തമായ അഭിനിവേശത്തിന്റെ പ്രഥമ സാക്ഷിയാണ് ഈ മഹത്തായ കലാസൃഷ്ടി!!
'' അല്പകാലം കഴിഞ്ഞാല് അവളുടെ കണ്ണും കരയാതെയാവും. പക്ഷേ, കഥകളും ഐതിഹ്യങ്ങളും അവിടെ അവസാനിക്കില്ല. ഴാന്താര്ക്കിന്റെയും വെെസ്രവണന് ചെട്ടിയാരുടെയും കഥകള് പറഞ്ഞു കൊടുക്കുവാന് മുത്തശ്ശിമാര് ഇനിയുമുണ്ടാകും.
അവരുടെ മടിയിലിരുന്ന് അ കഥകള് കേള്ക്കുവാനായി വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ലില് നിന്നു തുമ്പികള് ഇനിയും വരും... ''
'' അനാദിയായി പരന്നുകിടക്കുന്ന സമുദ്രത്തില് അങ്ങകലെ ഒരു വലിയ കണ്ണീര്ത്തുള്ളിപോലെ വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ലു കാണാമായിരുന്നു. അവിടെ അപ്പോഴും ആത്മാവുകള് തുമ്പികളായി പാറിനടക്കുന്നുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ആ തുമ്പികളില് ഒന്ന് ദാസനായിരുന്നു.'' !!!
Still gives me goosebumps when reading those last lines.
August 29, 2020
വായിക്കാൻ വളരെ വൈകിപ്പോയെന്ന ഒരു കുറ്റബോധമാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം വായിച്ചു നിർത്തുമ്പോൾ ബാക്കിയുണ്ടായിരുന്നത്. സത്യത്തിൽ ഒന്നുരണ്ടു ദിവസം വേണ്ടിവന്നു ദാസനിൽ നിന്നും ചന്ദ്രികയിൽ നിന്നും ഗസ്തോൻ സായ്വിൽ നിന്നുമെല്ലാം ഒരു മുക്തി നേടാൻ. ചില പുസ്തകങ്ങൾ അങ്ങനെയാണ്- വായിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞ് നമ്മിൽ അതിൻറെ ഒരു ജീവാംശവും അവശേഷിപ്പിച്ചേ അവ പെയ്തൊഴിയൂ. "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" അങ്ങനെ ഒരു പുസ്തകമാണ്. വായിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞ് രണ്ടു മാസങ്ങൾക്കിപ്പുറം ഇതെഴുതുമ്പോഴും ദാസനും ചന്ദ്രികയും ഗസ്തോൻ സായ്വും മയ്യഴിയിലെ വെള്ളിയാംകല്ലിന്റെ കാല്പനികതയും ഒക്കെ കണ്മുൻപിൽ കണ്ടതുപോലെ.
മലയാള സാഹിത്യത്തിൽ, വാക്കുകൾ കൊണ്ട് ചിത്രങ്ങൾ മെനയാൻ കെല്പുള്ള അപൂർവ്വം ചില സാഹിത്യകാരന്മാരിൽ ഒരാളാണ് എം മുകുന്ദൻ. "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" അതിന് ഏറ്റവും വലിയ തെളിവാണ്. ഒരു ചലച്ചിത്രമെന്നപോലെയാണ്, അദ്ദേഹം വരച്ചിടുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങൾ വായനക്കാരന്റെ ഉള്ളിൽ ഇടം പിടിക്കുക.
സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തിന് മുൻപുള്ള
സാഹചര്യങ്ങളെ ആസ്പദമാക്കി എഴുതിയ നോവലാണിത്. ചരിത്രത്തിനൊപ്പം ചില ജീവിതങ്ങളും ഇതിൽ ഇതിവൃത്തമാകുന്നു. ദാസന്റെ ജനനത്തിലൂടെ തുടങ്ങിവയ്ക്കുന്ന ആ ചിത്രം പൂർത്തിയാകുന്നതും ദാസനിലൂടെതന്നെ.
അറിവിന് വേണ്ടിയുള്ള തൃഷ്ണ ചെറുപ്പത്തിലേ എരിഞ്ഞ ആ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരന്റെയുള്ളിൽ അസ്തിത്വതിന്റെ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ഉയരുമ്പോഴും അപൂർണ്ണതയ്ക്ക് നടുവിൽ ഒരു പൂർണ്ണതയായി മുകുന്ദൻ പറഞ്ഞു നിർത്തുന്ന ചിലതുണ്ട്...വായനക്കാരന് ചിന്തയ്ക്ക് ഇടം നൽകിക്കൊണ്ട് -
"ഉത്തമന്റെ ദുർമ്മരണത്തെപ്പറ്റി പലരും പലതും പറഞ്ഞു. ദൈവങ്ങൾ ശിക്ഷിച്ചതാണെന്ന് മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കൾ വിശ്വസിച്ചു. കുഞ്ഞനന്തൻ മാസ്റ്റർക്ക് പറയുവാൻ ഇത്രയേ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളൂ:
'ഓൻ ആദ്യമായി തിറ കെട്ടിയതാ. ആടി പരിചയമില്ലാത്തതാ. അതവനോർത്തില്ല'.”
പിന്നീട് മറ്റൊരിടത്ത് ദാസൻ പറഞ്ഞു.. “മദ്യത്തെക്കാൾ ലഹരിയും മറവിയും തരുന്നതാണ് ഭക്തി.” ഇവിടെയും മുകുന്ദൻ ചിലതെല്ലാം പറഞ്ഞ് വയ്ക്കുന്നതിനപ്പുറം മറ്റു ചിലതെല്ലാം ആസ്വാദകന്റെ ആലോചനയ്ക്ക് വിടുകയാണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്.
മയ്യഴിയുടെ മോചനത്തിനു വേണ്ടി പരിശ്രമിച്ച് ഒടുവിൽ അതിന്റെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ വിമോചനത്തിന് ശേഷവും സ്വന്തം ജീവിതവും ഭാവിയും വലിച്ചെറിഞ്ഞ് ദാസൻ നടത്തുന്നത് ചില വെല്ലുവിളികളാണ്... അവനവന്റെ സ്വേഛയോടു തന്നെയുള്ള ചില വെല്ലുവിളികൾ.
അനാദിയായി പരന്നു കിടക്കുന്ന സമുദ്രതിനങ്ങേപ്പുറത്ത് വെള്ളിയാംകല്ലിൽ ഒരു തുമ്പിയായി മയ്യഴിയുടെ എല്ലാ മക്കളേയും പോലെ ആ പ്രാണനും തുടങ്ങിയവസാനിക്കുമ്പോൾ "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" ഒരു കണ്ണുനീർ പ്രവാഹമാകുന്നു. നഷ്ടങ്ങളുടെ കഥയായി മയ്യഴി ഒഴുകി അകലുമ്പോൾ 'സ്വയം കത്തിനശിച്ച് മറ്റുള്ളവരെയും കത്തിനശിപ്പിക്കുന്ന തീ'യായി ദാസൻ മാറുകയാണ്. എന്നെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നവർ സൂക്ഷിക്കണമെന്ന് അയാൾ താക്കീത് ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ ചില ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ആസ്വാദകനിലും ബാക്കിയാകുന്നു; ഭരതനും ലീലയും തലപുകച്ച പോലെ -
"അന്നു ജയിലിൽനിന്നു പുറത്തിറങ്ങിയപ്പോൾ നേരെ ദാസൻ വീട്ടിൽ പോയിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ, കണാരേട്ടൻ നൽകിയ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരുദ്യോഗം അയാൾ സ്വീകരിച്ചിരുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ.... എങ്കിൽ ദാസന്റെ തലവിധിതന്നെ മാറുമായിരുന്നേനെ..."
പിന്നെയെന്തിന് ദാസൻ സ്വയമേ നശിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിപ്പുറപ്പെട്ടു.?
ഒരൽപം നൊമ്പരവും ചില ചോദ്യങ്ങളും അവശേഷിപ്പിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഇൗ പുസ്തകം പറഞ്ഞുനിർത്തുമ്പോളും മലയാളസാഹിത്യത്തിന് ഒരമൂല്യ നിധിയായി "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" ഇന്നും നിറഞ്ഞൊഴുകുന്നു.
മലയാള സാഹിത്യത്തിൽ, വാക്കുകൾ കൊണ്ട് ചിത്രങ്ങൾ മെനയാൻ കെല്പുള്ള അപൂർവ്വം ചില സാഹിത്യകാരന്മാരിൽ ഒരാളാണ് എം മുകുന്ദൻ. "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" അതിന് ഏറ്റവും വലിയ തെളിവാണ്. ഒരു ചലച്ചിത്രമെന്നപോലെയാണ്, അദ്ദേഹം വരച്ചിടുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങൾ വായനക്കാരന്റെ ഉള്ളിൽ ഇടം പിടിക്കുക.
സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തിന് മുൻപുള്ള
സാഹചര്യങ്ങളെ ആസ്പദമാക്കി എഴുതിയ നോവലാണിത്. ചരിത്രത്തിനൊപ്പം ചില ജീവിതങ്ങളും ഇതിൽ ഇതിവൃത്തമാകുന്നു. ദാസന്റെ ജനനത്തിലൂടെ തുടങ്ങിവയ്ക്കുന്ന ആ ചിത്രം പൂർത്തിയാകുന്നതും ദാസനിലൂടെതന്നെ.
അറിവിന് വേണ്ടിയുള്ള തൃഷ്ണ ചെറുപ്പത്തിലേ എരിഞ്ഞ ആ ചെറുപ്പക്കാരന്റെയുള്ളിൽ അസ്തിത്വതിന്റെ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ഉയരുമ്പോഴും അപൂർണ്ണതയ്ക്ക് നടുവിൽ ഒരു പൂർണ്ണതയായി മുകുന്ദൻ പറഞ്ഞു നിർത്തുന്ന ചിലതുണ്ട്...വായനക്കാരന് ചിന്തയ്ക്ക് ഇടം നൽകിക്കൊണ്ട് -
"ഉത്തമന്റെ ദുർമ്മരണത്തെപ്പറ്റി പലരും പലതും പറഞ്ഞു. ദൈവങ്ങൾ ശിക്ഷിച്ചതാണെന്ന് മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കൾ വിശ്വസിച്ചു. കുഞ്ഞനന്തൻ മാസ്റ്റർക്ക് പറയുവാൻ ഇത്രയേ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളൂ:
'ഓൻ ആദ്യമായി തിറ കെട്ടിയതാ. ആടി പരിചയമില്ലാത്തതാ. അതവനോർത്തില്ല'.”
പിന്നീട് മറ്റൊരിടത്ത് ദാസൻ പറഞ്ഞു.. “മദ്യത്തെക്കാൾ ലഹരിയും മറവിയും തരുന്നതാണ് ഭക്തി.” ഇവിടെയും മുകുന്ദൻ ചിലതെല്ലാം പറഞ്ഞ് വയ്ക്കുന്നതിനപ്പുറം മറ്റു ചിലതെല്ലാം ആസ്വാദകന്റെ ആലോചനയ്ക്ക് വിടുകയാണ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്.
മയ്യഴിയുടെ മോചനത്തിനു വേണ്ടി പരിശ്രമിച്ച് ഒടുവിൽ അതിന്റെ രാഷ്ട്രീയ വിമോചനത്തിന് ശേഷവും സ്വന്തം ജീവിതവും ഭാവിയും വലിച്ചെറിഞ്ഞ് ദാസൻ നടത്തുന്നത് ചില വെല്ലുവിളികളാണ്... അവനവന്റെ സ്വേഛയോടു തന്നെയുള്ള ചില വെല്ലുവിളികൾ.
അനാദിയായി പരന്നു കിടക്കുന്ന സമുദ്രതിനങ്ങേപ്പുറത്ത് വെള്ളിയാംകല്ലിൽ ഒരു തുമ്പിയായി മയ്യഴിയുടെ എല്ലാ മക്കളേയും പോലെ ആ പ്രാണനും തുടങ്ങിയവസാനിക്കുമ്പോൾ "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" ഒരു കണ്ണുനീർ പ്രവാഹമാകുന്നു. നഷ്ടങ്ങളുടെ കഥയായി മയ്യഴി ഒഴുകി അകലുമ്പോൾ 'സ്വയം കത്തിനശിച്ച് മറ്റുള്ളവരെയും കത്തിനശിപ്പിക്കുന്ന തീ'യായി ദാസൻ മാറുകയാണ്. എന്നെ സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നവർ സൂക്ഷിക്കണമെന്ന് അയാൾ താക്കീത് ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ ചില ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ ആസ്വാദകനിലും ബാക്കിയാകുന്നു; ഭരതനും ലീലയും തലപുകച്ച പോലെ -
"അന്നു ജയിലിൽനിന്നു പുറത്തിറങ്ങിയപ്പോൾ നേരെ ദാസൻ വീട്ടിൽ പോയിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ, കണാരേട്ടൻ നൽകിയ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരുദ്യോഗം അയാൾ സ്വീകരിച്ചിരുന്നുവെങ്കിൽ.... എങ്കിൽ ദാസന്റെ തലവിധിതന്നെ മാറുമായിരുന്നേനെ..."
പിന്നെയെന്തിന് ദാസൻ സ്വയമേ നശിക്കാൻ ഇറങ്ങിപ്പുറപ്പെട്ടു.?
ഒരൽപം നൊമ്പരവും ചില ചോദ്യങ്ങളും അവശേഷിപ്പിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് ഇൗ പുസ്തകം പറഞ്ഞുനിർത്തുമ്പോളും മലയാളസാഹിത്യത്തിന് ഒരമൂല്യ നിധിയായി "മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ" ഇന്നും നിറഞ്ഞൊഴുകുന്നു.
July 7, 2016
പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ ആദ്യ 10 പേജിൽ തന്നെ ഞാൻ മയ്യഴിയുടെ ദത്തുപുത്രിയായി. മാഹി/ മഹെ എന്ന് ഫ്രഞ്ച്കാർ ഓമനിച്ച് വിളിച്ച മയ്യഴിയിൽ എനിക്കും ഒരവകാശം പറയാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ചു.
പറാൻസിൽ നിന്ന് വന്ന സായ്വ്മാർ മയ്യഴിയെ മാറോടണച്ചു, മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കൾ അവരെയും. അവരെ ആദരവോടെ ഉറ്റുനോക്കി നിന്ന കൊറമ്പിയമ്മയും ഉണ്ണിനായരും രാമൻമേശിരിയും, റൈട്ടറും പോലുള്ളവരുടെ കൂട്ടത്തിൽ ഞാൻ പാത്തും പതുങ്ങിയും നിന്നു, ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ആയിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ, എന്നെ രാജ്യ ദ്രോഹി എന്നു മുദ്രകുത്തിയേനെ എന്നതിൽ സംശയമില്ല.
മലയാളത്തിന്റെയും ഫ്രഞ്ചിന്റെയും സുന്ദരസംഗമമായ മയ്യഴിയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ കാറ്റുകൊണ്ട് ഇരുന്ന്, പേജുകൾ മറിയുന്നത് അറിഞ്ഞില്ല. വിശ്വാസവും, അന്ധവിശ്വാസവും, വ്യത്യസ്ത കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും ഇഴകലർന്ന മയ്യഴിയെ ആരും ഒന്നും പ്രണയിച്ചുപോകും. കുഞ്ഞനന്തൻ മാസ്റ്ററുടെ ചിറകിൻ കീഴിൽ വളരുന്ന കൊച്ചു ദാസനിലേക്ക് വായനക്കാരനെ പതിയെ വലിച്ചടുപ്പിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് കഥ സാധനം മുന്നോട്ടു നീങ്ങി.
മാറ്റങ്ങളുടെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റും കൊണ്ടുള്ള ദാസന്റെ രണ്ടാം വരവാണ് എന്നെ ആ അലസതയിൽ നിന്ന് എഴുന്നേൽപ്പിച്ചത്. മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കൾക്ക് സുപരിചിതമല്ലാത്ത ആദർശങ്ങളുടെയും, ചിന്തകളുടെയും അണകെട്ടഴിച്ചു കൊണ്ടുള്ള ആ വരവിൽ, ഏവരും ഒന്നു പതറി. സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം എന്ന പദത്തിന്റെ അർത്ഥം മയ്യഴിക്ക് മുന്നിൽ പുതിയ നിറത്തിൽ അവതരിപ്പിച്ച ദാസനെ സംശയകണ്ണുകളോടെ നോക്കി. മൂപ്പൻ സായ് വും , ലെസ്ലി സായ് വും ഇല്ലാത്ത ഒരു മയ്യഴി ആർക്കും ആലോചിക്കാനേ സാധിച്ചില്ല.
ഇരുപത്തിയൊന്നാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിലെ, ac റൂമിൽ ഇരുന്നു ഓർഡർ ഇടുന്ന, ഒന്നുമറിയാത്ത വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ മുൻനിർത്തി പട നയിക്കുന്ന ശകുനികളെ കണ്ടുപരിചയമുള്ള ആർക്കും മയ്യഴിയുടെ സമര നേതാക്കളോട് ഒരു ആരാധന തോന്നിപോകുന്നത് സ്വാഭാവികം തന്നെ. മയ്യഴിയുടെ സ്വാതന്ത്രത്തിനു വേണ്ടി സ്വന്തം സുഖത്തെ ഹോമം ചെയ്തു ഈ വീര പുരുഷന്മാർ. കമ്മ്യൂണിസവും, മാർക്സിസവും ശ്വസിച്ച ദാസന് നഷ്ടങ്ങളുടെ കണക്കെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളു.
പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാംഭാഗം ആർത്തിയോടെ വായിച്ച ഞാൻ പതിയെ ഒരു വേദനയിലേക്കാണ് എത്തിയത്. നന്മ മാത്രം ആഗ്രഹിച്ച ദാസനെ ജീവിതം ചതച്ചരച്ചു കൊണ്ട് കാലം കടന്നു പോയി. നിസ്സഹായതയുടെ പിടികിട്ടാ വള്ളിയിൽ ഞാനും കുരുങ്ങി.
അവസാനത്തെ താള് മറിച്ചിട്ടും സ്വന്തം നാടിന് വേണ്ടി ഉരുകി തീർന്ന ദാസൻ, വായനക്കാരൻ്റെ മനസ്സിൽ അണയാത്തിരിയായി തെളിഞ്ഞ് കത്തുന്നു.
പറാൻസിൽ നിന്ന് വന്ന സായ്വ്മാർ മയ്യഴിയെ മാറോടണച്ചു, മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കൾ അവരെയും. അവരെ ആദരവോടെ ഉറ്റുനോക്കി നിന്ന കൊറമ്പിയമ്മയും ഉണ്ണിനായരും രാമൻമേശിരിയും, റൈട്ടറും പോലുള്ളവരുടെ കൂട്ടത്തിൽ ഞാൻ പാത്തും പതുങ്ങിയും നിന്നു, ഈ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ആയിരുന്നെങ്കിൽ, എന്നെ രാജ്യ ദ്രോഹി എന്നു മുദ്രകുത്തിയേനെ എന്നതിൽ സംശയമില്ല.
മലയാളത്തിന്റെയും ഫ്രഞ്ചിന്റെയും സുന്ദരസംഗമമായ മയ്യഴിയുടെ തീരങ്ങളിൽ കാറ്റുകൊണ്ട് ഇരുന്ന്, പേജുകൾ മറിയുന്നത് അറിഞ്ഞില്ല. വിശ്വാസവും, അന്ധവിശ്വാസവും, വ്യത്യസ്ത കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും ഇഴകലർന്ന മയ്യഴിയെ ആരും ഒന്നും പ്രണയിച്ചുപോകും. കുഞ്ഞനന്തൻ മാസ്റ്ററുടെ ചിറകിൻ കീഴിൽ വളരുന്ന കൊച്ചു ദാസനിലേക്ക് വായനക്കാരനെ പതിയെ വലിച്ചടുപ്പിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് കഥ സാധനം മുന്നോട്ടു നീങ്ങി.
മാറ്റങ്ങളുടെ കൊടുങ്കാറ്റും കൊണ്ടുള്ള ദാസന്റെ രണ്ടാം വരവാണ് എന്നെ ആ അലസതയിൽ നിന്ന് എഴുന്നേൽപ്പിച്ചത്. മയ്യഴിയുടെ മക്കൾക്ക് സുപരിചിതമല്ലാത്ത ആദർശങ്ങളുടെയും, ചിന്തകളുടെയും അണകെട്ടഴിച്ചു കൊണ്ടുള്ള ആ വരവിൽ, ഏവരും ഒന്നു പതറി. സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം എന്ന പദത്തിന്റെ അർത്ഥം മയ്യഴിക്ക് മുന്നിൽ പുതിയ നിറത്തിൽ അവതരിപ്പിച്ച ദാസനെ സംശയകണ്ണുകളോടെ നോക്കി. മൂപ്പൻ സായ് വും , ലെസ്ലി സായ് വും ഇല്ലാത്ത ഒരു മയ്യഴി ആർക്കും ആലോചിക്കാനേ സാധിച്ചില്ല.
ഇരുപത്തിയൊന്നാം നൂറ്റാണ്ടിലെ, ac റൂമിൽ ഇരുന്നു ഓർഡർ ഇടുന്ന, ഒന്നുമറിയാത്ത വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ മുൻനിർത്തി പട നയിക്കുന്ന ശകുനികളെ കണ്ടുപരിചയമുള്ള ആർക്കും മയ്യഴിയുടെ സമര നേതാക്കളോട് ഒരു ആരാധന തോന്നിപോകുന്നത് സ്വാഭാവികം തന്നെ. മയ്യഴിയുടെ സ്വാതന്ത്രത്തിനു വേണ്ടി സ്വന്തം സുഖത്തെ ഹോമം ചെയ്തു ഈ വീര പുരുഷന്മാർ. കമ്മ്യൂണിസവും, മാർക്സിസവും ശ്വസിച്ച ദാസന് നഷ്ടങ്ങളുടെ കണക്കെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളു.
പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാംഭാഗം ആർത്തിയോടെ വായിച്ച ഞാൻ പതിയെ ഒരു വേദനയിലേക്കാണ് എത്തിയത്. നന്മ മാത്രം ആഗ്രഹിച്ച ദാസനെ ജീവിതം ചതച്ചരച്ചു കൊണ്ട് കാലം കടന്നു പോയി. നിസ്സഹായതയുടെ പിടികിട്ടാ വള്ളിയിൽ ഞാനും കുരുങ്ങി.
അവസാനത്തെ താള് മറിച്ചിട്ടും സ്വന്തം നാടിന് വേണ്ടി ഉരുകി തീർന്ന ദാസൻ, വായനക്കാരൻ്റെ മനസ്സിൽ അണയാത്തിരിയായി തെളിഞ്ഞ് കത്തുന്നു.
November 28, 2018
After reading this book, all I wanted to do was to plan a trip to this little town of Mahe. I hadn’t known anything about life in this little once-colony of France. And I am glad I know. This is what I love about reading Indian literature - you don’t have to wonder what a daffodil is. You know what a dragonfly is.
Set in the 1940s, Mukundan draws a haunting portrait of a town with a bunch of esoteric characters. Kurambi Amma was my favorite probably, with her addiction to snuff, and a passion for telling stories. Dasan is the young hero, portrayed alternately as the angry young man and the studious Indian who has to fulfil his family’s dreams. In between are a whole host of characters that Mukundan uses with great skill to portray the times of that era so beautifully.
This truly is a masterpiece of Malayalam and Indian literature.
Set in the 1940s, Mukundan draws a haunting portrait of a town with a bunch of esoteric characters. Kurambi Amma was my favorite probably, with her addiction to snuff, and a passion for telling stories. Dasan is the young hero, portrayed alternately as the angry young man and the studious Indian who has to fulfil his family’s dreams. In between are a whole host of characters that Mukundan uses with great skill to portray the times of that era so beautifully.
This truly is a masterpiece of Malayalam and Indian literature.
April 24, 2018
I chanced upon M Mukundan’s “On the Banks of the Mayyazhi” in a second-hand bookshop. When I read the summary on the book jacket I was sceptical if I would like it because it had two themes that I haven’t been able to take to very much in the past – politics and magical realism.
Boy was I wrong! I finished reading it yesterday, and this captivating novel still has me in its hold. Here is the book jacket summary before I get into the review.
Mayyazhi (Mahe) in the forties: a melange of native myth and legend and shimmering French elegance. Wine flows through the streets where horse-drawn carriages speed by day and night. A folklore has it that souls hover as dragonflies over the Velliyan Rock in the sea.
A wave of nationalism sweeps over the town and a group of dedicated young men determined to free Mayyazhi from the French set the wheels in motion. Dasan, a promising young man, destined for a brilliant career in the French government, finds himself in the thick of the movement.
Mukundan, one of Kerala’s best known writers of fiction, captures the spirit of a period of transition with piquant cameos of a Mayyazhi now lost forever.
And how! Mukundan makes it impossible to separate fact from fiction, magic from reality. Very loosely based on some real incidents in old Mayyazhi, the novel takes us through two different generations in the history of the town.
It begins with vignettes of a strongly Indo-French Mayyazhi where the term locals include Malayalis, the French, and French-Malayalis. The last set are part French, part Indian; people like Leslie Sayiv or Missie who can speak fluent Malayalam and who are knitted firmly into Kerala’s culture, and people like Sergeant Kunhikannan who can speak fluent French and are part of the French government. The interactions among all of them are closely interlocked forming the foundation for firm friendships. Take Kurambi Amma and Leslie Sayiv, for example. Every evening Leslie would come in his fine horse carriage to Kurambi Amma’s house and talk of “village matters until dusk, helping themselves now and then to a pinch of snuff.” This was the sort of easy camaraderie that cemented relationships between the Indians and the French.
This peaceful co-existence was not to be for long, though. Communism enters Mayyazhi, warming the blood of youngsters like Dasan, Pappan, Vasutty and others, who form the second generation of Mayyazhi. Dasan, who is well-educated, turns down the chance to go to Pondicherry or France for higher studies, and instead joins India’s fight for freedom. His involvement unspools a thread of occurrences that awakens Mayyazhi from its languorous state of being placidly content in servitude, igniting the fire for independence. It’s not an easy task for Dasan and his band of rebels as many of the town folk are unconscious of a concept called freedom. Damu Writer is genuinely puzzled when he asks Kunhanandan Master.
“Freedom? What does that mean, Master?”
No wonder then, that we see the unique case of the enslaved tearfully waving goodbye to their masters departing from the shores of Mayyazhi never to return. Apparently, it really did happen. And there was really a Dasan-like figure who did his higher studies at the Sorbonne University and then joined the French Communist Party. Clearly, Mukundan has dipped into the annals of Mayyazhi’s real history and padded it up beautifully.
Legends and folklore are deftly interleaved with the very real political scenarios adding rich textures to the complex canvas of Mayyazhi’s society. Kurambi Amma is the dispenser of these stories, passing them down in the oral tradition by whispering into the willing ears of Dasan and Girija. One of my favourites was the story of Kunhimanikkam, whose “skin was the colour of beaten gold” and whose image “decked in jewels and wearing a kasavu mundu, haunted the men of Mayyazhi while they slept.” To me, Kurambi Amma is like an incarnation of the town itself. She is the omniscient presence who lives through all the changes that Mayyazhi goes through, and is the eyes and ears of the town.
Mukundan seamlessly blends Kurambi Amma’s world of magical realism with that of Dasan’s practical one. When Uthaman, one of the newly sprung Communists, falls dead at the end of the ritual performance during the Thira festival, the good folk of Mayyazhi “were sure that the gods had punished him. Only Kunhanandan Master offered an explanation: ‘After all, he was a novice. He should have been more careful,’ referring to Uthaman’s heavy headgear. And just like that, we see the perfect juxtaposition of theism and antitheism, of logic and magic, both of which make up the fabric of Mayyazhi.
I fell in love with this seductive melange of politics, history, folklore, romance, and quixotic people that "On the Banks…" is filled with. Mayyazhi comes alive in all its glory thanks to the translation from the original Malayalam by the very capable Gita Krishnankutty who has captured the nuances and natural flavour extremely well.
I have never been to Mahe, as it’s known today. But now, even though none of the buildings remain, I would love to see it. Kurambi Amma’s voice is sure to guide me. Dasan might be lingering on the shore gazing, as always, at Velliyan Kunnu. The aroma of Missie’s cakes might still waft in the air while Leslie Sayiv’s horse carriage clatters past.
Boy was I wrong! I finished reading it yesterday, and this captivating novel still has me in its hold. Here is the book jacket summary before I get into the review.
Mayyazhi (Mahe) in the forties: a melange of native myth and legend and shimmering French elegance. Wine flows through the streets where horse-drawn carriages speed by day and night. A folklore has it that souls hover as dragonflies over the Velliyan Rock in the sea.
A wave of nationalism sweeps over the town and a group of dedicated young men determined to free Mayyazhi from the French set the wheels in motion. Dasan, a promising young man, destined for a brilliant career in the French government, finds himself in the thick of the movement.
Mukundan, one of Kerala’s best known writers of fiction, captures the spirit of a period of transition with piquant cameos of a Mayyazhi now lost forever.
And how! Mukundan makes it impossible to separate fact from fiction, magic from reality. Very loosely based on some real incidents in old Mayyazhi, the novel takes us through two different generations in the history of the town.
It begins with vignettes of a strongly Indo-French Mayyazhi where the term locals include Malayalis, the French, and French-Malayalis. The last set are part French, part Indian; people like Leslie Sayiv or Missie who can speak fluent Malayalam and who are knitted firmly into Kerala’s culture, and people like Sergeant Kunhikannan who can speak fluent French and are part of the French government. The interactions among all of them are closely interlocked forming the foundation for firm friendships. Take Kurambi Amma and Leslie Sayiv, for example. Every evening Leslie would come in his fine horse carriage to Kurambi Amma’s house and talk of “village matters until dusk, helping themselves now and then to a pinch of snuff.” This was the sort of easy camaraderie that cemented relationships between the Indians and the French.
This peaceful co-existence was not to be for long, though. Communism enters Mayyazhi, warming the blood of youngsters like Dasan, Pappan, Vasutty and others, who form the second generation of Mayyazhi. Dasan, who is well-educated, turns down the chance to go to Pondicherry or France for higher studies, and instead joins India’s fight for freedom. His involvement unspools a thread of occurrences that awakens Mayyazhi from its languorous state of being placidly content in servitude, igniting the fire for independence. It’s not an easy task for Dasan and his band of rebels as many of the town folk are unconscious of a concept called freedom. Damu Writer is genuinely puzzled when he asks Kunhanandan Master.
“Freedom? What does that mean, Master?”
No wonder then, that we see the unique case of the enslaved tearfully waving goodbye to their masters departing from the shores of Mayyazhi never to return. Apparently, it really did happen. And there was really a Dasan-like figure who did his higher studies at the Sorbonne University and then joined the French Communist Party. Clearly, Mukundan has dipped into the annals of Mayyazhi’s real history and padded it up beautifully.
Legends and folklore are deftly interleaved with the very real political scenarios adding rich textures to the complex canvas of Mayyazhi’s society. Kurambi Amma is the dispenser of these stories, passing them down in the oral tradition by whispering into the willing ears of Dasan and Girija. One of my favourites was the story of Kunhimanikkam, whose “skin was the colour of beaten gold” and whose image “decked in jewels and wearing a kasavu mundu, haunted the men of Mayyazhi while they slept.” To me, Kurambi Amma is like an incarnation of the town itself. She is the omniscient presence who lives through all the changes that Mayyazhi goes through, and is the eyes and ears of the town.
Mukundan seamlessly blends Kurambi Amma’s world of magical realism with that of Dasan’s practical one. When Uthaman, one of the newly sprung Communists, falls dead at the end of the ritual performance during the Thira festival, the good folk of Mayyazhi “were sure that the gods had punished him. Only Kunhanandan Master offered an explanation: ‘After all, he was a novice. He should have been more careful,’ referring to Uthaman’s heavy headgear. And just like that, we see the perfect juxtaposition of theism and antitheism, of logic and magic, both of which make up the fabric of Mayyazhi.
I fell in love with this seductive melange of politics, history, folklore, romance, and quixotic people that "On the Banks…" is filled with. Mayyazhi comes alive in all its glory thanks to the translation from the original Malayalam by the very capable Gita Krishnankutty who has captured the nuances and natural flavour extremely well.
I have never been to Mahe, as it’s known today. But now, even though none of the buildings remain, I would love to see it. Kurambi Amma’s voice is sure to guide me. Dasan might be lingering on the shore gazing, as always, at Velliyan Kunnu. The aroma of Missie’s cakes might still waft in the air while Leslie Sayiv’s horse carriage clatters past.
March 27, 2015
Mayyazhi ('Mahé' in French) was a tiny French governed enclave on the coast of Kerala. Even today it retains separateness of status from Kerala- it is a Union Territory like Pondicherry, Daman,and Diu. Nowadays the tiny town is little more than a long line of booze selling stores and a church.
This novel begins when Mahé was a French colony and ends after it became part of India in the 1950s. The slow beginning describes life in the enclave and introduces a wide range of characters. Some of these work for the French and others join the illegal movement to liberate Mahé from the French.
I enjoyed the book but felt that the narration was over lean. It needed to be less concise and more meaty. At first it was a little lacking in direction, but it picked up greatly and became quite exciting in its last quarter.
I read the book because I have visited Mahé, and was curious about it. I now feel that I have learnt something, but not a great deal, about the place.
Although I found the book fascinating enough, I am not going to reccommend it highly to anyone who is not interested in Mahé.
This novel begins when Mahé was a French colony and ends after it became part of India in the 1950s. The slow beginning describes life in the enclave and introduces a wide range of characters. Some of these work for the French and others join the illegal movement to liberate Mahé from the French.
I enjoyed the book but felt that the narration was over lean. It needed to be less concise and more meaty. At first it was a little lacking in direction, but it picked up greatly and became quite exciting in its last quarter.
I read the book because I have visited Mahé, and was curious about it. I now feel that I have learnt something, but not a great deal, about the place.
Although I found the book fascinating enough, I am not going to reccommend it highly to anyone who is not interested in Mahé.
Read
December 13, 2012It is one of the early books which took me into the world of phantasies and daydreams. I used to sleep with a book in hand. The book gave me an insight into the divergent culture of India as it focuses on the French speaking people in Mahe. A must read for those who take Malayalam literature seriously.
May 18, 2011
great Novel....I have completed in record time..!!
June 3, 2021
എന്തൊരു എഴുത്താണ് 😍❤️. ദാസനും ചന്ദ്രിയും വട്ടമിട്ടു പറക്കുന്നു വെള്ളിയാങ്കൽ നോക്കി ഇരിക്കണം. ചെന്ന് കുറെ നേരം മയ്യഴിപ്പുഴയുടെ തീരത്ത് ഇരിക്കണം.
January 28, 2023
The level of character viscerality in the story gradually shifts from an initial, socially acceptable level to a detailed contour map of each character in a given time and space. In doing so, the author helps the reader see the reality of their decision and persuades them to embrace them for who they are with the progression of time. In my opinion I observed that a strong emphasis is placed on the idea that once you leave a place you are from, you no longer belong there from the illustration of Dasan.
Just as people undergo different shades according to their conditioning here the space also evolves over time, changing their eccentricities and hues with time.
This book could not be classified as political fiction set in the former French colony of Mahe, as it would be an undertone, the breeze from the Mayyazhi goes beyond the verbal detailing in the book, where one can witness the play of emotions like the waves along the banks.
Just as people undergo different shades according to their conditioning here the space also evolves over time, changing their eccentricities and hues with time.
This book could not be classified as political fiction set in the former French colony of Mahe, as it would be an undertone, the breeze from the Mayyazhi goes beyond the verbal detailing in the book, where one can witness the play of emotions like the waves along the banks.
June 14, 2023
ಮಾಹೆ ಪಟ್ಟಣದ ದಾಸನ್ ಎಂಬಾತನ ಕಥೆ. ಅಥೆಂಟಿಕ್ ವಿವರಗಳು; ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ ದೆಸೆ, ಅಪ್ಪನ ಕನಸು, ಮಗ ಕಮ್ಯುನಿಸ್ಟ್ ಆಗುವುದು ಇತ್ಯಾದಿಗಳಿಂದ ಅಪ್ಪನಿಗೆ ನಿರಾಸೆ ,ದುರಂತ ಅಂತ್ಯ. ಮುಕುಂದನ್ ,ವಿಜಯನ್,ಪೊಟ್ಟೆಕಾಟ್ ,ಎಮ್.ಟಿ.ವಾಸುದೇವನ್ ನಾಯರ್ ,ತಕಳಿ ಶಿವಶಂಕರ ಪಿಳ್ಳೆ ಇವರ ಕೃತಿಗಳು ಓದೋದೇ ಮಜಾ.
ನಾನೋದಿದ ಅನುವಾದ ಕೆ.ಕೆ.ನಾಯರ್ ಅವರದ್ದು.
ನಾನೋದಿದ ಅನುವಾದ ಕೆ.ಕೆ.ನಾಯರ್ ಅವರದ್ದು.
November 28, 2016
Mayyazhi puzhayude theerangalil(on banks of Mayyazhi river) is a tale spanning over 2-3 generations, and beautifully presented by the author the changes and evolution of the people and place(Mahe- a french colony) throughout this time.
this was my first book by M Mukundan one of the pioneers of modern malayalam literature, which clearly proved me of his legacy. the story begins around late 18s and ends about in 1950s,
The best thing about the book is the character development and how deep it will carve each character into readers memory. i guess they are gonna live inside me for quite a long time from now. This story is a huge clash of perspectives about ideologies, freedom,colonization, right/wrong, & life.A marvelous work of historic fiction,which i recommend to anyone who are interested in colonized India(French mahe was so different from British india,looks like mahe people then loved them for their rule) and anyone who can read malayalam .gotta grab rest of work by M.Mukundan.
and for this book clear 5 stars.!
this was my first book by M Mukundan one of the pioneers of modern malayalam literature, which clearly proved me of his legacy. the story begins around late 18s and ends about in 1950s,
The best thing about the book is the character development and how deep it will carve each character into readers memory. i guess they are gonna live inside me for quite a long time from now. This story is a huge clash of perspectives about ideologies, freedom,colonization, right/wrong, & life.A marvelous work of historic fiction,which i recommend to anyone who are interested in colonized India(French mahe was so different from British india,looks like mahe people then loved them for their rule) and anyone who can read malayalam .gotta grab rest of work by M.Mukundan.
and for this book clear 5 stars.!
September 12, 2015
പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട ദാസാ .. വെള്ളിയാങ്കലുകൾക്കിടയിൽ ഒരു സ്ഥാനം നീ എനിക്കും തരുക .. ഒരു തുമ്പിയായി സ്വതന്ത്രമായി പാറി കളിക്കുവാൻ എനിക്കും അതിയായ ദാഹമുണ്ട് ..
March 12, 2023
ഈ ലോകത്തിൽ സന്തോഷവും ദുഖവും ഉണ്ടോ മാഷേ? ജീവിതമേയുള്ളൂ... അതേ ജീവിതം...
പച്ചയായ മനുഷ്യരുടെ ജീവിതം പറയുന്ന മനോഹരമായ വായന. വർണ്ണിക്കാൻ വാക്കുകളില്ല വർണ്ണ... Thank you so much...
പച്ചയായ മനുഷ്യരുടെ ജീവിതം പറയുന്ന മനോഹരമായ വായന. വർണ്ണിക്കാൻ വാക്കുകളില്ല വർണ്ണ... Thank you so much...
June 9, 2018
പണ്ട് അതായതു ദാസൻ്റെ പിറവിക്കു മുൻപ് …..These are the first words of the masterpiece born from the pen of M.mukundan. To give such a symbolic and significant introduction to out protagonist, we expect great things from him. But over the course of the story, we are utterly disappointed. In him, as a person, as a son,as a self proclaimed idealist revolutionary. On paper, Dasan has none of the qualities one would attribute to one in whom the readers should connect to. Save for one. His unbending devotion to his ideals. But we learn in many instances that this may be a quality that brings more harm than good.
He contributes next to nothing to the ongoing events. True he was a staunch and active activist who by heart and mind yearned for the liberation of Mayyazhi and her denizens. He was willing to give up a enticing future, and there in his family's hopes and dreams. Even when faced with their broken countenance he was unyielding. Nor his mother and sisters cries, nor his father’s lamentation, nor his dear achamma’s devastation. Even when his actions led his father to all but exile him from home.
As mentioned, Dasan as a protagonist possesses no such qualities. However as a character he is complex and engaging. With his insecurities and failings, he seems almost...human. As if you would have known someone like him, growing up.
And therein lies that triumph of the story. While it boasts a litany of colorful characters, the writer chose Dasan to be his stand in, per say. He is a man of contradictions. There is a saying; ‘one who cannot keep his own house in order, should not venture to do so for his land’ an ideal lived and broken by Mahatma Gandhi, whose family at his deathbed were all but sundered.
Here we see dasan give up all that he holds dear for what he believes in. yet what can he show for it. It was his best friend papan who instigated the revolution, by sorts stabbing the commissar. For the most part kanaran led the revolution. The people of mayyazhi made the french leave.
And dasan, in a moment of familial concern, took on a futile personal mission of great risk which got him captured. He went to prison for a action that was mostly not his own. And despite knowing that may not share a future he allows Chandrika to get close.
For most part Dasan seems a person in battle with himself. Not committing to either self and failing both.A lifetime of bad choices. Why couldn’t he have served his land while serving his family. His renouncing of all his comforts appears as a form of escapism. An hollow idealist who is ready to preach but not willing to act. The sad part is he is not.
As the author, so elegantly put it mayyazhi before dasan, is presented as almost a land borne of myth and folklore. Filled with people who knew to fear the ever encroaching dark, the fickle old gods, and the generous new gods the white men.
The females and some males, who looked upon them in adulation as they would kings and royalty of old. In multiple it is even hinted as such. And males who were weak feeble creatures, obedient, compliant and dare say spineless to the authority. Harbouring like a venereal symptom, their perceived impotence in relation to the white lords.
***********************
Carnal desire gravitates to those in power. this seems to a recurring theme of the narrative. like a corrupted version of evolutionary fitness, here the females look upon their rulers, those who possess immense power over them, also as objects of such passions.
Yet the colonizers are not all mustache swirling villains and fiends. we see several who intermingle and socialize with the people. and through their bonds have become no less the sons and daughters of mayyazhi. a paramour of which, are the noble and respectable lord Leslie and his amiable wife Missy. who look upon the family of Kurumbi, as their own.
An interesting point of divergence, right around the time of dasan's birth. the failings of Leslie and Missy's son Gastone in his marriage, perhaps due to the implied undertone of impotence was the first indicator of the winds of change in the political landscape. prior there was no one mention of defiance among the people against the colonizers.
Another point to note is how kunjananthan, the symbolic icon of the revolution and the intellectual progenitor of many of mayyazhi’s future revolutionaries is introduced immediately after gastone's self imposed confinement.
these men drew parallels, between two cultures. those of the colonizers who were losing their grip in the colonists with the passage of time.
gastone who had almost all a man could wish for, yet choose to throw it away over his one failing. kunjananthan the perpetual hypochondriac lamenting over his several failings in health, but in doing so finds the strength to devote his remaining life force to become the harbinger of change; and for the most part succeeds. how challenges shape us is entirely depending on us. we can either be the recluse gastone, or the enterprising kunjananthan.
like gaston most of the people we meet in mayyazhi do not take well to the abrupt change in years of established regime.some are heartbroken, some angry, some in complete denial.
'the french will retake mayyazhi in a fleet of warships' mused french loyalist unni nair at one point, even when it was clear those days we forever gone. most like them actively are terrified of this concept of independence. yet fear it, stall it, change always arrives.
And it comes unbiased, unprejudiced. Even to the victors. Dasan, pappan, vasooty and kanaran are all affected. Some like soldiers in peacetime lost their will and drive. Some having renounced their armament and achieved their goals moved onto better prospects.
Dasan was the former. No longer driven by the singular desire of freedom he withered away physically and mentally. Using the adoration of chandrika as a crutch as a imitation to the family he lost. Yet he is the acolyte of the goddess of misfortune jyestha. He refuses to let the past die, and hides behind false ideals. He could be one who desires a hundred year revolution to keep his sense and importance intact.
He pushes away those that try to help him, pigheaded in his own brand of ideals. He earns the ire and hatred of those close to him alienating himself further.
A direct opposite to achu, whose past is intentionally shrouded in obscurity. Yet one who undergoes the most drastic change echoing the change in the land. Perhaps having a turbulent upbringing, his desire for something tangible like a family allowed him to turn himself around and become a respectable member of society.
Yet despite all this mayyazhi persists. A silent spectator in the drama of life. Yet she is just as relevant as character as those written. The place, like malgudi before has a identity of its own. The seashore which bears witness to the mystic land where souls transverse as dragonflies.An enduring land, full of people who loved and loved, and lived and lost.
I have not spend time discussing the female cast of characters. But i am afraid doing so would extend this piece by quite a bit. So i am refraining from doing so. Quite regretfully. If in the future i get a chance to rewrite this review, then i shall endeavour for a more holistic and in depth look at them and more.
He contributes next to nothing to the ongoing events. True he was a staunch and active activist who by heart and mind yearned for the liberation of Mayyazhi and her denizens. He was willing to give up a enticing future, and there in his family's hopes and dreams. Even when faced with their broken countenance he was unyielding. Nor his mother and sisters cries, nor his father’s lamentation, nor his dear achamma’s devastation. Even when his actions led his father to all but exile him from home.
As mentioned, Dasan as a protagonist possesses no such qualities. However as a character he is complex and engaging. With his insecurities and failings, he seems almost...human. As if you would have known someone like him, growing up.
And therein lies that triumph of the story. While it boasts a litany of colorful characters, the writer chose Dasan to be his stand in, per say. He is a man of contradictions. There is a saying; ‘one who cannot keep his own house in order, should not venture to do so for his land’ an ideal lived and broken by Mahatma Gandhi, whose family at his deathbed were all but sundered.
Here we see dasan give up all that he holds dear for what he believes in. yet what can he show for it. It was his best friend papan who instigated the revolution, by sorts stabbing the commissar. For the most part kanaran led the revolution. The people of mayyazhi made the french leave.
And dasan, in a moment of familial concern, took on a futile personal mission of great risk which got him captured. He went to prison for a action that was mostly not his own. And despite knowing that may not share a future he allows Chandrika to get close.
For most part Dasan seems a person in battle with himself. Not committing to either self and failing both.A lifetime of bad choices. Why couldn’t he have served his land while serving his family. His renouncing of all his comforts appears as a form of escapism. An hollow idealist who is ready to preach but not willing to act. The sad part is he is not.
As the author, so elegantly put it mayyazhi before dasan, is presented as almost a land borne of myth and folklore. Filled with people who knew to fear the ever encroaching dark, the fickle old gods, and the generous new gods the white men.
The females and some males, who looked upon them in adulation as they would kings and royalty of old. In multiple it is even hinted as such. And males who were weak feeble creatures, obedient, compliant and dare say spineless to the authority. Harbouring like a venereal symptom, their perceived impotence in relation to the white lords.
***********************
Carnal desire gravitates to those in power. this seems to a recurring theme of the narrative. like a corrupted version of evolutionary fitness, here the females look upon their rulers, those who possess immense power over them, also as objects of such passions.
Yet the colonizers are not all mustache swirling villains and fiends. we see several who intermingle and socialize with the people. and through their bonds have become no less the sons and daughters of mayyazhi. a paramour of which, are the noble and respectable lord Leslie and his amiable wife Missy. who look upon the family of Kurumbi, as their own.
An interesting point of divergence, right around the time of dasan's birth. the failings of Leslie and Missy's son Gastone in his marriage, perhaps due to the implied undertone of impotence was the first indicator of the winds of change in the political landscape. prior there was no one mention of defiance among the people against the colonizers.
Another point to note is how kunjananthan, the symbolic icon of the revolution and the intellectual progenitor of many of mayyazhi’s future revolutionaries is introduced immediately after gastone's self imposed confinement.
these men drew parallels, between two cultures. those of the colonizers who were losing their grip in the colonists with the passage of time.
gastone who had almost all a man could wish for, yet choose to throw it away over his one failing. kunjananthan the perpetual hypochondriac lamenting over his several failings in health, but in doing so finds the strength to devote his remaining life force to become the harbinger of change; and for the most part succeeds. how challenges shape us is entirely depending on us. we can either be the recluse gastone, or the enterprising kunjananthan.
like gaston most of the people we meet in mayyazhi do not take well to the abrupt change in years of established regime.some are heartbroken, some angry, some in complete denial.
'the french will retake mayyazhi in a fleet of warships' mused french loyalist unni nair at one point, even when it was clear those days we forever gone. most like them actively are terrified of this concept of independence. yet fear it, stall it, change always arrives.
And it comes unbiased, unprejudiced. Even to the victors. Dasan, pappan, vasooty and kanaran are all affected. Some like soldiers in peacetime lost their will and drive. Some having renounced their armament and achieved their goals moved onto better prospects.
Dasan was the former. No longer driven by the singular desire of freedom he withered away physically and mentally. Using the adoration of chandrika as a crutch as a imitation to the family he lost. Yet he is the acolyte of the goddess of misfortune jyestha. He refuses to let the past die, and hides behind false ideals. He could be one who desires a hundred year revolution to keep his sense and importance intact.
He pushes away those that try to help him, pigheaded in his own brand of ideals. He earns the ire and hatred of those close to him alienating himself further.
A direct opposite to achu, whose past is intentionally shrouded in obscurity. Yet one who undergoes the most drastic change echoing the change in the land. Perhaps having a turbulent upbringing, his desire for something tangible like a family allowed him to turn himself around and become a respectable member of society.
Yet despite all this mayyazhi persists. A silent spectator in the drama of life. Yet she is just as relevant as character as those written. The place, like malgudi before has a identity of its own. The seashore which bears witness to the mystic land where souls transverse as dragonflies.An enduring land, full of people who loved and loved, and lived and lost.
I have not spend time discussing the female cast of characters. But i am afraid doing so would extend this piece by quite a bit. So i am refraining from doing so. Quite regretfully. If in the future i get a chance to rewrite this review, then i shall endeavour for a more holistic and in depth look at them and more.
December 16, 2018
What a beautiful novel! Of all the books I have read this year..this one is the closest to my heart.
October 22, 2016
We are so used to stories and historical accords of European colonization and the atrocities they inflict upon the natives. Well, this book says the story of now union territory Mahé, which was previously a French colony and an ace example of communal harmony and cultural assimilation post colonization. French settled here along with the natives, getting mixed with culture and believes, raising their generations. It’s really interesting and refreshing to read on life at Mahé, in its innocence and ignorance, where kids grow up hearing stories of Indian mythology and Joan of Arc. Also stories of the times where, religion language and ethnicity barely made any difference in day to day life.
Author has done an excellent job in conveying the essence in right amount of words, giving stories about various factions of Mayyazhi, on how Mahé. is home for them. Then followed the local helplessness on rebellion since they have been seeing and living along with French for generations as friends and family.
“Where will the white people go, this is their home too.”
It gets pretty visceral by the end, with accords of old people waiting for French ships with the hope of seeing their friends for one final time, the mental struggle within some locals on choosing whether to move to France or stay in Mahé..
Gotta admire the author for putting together all these aspects in and around the love story of a rebel torn between his future, ideology and family, pulling us through the moral confusion with side tracks of ancient stories of the soil. Prose was a little difficult, thanks to accented conversations and french names.
Would have given 4 stars if the book had ended before last two chapters, something I have an issue with many books contemporary to this one.
https://10thandnoble.wordpress.com/20...
Author has done an excellent job in conveying the essence in right amount of words, giving stories about various factions of Mayyazhi, on how Mahé. is home for them. Then followed the local helplessness on rebellion since they have been seeing and living along with French for generations as friends and family.
“Where will the white people go, this is their home too.”
It gets pretty visceral by the end, with accords of old people waiting for French ships with the hope of seeing their friends for one final time, the mental struggle within some locals on choosing whether to move to France or stay in Mahé..
Gotta admire the author for putting together all these aspects in and around the love story of a rebel torn between his future, ideology and family, pulling us through the moral confusion with side tracks of ancient stories of the soil. Prose was a little difficult, thanks to accented conversations and french names.
Would have given 4 stars if the book had ended before last two chapters, something I have an issue with many books contemporary to this one.
https://10thandnoble.wordpress.com/20...
March 1, 2013
loved the story. wasted some time trying to connect the locations to the familiar places in Mahe. and took a while to adjust to the French words used.
was a great experience. touched my heart at some point. superb description of different types of people then. (now?)
loved the way it explored the history of a place through the lives of its people.and particularly one or two families who might have played a huge role in them.
was a great experience. touched my heart at some point. superb description of different types of people then. (now?)
loved the way it explored the history of a place through the lives of its people.and particularly one or two families who might have played a huge role in them.
May 8, 2018
A good work in Malayalam literature. It's a tragedy that deals with the lives of interesting characters at the time of independence in Mahe and the legends that surround Mahe. Dasan will haunt the memories of everyone who has read this work. Dasan's behavior in the later part of the story is a little hard to accept, as Deepu chettan has written in his review. I share similar views about the work
May 28, 2017
An absolute classic..touched my heart.. having a strong urge to go to Mahe, to walk through the streets, to the banks of Mayyazhi river..doesn't matter that the place may have changed a lot..
കടലിലേക്ക് ഒഴുകുന്ന മയ്യഴി പുഴയും, ആത്മാക്കള് തുമ്പികളായി പറക്കുന്ന കടലിലെ വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ലും ഇപ്പോഴും അവിടെ ഉണ്ടാകും, പഴയ കാല ഓർമകളുമായി...
കടലിലേക്ക് ഒഴുകുന്ന മയ്യഴി പുഴയും, ആത്മാക്കള് തുമ്പികളായി പറക്കുന്ന കടലിലെ വെള്ളിയാങ്കല്ലും ഇപ്പോഴും അവിടെ ഉണ്ടാകും, പഴയ കാല ഓർമകളുമായി...
December 15, 2010
M.Mukundan is one of the great writers of Malayalam literature. This is the most popular of his books.It is also regarded as his best.It is st on the banks of the river Mayyazhi.It won him the Kendra Sahitya Academy.
July 3, 2021
Velliyamkallil thumbikale pole parakkan kazhinjirunuengil!
The pain in Dasan's story hugs you like a warm blanket.
The pain in Dasan's story hugs you like a warm blanket.
January 28, 2023
Reading Mayyazhi puzhayude theerangalil is a journey everyone should experience once in their life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews