Gejje Pooje

by M.K. Indira

Gejje Pooje by M K Indira is a social novel which was written in the 1960s.

Gejje Pooje, translating from Kannada to English means anklet flowers, has the name suggests is about the life of Devadasi’s. The book deals with the life of Chandra who happens to be the daughter of a Devadasi named Aparna. Due to her linage Chandra most of her life struggles with the identity of being a prostitute’s daughter. Chandra’s only dream is to be educated and be married to the guy whom she loves immensely. Despite of her linage, will she find the love of her life? Will Chandra be able to break out from the custom and lead a happier life or with the social pressure will she bow down to the custom and become a prostitute?

192 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 1966

About the author

Malooru Krishnarao Indira (Kannada: ಮಾಳೂರು ಕೃಷ್ಣರಾವ್ ಇಂದಿರ; 5 January 1917 – 15 March 1994) was a well-known Indian novelist in the Kannada language. She has written novels like Phaniyamma which has won various prestigious awards. She started writing novels at the age of forty-five. Some of her novels have been made into movies.

Born to a prosperous agriculturist, her formal education lasted for seven years before she got married at the age of twelve to M. Krishna Rao. She studied Kannada poetry and also had a good knowledge of Hindi literature.

Indira's novels, Tungabhadra, Sadananda, Navaratna and Phaniyamma have won her the Kannada Sahitya Akademi awards. This annual award is given to the best Kannada literature of the year. In view of her contribution to literature, an award is constituted in Indira's name and is given to the best women writers.

Thejaswini Niranjana, has translated Phaniyamma to English, and this translation has won her the Sahitya Akademi of India award and more awards.

Reviews

[Vasanth · Rating 4 out of 5]

ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯಾಗಿಯೂ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವಾಗಿಯೂ ಬಹಳ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆಯನ್ನು ಪಡೆದಿರುವ ಎಂ.ಕೆ. ಇಂದಿರಾ ಅವರ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ಕೃತಿಯಾದ “ಗೆಜ್ಜೆಪೂಜೆ” ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಾನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಹೇಳುವಂತದ್ದಿಲ್ಲ, ಕೆಲವು ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳನ್ನ ಪರಿಚಯಿಸುವಾಗ ನನ್ನ ಸ್ವಂತ ಪೀಠಿಕೆಯ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆಯೂ ಇಲ್ಲ.

ಗೆಜ್ಜೆಪೂಜೆಯೆನ್ನುವ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಸುತ್ತುವರೆಯುವುದು ಆ ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾದ ಒಳಗಾಗಬೇಕಿರುವ ಪಾತ್ರಗಳ ಸುತ್ತ, ಸೂಳೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ಪದದ ಅರ್ಥ ತಿಳಿಯದಿರುವ ವಯಸಲ್ಲೇ ಸಮಾಜ ಒಂದು ಹೆಣ್ಣಿಗೆ “ನೀನು ಸೂಳೆರ ಹುಡುಗಿ” ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಭಿದಾನ ಕೊಡುವ ದಾರುಣ ಸ್ಥಿತಿಯ ಸುತ್ತ.
ಎಲ್ಲ ಯುವತಿಯರಂತೆ ತನ್ನಿಷ್ಟದ ಹುಡುಗನನ್ನ ಪ್ರೇಮಿಸಬೇಕು ಮದುವೆಯಾಗಿ ಪ್ರೇಮಜೀವನವನ್ನು ನೆಡೆಸಬೇಕೆನ್ನುವ ಮಹದಾಸೆ ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದ ಆ ಪಾತ್ರಕ್ಕಾದ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ ನನ್ನ ಹೃದಯವನ್ನ ಭಾರವಾಗಿಸಿತು. ಚಂದ್ರಾಳ ಅಸಹಾಯಕತೆ ಚಂಚಲತೆ ಬದುಕಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅವಳಿಗಿದ್ದ ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಓದುಗರನ್ನು ಕಾಡುವಂತದ್ದು. ಕೊನೆಯ ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು ಪುಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿನ ಚಂದ್ರಾಳ ಮನೋವೇದನೆಯಂತೂ ಹೇಳತೀರದು. “ನನ್ನ ಏಳು ಜನ್ಮಕ್ಕೂ ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನವಳು” ಎನ್ನುವ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಯ ಕೊನೆಯ ಸಾಲುಗಳು ನನ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ದುಃಖ ಉಮ್ಮಳಿಸಿ ಬರುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿದವು. ಬರವಣಿಗೆ ಅದ್ಭುತ, ನಿರೂಪಣೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮಾತಿಲ್ಲ.

ಧನ್ಯವಾದ
ವಸಂತ್
೧೫/೦೨/೨೦೨೫

[Madhuri G · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://moviebookmusic.com/gejje-pooje...

Gejje Pooje by M K Indira | Book Review: Gejje Pooje written by M K Indira was published in the 1966. The book deals with life of a devadasi’s daughter Chandra and consequences she facing due to being a child of a Devadasi. The book was later adopted into a movie and was directed by Puttanna Kanagal. The film emerged out as a huge success and helped in shaping the career of “Minugu Thare” Kalpana.

Gejje Pooje Book Synopsis

Gejje Pooje has the name suggests is about the life of Devadasi’s. The book deals with the life of Chandra who happens to be the daughter of a Devadasi named Aparna. Due to her linage Chandra most of her life struggles with the identity of being a prostitute’s daughter. Chandra’s only dream is to be educated and be married to the guy whom she loves immensely. Despite of her linage, will she find the love of her life? Will Chandra be able to break out from the custom and lead a happier life or with the social pressure will she bow down to the custom and become a prostitute?

To know all this you definitely have to read “Gejje Pooje”

Gejje Pooje Book Review

Gejje Pooje by M K Indira is a social novel which was written in the 1960s. The story starts with a young boy named Somu from an upper class family yearning for a lotus which happens to be a pond used usually for daily rituals (Nithya Karma).

Since he is from an upper class family he is prohibited from going to such places, let alone wanting a lotus from that place!!! Somu being adamant with the help of his friends gets the lotus from the pond. When the matter reaches the ears of his family he is scolded and the lotus is thrown out.

Chandra, daughter of a Devadasi Aparna moves to an upper class neighborhood with her grandmother. Chandra or her family is not accepted by the neighborhood due to their profession. Somu and his sister Lalitha becomes her friends and as the time passes the neighbors also accept the Devadasi and her daughter Chandra. Though Chandra is accepted in the neighborhood, nobody forgets her mother’s profession and is always skeptical. Chandra, all she wants in her life is to escape the hell of Devadasi Life and get married and lead a happy life.

Time passes, Chandra is now an attractive young woman. She falls in love with her neighbor Somu. Chandra and Somu confess their love for each other. Due to the social norms and acceptance, Somu marries a girl from an upper middle class family. Ironically his wife is none other than half sister of Chandra!

Chandra who never wanted to get “Gejje Pooje” done to her, agrees to become a Devadasi. On the night of her “Gejje Pooje” ceremony, Chandra commits suicide. She leaves a letter to her father thanking him indirectly for the diamond ring he gave, which she used to kill herself and a letter to Somu stating she is only his for all the seven origins.
I loved the book. I felt there was someone out there who could have hugged Chandra and told her you are what you make yourself and not what people think. I wish Somu was man enough to stand against the social norms and accepted Chandra for who she was!. The climax is definitely a cry fest. You cannot escape the agony and despair has Chandra takes her last breath.

Not only is the agony palpable so is the raw emotion of anger! I don’t think I’m the only person who loathed Somu. One minute he has professed his feelings for Chandra and very next moment he is fine with the bride whom his parents have selected. I never left his feelings were true to being with! His character is so low, you just feel like strangling him. My frustration about not being able to smack him reached heights when he laughs mockingly at Chandra after coming to know about her “Gejje Pooje”. He shows his double standards with his laugh and mentality.

The book is sad. The characters are hardly happy throughout their life. Each and every second one way or the other, the society shows Chandra what her linage is!.

This is my first M K Indira book and I’m totally blown over by her narration.
Go on folks grab a copy and read it as soon as possible.
Trust me it’s a great read. I give this book 4 stars.

Book Details

Title: Gejje Pooje
Author: M K Indira
Language: Kannada
Page Count: 192
Year of Publication: 1966
Genre: Social
Characters: Chandra, Aparna, Lalitha, Somu

[Spoorthi Chandrashekhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

ಕೆಲವು ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳಿಗೆ ವಿವರಗಳು ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಇದು ಕೂಡ.
ಅನರ್ಘ್ಯ ರತ್ನ.

[ಸುಶಾಂತ ಕುರಂದವಾಡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ಎಂ ಕೆ ಇಂದಿರಾ ಅವರ masterpiece ಪುಸ್ತಕ.

[Akshath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another work that has more content in it than the page count would suggest. I was vaguely aware of the movie though I havent watched yet. And I had heard about M K Indira. I wasn't sure what to expect and was bracing for family drama in filmy style. But very happy now that my hunch was wrong.
About the writing, turns out you don't really need complicated plot or writing for a great work. She gets across the message and leaves you thinking, crisply. Not an extra sentence needed. Its slightly dated in parts, but thats totally expected given the time it was written in.
I guess our generation probably knows about the film but the author is not well known outside few. Hopefully more people come across and rediscover

[Bharath Manchashetty · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ಕೊಚ್ಚೆಗಳ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಕಮಲ ಹೂವು ದೇವರಿಗೂ ಅಚ್ಚುಮೆಚ್ಚು..!
ವೇಶ್ಯೆಯ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆಳೆದ ಹೆಣ್ಣಿನ ಯೌವ್ವನ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಅಚ್ಚುಮೆಚ್ಚು..!
ಎಲ್ಲಿಯವರೆಗೆ…?
ಹೂವು ಬಾಡುವವರೆಗೆ..!! ಹೆಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುವವರೆಗೆ..!!”

ಈ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಓದುವಾಗ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಭಾವದ್ವೇಗಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿದ್ದುಂಟು. ಚಂದ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅಪರ್ಣ ಅವರಿಗೊದಗಿ ಬರುವ ದುಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಹೇಳತೀರದು. ಇಂತಹ ಕಾದಂಬರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಓದಿ ಅನುಭವಿಸಬೇಕು ಅಷ್ಟೇ.

ಗೆಜ್ಜೆಪೂಜೆ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವು ಆಗಿ ಇತರ ಭಾಷೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತಿ ಪಡೆದಿದೆ. ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕ, ಪುಟ್ಟಣ್ಣ ಕಣಗಾಲ್ ಅವರ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನದಲ್ಲಿನ ಈ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿನ ತಾರಾಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲ್ಪನಾ, ಗಂಗಾಧರ್, ಬಾಲಕೃಷ್ಣ, ಆರತಿ, ವಜ್ರಮುನಿ, ಅಶ್ವಥ್, ಲೋಕನಾಥ್, ಲೀಲಾವತಿ, ಪಂಡರೀಬಾಯಿ, ಸಂಪತ್ ಮುಂತಾದವರು ನಟಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಕೃತಿ- ಗೆಜ್ಜೆಪೂಜೆ
ಲೇಖಕರು- ಎಂ. ಕೆ ಇಂದಿರಾ

-ಭರತ್ ಎಂ.
ಓದಿದ್ದು 25.01.2022.

[Nayaz Riyazulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read, great narration by MK Indira, Surely your respect towards women will double after reading this. let no women suffer like Chandri and Aparna did.