Apuvinte Lokam - അപ്പുവിന്‍റെ ലോകം | Apur Sansar

by Bibhoothibooshan Bandyopadhyaya, Leela Sarkar (Translator)

പഥേര്‍ പഞ്ചാലിയും അപരാജിതനും അപുവിന്റെ ലോകവുമെല്ലം ഒരേ ഉദ്യാനത്തില്‍ വളര്‍ന്ന തരുക്കളും ചെടികളുമാണ്. പ്രാതികൂല്യങ്ങളെ മറികടന്നുകൊണ്ടു പൂര്‍ണ്ണതയിലേക്കു കുതിക്കാന്‍ വെമ്പുന്ന നിലയ്ക്കാത്ത ജീവിതചോദനയുടെ കലാപരമായ ആവിഷ്ക്കാരമാണ് അപുവിന്റെ ലോകത്തില്‍ ബിഭൂതിഭൂഷണ്‍ കാഴ്ചവെച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ജീവിതത്തിലെ ബദ്ധപ്പാടുകളില്‍ പെട്ട് മൂല്യങ്ങള്‍ പിന്തള്ളപ്പെടുമ്പോള്‍ മനുഷ്യത്വത്തിന്റെ മൌലികവും ഉദാത്തവുമായ ഭാവങ്ങളിലെക്കു മനസ്സുകളെ തിരിച്ചുവിടാന്‍ ഈ കൃതി നമ്മോടു പറയുന്നു.

310 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1932

Reviews

[Aiswarya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars because of a largely inaccessible translation by Leela Sarkar. I persisted till the end due to my love for the film and the central character. The last chapter was rewarding; detailing Apu's concept of life, his deep connection to nature, and his admirable ability to find joy in the mundane and the ordinary. His sincerity and integrity of character is astounding. You cannot help but love and feel a deep kinship with this man who retains his link to his roots, greets and helps everyone with the same sincerity, and remembers the tiniest details even from early childhood. Bandyopadhyaya's women characters are also fascinating, though not all of them have agency over their lives. The story is filled with lives of lifelong poverty, struggle and death, interspersed with Apu's travels, his books, and the many people he meets from neighbours in Nischindipur to collegemates in Calcutta to colleagues from several jobs over the years. I wanted to know how the novel varied from the film, and was quite astonished to see that there are several other minor characters in the book, and several deeper layers to Apu's tryst with life that I wish Ray had explored on celluloid. Alas, it's our loss. Despite the difficult translation, I'm glad I picked it up and read it till the end. It was an honour to meet Apu through these pages.

[Green Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avaiable on www.greenbooksindia.com

[Rithul · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE WORLD OF APU

Apu's journey continues with this third and final installment as he navigates his life through poverty, marriage and parenthood. He also deals with more heartbreak from watching his loved ones die one by one. What more can he suffer in life.

He travels a lot through northern and Eastern India understanding life and meaning. His only consolance is his son Kajal whom he loves dearly but has to be separated from him twice. On his final return to Nischindpur he is overcome with sadness and the character experiences catharsis and his arc comes to an end. Hope his saga will continue in Fiji where he might meet his fate