Wind Flowers: Contemporary Malayalam Short Fiction

by V. Abdulla, R E Asher (Editor)

A classic collection of stories showcasing some of India's best-known writersAfter a hesitant start towards the end of the ninetheenth century, short fiction in Malyalam came into its own in the 1930s. Since then, writer has experimented with content , style and language to give the genre a unique standing in contemporary Indian litereature as perhaps the most translated, not just into English and other Indian languages but also into other media such as flim and televison.From Vaikom Muhammed Basheer and O.. Vijayan to Kamamla Das and Sarah Joesph, this volume brings together an extraordinary range of writers and themes. There are among others, M.T. Vasudevan Mair's ' Oppol', a story about childhood innoccence and loss, which was made into award-winning flim, Paul Zacharia's 'Bhaskara Pattelar and my Life' a brilliant psychological examination of the master-slave dialectic; Lalithambika Antherjanam's path-breaking 'Goddess of Revenge' in which a young Namboodiri woman becomes a prostitute to expose the hypocrisy of her husband and their rigidly orthodox community; and N.S. Madhavan's classic story of an upper-caste widowwho finds redemption in the forbidden touch of a Pulaya. Translated with flair and integrity, these stories capture the vibrancy of a literary culture at its creative best.

Genres: Short Stories

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Who is more culpable, the man who seduces a woman in order to satisfy his lust or the woman who transgresses the dictates of society in an attempt to oppose him? Whom would you hate more? Whom would you cast out?"

A collection of short stories originally written in Malayalam, this book delves into themes of caste inequality, gender roles, desire, and the Indian independence movement. Through these narratives, readers gain a rich, intimate view of Kerala’s societal landscape and Malayali culture.

A story that particularly stood out to me was 'The Goddess of Revenge' by Lalithambika Antherjanam, in which a high caste Namboodiri woman becomes a prostitute in order to seek revenge on her hypocritical and unfaithful husband. We are granted a glimpse into the dilemmas faced by Keralite women as she laments, "Whether our hands are placed in those of an old man or a young one, a sick man or a libertine is all a matter of destiny. We can do nothing but endure." Antherjanam’s prose is dark yet empathetic, and she perfectly manages to capture both the quiet suffering and fierce endurance of her female characters.

[Gayatri.S]

Recent pick from the library.Included all those must read short stories in malayalam literature.one of the best short story collection.

[Priyanka Kathe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translated works of Indian Regional languages never disappointed. This collection too, will not disappoint. every story takes you to a different world. It’s a chaos of images and emotions. Something book readers readers crave for.

[Anand Ganapathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful collection of Malayalam short stories by some of best writers of the genre - vaikom basheer , MT Vasudevan Nair , OV Vijayan, Kamala Das , Lalithambika Antharjanam .........