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Valli
High in the Western Ghats in northern Kerala is a land of mist and mystery, of forests and folklore, rich with the culture of its indigenous people, the Adivasis. Its old name was Bayalnad – land of the paddy fields – but it would come to be known as Wayanad.
Its resources attracted outsiders – traders, colonialists, migrants from the lowlands, and eventually, the timber and tourist industries. Exploitation of the forest led to the exploitation and enslavement of its people, and as the forest dwindled, so did the Adivasis’ culture, their way of life, even their language. But these were not changes quietly and willingly accepted; Wayanad became a key centre of direct action and uprising, and a stronghold for the Naxalite movement.
Spanning the time between the 1970s and the present, Valli is a tale of four generations who made this land their home. It is told through a diary that Susan – the daughter of two teachers, Thommichan and Sara, who eloped to Wayanad so that they could live together – leaves for her own daughter, Tessa.
And in telling their story, Valli tells us stories of the land and its people, of interdependence and abuse, repression and resistance, despair and contentment – stories as vast and magical as the forest itself once was.
Its resources attracted outsiders – traders, colonialists, migrants from the lowlands, and eventually, the timber and tourist industries. Exploitation of the forest led to the exploitation and enslavement of its people, and as the forest dwindled, so did the Adivasis’ culture, their way of life, even their language. But these were not changes quietly and willingly accepted; Wayanad became a key centre of direct action and uprising, and a stronghold for the Naxalite movement.
Spanning the time between the 1970s and the present, Valli is a tale of four generations who made this land their home. It is told through a diary that Susan – the daughter of two teachers, Thommichan and Sara, who eloped to Wayanad so that they could live together – leaves for her own daughter, Tessa.
And in telling their story, Valli tells us stories of the land and its people, of interdependence and abuse, repression and resistance, despair and contentment – stories as vast and magical as the forest itself once was.
420 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2021
55 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Sheela Tomy
3 books12 followersSheela Tomy is a novelist and short-story writer from Kerala. She has a MA in Mass communication and Journalism. As a Malayalam short story writer, Sheela rose into prominence with her debut collection Melquiadesnte Pralayapusthakam (‘Melquiades’ Book of Floods’) in 2012. Valli is her debut novel which was awarded renowned Cherukad Award for Malayalam Literature 2021. ‘Valli’ in English was shortlisted for the JCB Award for Literature 2022 and Atta Galatta Banglore Literature Festival Book Prize 2022. ‘Valli’ also bagged O Abdulla translation award 2023. Sheela’s newest work, Aa Nadiyodu Preu Chodikkaruth (Do Not Ask the River Her Name), a novel addressing the struggle of people under siege, is well acclaimed. Sheela has resided in the Middle East for two decades and has been active in the social circles and Medias, as script writer for radios, lyricist and presenter of literary reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 7, 2023
Reading Valli was truly a singular experience. The word valli (വള്ളി in the original Malayalam) has multiple meanings - vine, wages, land, young woman - each of which is explored through the many layers of this novel. Set in Sheela Tomy's native Wayanad, a region tucked into the northeast corner of Kerala, up in the Western Ghats, Valli explores the dual exploitations of the forested land and the indigenous Adavasi peoples who are native to the region. This is a story with sweeping ambition, weaving elements of indigenous folklore, Keralan mythology, liberation theology, the Naxalite movement, and our ongoing climate crisis. This wide scope succeeds in part because Tomy grounds the story in the experience of one family, migrants to the region, letting the tale unfold across several generations. Much of the story is told through letters and journal entries, which adds a further layer to the narrative because it allows us to read the account of one generation filtered through the experience of a later generation. This is a story with many heroes but also many villains, showing how multiple forces combine to create a network of exploitation that lacks a simple cause or solution. There is a subtle feminist undertone as well, with the story largely told from the perspective of nuanced female characters. Valli is translated by the award-winning Jayasree Kalathil, who brings the lyricism of the original into English, utilizing some of the original vocabulary to retain a Malayalam texture. Notes from both Tomy and Kalathil conclude the volume, helpfully situating the reader in the text.
September 30, 2022
There comes a book to your life which will bring you to your senses of the feelings an author’s world can evoke in you. This saga & a deeply personal love letter to Wayanad by @sheela_tomy was like stepping your feet into wet earth on a typical monsoon day in Kerala, the earthiness of her words reminding you of the smell the land carries with her & deeply resonated with the feelings Nino Haratischwili’s ‘The Eighth Life’ had on you & the impact it still has. Like Nino’s mammoth saga was a love letter to Georgia, the country this is @sheela_tomy’s unabashed love for the natives of Wayanad and the land in itself.
The land looming over you, casting a giant shadow & engulfing you in its unending flora & fauna, the species of living beings you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and the native folks who belonged there until the deadly dance of exploitation began. Like everywhere else, the land of paddy fields, the people who spoke their own languages without needing the interference of exploiters, the land of hills which seemed like it could cover until the end of the world. Valli is so much of a story of pain as much as it is the story of an earthy folklore narrated through biblical references, tales you wouldn’t hear anywhere else & the finest storytelling I’ve had the chance to experience in a long long time.
It’s also my first translated work by @jayasree_kalathil who writes in the afternote of the book as to how she stumbled across this book by chance in Malayalam & thus, its further catapulted to a larger audience. I’m truly in awe of how she retains the essence of the novel & by thus making it a tougher read & to me it felt like home with a steady mix of terms I’m accustomed to. It’s a humongous effort on non-malayali readers part to finish this book but, I would recommend this with absolute surety that it can’t go amiss for fans of delicious storytelling which will transport you into the world without a moment of hesitation. You are a mere spectator in the author’s world as she weaves folklore, real people, real incidents, the steady mix of good vs evil, the men who can’t hold a candle to the women in this land but still dare to.
you will find yourself wanting, to finish the saga as soon as you can but also fight the urge to do so, because lord knows how hard it is to depart from a land where you've made to feel a part of, the imagery of it so strongly painted in your mind's eye. You are there in 'Kalluvayal, you find yourself walking along like a shadow to Tommichan, who is the epitome of grace, dignity but a pool of sorrow as the tragedies the befall him are hard to sit through. You are in awe of Kali, Saramma, Annamakutty, Lucy, Susan & so many other women who are shaped by the land & fight losing battles with the way a hardened mind will let you. There are men in the form of Luca who are worse than an animal on a rampage & dont deserve an ounce of respect. It's a mix of reality and folklore & the dance between the both is so so hard to resist as you sit down and watch it all without blinking an eye because what might you miss?
All I can say is I can vouch for this book with all my life because it's been a while since I've read an Indian saga that reminds me of how great a land we are, the cultural importance we hold, the history, the food, the people. sheela Tomy's book is a good good reminder that it's tough to beat the chance when an author gets fully into her own land & wouldn’t have to look further for we have it all here. Our land.
The land looming over you, casting a giant shadow & engulfing you in its unending flora & fauna, the species of living beings you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and the native folks who belonged there until the deadly dance of exploitation began. Like everywhere else, the land of paddy fields, the people who spoke their own languages without needing the interference of exploiters, the land of hills which seemed like it could cover until the end of the world. Valli is so much of a story of pain as much as it is the story of an earthy folklore narrated through biblical references, tales you wouldn’t hear anywhere else & the finest storytelling I’ve had the chance to experience in a long long time.
It’s also my first translated work by @jayasree_kalathil who writes in the afternote of the book as to how she stumbled across this book by chance in Malayalam & thus, its further catapulted to a larger audience. I’m truly in awe of how she retains the essence of the novel & by thus making it a tougher read & to me it felt like home with a steady mix of terms I’m accustomed to. It’s a humongous effort on non-malayali readers part to finish this book but, I would recommend this with absolute surety that it can’t go amiss for fans of delicious storytelling which will transport you into the world without a moment of hesitation. You are a mere spectator in the author’s world as she weaves folklore, real people, real incidents, the steady mix of good vs evil, the men who can’t hold a candle to the women in this land but still dare to.
you will find yourself wanting, to finish the saga as soon as you can but also fight the urge to do so, because lord knows how hard it is to depart from a land where you've made to feel a part of, the imagery of it so strongly painted in your mind's eye. You are there in 'Kalluvayal, you find yourself walking along like a shadow to Tommichan, who is the epitome of grace, dignity but a pool of sorrow as the tragedies the befall him are hard to sit through. You are in awe of Kali, Saramma, Annamakutty, Lucy, Susan & so many other women who are shaped by the land & fight losing battles with the way a hardened mind will let you. There are men in the form of Luca who are worse than an animal on a rampage & dont deserve an ounce of respect. It's a mix of reality and folklore & the dance between the both is so so hard to resist as you sit down and watch it all without blinking an eye because what might you miss?
All I can say is I can vouch for this book with all my life because it's been a while since I've read an Indian saga that reminds me of how great a land we are, the cultural importance we hold, the history, the food, the people. sheela Tomy's book is a good good reminder that it's tough to beat the chance when an author gets fully into her own land & wouldn’t have to look further for we have it all here. Our land.
April 15, 2023
Whom does the land really belong to?
Its inhabitants and descendants through the centuries, or the one who holds the fictional paper?
"Landowning farmers and Jenmis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenmi) take Adivasi people on lease as labourers and make them work on their lands.
It’s called ‘vallippani’ – labouring in return for valli, a share in the crop."
This is the core theme of Valli.
The presentation and the translation is top notch.
Its not a book to be read. Rather something to be experienced.
Written in epistolary, diary entries, folk poetry in their natural Paniya language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paniya_...), newspaper clippings, and musings of characters across decades.
This builds up the world of Bayalnad, present day Wayanad. Bayalnad literally means land of the swamps. A quick referential read - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...
The book is very well structured into small chapters with apt titles for each.
The list of interconnected characters is huge. Thought of creating a family tree. But failed, as this needs an experiences genealogist!
Nevertheless, sharing notes below (spoiler free) as a reading companion to anyone else facing difficulty in relating the characters like I had.
Overall:
Loved the grand immersive experience of God's Own Country.
I loved the way Paniya words were retained for most parts, accompanied by apt translations wherever possible.
Highly recommended.
=========Reading Notes=========
Characters:
Pichakassery Paulose - Rose Paulose (Sara's parents)
Sunny Paulose (Sara's brother; alcohol business)
Aaba (Thommichan's adoptive father)
Thommichan (Thomas M Adam) (Valyappachan) (maashe) - Sara
Susan - daughter of Thomas and Sara
Tessa - daughter of Susan
Appettan's Chai Shop:
Appettan - Kausalya
Son - Damodaran (Hotel Damu) - would sell it to Pokkirimukku Kariyachan.
Renuka - daughter of Appettan and Kausalya
Anjilikkunil Kochouseph - Theruthiyamma (mother of Ivan)
Ivachan (Ivan Ouseph) - Annamakutty (daughter of Vareed, the parish musician)
Luca - Rahel (their son - Joppan)
Isabella (Katrina) - Prakashan(?)
Peter (Thommichan's classmate) - Lucy (daughter of Vakamattom Varky and Theyyamma; siblings - Annie and Marykochu)
James; Joymon - Sons of Peter and Lucy
Kelumooppan (Chief of Paniyar community)
Mallan (son of Mooppan) (never returned from Thrissilery )
Padmanabhan (teacher; friend of Thommichan)
Kumaran (Bug eyed gossiper, who escorted Sara and Thomas on their first visit)
Othenan - Bug eyed Kumaran's son
Rukku and Mara (adivasi friends met when Lucy escorted Sara and Thomas to Anjinkunnil)
Karuthammakalyani (arrack vendor)
Sulaimanikka’s (general store) - Fathima Beevi (daughter - Nabeesu, friend of Lucy; daughter - Aishu, 3 other daughters)
Father Felix Mullakkattil - priest in the Church
Rarichan Vaidyar (medicine man)
Kannan’s tailor shop
Siddhan’s barbershop
Salomi, Manjadikunnu’s Unniyarcha
Basavan and Kali - members of Jungle tribe
Books Referenced:
Khasakinte Ithihasam; (Chapter 2)
Love in the Time of Cholera (Ch.2);
Chemmeen (Ch.7);
One Thousand and One Nights (Ch.10);
Vishakanyaka and Kappirikalude Naattil by S.K. Pottekkatt (Ch.29)
The hidden messages in water by Masaru Emoto. Malayalam translation by Mangalath Murali (ch.34)
Places:
Kalluvayal; Manjadikunnu; Kanjirappally (Sara's hometown);
Mananthavady (where Sara and T stepped off bus);
Thrissilery ; Basavasangameswaram; Thazhekkadavu;
Panamaram river; Mananthavadipuzha; Kudambathithuruthu; Thambrankunnu;
Valliyoorkaavu junction revealed itself slowly. One of the roads from the junction led to Kozhikode, another to Mysore via Bavali, and yet another to Kannur, from where it descended to Periyachuram and to Palchuram. The road that seemed to flow downhill led to Pulpally through Koyileri, Payyampally and Pakkam.
November 30, 2022
Full review to follow:
It is rare that a work of fiction leaves me in literal tears. Sheela Tomy’s JCB prize shortlisted novel, Valli, did so.
Despite it’s occasional stylistic missteps, Valli - deftly translated from the original Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil - is a deeply felt work which manages to be political while never sacrificing its lyricism and poetic prose.
Set in the forests of the Wayanad region in Northeast Kerala, home to the largest Adivasi ( first peoples tribes) in Southern India, Valli spans a broad swath of time from the 2nd century BCE to 2018, when Kerala endured devastating flooding from unusually heavy rainfall due to the climate crisis. This is a novel which frames the ancient subjugation of Adivasis by upper caste Hindu’s who looked down upon their language and culture as a recurring theme into the modern era where the Communist Party which governs Kerala, along with outside businessmen and investirs, exploits Wayanads resources and further subjugates the Adivasis by stealing their land, felling the ancient forests, and destroying their traditional ways of life which were in harmony with nature and sustainable agriculture.
One striking aspect of Valli is how the forest and the Kabani River are principle characters in the narrative. In this respect it brought to my mind Richard Power’s The Overstory.
Tomy ( herself a native of Wayanad) has also meticulously researched the history of this land ( from when it was self-governed by the indigenous Veda kings to the modern era) and its rich mythology and poetry which are not written down as the tribal language has no script. She weaves these deftly with classical literature from the Sangam era and more contemporary references such as Bob Marley. There is (light) magical realism as well. The resulting novel is a shimmering and achingly beautiful work which cries out passionately for rewilding and justice and reparations for Adivasis. It is a critique of Hindutva and casteism as well as corrupted Communism.
At times the narrative is cumbersome ( in the way translated fiction can be, despite the skill of this translator) and it can be heavy handed in its moralizing. The way in which the principle landowning family is portrayed as cruel and sadistic thugs could be more nuanced. But these are to my mind forgivable flaws given how many layers and ideas are contained in it’s beautiful prose. One of the best ( possibly the best) read of the year for me. Five stars plus plus plus.
It is rare that a work of fiction leaves me in literal tears. Sheela Tomy’s JCB prize shortlisted novel, Valli, did so.
Despite it’s occasional stylistic missteps, Valli - deftly translated from the original Malayalam by Jayasree Kalathil - is a deeply felt work which manages to be political while never sacrificing its lyricism and poetic prose.
Set in the forests of the Wayanad region in Northeast Kerala, home to the largest Adivasi ( first peoples tribes) in Southern India, Valli spans a broad swath of time from the 2nd century BCE to 2018, when Kerala endured devastating flooding from unusually heavy rainfall due to the climate crisis. This is a novel which frames the ancient subjugation of Adivasis by upper caste Hindu’s who looked down upon their language and culture as a recurring theme into the modern era where the Communist Party which governs Kerala, along with outside businessmen and investirs, exploits Wayanads resources and further subjugates the Adivasis by stealing their land, felling the ancient forests, and destroying their traditional ways of life which were in harmony with nature and sustainable agriculture.
One striking aspect of Valli is how the forest and the Kabani River are principle characters in the narrative. In this respect it brought to my mind Richard Power’s The Overstory.
Tomy ( herself a native of Wayanad) has also meticulously researched the history of this land ( from when it was self-governed by the indigenous Veda kings to the modern era) and its rich mythology and poetry which are not written down as the tribal language has no script. She weaves these deftly with classical literature from the Sangam era and more contemporary references such as Bob Marley. There is (light) magical realism as well. The resulting novel is a shimmering and achingly beautiful work which cries out passionately for rewilding and justice and reparations for Adivasis. It is a critique of Hindutva and casteism as well as corrupted Communism.
At times the narrative is cumbersome ( in the way translated fiction can be, despite the skill of this translator) and it can be heavy handed in its moralizing. The way in which the principle landowning family is portrayed as cruel and sadistic thugs could be more nuanced. But these are to my mind forgivable flaws given how many layers and ideas are contained in it’s beautiful prose. One of the best ( possibly the best) read of the year for me. Five stars plus plus plus.
May 7, 2023
Goodness gracious! There's so much to say and yet the most important thing I want to begin by saying is that pick this book up and read, no, rather, get immersed in it. It's been such a long time I have read the very typical Indian novel that's brings back memories of reading stories I have grown up hearing. Tomy's 'Valli', translated by Kalathil, is the story of a tribal village in Kerala, a forest that is in ruins with the so-called idea of progress and development. It begins with a set of letters exchanged between a mother and daughter who have left the village and are in cities pursuing careers. These are the very letters that slowly takes the reader in the histories of an ecology that had once bloomed and is now subject to developmental damnation. I know, from my review, as of now, it might seem as though the novel is about a place and not its people. But Tomy's novel is about a village, a community and not simply one or two characters and the protagonist of the novel is the place itself. It is in the place meanings of life, symbols of existence, cultures of sustenance have been bestowed by the people who inhabit these spaces. And Tomy's (re)construction of the village is so beautifully done that you cannot but imagine yourself in a forest bordered and pierced by bodies of water, animals in cahoots singing in your ears, trees and plants cascading from the back of your neck. It is here we find the many characters of the novel engaging with their environs- both the natural and the cultural. From the mother who has written the letters, her parents, the many relatives, to the village tyrants; all of them become a part of the story to give the village its meaning, its mere physicality a subjective outlook and that's how Tomy creates a world which would soon begin disrupting. But this doesn't mean all is in harmony earlier and Neo-liberal policies suddenly come and destroy it. There is Naxalite movement already on the rise, people are being jailed, harassed right and left. Amidst all of it, the forest is not ready to deal with so many changes and eventually it lashes back. So much of the book reminded me of 'Betty' and her family's story written by Tiffany McDaniel, of a community's will to survive and protect what's their's despite the gradual erosion of their culture in the face of technology and the urban west. Tomy's story brought back a million memories of reading 'The Hungry Tide' by Amitav Ghosh, the precarity of their geographical spaces, the dying modes of survival among communities that have inhabited the regions for centuries, and the anxiety and trauma of displacement. I could see it all visually take shape before my eyes and feel helpless with rage at all of that’s happening in bright daylight with nobody willing to take responsibility. I hope this book becomes an essential reading for anyone wanting to understand India and its cultures because the village in this novel is not a specific case, it is the larger story of thousands of villages and their cultures that are on the brink of extinction with fewer or no ways to rehabilitate them. Thanks a ton to @harpercollinsindia for the review copy!
April 10, 2023
What a wonderful writing! Story itself is not new. But the description of the forest-the nature, the flora and fauna is so beautiful that Wayanad will be in my mind for a while.
A gem of a book!
A gem of a book!
January 7, 2024
If you ask me who the main protagonist of this story is, I'd say it's the forest , the forest with its multitude of fauna and flora and some humans who are called as children of the forest, and some other humans who came from distant lands to etch out a living here.
If you ask me whose story this is this is the story of Susanna who narrates it through her diaries and emails.
This is the story of Tessa Susannas daughter who reads the story along with the reader, the story of her mother's life, the story of Bayalnad or Wayanad because both these stories are interspersed.
This is the story of Susannas mother Sara who eloped to Wayanad with the love of her life Thommichan.
This is the story of Susannas father Thommichan who hopes and hopes for a better tomorrow even after living this life of tragedies in this land of tragedies.
.
This is the story of Thommichans friend Peter who is at home in the forest.
This is the story of Lucy, Peters wife a story of losses.
This is the story of James, Peters son and Susannas childhood friend and his innovative farming.
This is the story of Aivachan , Peter's father, a second generation farmer who came and fought with the land and wildlife to make this land livable.
This is the story of Annamkutty Peter's mother a life spent in quiet and subversion.
This is the story of Padmanabhan mash who aspires and dreams of a Wayanad which belongs to the children of the forest.
This is the story of Isabella who forsakes the life of a nun to be the butt of ridicule of her friends and family.
This is the story of Luka whose actions bring forth unexpected events in the life of all around him.
If you ask me what this story is about, this is a story of resilience, the story of fight for one's land, a story of battles to stop exploitation of the land and its resources.
This is a love story, Peters love for Lucy, Thommichans love for Sara, Susannas love for Shyam, Pappan mash's love for Isabella, James's love for Susanna, Unniyachis love for Karinthondan.
Ultimately this is a human saga and an ode to nature.
If you ask me whose story this is this is the story of Susanna who narrates it through her diaries and emails.
This is the story of Tessa Susannas daughter who reads the story along with the reader, the story of her mother's life, the story of Bayalnad or Wayanad because both these stories are interspersed.
This is the story of Susannas mother Sara who eloped to Wayanad with the love of her life Thommichan.
This is the story of Susannas father Thommichan who hopes and hopes for a better tomorrow even after living this life of tragedies in this land of tragedies.
.
This is the story of Thommichans friend Peter who is at home in the forest.
This is the story of Lucy, Peters wife a story of losses.
This is the story of James, Peters son and Susannas childhood friend and his innovative farming.
This is the story of Aivachan , Peter's father, a second generation farmer who came and fought with the land and wildlife to make this land livable.
This is the story of Annamkutty Peter's mother a life spent in quiet and subversion.
This is the story of Padmanabhan mash who aspires and dreams of a Wayanad which belongs to the children of the forest.
This is the story of Isabella who forsakes the life of a nun to be the butt of ridicule of her friends and family.
This is the story of Luka whose actions bring forth unexpected events in the life of all around him.
If you ask me what this story is about, this is a story of resilience, the story of fight for one's land, a story of battles to stop exploitation of the land and its resources.
This is a love story, Peters love for Lucy, Thommichans love for Sara, Susannas love for Shyam, Pappan mash's love for Isabella, James's love for Susanna, Unniyachis love for Karinthondan.
Ultimately this is a human saga and an ode to nature.
January 26, 2025
പുഴപോലെ തെളിഞ്ഞ ഒരു മനുഷ്യനും ഒപ്പം മഞ്ഞുപോലൊരു പെണ്ണും CWMS ബസിൽ മാനന്തവാടി
വന്നിറങ്ങി നമ്മളെ കല്ലുവയലിന്റെ കാഴ്ചകളിലേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോവുന്നതാണ് നോവലിന്റെ തുടക്കം.
വയനാട്ടിലേക്കുള്ള കുടിയേറ്റം ആണ് ആഞ്ഞിലിക്കുന്നിന് പറയാനുള്ളത്. അവിടേക്കു എത്തിച്ചേരുന്ന തൊമ്മിച്ചൻ, അവിടത്തെ ഇളയ സന്താനം പീറ്റർ, പിന്നെ പദ്മനാഭൻ മാഷ്, ഇവരെല്ലാം കാടിനേയും കാടിന്റെ മക്കളെയും സംരക്ഷിക്കാൻ നടത്തുന്ന പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ. കെ ജെ ബേബിയുടെ 'കനവിനെ' ഓർമിപ്പിക്കുന്ന കാടോരം സ്കൂൾ.
ഇസബെല്ലാ, ഉമ്മിണിതാര, ഉണ്ണിയാർച്ച സലോമി, കാടോരം സ്കൂളും അതിന്റെ നടത്തിപ്പിന് പങ്കുചേരുന്നവരും ബസവനും രുക്കുവും ചൂഷണങ്ങൾക്കെത്തിരെ സംസാരിക്കുന്ന ഫാദർ ഫെലിക്സ്, ഫോറെസ്റ് റെയ്ഞ്ചർ പ്രകാശൻ, അപ്പേട്ടൻ.. അങ്ങനെ കുറെ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും.
മാറിയ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ഇല്ലാതാവുന്ന കല്ലുവയലിനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കാൻ പോരാടുന്ന പീറ്ററിന്റെ മകൻ ജെയിംസിൽ വരെ എത്തിനിൽക്കുന്ന കഥ വളരെ നന്നായി പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു.
പി വത്സലയുടെ നെല്ലിൽ കാക്കപുലയെ കുറിച്ച് പറയുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഇതിൽ അത് വളരെ വിശദീകരിച്ചു തന്നെ പറയുന്നുണ്ട്. അങ്ങനെതന്നെ ഇതിലെ മനുഷ്യരുടെ ഭാഷയിലും വളരെയധികം ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് ഷീല ടോമി.
വളരെ നല്ല വായനാനുഭവം തന്ന നോവൽ.
വയനാട്ടിലേക്കുള്ള കുടിയേറ്റം ആണ് ആഞ്ഞിലിക്കുന്നിന് പറയാനുള്ളത്. അവിടേക്കു എത്തിച്ചേരുന്ന തൊമ്മിച്ചൻ, അവിടത്തെ ഇളയ സന്താനം പീറ്റർ, പിന്നെ പദ്മനാഭൻ മാഷ്, ഇവരെല്ലാം കാടിനേയും കാടിന്റെ മക്കളെയും സംരക്ഷിക്കാൻ നടത്തുന്ന പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ. കെ ജെ ബേബിയുടെ 'കനവിനെ' ഓർമിപ്പിക്കുന്ന കാടോരം സ്കൂൾ.
ഇസബെല്ലാ, ഉമ്മിണിതാര, ഉണ്ണിയാർച്ച സലോമി, കാടോരം സ്കൂളും അതിന്റെ നടത്തിപ്പിന് പങ്കുചേരുന്നവരും ബസവനും രുക്കുവും ചൂഷണങ്ങൾക്കെത്തിരെ സംസാരിക്കുന്ന ഫാദർ ഫെലിക്സ്, ഫോറെസ്റ് റെയ്ഞ്ചർ പ്രകാശൻ, അപ്പേട്ടൻ.. അങ്ങനെ കുറെ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും.
മാറിയ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ഇല്ലാതാവുന്ന കല്ലുവയലിനെ സംരക്ഷിക്കാൻ പോരാടുന്ന പീറ്ററിന്റെ മകൻ ജെയിംസിൽ വരെ എത്തിനിൽക്കുന്ന കഥ വളരെ നന്നായി പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു.
പി വത്സലയുടെ നെല്ലിൽ കാക്കപുലയെ കുറിച്ച് പറയുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഇതിൽ അത് വളരെ വിശദീകരിച്ചു തന്നെ പറയുന്നുണ്ട്. അങ്ങനെതന്നെ ഇതിലെ മനുഷ്യരുടെ ഭാഷയിലും വളരെയധികം ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് ഷീല ടോമി.
വളരെ നല്ല വായനാനുഭവം തന്ന നോവൽ.
April 18, 2025
Valli is a multi generational saga, set in a hamlet in the Waynad region of Northern Kerala. The mountainous land was known for its pristine forests and as the source of many rivers, and has a long history of conquerors and immigrants asserting ownership over the land and it's inhabitants. The story starts soon after the killing of a Naxalite leader who tried to empower the adivasis to fight for their rights, and traces the gradual degradation of the land till its natural heritage is almost completely destroyed by a combination of the timber and the tourism industry.
The book is rich with its descriptions of local biodiversity- the flowering trees, the medicinal herbs, the hornbills, the elephants and even Toto, the semian friend of many of the inhabitants. While the author speaks of the timber mafia starting to make inroads in the area, she quickly skips over the years where the local ecosystem is completely destroyed, and ends with the terrible floods and the resulting landslides destroying almost everything that made the area what it was.
While the landscape is important, it is the people who breathe life into the novel. Each of them is flawed in their own ways, yet the resilience and the integrity they display make the story what it is. Weaving mythology and the happenings of the present day, the book shows how little has changed- adivasis continue to be exploited and women are still allowed only a subservient role. Yet, they do what they need to do, as they have done through the ages.
"Valli" is a Malayalam word that has multiple meanings- vine, wages, land, young woman. Each of these meanings is present in the many layers of the book. The book has been beautifully translated, with many of the original phrases being retained to add greater depth to the book.
The book is rich with its descriptions of local biodiversity- the flowering trees, the medicinal herbs, the hornbills, the elephants and even Toto, the semian friend of many of the inhabitants. While the author speaks of the timber mafia starting to make inroads in the area, she quickly skips over the years where the local ecosystem is completely destroyed, and ends with the terrible floods and the resulting landslides destroying almost everything that made the area what it was.
While the landscape is important, it is the people who breathe life into the novel. Each of them is flawed in their own ways, yet the resilience and the integrity they display make the story what it is. Weaving mythology and the happenings of the present day, the book shows how little has changed- adivasis continue to be exploited and women are still allowed only a subservient role. Yet, they do what they need to do, as they have done through the ages.
"Valli" is a Malayalam word that has multiple meanings- vine, wages, land, young woman. Each of these meanings is present in the many layers of the book. The book has been beautifully translated, with many of the original phrases being retained to add greater depth to the book.
November 3, 2022
The book suffers from poor translation – the amount of suffixes pertaining to relatives – achchis, attans – is a big irritant for non-Malayalam readers. The temporal jumps in the narrative add to the disorientation.
This is an account of the exploitation of the aadivasi (aboriginal) tribes living harmoniously with their surroundings since antiquity in the hills of Kerala. Their forests were cut down by greedy rapacious timber merchants – thus ruining a finely balanced ecological niche, leading to either catastrophic flooding or droughts. Large scale building of tourist resorts, blasting of mountains for roads and bridges, introducing alien cash crops like coffee and rubber further contributed to the degradation in the lives of the tribals. Their culture, folk-lore, language, traditional food crops were destroyed. Migrants from other parts of the country added insult to injury. Communists exploited the natives for their political gains.
All this is mentioned in the book, but what is glaring in its omission is mention of the reprehensible role of Christian missionaries in destroying the benevolent and affable animistic/natural religious beliefs of the natives and imposing an alien creed, out of sync with the hills, rives, trees, animals, plants etc.
This is an account of the exploitation of the aadivasi (aboriginal) tribes living harmoniously with their surroundings since antiquity in the hills of Kerala. Their forests were cut down by greedy rapacious timber merchants – thus ruining a finely balanced ecological niche, leading to either catastrophic flooding or droughts. Large scale building of tourist resorts, blasting of mountains for roads and bridges, introducing alien cash crops like coffee and rubber further contributed to the degradation in the lives of the tribals. Their culture, folk-lore, language, traditional food crops were destroyed. Migrants from other parts of the country added insult to injury. Communists exploited the natives for their political gains.
All this is mentioned in the book, but what is glaring in its omission is mention of the reprehensible role of Christian missionaries in destroying the benevolent and affable animistic/natural religious beliefs of the natives and imposing an alien creed, out of sync with the hills, rives, trees, animals, plants etc.
August 20, 2025
5☆ — as i finished this novel i found it extremely difficult to summarise how i felt while reading it; so many emotions and thoughts, all bursting and tinted with the mist and green of the forests in kalluvayal, the setting where most of the story takes place. i cannot emphasise how important this book is, even as adivasi communities continue to suffer in wayanad and across india for wanting to protect their land from capitalist greed and exploitation which disregard the ecosystem and the people who live in it.
thommichan and sara are a young, hopeful couple who elope together to kalluvayal, where they meet and interact with a host of colourful characters within the lush, verdant landscape. all of this is narrated by susan (thommichan and sara's daughter) in a diary preserved for her own daughter, tessa. if you're looking for a plot, then look away because this book isn't going to give you one- it simply does what literary fiction does best, with explorations of complex characters and themes.
an important theme is relating to the dynamic between the oppressor and the oppressed, within the context of the adivasis and the jenmis (or the landlords). we see how what is violence and what isn't is dictated by those in power, how the media is twisted to comply with the narrative of the ruling class. we see how the oppressor inflicts cruelties and is shocked when that isn't met with grace: they're shocked when the adivasis react with protests when the latter aren't paid as promised, and we see how they're shocked when the people of a land protest deforestation and environment degradation. is poverty, deforestation, and cultural hegemony not violence too?
another important theme lies in the close relationship between the land and the women, both being explored as sites of violence, exploitation, and resistance. they two are also explored in relation to displacement and erasure of identity: the kabani (a river that is an important landmark in the area) dries up from rapid urbanisation, while sara is banished and forgotten from her home town due to her elopement. susan goes to a completely different country for work, and finds that the idols in the shrines of kalluvayal still call for her, except she cannot go back immediately because her life trajectory took her elsewhere. meanwhile, the culture of kalluvayal is rich, but suffers from being overshadowed by the dominant, mainstream language and practices that threaten to completely replace it.
there is an intimacy in the co-existence with the land that the adivasi people here possess:
"Basavan did not understand what his son told him about the government looking after the forest. His son was studying about the forest. But how could he do that far away in town? Should he not be in the forest to learn about the forest? Basavan knew all about the forest, when each tree unfurled its leaves, when it flowered, when it shed its leaves, where the birds nested and which nest belonged to which bird, when they brooded their eggs, which ones roosted in the westering light and which ones took off to catch the worm, which ones went on long flights across the world. He knew where the elephant trails were, and the tiger dens, the names of the creatures that lived in the rivers, the time when fish spawned, the whirlpools in the waters and the crocodile nests. What more was there to learn about the forest!"
a criticism of academia lurks within the prose too. who really are the experts on a land? who deserves to be seen as one? who decides that? the forests of kalluvayal is of interest to researchers in studies relating to culture and history, and they come to take and take and take, upon which they leave and them become self-styled experts on the subject. but what kind of knowledge is that?
this story is also a collection of love stories. the love between thommichan and sara, between basavan and rukku, between peter and lucy, between james and susan, and so on. it's also a love letter to a land, a land that all these characters care for, weep for, and rest on the pulse of.
the prose was abundant and lyrical. there were careful, loving descriptions of the flora, which felt like the meticulous brushstrokes of a painter painstakingly attempting to ensure that you can see his vision because he loves it so; makes sense, since sheela tomy herself is from wayanad and her love for it shows in her work. i would suggest that for anyone who doesn't understand malayalam, it would be best to keep google open nearby because there are many words and terms that are preserved in the original language. it feels deliberate, as the words themselves become important in becoming grounded in the story.
one of my favourite reads of this year, my heart overflowed, broke, and mended itself many times over.
thommichan and sara are a young, hopeful couple who elope together to kalluvayal, where they meet and interact with a host of colourful characters within the lush, verdant landscape. all of this is narrated by susan (thommichan and sara's daughter) in a diary preserved for her own daughter, tessa. if you're looking for a plot, then look away because this book isn't going to give you one- it simply does what literary fiction does best, with explorations of complex characters and themes.
an important theme is relating to the dynamic between the oppressor and the oppressed, within the context of the adivasis and the jenmis (or the landlords). we see how what is violence and what isn't is dictated by those in power, how the media is twisted to comply with the narrative of the ruling class. we see how the oppressor inflicts cruelties and is shocked when that isn't met with grace: they're shocked when the adivasis react with protests when the latter aren't paid as promised, and we see how they're shocked when the people of a land protest deforestation and environment degradation. is poverty, deforestation, and cultural hegemony not violence too?
another important theme lies in the close relationship between the land and the women, both being explored as sites of violence, exploitation, and resistance. they two are also explored in relation to displacement and erasure of identity: the kabani (a river that is an important landmark in the area) dries up from rapid urbanisation, while sara is banished and forgotten from her home town due to her elopement. susan goes to a completely different country for work, and finds that the idols in the shrines of kalluvayal still call for her, except she cannot go back immediately because her life trajectory took her elsewhere. meanwhile, the culture of kalluvayal is rich, but suffers from being overshadowed by the dominant, mainstream language and practices that threaten to completely replace it.
there is an intimacy in the co-existence with the land that the adivasi people here possess:
"Basavan did not understand what his son told him about the government looking after the forest. His son was studying about the forest. But how could he do that far away in town? Should he not be in the forest to learn about the forest? Basavan knew all about the forest, when each tree unfurled its leaves, when it flowered, when it shed its leaves, where the birds nested and which nest belonged to which bird, when they brooded their eggs, which ones roosted in the westering light and which ones took off to catch the worm, which ones went on long flights across the world. He knew where the elephant trails were, and the tiger dens, the names of the creatures that lived in the rivers, the time when fish spawned, the whirlpools in the waters and the crocodile nests. What more was there to learn about the forest!"
a criticism of academia lurks within the prose too. who really are the experts on a land? who deserves to be seen as one? who decides that? the forests of kalluvayal is of interest to researchers in studies relating to culture and history, and they come to take and take and take, upon which they leave and them become self-styled experts on the subject. but what kind of knowledge is that?
this story is also a collection of love stories. the love between thommichan and sara, between basavan and rukku, between peter and lucy, between james and susan, and so on. it's also a love letter to a land, a land that all these characters care for, weep for, and rest on the pulse of.
the prose was abundant and lyrical. there were careful, loving descriptions of the flora, which felt like the meticulous brushstrokes of a painter painstakingly attempting to ensure that you can see his vision because he loves it so; makes sense, since sheela tomy herself is from wayanad and her love for it shows in her work. i would suggest that for anyone who doesn't understand malayalam, it would be best to keep google open nearby because there are many words and terms that are preserved in the original language. it feels deliberate, as the words themselves become important in becoming grounded in the story.
one of my favourite reads of this year, my heart overflowed, broke, and mended itself many times over.
January 16, 2024
Valli by Sheela Tomy is set in her hometown Wayanad,a small town in the Western Ghats. The word "Valli" has many meanings in Malayalam-vine, young woman, wages which are explored in this book as the story progresses. This is a translated work, Jayasree Kalathil providing the English translation retaining the lyricism of the original writing. The Malayalam texture is retained throughout the book.
The lands and forests are the main characters of the book. Valli is an exploration of the life of the indigenous people of Wayanad, the exploitation of the land and its resources and also how the land shapes the people who live in it. This is a sweeping saga of the people of Wayanad sprinkled with elements of folklore,Biblical references, historical events, political ideologies and the ongoing climate crisis. The story is told mostly through letters and journal entries and we're able to visualise the lands through the eyes of the older generation and later, through the younger generation as well.
The story starts off with Thomas and Sara eloping to Wayanad to escape the wrath of Sara's family who are against it. From then on, we are introduced to a lot of characters and whose lives are all interconnected in the smallest possible ways which in turn forms a great network of people who coexist with the land mostly except for a few.
The events are mostly narrated by the female characters who are well written and shaped by the land on which they live. There are a lot of heroes as well as villains in this story whose actions create problems which cannot be solved in a simple manner.
This is one of the finest storytelling I've experienced in a while. It's awesome how the translation retains the essence of the original. It took quite an effort for me to grasp terms as a non Mayalyali but I would definitely recommend this book for its story telling which would transport you to Wayne in a second. I felt like finishing the book soon as well as wanting to savour the story closely.
It's been a while since I read such wonderful writing. The translation is top notch and I highly recommend this book.
The lands and forests are the main characters of the book. Valli is an exploration of the life of the indigenous people of Wayanad, the exploitation of the land and its resources and also how the land shapes the people who live in it. This is a sweeping saga of the people of Wayanad sprinkled with elements of folklore,Biblical references, historical events, political ideologies and the ongoing climate crisis. The story is told mostly through letters and journal entries and we're able to visualise the lands through the eyes of the older generation and later, through the younger generation as well.
The story starts off with Thomas and Sara eloping to Wayanad to escape the wrath of Sara's family who are against it. From then on, we are introduced to a lot of characters and whose lives are all interconnected in the smallest possible ways which in turn forms a great network of people who coexist with the land mostly except for a few.
The events are mostly narrated by the female characters who are well written and shaped by the land on which they live. There are a lot of heroes as well as villains in this story whose actions create problems which cannot be solved in a simple manner.
This is one of the finest storytelling I've experienced in a while. It's awesome how the translation retains the essence of the original. It took quite an effort for me to grasp terms as a non Mayalyali but I would definitely recommend this book for its story telling which would transport you to Wayne in a second. I felt like finishing the book soon as well as wanting to savour the story closely.
It's been a while since I read such wonderful writing. The translation is top notch and I highly recommend this book.
June 17, 2025
I would give it 3.75 🌟
On the first page of the book you come across the meaning of Valli
Valli in Malayalam has multiple meanings - a climbing plant, earth, young woman, wages(an oppressive feudal practice that exploits Kerala’s indigenous Adivasi people)
You will find stories interconnecting all the meanings of Valli in this amazingly written book. There are diverse characters all trying to survive in the lap of Kalluvayal. Some hurt the forest while trying to survive and some protect it with their lives. The exploitations of indigenous Adivasis who are keepers and protectors of the forest lands is horrendous. Also I did not sign up for these many deaths. This is my only complaint - all the characters that I started to love ended up dead or in misery!
I loved the cover illustration in this edition - The subtle drawings of a monkey(Toto), Susan’s diary and a lady which I interpreted as Unniyachi herself!
A good read!
On the first page of the book you come across the meaning of Valli
Valli in Malayalam has multiple meanings - a climbing plant, earth, young woman, wages(an oppressive feudal practice that exploits Kerala’s indigenous Adivasi people)
You will find stories interconnecting all the meanings of Valli in this amazingly written book. There are diverse characters all trying to survive in the lap of Kalluvayal. Some hurt the forest while trying to survive and some protect it with their lives. The exploitations of indigenous Adivasis who are keepers and protectors of the forest lands is horrendous. Also I did not sign up for these many deaths. This is my only complaint - all the characters that I started to love ended up dead or in misery!
I loved the cover illustration in this edition - The subtle drawings of a monkey(Toto), Susan’s diary and a lady which I interpreted as Unniyachi herself!
A good read!
November 15, 2022
Travelling is learning, they say. We can all agree on quotes saying travelling leaves us speechless and turns us into storytellers. But imagine visiting a place without knowing its history and secrets. Have you ever wondered why some locals are always dismissive of tourists? Have we tried seeing through their eyes and thinking from their perspective on why there should be any friction at all?
That is because some of them might be mourning the loss of their lands and people when we stand mesmerised by the majestic beauty of those enormous hills covered in green carpets. When we are drowning in the charm of the foreign land, we will have never known the history of enslavement and encroachment hidden under that vastness. The waves that wash our feet and leave us dizzy on our private beaches might remind someone of the compounds that erupted overnight and made them strangers in their own land.
Valli is one such story of Wayanad (formerly known as Bayalnad) and its indigenous people and immigrants. The narrative begins with how one day, an estranged couple, Tommichan and Sara, sought refuge in the unknown land called Kalluvayal and lived on to become its prime protectors. How Peter, Lucy, Tommichan and Sara fought for the forest against their own people. How the enchanting woods have survived those orange-red flaming fires, the landslides, the floods and the rains. How the sumptuously spread-over lush helplessly watched her women being taken away and ravaged, how her people were enslaved and treated like a piece of stock. How kali and Kelumoopan, who sang for the forest and worked for their people, perished without a trace, leaving the village voiceless.
If you haven't read Valli, how would you know the story of Unniyachi and her azhagan? How will you know that Toto- the monkey, the jackals, the crocodiles and the elephants were witnesses to some of the most beautiful romances that blossomed in the scary woods? How will you know the story of the four generations that fought to save their land only to be taken over by the tourist industry? How their hearts would bleed seeing those fertile lands be polluted and deforested. I would not have known either if not for this book.
Valli is the untold tale of every local who was a fighter for their land. It's a story of Wayanad's women who had had enough and rebelled against every injustice in all possible ways. It's a story of those green climbers and trees that held its people together. It's a story of the paddy crops given as wages to people enslaved by those who considered themselves masters. It's an enchanting story of the earth herself.
After reading this book, I have a lot of questions. Who decides who are the masters and who are their servants? Who decides that the punishment for asking questions is rape, lathi charge and murder? What and who decides power? Who are the protectors, and who are the outsiders? My god, this was a book like no other. I was utterly bewitched by the writing that my soul stayed with Kalluvayal, Manjadikunnu, Anjilikunnil and the Kabani river. I cheered and ached for Sara, Lucy, Tommichan, Peter, Kali, Susan, Tessa and many others.
Let me warn you that this book will require your undivided attention and heed to minute details. The initial few chapters are complex, and there is a long list of characters to remember with names that might be difficult, but so are the people. You might also want to review chapters to clarify a few doubts. Yes, it is a dense read. But all this will be worth it in the end.
The book will leave you pondering about it forever. It left me speechless just as any travelling experience would. I was teleported to those astounding woods through this amazing work of translation, which will stay with me forever. Based on its magnificent translation, I can only imagine how beautiful the original book would be. A huge thanks to translated texts for existing; otherwise, this masterly piece of literature would have been undiscovered by me.
That is because some of them might be mourning the loss of their lands and people when we stand mesmerised by the majestic beauty of those enormous hills covered in green carpets. When we are drowning in the charm of the foreign land, we will have never known the history of enslavement and encroachment hidden under that vastness. The waves that wash our feet and leave us dizzy on our private beaches might remind someone of the compounds that erupted overnight and made them strangers in their own land.
Valli is one such story of Wayanad (formerly known as Bayalnad) and its indigenous people and immigrants. The narrative begins with how one day, an estranged couple, Tommichan and Sara, sought refuge in the unknown land called Kalluvayal and lived on to become its prime protectors. How Peter, Lucy, Tommichan and Sara fought for the forest against their own people. How the enchanting woods have survived those orange-red flaming fires, the landslides, the floods and the rains. How the sumptuously spread-over lush helplessly watched her women being taken away and ravaged, how her people were enslaved and treated like a piece of stock. How kali and Kelumoopan, who sang for the forest and worked for their people, perished without a trace, leaving the village voiceless.
If you haven't read Valli, how would you know the story of Unniyachi and her azhagan? How will you know that Toto- the monkey, the jackals, the crocodiles and the elephants were witnesses to some of the most beautiful romances that blossomed in the scary woods? How will you know the story of the four generations that fought to save their land only to be taken over by the tourist industry? How their hearts would bleed seeing those fertile lands be polluted and deforested. I would not have known either if not for this book.
Valli is the untold tale of every local who was a fighter for their land. It's a story of Wayanad's women who had had enough and rebelled against every injustice in all possible ways. It's a story of those green climbers and trees that held its people together. It's a story of the paddy crops given as wages to people enslaved by those who considered themselves masters. It's an enchanting story of the earth herself.
After reading this book, I have a lot of questions. Who decides who are the masters and who are their servants? Who decides that the punishment for asking questions is rape, lathi charge and murder? What and who decides power? Who are the protectors, and who are the outsiders? My god, this was a book like no other. I was utterly bewitched by the writing that my soul stayed with Kalluvayal, Manjadikunnu, Anjilikunnil and the Kabani river. I cheered and ached for Sara, Lucy, Tommichan, Peter, Kali, Susan, Tessa and many others.
Let me warn you that this book will require your undivided attention and heed to minute details. The initial few chapters are complex, and there is a long list of characters to remember with names that might be difficult, but so are the people. You might also want to review chapters to clarify a few doubts. Yes, it is a dense read. But all this will be worth it in the end.
The book will leave you pondering about it forever. It left me speechless just as any travelling experience would. I was teleported to those astounding woods through this amazing work of translation, which will stay with me forever. Based on its magnificent translation, I can only imagine how beautiful the original book would be. A huge thanks to translated texts for existing; otherwise, this masterly piece of literature would have been undiscovered by me.
March 10, 2023
Have you heard of SHINRIN YOKU? It’s a Japanese practice of relaxation, wherein one walks through a forest, breathing deeply and observing nature. It is also known as forest bathing.
I felt the same when I read Valli. I just did Shinrin Yoku. Its rich description of the Wayanad forest, its animals, its birds, its herbs, its trees, the gushing river, and the mountains are simply mesmerising and make you feel like you have been there.
I wouldn’t say that Valli is the story of the people living near the forest. I felt as though the forest was narrating its story and the author was the medium through which its voice could be heard. The author has revealed her deep love for the rich flora and fauna. Kerala with its lush greenery is always breathtaking and the book takes you deep into those dense green forests.
It begins with the tale of a devadasi Unniyachi. I found the tale very magical and moving. I would have loved to know a little more about her. I also enjoyed a few historical anecdotes.
The books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez are frequently mentioned. One hundred years of solitude spans seven generations and Valli spans four. We see a lot of changes happening across these four generations, both political and structural. The story moves in various directions. It not only covers myths, traditions, and religions but stories of the FOREST too.
The forest is home to millions of living animals, birds, and insects, and is resplendent with herbs and people deface it for their selfish motives. Through the story, the author brilliantly warns us of the catastrophic repercussions of human greed.
Some parts were very distressing as we saw many people being killed because of their opposition to changes. A major part of the book portrays the ill effects of urbanization, deforestation, the cruelty behind poaching, the damage to the environment and much more.
She also talks about how certain old languages of indigenous Adivasis (tribals) vanish. It often happens when people become multilingual and they lose proficiency in their mother tongue.
The language is easy, the writing is lyrical, and the story is partly epistolary, but the diverse characters, the nonlinear prose and the length make it a tad difficult to read. The book was shortlisted for the JCB prize 2022 and I would say it rightly deserved it.
I read it with our bookclub members and I thank them for reading-along this gem of a book!
I felt the same when I read Valli. I just did Shinrin Yoku. Its rich description of the Wayanad forest, its animals, its birds, its herbs, its trees, the gushing river, and the mountains are simply mesmerising and make you feel like you have been there.
I wouldn’t say that Valli is the story of the people living near the forest. I felt as though the forest was narrating its story and the author was the medium through which its voice could be heard. The author has revealed her deep love for the rich flora and fauna. Kerala with its lush greenery is always breathtaking and the book takes you deep into those dense green forests.
It begins with the tale of a devadasi Unniyachi. I found the tale very magical and moving. I would have loved to know a little more about her. I also enjoyed a few historical anecdotes.
The books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez are frequently mentioned. One hundred years of solitude spans seven generations and Valli spans four. We see a lot of changes happening across these four generations, both political and structural. The story moves in various directions. It not only covers myths, traditions, and religions but stories of the FOREST too.
The forest is home to millions of living animals, birds, and insects, and is resplendent with herbs and people deface it for their selfish motives. Through the story, the author brilliantly warns us of the catastrophic repercussions of human greed.
Some parts were very distressing as we saw many people being killed because of their opposition to changes. A major part of the book portrays the ill effects of urbanization, deforestation, the cruelty behind poaching, the damage to the environment and much more.
She also talks about how certain old languages of indigenous Adivasis (tribals) vanish. It often happens when people become multilingual and they lose proficiency in their mother tongue.
The language is easy, the writing is lyrical, and the story is partly epistolary, but the diverse characters, the nonlinear prose and the length make it a tad difficult to read. The book was shortlisted for the JCB prize 2022 and I would say it rightly deserved it.
I read it with our bookclub members and I thank them for reading-along this gem of a book!
January 23, 2023
Sometimes even though you admire the words of a writer, the book does not end up resonating with you. You end up reading a book with so much expectations in your heart but there is a silent rejection from the book's perspective that you wish wouldn't exist.
I started reading Valli with my heart full and initially I did fall in love with the prose of Jayasree Kalathil and Sheela Tomy's words. I was swept inside such an atmospheric fiction but sadly, as the story progressed, I discovered that enchanting world was just not for me.
I admire the intriguing amalgamation of the Naxalite Movement, the Mythology of Kerala, the liberal ideas and concerns of climate crisis. It is an account of the indigestion people living in Kerala and I'm glad they got the representation that they needed. But what was one of my pivotal hindrances in reading the book was that the incredible effort it required as it is filled with words of other languages that I do not speak. I understand the use of language to make the book more relevant for a certain targetted audience, which was not me unfortunately.
I started reading Valli with my heart full and initially I did fall in love with the prose of Jayasree Kalathil and Sheela Tomy's words. I was swept inside such an atmospheric fiction but sadly, as the story progressed, I discovered that enchanting world was just not for me.
I admire the intriguing amalgamation of the Naxalite Movement, the Mythology of Kerala, the liberal ideas and concerns of climate crisis. It is an account of the indigestion people living in Kerala and I'm glad they got the representation that they needed. But what was one of my pivotal hindrances in reading the book was that the incredible effort it required as it is filled with words of other languages that I do not speak. I understand the use of language to make the book more relevant for a certain targetted audience, which was not me unfortunately.
January 11, 2025
There are books that entertain, books that inform, and then there are books like Valli— a mirror held up to society and self. Beginning my new year with this felt like rekindling a love affair with books that nourish the soul.
When I reflected on how Valli made me feel, the Earth came to mind as a fitting metaphor. Just as digging through layers of soil can be tedious, unraveling the intricate web of characters and relationships in the story was initially challenging. Yet, as I persevered, I uncovered layers of meaning, eventually reaching the story’s core—a place of profound richness and depth.
Valli intricately weaves the narratives of three generations of immigrants in Wayanad, encouraging readers to examine the shifting times and our bonds with the land, nature, ourselves, and one another. It delves into themes of displacement, exploitation, and environmental despair, immersing readers in an unfiltered reality where folklore whispers truths more piercing than many historical accounts.
At its heart, Valli symbolizes the handful of grains that bonded laborers—primarily Adivasis—received in exchange for their relentless toil. It captures their ongoing struggle to reclaim their Valli, the land that rightfully belongs to them. This is not a tale of glorified heroism or valor but
reveals the unvarnished truths buried in the hearts of its characters. By challenging histories shaped by those in power, it sheds light on the bitter realities faced by the subjugated.
At a moment when I had begun to question the capitalist tendencies and unexamined privileges that shaped my way of living, Valli emerged as a beacon—a Champaka tree with a weaver-bird nest, guiding me toward greater awareness and understanding. (You’ll have to read the book to grasp the symbolism of this tree!) This is not a light read, nor is it meant to be. If you’re ready to dig deep and face uncomfortable truths with the promise of emerging with new insights, Valli is a book you cannot miss.
When I reflected on how Valli made me feel, the Earth came to mind as a fitting metaphor. Just as digging through layers of soil can be tedious, unraveling the intricate web of characters and relationships in the story was initially challenging. Yet, as I persevered, I uncovered layers of meaning, eventually reaching the story’s core—a place of profound richness and depth.
Valli intricately weaves the narratives of three generations of immigrants in Wayanad, encouraging readers to examine the shifting times and our bonds with the land, nature, ourselves, and one another. It delves into themes of displacement, exploitation, and environmental despair, immersing readers in an unfiltered reality where folklore whispers truths more piercing than many historical accounts.
At its heart, Valli symbolizes the handful of grains that bonded laborers—primarily Adivasis—received in exchange for their relentless toil. It captures their ongoing struggle to reclaim their Valli, the land that rightfully belongs to them. This is not a tale of glorified heroism or valor but
reveals the unvarnished truths buried in the hearts of its characters. By challenging histories shaped by those in power, it sheds light on the bitter realities faced by the subjugated.
At a moment when I had begun to question the capitalist tendencies and unexamined privileges that shaped my way of living, Valli emerged as a beacon—a Champaka tree with a weaver-bird nest, guiding me toward greater awareness and understanding. (You’ll have to read the book to grasp the symbolism of this tree!) This is not a light read, nor is it meant to be. If you’re ready to dig deep and face uncomfortable truths with the promise of emerging with new insights, Valli is a book you cannot miss.
November 15, 2024
Reading "Valli" felt akin to tasting a dish prepared with the finest ingredients yet falling short of delivering the harmony of flavors it promised. Sheela Tomy’s premise was a fertile soil, rich with the potential to cultivate a profound narrative about Wayanad and its people, but it missed the emotional resonance it aimed for.
For the most part, the story meandered, unable to fully immerse me in the lives it sought to portray. However, the last 25 pages offered a glimpse of what the book could have been—there, the voices of Wayanad's people and the echoes of its culture finally stirred something within me. It was in those closing moments that I felt the pain, resilience, and beauty of a land caught between exploitation and rebellion.
The book, despite its shortcomings, managed to transport me mentally to Wayanad. I could almost feel the mist clinging to the forest canopies and hear the whispers of a history carved into the heart of the Western Ghats. Perhaps my next journey will take me there, to witness the place where legends and struggles entwine like the ancient roots of its forests.
Yet, this book is not the definitive ode to Wayanad's history that I long for. It scratches the surface but doesn’t delve deep enough into the land’s soul. I will wait eagerly for a narrative that does justice to its complexities.
For now, I leave "Valli" with a modest 3 stars, a rating bestowed out of respect for the last act of the story—a moment where it finally felt alive, like a dying ember reigniting briefly. As for Wayanad, its story deserves a stronger, more resonant voice, and I hope to hear it someday soon.
For the most part, the story meandered, unable to fully immerse me in the lives it sought to portray. However, the last 25 pages offered a glimpse of what the book could have been—there, the voices of Wayanad's people and the echoes of its culture finally stirred something within me. It was in those closing moments that I felt the pain, resilience, and beauty of a land caught between exploitation and rebellion.
The book, despite its shortcomings, managed to transport me mentally to Wayanad. I could almost feel the mist clinging to the forest canopies and hear the whispers of a history carved into the heart of the Western Ghats. Perhaps my next journey will take me there, to witness the place where legends and struggles entwine like the ancient roots of its forests.
Yet, this book is not the definitive ode to Wayanad's history that I long for. It scratches the surface but doesn’t delve deep enough into the land’s soul. I will wait eagerly for a narrative that does justice to its complexities.
For now, I leave "Valli" with a modest 3 stars, a rating bestowed out of respect for the last act of the story—a moment where it finally felt alive, like a dying ember reigniting briefly. As for Wayanad, its story deserves a stronger, more resonant voice, and I hope to hear it someday soon.
December 6, 2022
Reading this book was an experience on its own. Painfully difficult to be put in words. This book reminded me of my grandpas distributing stories about their childhood when they were too drunk to stand on two legs. My summer holidays were spent on the hills, tea estates and by the streams of Wayanad. And the subtle hinting of this book at places like Mananthavady, Vellamunda, reminded me of the midnight Christmas masses, Malayalam choirs, plum cakes and afternoon shoppings for roots and tubers, chicken and beef, chickenpox epidemics, grandma stories, tapioca and sardine curry and so many other tiny little things that i had forgotten about.
Valli, a novel that celebrates nature, focuses on the trials and tribulations of Adivasis of Wayanad.
The bitter aftertaste that blares through every corner of this book reminded me of Roy's The God of small things.
The spine chilling narrative of generational prejudices that were targeted against Adivasis (forest dwelling) by ambalavasi (temple dwelling) Brahmins and Roman catholics brings in a taste of horror and disgust amongst the readers.
Sara and Thomiccha, two school teachers, after fleeing from Southern Kerala to wayanad in an attempt to save their love, take us through a gut wrenching story. The perspectives of three generations and the horrendous rules in the name of tourism that gave way to deforestation and emptying up of the forests from its inherent beauty is absolutely agonising.
All in all, this book will have a place in my heart for so many years to come.
Valli, a novel that celebrates nature, focuses on the trials and tribulations of Adivasis of Wayanad.
The bitter aftertaste that blares through every corner of this book reminded me of Roy's The God of small things.
The spine chilling narrative of generational prejudices that were targeted against Adivasis (forest dwelling) by ambalavasi (temple dwelling) Brahmins and Roman catholics brings in a taste of horror and disgust amongst the readers.
Sara and Thomiccha, two school teachers, after fleeing from Southern Kerala to wayanad in an attempt to save their love, take us through a gut wrenching story. The perspectives of three generations and the horrendous rules in the name of tourism that gave way to deforestation and emptying up of the forests from its inherent beauty is absolutely agonising.
All in all, this book will have a place in my heart for so many years to come.
November 12, 2022
This book is about forests, life, changes, and most of all how things shape up and the climate change that affects them. A well-written and translated book about Waynad.
April 3, 2023
തൂമ്പയുടെയും കലപ്പയുടെയും സ്പർശനം വീണ്ടും ഭൂമിക്കു ലഭിക്കാൻ നമ്മൾക്ക് പ്രാർത്ഥിക്കാം..!!
മനസ്സിലെ അടിമത്തം മാറി നമ്മൾ എല്ലാവരും സ്വാതന്ത്രരാവുന്ന ആ കാലത്തിനു വേണ്ടി ആത്മാർത്ഥമായി പരിശ്രമിക്കാം ..
മനസ്സിലെ അടിമത്തം മാറി നമ്മൾ എല്ലാവരും സ്വാതന്ത്രരാവുന്ന ആ കാലത്തിനു വേണ്ടി ആത്മാർത്ഥമായി പരിശ്രമിക്കാം ..
April 4, 2023
This is one of the best book I have read this year. The entire book feels like a prose poetry, leaving a lump in your throat. It is a bundle of melancholy, covering the themes which are very real and very relevant to our times. Giving a sneak peek into the lives of the original inhabitants of the forest, the book delves into how human greed has left the forests, rivers, and lands dry. It is a book whose scent will linger in soul long after one has finished reading it.
May 16, 2023
The beautiful green colour of the book caught my eye in the bookstore....the lyrical sensory writing pulled me in.
This piece of art is a love letter to Wayanad, it's forests, the people, the resilience.
This piece of art is a love letter to Wayanad, it's forests, the people, the resilience.
February 9, 2023
വല്ലി.. എന്റെ ഈശ്വരാ.. എത്ര ശക്തമായ ഒരു വായനാനുഭവമായിരുന്നു. അവസാനപേജും വായിച്ച് മടക്കിയപ്പോൾ നെഞ്ചിനകം പൊള്ളുന്ന പോലെ. എന്തിനെന്നറിയാതെ, തടഞ്ഞ് നിർത്താനാവാതെ കണ്ണുനീർ ചാലിട്ടൊഴുകിയതും ഏറെ നേരം. അതെ.. വല്ലി.. എന്റെ ഏറ്റവും പുതിയ ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയ്യപ്പെട്ട നോവൽ.
'വല്ലി' എന്നാൽ ഭൂമി, ലത, കൂലി എന്നിങ്ങനെ പല അർത്ഥതലങ്ങളുള്ള വാക്ക്. ഓരോ പേജിലും, ഓരോ വരിയിലും ആ അർത്ഥം അതേ പടി പകർത്തി വച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത് പോലെ. ബയൽനാട് എന്ന വയൽനാട് എന്ന വയനാട്ടിലെ കുടിയേറ്റക്കാരുടെ കണ്ണിലൂടെ കാണുന്ന അനുഭവാഖ്യാനാമാണ് വല്ലി. കല്ലുവയലിലെ, തമ്പ്രാൻ കുന്നിൻ ചെരിവിലെ ജൈവവൈവിധ്യങ്ങളുടെ കലവറ കൊള്ളയടിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിന്റെ ചരിത്രം കൂടിയാണ് വല്ലി. കാടിന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ അവകാശികളായ ആദിവാസി മനുഷ്യരെ, പരശതം മൃഗങ്ങളെ, പരസഹസ്രം വൃക്ഷലതാതികളെ ഒക്കെ വികസനമെന്ന പേരിൽ തൂത്ത് നീക്കിയ കഥ കൂടിയാണ് വല്ലി.
സർക്കാരും മേലാളന്മാരും കാടും മലയും കയ്യടക്കി നിരത്തി അവിടെ റിസോർട്ടുകൾ എന്ന പേരിൽ കോൺക്രീറ്റ് കെട്ടിടങ്ങളും, ഇരുമ്പ് കമ്പി വേലികളും ഉണ്ടാക്കി, വൃക്ഷലതാതികൾ മുറിച്ച് മാറ്റി അവിടെ അലങ്കാര പുല്ലുകളും, ലോഹനിർമ്മിതമായ മരങ്ങളും സ്ഥാപിച്ചപ്പോൾ നിസ്സഹായയായി നോക്കി നിൽക്കാനേ കാടിനായുള്ളു. തന്റെ മക്കളായ ആദിവാസികളും, മൃഗങ്ങളും പുതിയ ചോല തേടി, പുതിയ പാർപ്പിടത്തിന് വേണ്ടി പരക്കം പായുന്നത് നോക്കി നിൽക്കാനേ കഴിഞ്ഞുള്ളു.
ആദിവാസി ഗ്രാമമായിരുന്ന കല്ലുവയലിൽ പല പല സമയങ്ങളിലായി വാക്കാലെ ചാർത്തികൊടുത്തും, കയ്യേറിയും ഭൂവുടമകളായും, ജന്മിമാരായും ജീവിതം തുടങ്ങിയവരെ എന്നും പ്രകൃതിയുടെ കാവൽക്കാരായ കാടിന്റെ മക്കൾക്ക് ഭയമായിരുന്നു. അവരുടെ ഭാഷ പറയാത്ത, അവരുടെ സ്ഥലം കയ്യേറുന്ന, എന്തിനേയും അവർക്ക് ഭയമായിരുന്നു. എന്നാൽ അവരെ മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് നയിക്കാനായി, അവരുടെ അവകാശങ്ങൾക്ക് വേണ്ടി വാദിക്കാനായി, അവരുടെ സ്ഥലം കയ്യേറാൻ വരുന്നവരെ എതിർക്കാനായി നിയോഗം കിട്ടിയപോലെ ജീവിച്ച ഏതാനും ചിലർ. തൊമ്മിച്ചൻ, സാറ, ഇസബെല്ല, പത്മനാഭൻ, പീറ്റർ, ഫെലിക്സച്ചൻ, പ്രകാശൻ എന്നിങ്ങനെ നീളുന്ന നിര. അവരുടെ തലമുറയ്ക്ക് കാടായിരുന്നു സ്വർഗ്ഗം. കാട്ടിൽ നിന്നും മരുഭൂമിയിലേക്ക് പറിച്ചെറിയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോഴും, ബഹുനിലകെട്ടിടത്തിന്റെ മുകളിലെ ഒരു മുറിയിലിരുന്ന് കാട്ടിൽ മനസ്സാലെ ഓരോ നിമിഷവും ജീവിച്ച സൂസൻ. മറ്റെങ്ങും പോവാതെ പഠിത്തം പോലും പാതി വഴിക്കുപേക്ഷിച്ച് ഉറങ്ങാത്ത സമയമെല്ലാം മണ്ണിൽ കിടന്നുരുളുന്ന, കൃഷികളിൽ പുതിയ തലങ്ങൾ കാണുന്ന, അവ പരീക്ഷിച്ച് വിജയിക്കുന്ന കല്ലുവയലിന്റെ പുതിയ നേതാവായ ജെയിംസ്. കല്ലുവയൽ അമ്മവീടായ, വിദേശത്ത് വളർന്ന് അവിടെ പഠിച്ച, അവിടുത്തെ രീതികൾ ശീലിച്ച, ചെറുപ്പത്തിൽ അവധിക്ക് വരുമ്പോൾ "its too boring here" എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ ടെസ്സ. കല്ലുവയലിന്റെ, ജെയിംസിന് ശേഷമുള്ള തുടർച്ച അവളായിരിക്കും. ബസവനും, രുക്കുവും, കേളുമൂപ്പനും, ഉമ്മിണിത്താറയും, ടോട്ടോയും.. പിന്നെ പഴംകഥകളിലെ ഉണ്ണിയച്ചിയും അഴകനുമൊക്കെ കുറേ നാൾ മനസ്സിൽ തങ്ങി നിൽക്കുമെന്ന കാര്യത്തിൽ സംശയമില്ല.
പ്രകൃതിയെയും, മൃഗങ്ങളെയും സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നവർക്കും, ഓരോരുത്തരുടേയും വിശ്വാസങ്ങളേയും ആചാരങ്ങളേയും ബഹുമാനിക്കുന്നവർക്കും ഒരിറ്റ് കണ്ണീർ പൊഴിക്കാതെ വല്ലി വായിച്ച് തീർക്കാനാവില്ല. കാരണം 'ഓരോ പുൽനാമ്പിനും ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ അവകാശം ഉണ്ട്'. നോവലിൽ പലയിടത്തായി ഉള്ള നാടൻ പാട്ടുകളുടെ വരികളുടേയും, ഗോത്ര ഭാഷകളുടേയും മലയാള പരിഭാഷ നോക്കാതെ അർത്ഥം മനസ്സിലാക്കാൻ ഞാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചെങ്കിലും പരാജയപ്പെട്ടു. പല പല ഗോത്രഭാഷകളും ഗവേഷണ വിഷയമായി മാറിയത് പോലെ എഴുത്തുകാരി ആശങ്കപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട് നമ്മുടെ മലയാളവും അന്യം നിന്നു പോവുന്ന ഒരു ഭാഷയായി മാറുമോ എന്ന്. എന്റെ മക്കൾക്ക് മലയാളം അറിയില്ല, ഇംഗ്ലീഷേ അറിയൂ എന്ന് അഭിമാനപൂർവ്വം പറയുന്ന ഇന്നത്തെ തലമുറയിൽ മലയാളം രണ്ട് തലമുറയ്ക്കപ്പുറം ഉണ്ടാവുമോ എന്ന ചിന്തയിൽ എന്റെ ഉള്ളവും പൊള്ളുന്നു.
തീർച്ചയായും വായിച്ചിരിക്കേണ്ട നോവലാണ് വല്ലി. ഇത്രയും മനോഹരമായ ഒരു വായനാനുഭവം സമ്മാനിച്ച എഴുത്തുകാരിയോട് ഒരുപാട് സ്നേഹം. തീർച്ചയായും ഇത് എന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ചില മാറ്റങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടുവരും.
'വല്ലി' എന്നാൽ ഭൂമി, ലത, കൂലി എന്നിങ്ങനെ പല അർത്ഥതലങ്ങളുള്ള വാക്ക്. ഓരോ പേജിലും, ഓരോ വരിയിലും ആ അർത്ഥം അതേ പടി പകർത്തി വച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത് പോലെ. ബയൽനാട് എന്ന വയൽനാട് എന്ന വയനാട്ടിലെ കുടിയേറ്റക്കാരുടെ കണ്ണിലൂടെ കാണുന്ന അനുഭവാഖ്യാനാമാണ് വല്ലി. കല്ലുവയലിലെ, തമ്പ്രാൻ കുന്നിൻ ചെരിവിലെ ജൈവവൈവിധ്യങ്ങളുടെ കലവറ കൊള്ളയടിക്കപ്പെട്ടതിന്റെ ചരിത്രം കൂടിയാണ് വല്ലി. കാടിന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ അവകാശികളായ ആദിവാസി മനുഷ്യരെ, പരശതം മൃഗങ്ങളെ, പരസഹസ്രം വൃക്ഷലതാതികളെ ഒക്കെ വികസനമെന്ന പേരിൽ തൂത്ത് നീക്കിയ കഥ കൂടിയാണ് വല്ലി.
സർക്കാരും മേലാളന്മാരും കാടും മലയും കയ്യടക്കി നിരത്തി അവിടെ റിസോർട്ടുകൾ എന്ന പേരിൽ കോൺക്രീറ്റ് കെട്ടിടങ്ങളും, ഇരുമ്പ് കമ്പി വേലികളും ഉണ്ടാക്കി, വൃക്ഷലതാതികൾ മുറിച്ച് മാറ്റി അവിടെ അലങ്കാര പുല്ലുകളും, ലോഹനിർമ്മിതമായ മരങ്ങളും സ്ഥാപിച്ചപ്പോൾ നിസ്സഹായയായി നോക്കി നിൽക്കാനേ കാടിനായുള്ളു. തന്റെ മക്കളായ ആദിവാസികളും, മൃഗങ്ങളും പുതിയ ചോല തേടി, പുതിയ പാർപ്പിടത്തിന് വേണ്ടി പരക്കം പായുന്നത് നോക്കി നിൽക്കാനേ കഴിഞ്ഞുള്ളു.
ആദിവാസി ഗ്രാമമായിരുന്ന കല്ലുവയലിൽ പല പല സമയങ്ങളിലായി വാക്കാലെ ചാർത്തികൊടുത്തും, കയ്യേറിയും ഭൂവുടമകളായും, ജന്മിമാരായും ജീവിതം തുടങ്ങിയവരെ എന്നും പ്രകൃതിയുടെ കാവൽക്കാരായ കാടിന്റെ മക്കൾക്ക് ഭയമായിരുന്നു. അവരുടെ ഭാഷ പറയാത്ത, അവരുടെ സ്ഥലം കയ്യേറുന്ന, എന്തിനേയും അവർക്ക് ഭയമായിരുന്നു. എന്നാൽ അവരെ മുന്നിൽ നിന്ന് നയിക്കാനായി, അവരുടെ അവകാശങ്ങൾക്ക് വേണ്ടി വാദിക്കാനായി, അവരുടെ സ്ഥലം കയ്യേറാൻ വരുന്നവരെ എതിർക്കാനായി നിയോഗം കിട്ടിയപോലെ ജീവിച്ച ഏതാനും ചിലർ. തൊമ്മിച്ചൻ, സാറ, ഇസബെല്ല, പത്മനാഭൻ, പീറ്റർ, ഫെലിക്സച്ചൻ, പ്രകാശൻ എന്നിങ്ങനെ നീളുന്ന നിര. അവരുടെ തലമുറയ്ക്ക് കാടായിരുന്നു സ്വർഗ്ഗം. കാട്ടിൽ നിന്നും മരുഭൂമിയിലേക്ക് പറിച്ചെറിയപ്പെട്ടപ്പോഴും, ബഹുനിലകെട്ടിടത്തിന്റെ മുകളിലെ ഒരു മുറിയിലിരുന്ന് കാട്ടിൽ മനസ്സാലെ ഓരോ നിമിഷവും ജീവിച്ച സൂസൻ. മറ്റെങ്ങും പോവാതെ പഠിത്തം പോലും പാതി വഴിക്കുപേക്ഷിച്ച് ഉറങ്ങാത്ത സമയമെല്ലാം മണ്ണിൽ കിടന്നുരുളുന്ന, കൃഷികളിൽ പുതിയ തലങ്ങൾ കാണുന്ന, അവ പരീക്ഷിച്ച് വിജയിക്കുന്ന കല്ലുവയലിന്റെ പുതിയ നേതാവായ ജെയിംസ്. കല്ലുവയൽ അമ്മവീടായ, വിദേശത്ത് വളർന്ന് അവിടെ പഠിച്ച, അവിടുത്തെ രീതികൾ ശീലിച്ച, ചെറുപ്പത്തിൽ അവധിക്ക് വരുമ്പോൾ "its too boring here" എന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ ടെസ്സ. കല്ലുവയലിന്റെ, ജെയിംസിന് ശേഷമുള്ള തുടർച്ച അവളായിരിക്കും. ബസവനും, രുക്കുവും, കേളുമൂപ്പനും, ഉമ്മിണിത്താറയും, ടോട്ടോയും.. പിന്നെ പഴംകഥകളിലെ ഉണ്ണിയച്ചിയും അഴകനുമൊക്കെ കുറേ നാൾ മനസ്സിൽ തങ്ങി നിൽക്കുമെന്ന കാര്യത്തിൽ സംശയമില്ല.
പ്രകൃതിയെയും, മൃഗങ്ങളെയും സ്നേഹിക്കുന്നവർക്കും, ഓരോരുത്തരുടേയും വിശ്വാസങ്ങളേയും ആചാരങ്ങളേയും ബഹുമാനിക്കുന്നവർക്കും ഒരിറ്റ് കണ്ണീർ പൊഴിക്കാതെ വല്ലി വായിച്ച് തീർക്കാനാവില്ല. കാരണം 'ഓരോ പുൽനാമ്പിനും ഈ ഭൂമിയിൽ അവകാശം ഉണ്ട്'. നോവലിൽ പലയിടത്തായി ഉള്ള നാടൻ പാട്ടുകളുടെ വരികളുടേയും, ഗോത്ര ഭാഷകളുടേയും മലയാള പരിഭാഷ നോക്കാതെ അർത്ഥം മനസ്സിലാക്കാൻ ഞാൻ ശ്രമിച്ചെങ്കിലും പരാജയപ്പെട്ടു. പല പല ഗോത്രഭാഷകളും ഗവേഷണ വിഷയമായി മാറിയത് പോലെ എഴുത്തുകാരി ആശങ്കപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ട് നമ്മുടെ മലയാളവും അന്യം നിന്നു പോവുന്ന ഒരു ഭാഷയായി മാറുമോ എന്ന്. എന്റെ മക്കൾക്ക് മലയാളം അറിയില്ല, ഇംഗ്ലീഷേ അറിയൂ എന്ന് അഭിമാനപൂർവ്വം പറയുന്ന ഇന്നത്തെ തലമുറയിൽ മലയാളം രണ്ട് തലമുറയ്ക്കപ്പുറം ഉണ്ടാവുമോ എന്ന ചിന്തയിൽ എന്റെ ഉള്ളവും പൊള്ളുന്നു.
തീർച്ചയായും വായിച്ചിരിക്കേണ്ട നോവലാണ് വല്ലി. ഇത്രയും മനോഹരമായ ഒരു വായനാനുഭവം സമ്മാനിച്ച എഴുത്തുകാരിയോട് ഒരുപാട് സ്നേഹം. തീർച്ചയായും ഇത് എന്റെ ജീവിതത്തിൽ ചില മാറ്റങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടുവരും.
August 18, 2024
Well, this book has just safely lodged itself into my all-time favourites list. A story and writing that will stay with me for a long, long time. Set in beautiful Wayanad in Kerala, in the embrace of mother nature and the forests and the rivers of the land, the story of the migrant upper-class families and the travails of the indigenous adivasi community, who truly loved the land with all their heart and soul. Such vivid imagery, so many intricately developed characters...the strength of this book is not just in the content that touches your soul, that speaks about the deep message of conservation and preserving biodiversity but also the fantastic translation....that makes you want to read it all over again in the original Malayalam - I hope I can do this someday.
Truly felt like a privilege reading this. Rest assured, I will be praising and recommending this book a lot for sure.
Truly felt like a privilege reading this. Rest assured, I will be praising and recommending this book a lot for sure.
December 3, 2023
A chance bookshop find turned out it be an incredible read. Valli is an ode and a dirge to lush forests and its ancient inhabitants, powerful and heartbreaking. All translations leave me with the feeling of having missed out on something, and this is no exception.
April 17, 2023
"Valli", Sheela Tomy's debut novel is her requiem.
A requiem for the lost forests of Wayanad, for its wild life, flora and fauna that has had to withdraw deeper as the forests retreated; her requiem for the exploitation of its indigenous adivasi tribes, the loss of their language, their intimate bonds with and knowledge of the forest, their entire way of life.
The novel is set in northern Kerala in the fictional village of Kalluvayal, located high in the Western Ghats. Kalluvayal that has witnessed the changing landscape of Wayanad -- from deep dense forests to the arrival of migrants from the lowlands, the mosquito infested marshlands, cultivations of paddy, lemongrass, cashews, coffee, rubber, black pepper, ginger, tapioca......The Kabini river flowing......
The story unfolds in the form of excerpts from Susan's diary written for her daughter Tessa, as well as their exchange of messages and emails. The narrative slips back and forth in time from fiction to fable to poetry to little songs, folklore and mythical tales. Unexpected glimpses into the future make you wonder about the intensity of the present, it's emotions - to what purpose?
The story begins in the 1970s, years of heightened Naxalite movement in Kerala, when Sara and Thommichan elope to Wayanad. Together with their daughter Susan and her daughter Tessa, the family is a spiral thread that binds the tale together. There is no single central character around whose life the story revolves. Instead, the book offers us a view of the lives of several key characters revealing their relationship with the land, the forests, it's trees, animals and thousands of other creatures and their relationship to one another. The characters include the original inhabitants of Wayanad the adivasis, migrants like Thommichan and Sara who make Wayanad’s forests and people their own, powerful "jenmis" or landowners who have complete control over the land they own and the tribals who labour for them. The true protagonist of this story is Wayanad's majestic forests that are dwindling rapidly unleashing floods and environmental catastrophes.
"What's once gone does not return", Thommichan writes to Tessa. Having a special connect with Wayanad because of close family ties, many parts of the book made me sad, feel a sense of loss. But the book is not all gloom. There's also a lightness, beauty, subtle humour. Despite the cruel devastation of their tribal lives there are sweet tender moments that Basavan and Rukku share, there's humour in Thommichan's teasing when he gets Sara all riled up and in Umminithara's pragmatic approach to her faith. The forest and its many creatures touch your heart. Then there's the tantalizing aura of Unniyachi, the primal aboriginal goddess.... her presence through time....
Sheela Tomy's writing offers vivid imagery and a sensitive view into the lives of people in the book. The generational sweep of the story is revealed in the endearing email exchanges between Tessa and her 'valyappachan'; in the transformation of the hills and valleys and forests into eateries and tourist destinations; in the absurdity of government concrete dwellings for tribals driven out of their forests.
" A land where countless secrets sleep."... Written in Malayalam and brilliantly translated into English by Jayasree Kalathil, the book transported me into an enchanted land of lyrical prose......even though I could sense violent injustice lurking at every turn for the men, and even more for the women, of the forest.
Perhaps a glossary at the end, for a quick reference when required, of non-English words may have made it a little more convenient at times. But that's a mere trifle.
Years ago, a work-visit to interior villages in Karnataka gave me an opportunity to talk to villagers who had started a movement against a corporate-government initiative that was heavily polluting the Tungabhadra river - their lifeline - and against the planting of eucalyptus saplings replacing local vegetation. Their passion, their desperation was moving. On my return to the city, I remember writing to the organisers "how I look at land, fields, forests will never be the same".
'Valli' brought back strong memories of that emotion, mixed with a feeling of wonder and sadness. A beautiful read.
A requiem for the lost forests of Wayanad, for its wild life, flora and fauna that has had to withdraw deeper as the forests retreated; her requiem for the exploitation of its indigenous adivasi tribes, the loss of their language, their intimate bonds with and knowledge of the forest, their entire way of life.
The novel is set in northern Kerala in the fictional village of Kalluvayal, located high in the Western Ghats. Kalluvayal that has witnessed the changing landscape of Wayanad -- from deep dense forests to the arrival of migrants from the lowlands, the mosquito infested marshlands, cultivations of paddy, lemongrass, cashews, coffee, rubber, black pepper, ginger, tapioca......The Kabini river flowing......
The story unfolds in the form of excerpts from Susan's diary written for her daughter Tessa, as well as their exchange of messages and emails. The narrative slips back and forth in time from fiction to fable to poetry to little songs, folklore and mythical tales. Unexpected glimpses into the future make you wonder about the intensity of the present, it's emotions - to what purpose?
The story begins in the 1970s, years of heightened Naxalite movement in Kerala, when Sara and Thommichan elope to Wayanad. Together with their daughter Susan and her daughter Tessa, the family is a spiral thread that binds the tale together. There is no single central character around whose life the story revolves. Instead, the book offers us a view of the lives of several key characters revealing their relationship with the land, the forests, it's trees, animals and thousands of other creatures and their relationship to one another. The characters include the original inhabitants of Wayanad the adivasis, migrants like Thommichan and Sara who make Wayanad’s forests and people their own, powerful "jenmis" or landowners who have complete control over the land they own and the tribals who labour for them. The true protagonist of this story is Wayanad's majestic forests that are dwindling rapidly unleashing floods and environmental catastrophes.
"What's once gone does not return", Thommichan writes to Tessa. Having a special connect with Wayanad because of close family ties, many parts of the book made me sad, feel a sense of loss. But the book is not all gloom. There's also a lightness, beauty, subtle humour. Despite the cruel devastation of their tribal lives there are sweet tender moments that Basavan and Rukku share, there's humour in Thommichan's teasing when he gets Sara all riled up and in Umminithara's pragmatic approach to her faith. The forest and its many creatures touch your heart. Then there's the tantalizing aura of Unniyachi, the primal aboriginal goddess.... her presence through time....
Sheela Tomy's writing offers vivid imagery and a sensitive view into the lives of people in the book. The generational sweep of the story is revealed in the endearing email exchanges between Tessa and her 'valyappachan'; in the transformation of the hills and valleys and forests into eateries and tourist destinations; in the absurdity of government concrete dwellings for tribals driven out of their forests.
" A land where countless secrets sleep."... Written in Malayalam and brilliantly translated into English by Jayasree Kalathil, the book transported me into an enchanted land of lyrical prose......even though I could sense violent injustice lurking at every turn for the men, and even more for the women, of the forest.
Perhaps a glossary at the end, for a quick reference when required, of non-English words may have made it a little more convenient at times. But that's a mere trifle.
Years ago, a work-visit to interior villages in Karnataka gave me an opportunity to talk to villagers who had started a movement against a corporate-government initiative that was heavily polluting the Tungabhadra river - their lifeline - and against the planting of eucalyptus saplings replacing local vegetation. Their passion, their desperation was moving. On my return to the city, I remember writing to the organisers "how I look at land, fields, forests will never be the same".
'Valli' brought back strong memories of that emotion, mixed with a feeling of wonder and sadness. A beautiful read.
September 18, 2023
കഥയുടെ പശ്ചാത്തലം, വായനാടിലെ കല്ലുവയൽ എന്ന ഗ്രാമം. സൂസൻ മകൾ ടെസ്സയ്ക്കു വേണ്ടി സൂക്ഷിച്ചു വെച്ച ഡയറിയിലൂടെയാണ് കല്ലുവയലിന്റെ കഥ പറയുന്നത്.
വര്ഷം 1970, നക്സലുകൾ ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ നടത്തുന്ന കാലം. കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളിയിൽ നിന്നും തോമാച്ചന്റെ കൂടെ സാറാ വയനാട്ടിലേക്ക് ഒളിച്ചോടി വന്നതാണ്. ഇവരുടെ അനുഭവങ്ങൾ വഴിയാണ് വയനാട്ടിലെ കാഴ്ചകളെ എഴുത്തുകാരി നമുക്ക് പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത്. ആഞ്ഞിലിക്കുന്നിലേക്കുള്ള ബോട്ട് യാത്ര, പദ്മനാഭനുമായുള്ള പരിചയപ്പെടൽ, ബസവൻ, ടോടോ കുരങ്ങൻ, അങ്ങനെ പലതും.
കഥയിൽ കുടിയേറ്റക്കാരെ represent ചെയ്യുന്നത് ആഞ്ഞിലിക്കുന്നില്ലേ താമസക്കാരാണ്. അപ്പൻ പൈസ കൊടുത്തു വെടിച്ച സ്ഥലത്താണ് ഇവാൻ കുടിയേറിയത്. അയാളുടെ ഭാര്യ അന്നക്കുട്ടി, മക്കൾ ലൂക്ക, പീറ്റർ, എലിസബെത്. പീറ്റർ പദ്മഭന്റെ കൂടെ വിപ്ലവം പറയുന്നവനാണ്. ലൂക്ക അപ്പന്റെ സ്വഭാവം കിട്ടിയവനാണ്, പെണ്ണ് പിടിയൻ, ദുഷ്ടൻ. എലിസബേത് മഠത്തിൽ പോയി തിരിച്ചു വന്നവളും. ലൂസിയുടെ മകൻ ജെയിംസും, സാറയുടെ മകൾ സൂസനും കളികൂട്ടുകാരാണ്.
ഉമ്മിണിതാര എന്ന കഥാപ്രത്രം, ഉണ്ണിയാർച്ച സലോമി, കാടോരം സ്കൂളും അതിന്റെ നടത്തിപ്പിന് പങ്കുചേരുന്നവരും, ബസവന്റെ കാമുകി റുക്കുവും, മുതലാളിമാരുടെ തെറ്റുകൾ ചൂണ്ടി കാണിക്കുന്ന പള്ളിയിലെ പാതിരിയും, അപ്പേട്ടന്റെ ചായ കട, ഫോറസ്റ് ഓഫീസർ പ്രകാശൻ അങ്ങനെ ഏറെ കുറെ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും കഥയിൽ കടന്നു വരുന്നുണ്ട്.
കാട് നശിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുമ്പോളും, സർക്കാർ സഹായത്തോടെ ആളുകൾ ഭൂമി കയ്യേറുമ്പോളും, അതിനെ എതിർത്ത് പോരാടുന്നു അവിടുത്തെ മക്കൾ, അതിൽ പ്രധാനിയാകുന്നു ജെയിംസ്, പ്രിത്യേകിച്ചു പദ്മനാഭനെ പോലീസ് പിടികൂടി ഉപദ്രവിച്ച സാഹചര്യത്തിൽ. പിന്നെ കുറെ മരണങ്ങൾ. അങ്ങനെ കഥ അവസാനിക്കുമ്പോൾ കല്ലുവയൽ മാറിക്കഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു. അവകാശങ്ങൾക്കു വേണ്ടി ഇപ്പോഴും പൊരുതുന്നവർ ഒരു ചെറിയ ന്യൂനപക്ഷം മാത്രം.
പല നാടൻ കഥകളും folkloreകളും കഥയോട് ഇഴചേരുന്നുണ്ട് .
1. ഉണ്ണിയേച്ചിയെ രാജാവ് കൊന്നതും, കുറുവ ദ്വീപ് ഉണ്ടായതും, ആ നാട്ടിൽ പിന്നെ ദേവദാസികൾ വാഴാത്തതും ഒരു കഥ.
2. കുട്ടി തേവാങ്ങിനെ കണ്ടാൽ കല്യാണം നടക്കില്ല എന്നത് വേറൊരു കഥ.
3. പീരിയഡ്സ് ഉള്ള പെണ്ണുങ്ങൾ, ചുവന്ന റുമാൽ അവരുടെ ചേലയിൽ തിരുകി വയ്ക്കും.
4. കാളി കാടിന്റെ റാണിയാണ്. തന്നോട് മോശമായി പെരുമാറിയ മുതലാളിയെ വെട്ടിയതും, അവളുടെ പുറകിൽ വന്ന ഷിമോഗക്കാരൻ കാണാതായതും
5. വെളുത്ത സായിപ്പിനെ വഴികാണിക്കാൻ കൊണ്ടുപോയ കരിന്തണ്ടനും, വണ്ടി മറിഞ്ഞ കഥയും.
6. ക്ഷത്രിയര് ചതിച്ചു സ്ഥലം അപഹരിച്ച വേട രാജകുമാരിയുടെ കഥ.
7. മഹാനദി കടക്കേണ്ട വഴി, അഥവാ മാ-നധ്യാ-ബുവാടി, അങ്ങനെ ആണ് മാനന്തവാടി എന്ന പേര് വരുന്നത്.
വര്ഷം 1970, നക്സലുകൾ ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ നടത്തുന്ന കാലം. കാഞ്ഞിരപ്പള്ളിയിൽ നിന്നും തോമാച്ചന്റെ കൂടെ സാറാ വയനാട്ടിലേക്ക് ഒളിച്ചോടി വന്നതാണ്. ഇവരുടെ അനുഭവങ്ങൾ വഴിയാണ് വയനാട്ടിലെ കാഴ്ചകളെ എഴുത്തുകാരി നമുക്ക് പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത്. ആഞ്ഞിലിക്കുന്നിലേക്കുള്ള ബോട്ട് യാത്ര, പദ്മനാഭനുമായുള്ള പരിചയപ്പെടൽ, ബസവൻ, ടോടോ കുരങ്ങൻ, അങ്ങനെ പലതും.
കഥയിൽ കുടിയേറ്റക്കാരെ represent ചെയ്യുന്നത് ആഞ്ഞിലിക്കുന്നില്ലേ താമസക്കാരാണ്. അപ്പൻ പൈസ കൊടുത്തു വെടിച്ച സ്ഥലത്താണ് ഇവാൻ കുടിയേറിയത്. അയാളുടെ ഭാര്യ അന്നക്കുട്ടി, മക്കൾ ലൂക്ക, പീറ്റർ, എലിസബെത്. പീറ്റർ പദ്മഭന്റെ കൂടെ വിപ്ലവം പറയുന്നവനാണ്. ലൂക്ക അപ്പന്റെ സ്വഭാവം കിട്ടിയവനാണ്, പെണ്ണ് പിടിയൻ, ദുഷ്ടൻ. എലിസബേത് മഠത്തിൽ പോയി തിരിച്ചു വന്നവളും. ലൂസിയുടെ മകൻ ജെയിംസും, സാറയുടെ മകൾ സൂസനും കളികൂട്ടുകാരാണ്.
ഉമ്മിണിതാര എന്ന കഥാപ്രത്രം, ഉണ്ണിയാർച്ച സലോമി, കാടോരം സ്കൂളും അതിന്റെ നടത്തിപ്പിന് പങ്കുചേരുന്നവരും, ബസവന്റെ കാമുകി റുക്കുവും, മുതലാളിമാരുടെ തെറ്റുകൾ ചൂണ്ടി കാണിക്കുന്ന പള്ളിയിലെ പാതിരിയും, അപ്പേട്ടന്റെ ചായ കട, ഫോറസ്റ് ഓഫീസർ പ്രകാശൻ അങ്ങനെ ഏറെ കുറെ കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളും കഥയിൽ കടന്നു വരുന്നുണ്ട്.
കാട് നശിപ്പിക്കപ്പെടുമ്പോളും, സർക്കാർ സഹായത്തോടെ ആളുകൾ ഭൂമി കയ്യേറുമ്പോളും, അതിനെ എതിർത്ത് പോരാടുന്നു അവിടുത്തെ മക്കൾ, അതിൽ പ്രധാനിയാകുന്നു ജെയിംസ്, പ്രിത്യേകിച്ചു പദ്മനാഭനെ പോലീസ് പിടികൂടി ഉപദ്രവിച്ച സാഹചര്യത്തിൽ. പിന്നെ കുറെ മരണങ്ങൾ. അങ്ങനെ കഥ അവസാനിക്കുമ്പോൾ കല്ലുവയൽ മാറിക്കഴിഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നു. അവകാശങ്ങൾക്കു വേണ്ടി ഇപ്പോഴും പൊരുതുന്നവർ ഒരു ചെറിയ ന്യൂനപക്ഷം മാത്രം.
പല നാടൻ കഥകളും folkloreകളും കഥയോട് ഇഴചേരുന്നുണ്ട് .
1. ഉണ്ണിയേച്ചിയെ രാജാവ് കൊന്നതും, കുറുവ ദ്വീപ് ഉണ്ടായതും, ആ നാട്ടിൽ പിന്നെ ദേവദാസികൾ വാഴാത്തതും ഒരു കഥ.
2. കുട്ടി തേവാങ്ങിനെ കണ്ടാൽ കല്യാണം നടക്കില്ല എന്നത് വേറൊരു കഥ.
3. പീരിയഡ്സ് ഉള്ള പെണ്ണുങ്ങൾ, ചുവന്ന റുമാൽ അവരുടെ ചേലയിൽ തിരുകി വയ്ക്കും.
4. കാളി കാടിന്റെ റാണിയാണ്. തന്നോട് മോശമായി പെരുമാറിയ മുതലാളിയെ വെട്ടിയതും, അവളുടെ പുറകിൽ വന്ന ഷിമോഗക്കാരൻ കാണാതായതും
5. വെളുത്ത സായിപ്പിനെ വഴികാണിക്കാൻ കൊണ്ടുപോയ കരിന്തണ്ടനും, വണ്ടി മറിഞ്ഞ കഥയും.
6. ക്ഷത്രിയര് ചതിച്ചു സ്ഥലം അപഹരിച്ച വേട രാജകുമാരിയുടെ കഥ.
7. മഹാനദി കടക്കേണ്ട വഴി, അഥവാ മാ-നധ്യാ-ബുവാടി, അങ്ങനെ ആണ് മാനന്തവാടി എന്ന പേര് വരുന്നത്.
June 4, 2023
Valli. What a powerful read. Loved every bit of it. My new favourite book.
Valli has various meanings. Land, wages, vine etc. And each reflects very well in this book. The story unfolds through the migrants who considered Wayanad is their home too. It tells the life of the forest natives, the exploiters, the climate crisis, some naxalism, indigenous folkfore etc. Set in 1970s to till 2018, most of it unveiled through letters and journal entries of different generations. Kalluvayal forest and Kabani river are the main characters in this novel.
When the exploiters enter the forest with greediness and devour, the natives are startled. As they were always afraid of people who don't speak their language, people who exploits their land and them. They were afraid to fight back. Some people who were migrated to Kalluvayal due to different reasons, decided to lead the natives. They taught them how to stand for their rights. They lead them to fight back when their land and beliefs were in the interests of outsiders. But they couldn't win all the time. In the name of development, they lost their land, they lost their harmony. Thousands of animals were clambered around to find a new place to live. Medicinal plants and other rare trees and plants were only found in the forest were destroyed. Instead, there are now buildings, resorts and artificial trees and grass to attract the city people to enjoy the forest life for few days.
The endless detailings of the flora and fauna, the innocent natives, their lives, their struggles to protect their mother land..its all looming over me. I am still in awe with @sheela_tomy ‘s writing style and how she walked me through the forest. The urge developed in me after reading the novel was still unidentifiable. But for sure, there will be some changes in my lifestyle which I inspired from this book. This reminded me badly of my childhood, my hilly village, my traditional home, my grand parents.. which all are a memory now.
Valli has various meanings. Land, wages, vine etc. And each reflects very well in this book. The story unfolds through the migrants who considered Wayanad is their home too. It tells the life of the forest natives, the exploiters, the climate crisis, some naxalism, indigenous folkfore etc. Set in 1970s to till 2018, most of it unveiled through letters and journal entries of different generations. Kalluvayal forest and Kabani river are the main characters in this novel.
When the exploiters enter the forest with greediness and devour, the natives are startled. As they were always afraid of people who don't speak their language, people who exploits their land and them. They were afraid to fight back. Some people who were migrated to Kalluvayal due to different reasons, decided to lead the natives. They taught them how to stand for their rights. They lead them to fight back when their land and beliefs were in the interests of outsiders. But they couldn't win all the time. In the name of development, they lost their land, they lost their harmony. Thousands of animals were clambered around to find a new place to live. Medicinal plants and other rare trees and plants were only found in the forest were destroyed. Instead, there are now buildings, resorts and artificial trees and grass to attract the city people to enjoy the forest life for few days.
The endless detailings of the flora and fauna, the innocent natives, their lives, their struggles to protect their mother land..its all looming over me. I am still in awe with @sheela_tomy ‘s writing style and how she walked me through the forest. The urge developed in me after reading the novel was still unidentifiable. But for sure, there will be some changes in my lifestyle which I inspired from this book. This reminded me badly of my childhood, my hilly village, my traditional home, my grand parents.. which all are a memory now.
March 17, 2023
An environmental saga of intense magnitude, Valli is the story of unsung heroes and repressed voices. Set amidst the lush mountains and valleys of Wayanad, a hill station in the Western Ghats. Being an ecological haven, the Western Ghats is the home of indigenous tribes like Paniyas, the children of the forest. Enslaved by the Jenmis, the Paniyas have undergone unspeakable abuse at the hands of those who devoured the forests and the ones who are supposed to protect them.
The multitude of characters in this book makes this story a deluge of emotions. I teared up many times over as the story unfolded. What makes this book stand apart is the author's efforts to inscribe the unscripted language of the paniyas. I appreciate the translator, Jayashree Kalathil's efforts in doing justice to the original work. The narrative was a culmination of varied stories told over a period of time. My heart broke for Kali and the other forgotten souls whose lives were stolen by the greedy.
Overall, Valli is a chronicle of a forest destroyed, lives shattered, and stories lost. I highly recommend this award winning novel. Sheela Tomy's Valli is the recipient of the Cherukad Award for Malayalam Literature in 2020 and short-listed for The JCB Prize 2022. As someone who comes from a village on the foothills of the Western Ghats, albeit on the farthest south and had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the indigenous tribes of the Western ghats for a very short time, I am glad to have read Valli. Wayanad will always hold a special place in my heart.
The multitude of characters in this book makes this story a deluge of emotions. I teared up many times over as the story unfolded. What makes this book stand apart is the author's efforts to inscribe the unscripted language of the paniyas. I appreciate the translator, Jayashree Kalathil's efforts in doing justice to the original work. The narrative was a culmination of varied stories told over a period of time. My heart broke for Kali and the other forgotten souls whose lives were stolen by the greedy.
Overall, Valli is a chronicle of a forest destroyed, lives shattered, and stories lost. I highly recommend this award winning novel. Sheela Tomy's Valli is the recipient of the Cherukad Award for Malayalam Literature in 2020 and short-listed for The JCB Prize 2022. As someone who comes from a village on the foothills of the Western Ghats, albeit on the farthest south and had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the indigenous tribes of the Western ghats for a very short time, I am glad to have read Valli. Wayanad will always hold a special place in my heart.
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