Language of the Mirror

by P. Sivakami

Bhuvana’s sojourn in a small sleepy university town in USA is in search of totemic values in the public and private domains of her life. Her observations of her inner turmoil and the external world that revolves around her is woven beautifully with criss-crossing narratology in global space and time. The narrative is interlaced with her keen observations about the various nationalities, the withering cold, discussions at the local library, warmth of friendships, get togethers, interviews of elected women representatives, thrift shops and her views about it, international politics, all women ice-hockey match etc. “Like a stubborn child lying on the ground with its face buried inside his hands,” her“world is immersed deep in her(my) sorrows. No matter how hard I try, I am unable to separate the hands and get to see its face” writes Bhuvana in a mail to her friend. Did she succeed in seeing the face? The novel keeps the readers alert about seeing it along with Bhuvana.

Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2021

About the author

P.Sivakami (ப. சிவகாமி - தமிழ்விக்கி பக்கம்) is an Indian Dalit-Feminist writer, former IAS officer and activist predominantly writing in Tamil. Her notable works include Pazhayana Kazhidalum, Kurruku Vettu, Nalum Thodarum and Kadaisi Mandhar. Apart from being one of the most prominent Dalit novelists in India, she has also constantly voiced her opinions on contemporary social and political issues. An author of six novels and more than 60 short stories. P. Sivakami has regularly kept in touch with editing and has actively contributed to the monthly magazine Puthiya Kodangi since 1995.

Since 1995, she has been centrally involved in the publication of the literary journal Puthiya Kodangi and has a lively investment in issues that touch Dalit and other backward castes and women in Tamil Nadu. She is the first Tamil Dalit Woman to write a novel Pazhiyana Kazhidalum in 1989. A literary and commercial success, the novel created a stir by taking on patriarchy in the Dalit movement. The novel is translated by the author herself and published in English as The Grip of Change (2006). Her second novel Anandhayi is about the violent treatment of women and was translated into English by Pritham K Chakravarthy as The Taming of Women in 2011. Her first poetry collection, Kadhavadaippu, was published in October 2011. Sivakami has written four critically acclaimed novels, all of them centred on Dalit and Feminist themes. She has written numerous short stories and poems focusing on similar issues. Sivakami's novels portray the rustic story of women who suffer at the hands of men who strongly believe in and stand for patriarchy. The conflicts and struggles are between tenacious women and tyrannical men in the contemporary society.

Sivakami made a short film Ooodaha (Through) based on a story written by one of her friends. Set in 1995, it was selected by the National Panorama and won the President Award the same year.