Reading between the lines

book review

...an now , when it comes to K.R.Meera's novel Aarachar, I reiterate such facts which i mentioned in my article "Ezhuthapurangalile vaayana", as the social intricacy emerging out in the saga is not in coherence with conscience of modern reader. The character Chetna has been brought forth to be a skilful hangwoman by the end of novel.She might be a successful inheritor of her father whose ill destiny deprived him of the status of being a proud hangman. It might be a metamorphosis too from a literate young girl of amazing knowledge in history to an efficient executioner due to the drastic pulling force of society. I think, as I mentioned, she is forcefully attracted by the society in which her entity prevails, for the sake of it's existence , and she needs to achieve escape velocity which is capable to get her out of it so she can be in unison with the conscience and consciousness of the modern world.

Secondly, it is to be pointed out that the novel gives a sheer output of feminism. Of course I have been criticized for the antifeminist reading of fiction by women writers, but still I say that the glimpse of feminism helps it get formalized. As I said in the article, the character Sanjeev Kumar Mitra( may be an accumulation of many fragments of imagination in Chetna's mind ) is being conceived as a fragile mirror, by facing which, the feminist in Chetna draws impulse, and by breaking such mirror she accomplishes her wishes. Apparently, it seems to me that the first person narrative provides greater strength for many women novelists in the world and their mouthpieces get freedom so that they can easily attract the sympathy of readers. On examining some of the most famous novels by women writers in 19th and 20th centuries, like Jane Eyre, Stone Angel, To Kill a Mockingbird etc. ( I dont think a feminist reading of Jane Eyre and To Kill a Mocking bird will make any sense) we come to know that the first person narrative tremendously helps the writer establish a direct path to the narrator so an easeful quest for identity is become possible. ( as for me , searching for one's own identity is somewhat rubbish like chasing or finding a reason for one's own shadow. I would rather scribble on a paper and try to prove Fermat's last theorem)
So I must say the quest for identity , proving her existence or in a greater sense, affirming the existence of a hangwoman is become contrary to the formalized identity of modern world.

Indeed Meera's Aarachar is one of the best malayalam novels written in our time and deserves serious study. I emphasize on my opinion that the novel chases not the sole chemistry in the mind of an executioner but it does the estrangement of society and elaborately examines in the light of consciousness of modern readers.
harish babu
22/11/2016.