The story lost in the" NILAVARAKUNDU"

a POSTMODERN Malayalam short story originally published in KALAKAUMUDI weekly in Malayalam in 1998 and written in 1996..... Only first page is translated

A story that got lost in the hidden casket

What is it....?

Lying down in everlasting coldness as if in a pose of savasana, inside the concealed casket, Kalyani is seeking the answer. Shekharan was a bit miffed, for he felt that the query had a tone of conciliation. Yet, as she allowed him to feel the balloon-like velvety softness around her navel by pressing his head on to it, some wild emotion spread out through his inner core. Breaking out through the cordon of words, it came bursting out through his lips, which had been dipping into the deepness of her navel.

“A man, who has never endeavoured to take advantage of any female in his life, will die an eternal celibate”.

She giggled in delightful laughter.

“Is it Shekharan’s own outlook or is it the common talk of your gender-folk?”

He had returned his lips to its former location.

“Your body has more coldness than this. Shekharan, why is it so?”

He only murmured in response.

“It is not my gender-folks’. Let me tell you of my most private thoughts”. She twined her two thighs around his neck as a sort of hook.

“I should have had got the name Chandrika”.

He.

Two reasons are appearing in the mind.

1. She must have heard or bought the verses of that ancient, gifted poet from some cassette shop. Or she must have read its parody in some newspaper sheets.

However, his mind disallowed him from conceding such a possibility to her, whose life swayed to the din and bustle of cybersex and digital brotherhood, and who lived in an ambience of bustling English talk that had the swishing sound of swinging casuarinas.

Then the second reason appeared out of its veil.

He.

She must have at least heard it mentioned, when she browsed through the old river-story, in one of those old masterpieces, in which the famous storywriter must have wandered into the countryside as he sought his inspirations from nostalgic reminiscences.

Author's Note

Originally written in MALAYALAM, an Indian language in 1997

Reviews

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Hello Mr. Ramesh,

Being a novice, I feel unfit to comment on something that is clearly above the level of parlance I am used to. But I would still like to offer my views on this piece.

Well firstly, there are parts which I could not make out quite clearly for example; what has the girl actually found out, something that is a matter of concern for Shekaran?
I really liked the feel of the story, the ambience, that is created by the vivid descriptions of the environment.
And the best part is the sensual, playful yet profound way the plot flows.
This indeed takes a reader to the past era with crisp and detailed imagery!

I liked the overall piece, enjoyed reading it!

Regards
Jyoti

[M P Ramesh]

jyoti,
Thanks for the interaction
AS GIVEN IN THE TIP OFF only the first of the 4 pages was translated
okay
it is death jyoti
ultimate fortune

but how different writers approach it
that is craft

You will learn the skill

carry on pl...
MPR

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Well thank you for shedding light on that.
Interesting read.

[manju menon]

That was really nice...I am not as good as you in playing with words....very interesting

[M P Ramesh]

Manju,
Thanks....I have a doubt ...whether the comment is related to the review or the story?
I f you can read Malayalam , you can access to the original of the work in Kalakaumudi of 1998 period... The works of the said period is now on rendering......Pl be free to comment
M P R

[manju menon]

how do I get to read kalakaumudi?

[JessyJacob]

Hello Ramesh,

I am trying to access the story in Malayalam. not finding online, could you send me the copy to my inbox.

Thank you.

[M P Ramesh]

jessi


with pleasure.
Mainly because a shortstory after a 21 years of its birth ,
still retains the sharp notice of GREAT readers.


getr me your mail ID

mp

[JessyJacob]

sure,

[email protected]
so glad to see your reply, thank you.

[JessyJacob]

otherwise, I thought I couldn't find it online, maybe needed to go library. I appreciate your help and kind reply.

[Anjali]

You write so well, yet I couldn't understand it after reading once. It could be much better if you would have written it simple so that even an average person could understand the thoughts you wanted to convey.
Thank you!

[M P Ramesh]

anj,

Thanks for the sincere comments made.
We can discuss it about the interior of the work one by one.

mp

[kirti Shambhuwani]

You go the extra mile when it comes to badger the words. Really thoughtful of u in depicting very extract of the story.

[M P Ramesh]

kirti,

Nice to notice the dimensions of feeling on reading the first page of it.
read morekirti,

Nice to notice the dimensions of feeling on reading the first page of it.
OK.....pl remember that the story was originally written in 1996 period and got published in Kalakaumudi weekly, then a leading literary output in Malayalam during 1998 period. Hope when you were in UKG or LKG then.
The issue is that it was never translated or rendered in to like my other short stories and poems due to , major part, my laxity and due to literary hardships. Any how it was rendered in to by Kendra shaitya academi in English and published in Indian literature somewhere in 2000 period . The anthology containing this one is not even available in Mlayalam now. So many issues.
One point i WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT WAS NEVER FLEXIBLE FOR RENDERING due its affinity with original language cult and so many translators did not take it as challenge. Then my turn came.
Remember the writer himself/herself is the best critic as well as the translator of the work, if possible.

I expected more and more involvement from your part in delving it ....be open ...........to comment and feel free.............I mean from your review I notice some lacuna and something you kept between your teeth and tongue.....


ok

regards

am on leave today hence this time


MP

[Kathrin S]

An interesting piece that gives us a little glimpse of these two people and what they're doing.
Here are some of my thoughts while reading:
- The beginning is very good - starting with direct speech and a question gets readers interested. However, put quotation marks around it.
- "Lying down ..." This sentence is still very much at the beginning of the story. That's why I feel it's a bit too long - maybe split it up into two. In general, short sentences are better than longer ones in a story.
- Sometimes your language seems a little formal. Words like 'yet', 'former', 'conceding', etc. are usually used in an essay and not in a story.

I'm assuming some of these points can be explained by the fact that this is a translation. Overall, it's an interesting read.

[M P Ramesh]

kathrin,
nice....the rendering is new somewhat 2 year or three years old and done for KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMI(CENTRAL LITERATURE ACADEMI ) of India for their publication named Indian literature.......may be literature changes with diction very fast.....deconstruction is a theory outdated by 50 years now. let it be.
I shall take this time to remind you that the original work ..............got written 21 years back and published 20 years back in leading malayalam literature.....only first of four pages were posted in wc
thanks for intervention made .
mp

[M P Ramesh]

kathrin,

I checked just now....the ......"what's it" isa under the marks only in original parent version
ok
mp

[M P Ramesh]

kathrin,
rendering is a challenge indeed............" nilavarakundu" is not hidden casket as it meant.......................but
an area in ancient keralite households .......interior and under the floor in a very secluded place or room you can say for keeping valuables and food items for long period and other treasures of the family and not a play ground for juniors at all. It shall generally be under the floor of a special room with wooden flooring and not easily detectable to visitors with a camouflage door sideways with downstairs..................for your information.......and each and every metaphor or image discussed with the diction or you name in the architecture of the story reflect this temper.... the COLD , PRIVACY, SILENCE etc etc nothing more as a postmortem....left to you.....this is shared with a view that you have shown interest in the diction and language and new and alien to the language and culture ..................and one more thing I do generally write poem or short story or even long fiction in a breadth .that's is in a flow .even new to me. the outcome means no planning at all..............................and as an outburst .............editing is not an area of interst ..this can be discussed at large because am with the strong muscle for it during the last 30 years in malayalam literature....and may be a new method unknown to westerners ....so to juniors of Derrida , Eco, Kundera like so . But this is accepted as a stream unchallenged


mp

[kavya]

Hello mr mp ramesh ..........nice work must say that.....shekaran and kalyani....awesome written!!! words are less for its appreciation!!....

[M P Ramesh]

you could have read its other 3 pages....am rendering it to English as part of my translation work ......for Kendra sahitya academi....Indian literature/

nice for the immediate reaction on reading it............................love ends in death only
mp

[Dani The Unreviewed]

Well... Take out some of the complicated parts, and rewrite it a little more... Simple.
Give some more action, and detail of the actual environment in which the characters are. Also, try a little visual on the characters. Like. .How they look like exactly. And give a final goal, meaning to it. Some action in between, and you'll have a great story. Also ...You say only first page is translated. What about the rest?

[M P Ramesh]

Danny ,
You can go through the details of the below mentioned reviews and comments and cross comments and so on. It is only the first page. That's all.It is only a test dose in this blog. And a highlighter about wjhat happens in other culture and languages other than English. It is a SHORT STORY written somewhere in 1995-96 period and got published in 1998 in a leading MALAYALAM weekly. That is the end of it. Am away of it. And had passed so many ways. As you made a suggestion.... rewrite. It is a word I hate. See , what after all you think about literature. Am not a bloggist. First understand ....(I dont know from which language you come from,) the function of a work...(.pure literature ,matters.....what is it ....we can discuss if you also prefer, later.) is the symmetry and its post writing experience. I remind you it is not a mechanical process and it does not seek any advice from any branch of human discoveries , atleast during the time of creation. Hence the question of interference is out of box. The European literature now lacks it. From my reading experience . Yes including Sartre.... Brehct.....This is because the writers were run over by theories. Theories are needed a s chocolate...not as life saving food. The thing happens in other societies....Friend there are people still living on earth without knowing the use of salt(or they are not yet poisoned ?)They have literature and language ...of course visions ....and creations.Your suggestions are welcomed but I dont agree with any of your observations. Once you go in deep you can absolutely discover all of them there....( all th e lacunas you observed)it is your choice. But the kiln has no idea of rekneading the matter. Once it is born it is born. My work are such .The editor in me has nothing to do while I make love with it. Only an onlooker. Once completed he/she can be the first reader. Thats none of my look out....Try to jump in to the story whenever you come across it. Dont divulge your presuppositions. The writer has not much claim over a work as he/she can not in any way recreate the very same one again. The author after all is a cause only as far as my writing experience is concerned.I think the idea of editing and editing and brushing and brushing....... with idiom : the more rubbed, the more shining the diamonds are: are not suitable to literature. I also believe that Shakespeare, Klaidasa, Bhasa and all other great writers of human race do not agree with it. If that is the case any body can write a great work. All great teachers should have been great writers also. what would have been the fate of uneducated Shakespeare? P l remember the controversies of Kyd etc then .The next 3 pages would have been paged here. But I did not. This story is the one included in the anthology and the same were already translated in to other languages. Am out of it. And immersed in another long fiction for the last 8 years.


Thanks and regrs

M P

[Sangeetha]

It's definitely a very detailed piece but it would be nice if it were put more simply...but other than I enjoyed reading this very much

[Kripa Anna Cherian]

Complexity in a wonderful ambience or simply too much for me to understand.

[M P Ramesh]

kripa,
Thanks ....
I f you can read Malayalam and if you prefer I will send the full Mlayalam version by email....am now translating my works on my own. It has been published in somewhere 1997 period and got published in Kalakaumudi weekly in your Trivandrum itself.

Regards
M P

[Kripa Anna Cherian]

Great I loved to read the Malayalam version.

[Kripa Anna Cherian]

*I would love to

[M P Ramesh]

kripa.,
OK

Get me your email ....or FB id
I will accept friend request
M P

[Philip Muls]

Intriguing yet too unclear to be sure of its meaning.

[M P Ramesh]

Philip,
Only the first of 4 pages has been translated .It is abot a life altogether...of course with connotations...history.........in depth human relations......of course death tooooooooooo


only the full text will bring you to the mood.....its only a tentative approach towards the readers relating to literature and recent happenings in varous languages in Asia especially in india.......language and its richness have a major role to paly with and it will defintely result in waht u commented up on...its the fate of foreign languages other than european languages


Any way thanks for your intervention..
M P Ramesh