Aathmakadhaykku Oramugham- Lalithambika Antharjanam

aathmakadhaykku oraamugham by Lalithambika Antharjanam

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Lalithambika Antharjanam’s “Aathma kadhaykku Oramugham” is a literary autobiography ( autobiographies or memoirs by literary figures). Lalithambika Antharjanam(1909-1987) was a notable author in Malayalam with so many credentials; one of the foremost feminist writer, nationalist, social reformer, and so on.

Lalithambika Antharjanam was a feminist writer. She was born in a Brahmin family at a time the community was from top to the bottom, patriarchal. Women were not allowed to go out from their homes, not been able to meet their own father and brother once they grew up. They had to spend the entire life time in the shadow of “Marakkuda (an umbrella made with the leafs of some tree).” They were often married to very old members in the community, maybe because of poverty in the family, or due to some pressure from the socially powerful groups. Once their husband dies (which often happens since they are marrying very old guys, but they themselves will be only ten or fifteen years old), they need to remain as widows the entire lifetime, without being able to participate in any social activities. If anyone of the female members were alleged to have any illegitimate relation with anyone, the community would conduct “smarthavichaarm” and disown the woman. It was the right of the lower caste men to take possession of these kinds of women and were entitled to do anything to them, even prostitution. The “smarthavichaaram” was conducted by the elite members of the community, and the arguments of the defendants were often or always neglected. The rules of the community were based on Bhargava Smriti and Sankara Smriti, which were crueler than Manu Smriti in its pro-patriarchal stand. Lalithambika Antharjanam was born in the community at a time where there was a great unrest against these inequalities. V.T. Bhattathirippat, MRB, and others started reacting against these inequalities openly through activities and through the publication of the play, “Adukkalayil Ninnum Arangathekku” and “Marakkudakkullile Mahanarakam” respectively. They conducted widow remarriage and other programs. The period was also witnessed Mahatma Gandhi’s intervention and this fuelled the situation. Lalithambika Antharjanam took courage from these and participated in the social reformation through activities and writing. Her fiction “Agnisaakshi” is a work in which the protagonist is a woman from the Brahmin community. This work is an open criticism against all the ideas propagated by the community. In her autobiography also, Lalithambika question the stand of the society which discriminates women.

Some instances from the autobiography- The author talks about many women members who suffered during that period. She mentions “Kuriyedathu Thathri” and also her own family members. One of the women members of her family helped her family to overcome the difficulties when some of the elder members died unexpectedly. She looked after her little brothers and got back the lost prestige of the family. When the brothers grew up and got married, there began unrest. Their wives complained about the elder sister to their husbands due to jealousy. Then the brothers questioned the elder sister and openly told that since she is a woman, she has no right in the property. Out of anger she replied that then she will leave the home, but contrary to her expectation, her brothers asked her to go. She went out of the home hoping that they will call back, but they didn’t. Once she crossed the gate, they closed it. At night, as she could not go anywhere, she returned and called them. The servant in the family replied that since she left the home without accompanying any maid, she would be an outcaste and so they would not take her back. She knocked every side of the house crying, “Parameshwara, Narayanaaa”, but nobody responded. At last, the “antharjanam” (the common name of all elder female members of Brahmin community) left the place. Nobody knew how she died and where.
Another instance she narrates is that of a young girl who married to an old man. As per Brahmin rules at that time, the married woman can enter her husband’s room only on the fourth day of the marriage. On the third day, this girl’s husband died. She was forced to have the fourth day night’s ceremony with the husband with an image of him made in grass. The rest of her life, she had to remain as a widow.

Lalithambika Antharjanam is undoubtedly a nationalist, a nationalist in action and in writing. Her autobiography is filled with awe and admiration towards Gandhi. She writes how Gandhian values influence her life and what was the price she paid. The orthodox community could not digest Gandhi’s teaching and they compared him with Kali, the total destroyer, whereas his followers replied this argument by writing “Gandhyashtakam”.

Through her autobiography, we can understand the social, religious, literary ideas of her lifetime.




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Forever Odd- Dean Koontz

Forever Odd by Dean Koontz

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Dean Koontz, the master narrator comes up with his mysterious fiction, "Forever Odd", in which the central character has a rare gift, he can see dead people. He has a psychic magnetism through which he can locate ghosts and even people. The story deals with the encounter he has to face with because of this rare gift.

Crime thrillers and mysteries often do not come under the analysis of literary critics as they think that these are inferior, or maybe they don't have the aesthetic taste to enjoy them. However, as these mysteries do appeal to thousands of people, and deals with the life of the people, its crime and decay, we need to consider the genre seriously.

The antagonist in the novel is the owner of a porn site who makes money by exploiting the sexual demeanor of the people. She, Datura her name, then ventures to exploit the other interest of the people, that of the unending desire for the supernatural. She wants to see the dead, and meets many black magicians to get what she wanted. Then, she heard about Odd Thomas who has the skill to see dead people. For making him summon ghosts for her, she kidnaps Thomas' friend. As in any thrillers, at last Thomas comes victorious.

Apart from this short story with its twists and turns, what the novel presents us? I agree that it came just as a representation of our long held battle between good and evil. But why the evil always is woman and not man. It is easy to identify women with evil, from the time immemorial, women has a liking for evil. It is Eve who ate the forbidden fruit.. It is women who were brutally murdered in the name of witch hunt. To add the spice, the author has a fine description of the Hindu woman-goddess Kali, who in her appearance shows everything grotesque. So it is easy for the author to compare Kali with the antagonists, but in the hurry forgets, maybe knowingly, that Goddess Kali stand for good as per old tradition, who never rests in her fight against the evil. Here, the author achieves by combining the women image of evil with the exotic oriental dark bloodthirsty goddess a special mood to the story which will satisfy any ordinary reader who gets mystified by these images.

However, here the antagonist seems so weak, without much to do in the encounter. The end is predictable, like in every crime thriller that is the victory of good over evil. Even then, I felt that the opponent is so weak, failing to arouse any horror.




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Raghuram Rajan- A Ray of Hope

Reserve Bank of India has now a new head to lead the country during one of its most difficult days; Raghuram Rajan is appointed as the new governor of RBI, congratulations! The young (comparatively) man has lots of achievements as his credentials: Chief Economic Advisor of the Govt of India, former IMF economist, visiting professor to the World Bank and US Federal Reserve Board and an author of many books. His books include, Saving Capitalism from the Capitalists, Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy.

Apart from this, the appointment of Rakhuram Rajan has some more implications, according to experts. His appointment is at a time when Indian Rupee is in its historic downfall and one of his first priorities would be to manage the situation. However, his stand on the issue is that decline of the value of rupee is not a big matter as India is open to market economy. Both Raghuram and the present Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh have the same backgrounds, that of IMF and Reserve Bank. In other words, his appointment would strengthen capitalist policies of the govt.

His appointment has brought much hope in the economy, though some critics don’t see it. Since he is an idealist and often questioned the bad effects of capitalism, most people see a ray of hope. Whereas critics noted that he had been the Chief Economic Advisor of the govt when the country’s economy had witnessed much trouble, but he couldn’t do much to change the scenario, then how he can contribute anything as the RBI governor which is nothing but a bureaucratic position (of course, he argues for a limited role of RBI in economic matters). Let us hope for the best!

In between, I think BJP can also be happy in the appointment as at least one “Raghuram” is going to lead RBI, though it is not Lord Ram.

India- The Queen of Arabian Ocean and of Asia

It is time to congratulate our own defense experts and scientists who worked behind the launching of INS Vikrant.

Once again India stood with great pride among the world by launching its first indigenous aircraft carrier as only very few nations presently have been able to launch this sort of an aircraft such as the USA, the UK, Russia and France. Experts in foreign policy look with great interest this recent development in the sub-continent as the neighboring countries like China and Pakistan. It will make Pakistan in comparatively weak position, as already in the naval field India stand with confidence. However, the event has more meaning when we assess the other side, which is China’s stand in the development. China, it is said that, already seems to be worried about it. In many respects, China has an advantage over India, often playing the BIG BROTHER by crossing the border in the Indian side.
The upper hand India got in this will disturb many. Already, it has been assumed that the USA is trying to build a power bloc including Japan, Australia, and India along with. However, India would not be able to engage with the US as it will create another power bloc in the region, i.e., China and Pakistan. In other words, we are going to see much competition in the arms sector.

Watch the video here.

It is heard that Defense Minister A.K. Antony’s wife launched the aircraft carrier as the custom demands women to launch the aircraft carriers, which it is believed would bring good results. There will definitely be Ganapati Puja and other similar things before the launch. This is what we call Secularism.

Poverty Is a State of Mind- Rahul Gandhi

Previously, I have written a column on ‘using figures of speech in public speeches’, in which I noted that politicians are often targeted by the media simply because the latter do not understand, or do not want to understand the real motif behind some statements. What they do is simply taking some words used by the leaders in isolation and criticise it. Two recent examples are one made by Modi on Gujarat riot using the analogy of pets getting killed in the accident and the other one is Rahul’s infamous quote on poverty. I felt the media rushed hastily to make the statement controversial. See the captions of most newspapers, “Rahul Gandhi Mocks the Poor, says poverty is just a state of mind”. It has to be noted that media had not been invited to the event by Dalit Resource Centre (DRC) at the Gobind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI). Unfortunately, the complete statement made by Mr. Rahul is not given in any of the news media, even then Times of India seems to have given a comparatively fair record of it.

'Against the backdrop of a countrywide debate on poverty, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said that "poverty comprises two elements - poverty of thought and poverty in material conditions. While there is a need to overcome poverty of thought to attain self-confidence, it's the latter which manifests in terms of food, money, education and so on," he added. "Poverty of thought has to be overcome so as to lend self-confidence to voice, leading to politics of one's own and a share in democracy and its institutions". "I understand the internal weaknesses of our prevalent system. I will try my level best to help the people, but unless and until the voice of the marginalized comes out from within, nothing can be done. People and the system will always discourage you that you cannot stand on your own feet and this in my opinion is the biggest lie," said the Congress leader. He further said, "We have to chalk out a strategy together as I do not want to develop a one-day relationship with the grassroots people...but a long-term relationship. I want to develop a relationship that is deep from within, which provides space to people to share their good and bad points. In India, the voice of the poor people is heard less and my one and only political aim is to tune my ears to the voice of the poor and the marginalized." Times of India, Aug 6, 2013, 10.51 PM IST


Simply focusing on parts of the statement, media went on criticizing Mr. Rahul. If we analyse the statement in a closer look, what he meant makes sense. He not only talked about two kinds of poverty, but also showed the understanding that “People and the system will always discourage you that you cannot stand on your own feet and this in my opinion is the biggest lie.”
What I felt is Rahul does need a good media team even if not to challenge Modi, at least not to get misunderstood by the media.