> A D V A I T A M
> ---------------
> -- Y. Veerendranath
[deleted the entire story except the final para]
> As Bhanu murthy made his way in, he could see the rat struggling to survive
> the attack of the cat. It was severely bruised and the skin had come off
> completely, but not dead yet. It looked at Bhanu murthy and the look is
> like the final farewell. Bhanu murthy stood there watching it. Now Kamala
> came out and heard her daughter saying " Amma, Nanna is crying ". And
> Kamala could see tears rolling down the face of Bhanu murthy.
I haven't read this story in the recent past, but I think you missed
translating some sections of the story where the hero and the rat
develop some kind of "rival intimacy" before their final encounter.
If I remember right, during one of their earlier meetings they exchange
a quick eye-talk -- rat glaces at Bhanumurthy with the elusive
playfulness while Bhanumurthy looks at rat displaying his utter
helplessness. I thought this part of the story was important to
build the emotional connection for the tearful final farewell !!
Anyways, Yandamoori in short-stories, is more realistic with his
themes and appears to craft them more carefully and skillfully,
than the Yandamoori in novels, where he used themes that are mostly
sensational and "popularistic".
For fun sake, let me make an argument supporting sensationalism.
"Extreme always seem to make an impression!" If not for their extreme
and controversial nature, would the titles like "God is Dead",
"Virtue of Selfishness", have brought the popularity and instant
public attention to the writers of these books? It seems, after Karl
Marx published his Das Capital(sp?), Engels had to write both positive
and (mildly) negative critics in the newspapers pseudonymously, to
attract some initial attention. Even a theory that was to reign and
decree the fate of more than half of the global population, needed
a propoganda and a flashy advertisement.
Then, what about our "manu charitra"-- a story on swaarOchishamanu
sambhavamu ? If the story is about the history of manu, pray tell
me, why more than 2 chapters of the entire 6 chapters were devoted
to detail the love story of his grand mother, namely, varoodhini.
If not for the titillating episode of varoodhini-pravaraakhyam,
would manu charitra ever be so popular and read & remembered by
so many people for so many years ? May be, may be not.
Alright, alright, I am not saying that sensation sans substance can
hold a longer sway and public attention. But the need to "advertize"
for selling an idea seems to transcend time and space !! No, no, no,
I don't consider yanDamoori as the best writer in Telugu, but agree
with me that he knows how best to sell his talents. (Yesess, he is
best among the popular writers too!)
Regards,
Suresh.