Memoirs of a Guisha, a book of many shades

 My recent tryst with a Japanese based novel proved worth reading. And solved many of my doubts regarding Guisha system. The entertaining women of Japan society has many shades but all those were unique in nature. They can't be said as outright prostitutes. But they have their own freedom in choosing customers. You would ask me what the novel is here I am going to talk about. The title of the novel is "Memoirs of a Guisha. And it's author is Arthur Golden. I picked it up without expecting anything. But it has become one of the finest novels I have ever read.  Let's explore the story in nutshell.

Sayori and Satsu are village girls, born in a fisherman family. In fact, Sayori, this name has given her in Guisha home. Their family was so poor to give the best medicine to the bed ridden mother. Father was also hopeless with his meagre income and he's also suffering from old age problems. This was the second marriage for him after the death of first wife. Watching all this situation, a local business man Tanaka Ichiro sent the two kids to the guisha home in Kyoto. Satsu, the older girl was sent to a prostitute home since she has no finer qualities to become a guisha.

Sayori remained at the Guisha home. She was very beautiful with charming eyes and good manners. The head of the Guisha home, sent Sayori to the school where the lessons for the future guisha were taught. their syllabus included instrumental music, Japanese poetry, acting skills and of course do's and don'ts of a guisha. They also keep participating in theater shows. Their daily routine no way less than a disciplined student in any good school. Mostly taught fine arts sort of education by experienced Guisha. Experienced Guishas play very important role in grooming the budding ones. Here Our Sayori was only 9 years old. She was assigned household work like sweeping and going to bazar to get needed commodities.

As she approached sixteen years of age, Guisha home head prepared the process to enhance Sayori into Guishahood. How that process be like and what kind of things a young Guisha was to go through, all these are very interesting. One must read in the novel only. Naturally, in every business, there are rivals to overcome and it's not exceptional. How she surpassed all these and became successful is something key point in this novel. It sets in the backdrop of second world war, so naturally described how war did havoc in Japan.

--- Murthy Kvvs

"One thousand days in a refrigerator" a story collection

Here is a translation work of  'One Thousand Days in a Refrigerator', a collection of  14 fascinating stories,written by Manoj kumar Panda. All these were Oriya in origin and got translated into English by Dr.Snehaprava Das.I would like to write a few lines about it since the quality of translation intrigued me to do so.In terms of aesthetic appeal,artistic charm,readability and mirroring indigenous culture and nativity,this is one of the best books I have ever read.

All these stories address different kinds of life experiences.Let me present you the blurb. In 'Kanishka' story,a 12 year girl who turned out to be a baby sitter for a mentally crippled boy was described and her relationship with him in different facets showed the inner blocks of the human being.And another story 'Testimony of God' replicate the shadows of magical realism. Premashila, a brick-kiln worker was making her way to the native place in Odisha with her four year dead son. She was afraid of robbing her hard earned two thousand rupees in case she confronted the railway police. Because she got such experience earlier. On the pretext of suspicious death, she was submitted to the court and her money was stolen by vulture like people. In this context,God existed as a witness and the rest is to read.

'Fragment' is another story with an unexpected twist as the rape victim went to the family of the   predator to find out how his wife was living and feeling about. She also met jail ridden rapist and observed his mental trauma. With all backflips, she came to a conclusion which would make the reader flabbergasted. And the flagship story 'One thousand days in a refrigerator' is all about a poignant ending of a loving wife. She was in coma for hundreds of days and it leads to the decision of  cutting the life giving accessories off. The story was being told from the side of her husband and the memories they both have elaborated in a heart wrenching way.

And there were ten stories cloistered and let's go for them next time. English can be a very good instrument in Indian scenario to showcase the  ongoing trends in vernacular languages. And the qualitative translations like these do not drop down out of the blue. A skilled translator is no way inferior to the original text author. In fact, with using equivalent and balancing words in sentences, translator has to be walked on the rope. As the translator Dr.Snehaprava Das puts it as "a translated text is obviously not meant to be a complete transformation of the original,but is a semantically, pragmatically and dynamically equivalent one because a translation is confronted with the range of interpretabilities of   a given text...".!

The book is available with www.speakingtigerbooks.com

-------Murthy Kvvs

Sahitya academy Yuva Puraskar in Telugu language for 2019

"Konga vaalu Katti" ( The sword resembles a crane) authored by Gaddam Mohan Rao has been conferred with Kendra Sahitya academy Yuva puraskar for 2019, in Telugu section. All this novel describes the woes of a particular most downtrodden community i.e., Chindu or Chindollu caste. Though they have had the hoary past as a lot of artists who showcased Yakshagana sort of dance form. Mostly these people confined to Telengana state and their unique art is of almost 2000 years old history. Madiga and other castes are considered patrons of the art form in the older days but now the situation has been lowered with the times by lack of timely support either from government or society.

However, Chindu Yellamma hailed from Adilabad district perhaps was the last performer and she was honored by Padmasri award. Chindu has itself a beautiful connotation in colloquial Telugu language. Their themes derived mostly from Puranas. The rustic and common people-oriented language was used in their performances as the art form devoid of Sanskrit influence. With the advent of new entertainments such as movies, Television, Chindu had taken suffering in terms of patronage. This folk form remained dwindling like any other ancient one.

How this novel that got puraskar related to the aforesaid art is incredible in many aspects. The writer himself came from the same community and depicted the anguish, pain, insult, poverty of the people with the help of the protagonist in the novel. The replica of its social and economic structure would be felt by the reader throughout the pages. The age-old story has been rediscovered and retold for the present generation, it's how a unique contribution was surfaced with the Yuva Puraskar.

                                                                                ---Murthy Kvvs  

"Inferno" a novel by Dan Brown

"Inferno" the novel penned by Dan brown has also transitioned into a film,leave it, I am going to write a few lines about the novel  I have gone through.What to speak out is a big question and I will never quit without it for sure for there was a considerable chunk of things to reveal.Well,Dante the eternal poet,who intrigued our Brown this time to come up with the descriptions of Florence and Venice, of course Cantos of his poetry poured all along the novel mixing a good deal of its nine ringed hell and cobbled streets of  ancient Italian cities with heart pounding suspense.By completing it,one would be having an experience of watching time tested sculpture of Michelangelo,Botticelli and Raphel.

Plot..? Cleverly this time with the symbols left by Dante in his long poem Divine Comedy.The Protagonist Langdon was a symbologist ,an American professor ended up on a bed in a an obscure way and the Italian docs were clueless about his bizarre dreams and behaviour,however,Sienna the medic teamed up with him to clear off the secret of Zobrist,a billionaire visionary,And his vision was turbulent population on the earth to reduce into its half for the sake of human welfare.Sounds bizarre and puzzled..?Yes, you have to be.Dante the medieval poet was having his own part to move the story.By his long lasted visions and imaginations.Our Brown amalgamated things like that with creating contemporary roles.

How can you rate it to be a thriller without pulsating scenes..? So you could have ample chances by being chased and hunted by hand in gloves police and electrifying drama for death mask of Dante's.Well,we could be acquainted with unknown Dante's love story too.The lethal Virus,at last,was thrown off doing no harm to the human kind.A sort of Armageddon..? How the heck you get the stories sans it..?! Dan Brown did his best,Of what...? Da Vinici Code,that you would guess it without any effort.Simply centuries varied.However,Dante must have been happier to have his "Inferno" in a brand new version.
---Murthy Kvvs

Choker Bali (Novel) by Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore,as we all know as an important renaissance figure of Indian literature had left his own impact on us with his songs,poems,dramas,essays,novels and an array of his paintings.Of course,he embarked on painting at the dusk of life.Choker Bali,it's one of the novels I was aspiring to have gone through and the same has been done with it a couple of days back.The story set in the typical  Bengali family ambiance of the feudal sort.It's a story of menage a trios.Really to be considered as an avant-garde theme for those days of almost one century back.

Mahindra was a medico and got married Asha,a village belle.He was happy teaching his wife at home in leisure times,their conjugal life on cloud nine until the entry of Binodini,a widow and a distant relation came to Calcutta settled for a few days in their home.Rajalaxmi,mother of Mahindra asked Binodini to be here in helping domestic chorus.Asha was a naive one in terms of worldly affairs and which proved to be advantageous for Binodini to lure Mahindra.In other words,she grew a jealousy of happy marriage life of Mahindra and Asha.

She manages to captivate Mahindra with her expertise of love play.At the same time she maintained the bosom friendship with his wife Asha.Poor Asha trusted Binodini as her Choker Bali.Lot of things had taken place,meanwhile.At last,they flew away from the house,leaving Asha estranged.Binodini,interestingly,never surrendered to Mahindra.And she wants to marry Bihari,a family friend of Mahindra.Because he was a bachelor and future security is guaranteed comparing to Mahindra.

Binodini's character emanates various hues at the same time.She was jealous of seeing happy couple as she got deprived of sexual pleasure.She never cared Mahindra after he completely had surrendered to her.There were other characters like Annapurna,Sadhucharan and so on.Bihari was a strong character in all respects.Story ends with an unexpected turn even though Bihari proposed Binodini to marry.The landscape of Calcutta and village of average Bengali life portrayed well.

In other sense,we could understand it as a novel of  psycho analytical attempt to put in brief.Translation style of Sukendu Ray was touching while composing the sense of original flavor into English.To avoid discomfiture,he provided glossary of  Bengali words such as Thakur-po,Topse,Kakima,Pishima,Bouthan and etc.Try to give a read,if you wish to have a tale of universal appeal.And to confront the muse of Tagore.
---Murthy Kvvs

The Adventurers novel by Harold Robbins..!

 "The Adventurers" a gripping tale of Harold Robins,being set in fictitious Corteguay state of South America filled with unputdownable ingredients such as nail baiting suspense,twists and violence and moving melo drama.A Young Latin American state and its new ruling class were the things all about to say in the central theme.

The newly carved out state by the efforts of revolutionaries was struggling for recognition and its share of authority.Dax was the diplomat from the country and his loyalty about it was impeccable.His childhood was of brutal past as his family members were killed by so called Bandoleros.And he made to avenge it in return.

How the power makes a man of principles into a selfish and tyrannic dictator was something to ponder over.El President of Corteguay ,the ex revolutionary was the example for it.He out witted his past colleagues to consolidate his reins over the state.And went further extent to hatch the plot to end the life of his trusted friend's son.

Writer's view point about the novel was to uphold the turmoil prevailed in Latin American countries.And he had chosen a fictitious state for the purpose.Robins succeeded in getting us into the haciendas of South America and to the secretive sensual pleasures of other part of the world.

Tell me a story : A View

"Tell me a story" is a collection of short stories written by almost new story writers across India.Short listed from the entries of  hundreds of enthusiast writers on the different topics.Freedom for choosing the subject was given to the writer,hence we could read mosaic of expected and unexpected themes through out the book.Twenty one stories were there.

Sangha mitra Bose portrayed  emotional scenes of a family happened during the war time,through the lenses of  both adult and children  in the story of "And the planes came".Canvas for it taken was Ambala cantonment area.Krishnasish Jena came up with a rather meta physical theme of the death titled"The end of the tunnel" which described that how it happened to his protagonist's nearest relative and how can it be different in view of objective sense when it happened with outside his premises.

Prasanthi Pothina seemed as another promising story teller in the collection of stories.She has taken a sensitive line to fathom the subtle layers of conjugal life.Sexual pleasure is not only the sole part in the married life but there are several emotional things apart from it.If it got defunct,couple should come to terms by internal dialogue.And extra-marital relation takes one to abyss whether one is not well guided by wisdom.All this discussed in the story "Suicide".

And other stories will never get down the reader while passing through the pages.Well known author Ravinder Singh edited the collection for Penguin Random.In case,you wish to read some meaningful and heart touching stories,go for it and which is available with Amazon.Short notes about the short story writers would give you an idea about the persons who had woven the stories based on things ,of which they built on,with using their imagination par excellence.

A Fantastic place

We all see eggs in the bazar.In the grocery shop in cozy paper made cartons invariably.Without these , eggs can be shattered into worst liquid.The carton scene here was photographed during my visit to a fantastic place called Sanjeevareddy palem,nearby Paloncha of Telengana State.This is a small scale industry to cater the needs of egg sellers.

Basically the paper pulp is used for manufacturing.Drying is also essential,so these were being shown there after initial phasing of manufacturing.Seeing in a massive way of its kind is a fun and amazing in systematic rows.  

Close up shot,even more interesting with the design of up and down patterns.Got to be there for having a tea break while proceeding to a picnic unto Kinnerasani sanctuary,the best known spot for joyful moments to have.

Linked to ABCWednesday

A Poet was attacked and A Real case of Intolerance

Vijayawada stages book festival this year from January 1 to 11 and a most rare incident happened in the event.Sky Baba (Shaik Yusuf Baba)),the Telugu poet from Telengana was attacked on the 3rd day of the festival.Also his book release function got to postponed due to the agitation from the people of Andhra region.There was a cause alleged that during the movement for Telengana state he had written strongly worded poem that questioned the exploitation of coastal people in all fields.It was all about four years back.

But now at the dais of book festival ,the old wounds were came to fore and some people made ruckus over the past write up.They alleged that Sky baba used most abusive words that were to be shameful to any sober person to utter those lines,therein he hurt the sentiments of Andhra people such as pissing in Krishna river which flows through Vijayawada.

However,his buddies came to rescue him on the occasion.No book release or meeting held as it planned by Sky baba and his friends.Some people commented that it should not have happened though he hurt the feelings , instead they could better have expressed it in another form like writing a poem condemning such act or lodged a complaint with concerned department.Trying to rough up physically and making vulgar words in return does not make any sense,some literary orgs opined so. 

A Review on "Byomkesh Bakshi"- a spy thriller

Sometimes acting on impulse would pay off.I really did not hear much about Saradindu Bandopadhyay who wrote basically in Bengali,yet seeing the book in a stall bought this translated version to read the stories.I should admit that there was nothing to regret.And thus got acquainted with a fine story teller with his Sherlock Holmes like Byomkesh Bakshi who keeps solving mysterious happenings with his sharp intelligence and tactics.He himself called by  Satyanveshi instead of a detective.An indigenous style detective in brief.Byomkesh was assisted by Ajit.

There were seven stories in total and all are suspense thrillers.Case study evolves with real life situations.Writer Saradindu had vast knowledge about many places of India.His short stint as a Hindi film script writer had reflected in some stories.Translator Manimola Dhar did a commendable work by using apt simple language to reach out even a lay reader.Choosing suitable titles for the stories reveals her craft of translation.For instance "Rakthamukhi Neela" coined in English as The deadly diamond.Once we finished reading it,we could understand translator's prudence.

All the stories take you into their grip and no boring or unnecessary crap.Saradindu had a unique style in telling the story.Suspense,comedy and insight into things added pep.At the same time,scientific outlook was also evident in some stories.Writer by profession was a lawyer for some time,hence  he knows how to weave a criminal attitude and unravel it at the given times.Rupa Publications brought it out and this is a sure shot success with its pulsating sleuth's skills to entertain the reader.