The grande matriarch of Malabar- Book review
Patriarchy wails aloud in our present society, and we all have seen the devastating effect of it as women are left out of property, dependent on husbands, subject to domestic violence, etc. If this is what you feel, then this book is the right choice for enlightenment.
Summary
The opening of the book is the real gripper. Stepping into the story with a suspenseful opening of the death of Dakshayani Amma, drawing our attention towards something wrong done to her. The suspects are her relatives, for everyone seems to have a motive to kill her.
As the story unfolded with the advancing pages, the detective aspect of the story slowly faded away, showing the ugly look of a mother who chose the matriarchal crown over everything and, in this quest, ruined her happy married life and made her children long for their father forever. The charm of legacy blinded her to such an extent that she only focused on her daughter, Pavizham. The lives of other children meant nothing to her. This book introduces us to some of the blunders she made in order to carry forward her Kalyedath lineage.
The rich visualisation by the author brings to life the true experiences of Achuthan, her eldest son, on whom Dakshayani Amma puts all the responsibilities of her husband.
'Mone, you need to be more responsible,' Dakshayani Amma said, as she served him 'puttu-kadala.' 'Football is not the most important thing now.'
He was seen as an anytime money drawing machine.
"Amme, I send you money every month, either from my pay or from my friend's so that you can manage everything here. Even the long pending repairs have been done."
Throughout the story, she emotionally blackmailed him and made him do everything she wanted.
"There! Now you show your father's traits," Dakshayani Amma said, her voice raised. "You see some feminine beauty and you forget everything. Don't you have any responsibility towards Pavizham? Don't you love your sister enough to ensure that she lives as a normal a life as possible?Who will take care of her when I'm gone? What will happen to Kalyedath?"
The most dirty game she played was when she exploited the family strains of Sadanandan, Achuthan's friend, and allured him with the offer to marry his sister, Gauri, to Achuthan, provided that he marries the deaf and dumb heiress of the tharavad, Pavizham.
".......I know that you like Pavi and Pavi also likes you a lot.......I know how much you are burdened with so many problems in your family, and I would like to help. Let me assure you that there will be no encumbrances whatsoever, no gold, no property to be given. We will take care of one of your sisters , if in turn you take care of Pavi."
She did not even care for the love of her son. Achuthan and Srikala were childhood lovebirds and were about to marry when she refused this alliance so as to ceremonize Pavizham's marriage. Achuthan wrote this to Srikala, ending his love story.
"Childhood was so uncomplicated. All we did was weave dreams after dreams. Responsibilities surmount............sometimes people forget that a man has the right to live at least some part of his life for himself............I find myself in a daze ever since mother promised to Sadanandan that I would marry one of his sisters if he in turn married Pavizham."
The melancholic heartbreak of Srikala and her brokenness are well captured by the rich imagery created by the author.
"...tears coursed down her cheeks. 'Do you know why I can't get married to anyone else? That's because when I think of a man's face, it's yours, when I think of his eyes, his look, his smile, his voice, it is only you I see. I have loved only one man in the way a woman can love a man......and it is you.'"
The rich descriptive and visual narrative connected me to every emotional turmoil each character was undergoing and how the matriarchal roots are as heinous as patriarchal foundations are.
In my view, the end of Achuthan was too fast. I missed the frustration and negativity that should have built with the matriarchal dominance and manipulation portrayed in the story. I also missed the son's masculine clash with the alpha female characteristics of Dakshayani Amma.
Further, I liked the way Sadanandan and Pavizham never encouraged this legacy to be carried by their daughter, Rohini. They chose modernity. This book captures the contrasting images of two prominent thampuratti (a reverent term used for women of a noble family) of the tharavad. The elder one is rigid and dominant, while the later one is more receptive and flexible. The end looks appealing, where Rohini transforms this old tradition into a more acceptable and receptive Malabar home heritage.
The book mirrors not just the societal rigidity but also the interpersonal power crises and clashes that ruin the beauty of life. This book calls for our all-positive affirmation towards following the lineage, but at the same time it draws our attention towards our emotional intelligence in living our present life with full pleasure and ambiance. This book also tells us to cherish our lives on this Earth. Life is to be enjoyed and lived, not bonded to traditions.
Rating: 4.5/5
Author: Sajita Nair has published novels, short stories, essays, and articles. Her debut novel, She's a Jolly Good Fellow, which portrays the trials and tribulations of lady officers in the Indian armed forces, was a grand success. Her other works include short stories set in the armed forces and a novel about an adopted young woman's unconventional life choices.
A resident of Bengaluru and a former army Captain, she was one of the pioneer women officers of the Indian Army. Apart from reading and writing, she enjoys the outdoors and nature.
Follow her at:
Instagram: @sajita.nair.79
Twitter: @sajitanair1
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What a thought-provoking and emotionally charged book review! I appreciate the author's rich narrative and descriptive style, which made me connect deeply with each character's emotional journey. Can't wait to read this book and explore the complexities it delves into!
ReplyDeleteThank you for you kind words of encouragement. Indeed this book is a must read collection and I am sure you will enjoy it.
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