I read Thamizhachi Thangapandian's short story, The Stealthy Rain in Ananda Vikatan recently. I felt that it's not a story one can read and move on. I have read it four more times since my first reading. The story, the choice of the theme, the tight plot structure and the language with which Thamizhachi has woven the narrative and above all, its aesthetic appeal-have made it a significant contribution to the Tamil short story canon.
The milieu of the story is an agrarian society, with people of the agricultural community as key players. The story unfolds from the point of view of Periambalai, a common man belonging to this community. Vallimayil is his daughter. Then, there is Rasumagan, who is the sum total of petty thievery and mischief in the village. The people of the community including Periambalai are annoyed and angry with him. On that day, Periambalai spots Rasumagan as he leaves for the hay stack construction work. Vallimayil leaves home wearing a rose dopant. Periambalai, full of scorn, curses Rasumagan and leaves for guarding the hay stack. Some bundles of hay have been stolen very deftly. Who is the culprit? In the dark, a figure moves on a bicycle with the stolen bundles. With a determination to bash up the culprit, Periambalai follows the figure, who enters the street where Rasumagan lives. The figure stacks the stolen bundles and switches on the light. Yes, it is Rasumagan. When Periambalai is ready to strike, he notices the rose dupatta around Rasumagan's neck.
Birthing Hut and Other Stories is a collection of five short stories, namely The Illiterate Wind, The Stealthy Rain, The Lotus Pond, Birthing Hut and Sleep. Together, they evoke a landscape characteristic of the Karisal region in Tamil Nadu. The word Karisal refers to the black soil found in the Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts, which are rain dependent places. As if to compensate for the topographical inadequacy, the region displays a varied and vibrant culture.
The short stories in this collection effectively juxtapose the urbanscape of Chennai and the villages Nombakulam, Sayalkudi juxtaposition and Naripaiyur. Such not only reveals the differences in places, but also showcases the people inhabiting the urban-rural divide. For example, The Lotus Pond contrasts the ostentations that mark a wedding in the city with a rural wedding of the narrator's paternal cousin.
"Four wooden benches were arranged together and covered with a rug. Strings of marigold, which hung here and there were the only decoration Rural weddings emanate distinct smells vicko turmeric and ponds - powder from the ladies; the smell of liquor which cannot be contained by the small towel with which the men covered their mouths."
In contrast, the city wedding is a "package deal."
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