Calamity

The novel addresses the nature of life in an Indian village from the poor, isolated southern villages, at a time when isolation forced the village to cling to old, outdated traditions dating back hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of years. The author, M. T. Vasudevan Nair, takes us on a journey with his hero from the village where he spent his childhood and early youth, to the small town where he went to study at university, then to a larger city where he worked and spent most of his working life. Sethu, the hero of the novel, is a character similar to most young people of his generation, raised in a poor environment in his family’s house, facing many obstacles and frustrations that took him from big hopes for a better life, to another life but full of misery. The author depicted Sethu’s character with perfect skill, and indeed most characters in this novel are drawn precisely, making you feel as if you are living with them and experiencing everything in their hearts. In the end, you will ask yourself: Was Sethu a selfish traitor to everyone he loved, or was he a victim of the circumstances and frustrations he faced at every stage of his life?