Zero Degree is a 1998 postmodern, transgressive, lipogrammatic novel by Tamil author Charu Nivedita, who is based in India. It was later translated into Malayalam and English. [1]
This Book is known for its experimental structure and non-linear narrative style, the novel is regarded as a significant work in contemporary Tamil literature. [2] It explores themes of identity, desire, violence, and psychological instability through a fragmented and multi-voiced narrative. An English translation by Pritham K. Chakravarthy and Rakesh Khanna was published by Blaft Publications in 2008. [3]
Zero Degree traces the experiences of a disturbed narrator whose world unfolds through a fragmented, dream-like sequence of events. The story does not follow a linear path; instead, it mirrors the protagonist’s fractured state of mind. Through its shifting voices and disjointed episodes, the novel reflects on questions of identity, desire, and existential despair. [4]
Zero Degree is noted for its unconventional literary techniques. These include abrupt transitions between voices, the absence of a straightforward chronology, and the use of multiple narrative forms such as lists, transcripts, prose-poetry, and archival-style fragments. Some chapters employ minimal or non-traditional punctuation, while others reference global literature, cinema, and Tamil mythology. [5]
The novel incorporates a lipogrammatic constraint in which only numbers numerologically equivalent to nine appear (with limited exceptions). Characters from Charu Nivedita’s earlier works also appear, creating an interlinked fictional universe.
The book addresses a wide range of subjects, including:
Its treatment of these themes has led to its classification within transgressive fiction and, in some academic discussions, metamodern literary practices.
The novel has received attention for its formal experimentation and challenge to conventional Tamil narrative structures. It has attracted both critical praise for its innovation and scrutiny for its explicit treatment of sexuality and violence.
Zero Degree has been longlisted for the Jan Michalski Prize for Literature (2013) [6] and was included in the anthology “50 Writers, 50 Books: The Best of Indian Fiction [7] ” published by HarperCollins in 2013. The book is studied in comparative literature and translation courses in several universities.
The novel is considered a notable example of late-20th-century Tamil experimental prose. It continues to be referenced in academic research on narrative form, intertextuality, and literary modernism in South Asian literature. The work has developed a sustained readership and is often described as having a cult following. [8]
| Year | Awards and accolades | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Jan Michalski Prize [9] [10] | Longlisted for the 2013 edition |
| 2013 | 50 Writers, 50 Books - The Best of Indian Fiction | Book published by HarperCollins [11] [12] |
| 2014 | important novel in the Metafiction genre [13] | Considered by The Sunday Guardian |
| 2017 | Fifteen lesser known but incredible Indian novels. [14] | Selected in by Mensxp.com |
Keeping with the numerological theme of Zero Degree, the only numbers expressed in either words or symbols are numerologically equivalent to nine (with the exception of two chapters). This Oulipian ban includes the very common word one (only in Tamil edition).