Aalahayude Penmakkal

Last updated

Aalahayude Penmakkal
Aalahayude Penmakkal.jpg
Cover page of the latest edition by Current Books
Author Sarah Joseph
Original titleആലാഹയുടെ പെണ്മക്കൾ
CountryIndia
Language Malayalam
PublisherCurrent Books
Publication date
1999
Pages152
ISBN 978-81-226-0946-2
Preceded byThaikulam 
Followed byMattathi (Malayalam: മാറ്റാത്തി) 

Aalahayude Penmakkal (English: Daughters of God the father) is a Malayalam novel written by Sarah Joseph and published in 1999. The novel is the first in the trilogy which includes 'Mattathi' and 'Othappu'. This novel gave widespread recognition to Sarah Joseph and her craft. 'Aalahayude Penmakkal' won the Kerala Sahitya Academy award of 2001, [1] Kendra Sahitya Academy award of 2003, Vayalar Ramavarma award of 2004, [2] [3] and Cherukad Award of 2000. [4] The novel deals with the condition of marginalized groups in society pointed out as subalterns by Marxist Antonio Gramsci. [5] The living and existential conditions of these groups are seldom acknowledged by the society at large and generally they are displaced from their places of stay and livelihoods, usually in the name of development and change. This transformation in their existential struggle is narrated by Annie, the central character, who gives voice to three generations of her subaltern group albeit with a feminine perspective.

Contents

Summary

The novel is narrated from the perspective of Annie, an eight-year-old child living in 'Kokkanchira'. 'Kokkanchira' is depicted as an undesirable place. Annie's school teachers are also shown chiding children from 'Kokkanchira' and showing general apathy and disgust. 'Kokkkanchira' is described as being a dumping ground for carcasses and dead bodies, before Annie and her family moved in there. 'Kokkanchira' is now inhabited by lowest of classes in the society. They are generally shown as people who are latrine cleaners, scavengers and belonging to dalit groups or other marginalized group of people that are shunned by higher class society. However Joseph also points out that the city of Thrissur needs the services of these groups even when the existential rights of these groups remain unacknowledged. The main theme of the novel is the displacement faced by such groups of people in the name of urbanization and development. Being from the lowest stratum, these people are easily moved from their habitual places of residences by the rich and become increasingly isolated in the middle of new pavements and multi-storied houses. Annie is witness to these changes taking place around her, in 'Kodichiangadi' and 'Kokkanchira'. She describes these changes affecting her and her family through her childlike eyes and perspective. Hence it is with childlike simplicity that she observes the demolition of a stretch of single-roomed houses to make way for a bungalow and the rise of a convent near to her own home, in a plot that used to be vacant.

There are two important instruments used by the author in this novel. These are 'Aalahayude Prarthana' or prayer of God the father and 'Amara Pandhal' or broad bean enclosure. The Aalaha’s prayer, and the amara pandhal are two interacting symbols that dominate and control the story. Early on in the novel Annie imagines that atop the bean stalk is a completely different world, which is magnificent and filled with delight. Later on it is shown that the a road roller dismantles almost half of the bean stalk enclosure, while surfacing a pathway. It allegorically refers to the demolition of Annie's dreams by the symbol of change and development- The road roller. The second instrument is the 'Aalahayude prathana'. Annie hopes that one day she will come in possession of 'Aalahas' prayer which has the power to exorcise evil, from her grandmother and by which she may change her circumstance. Towards the end of the novel she becomes the sole possessor of the 'Aalahas' prayer recited to her by her grandmother, but she has also become the sole possessor of her people’s subculture and damnation.

Main characters

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leela Nambudiripad</span> Indian writer of childrens literature (1934–2021)

Leela Nambudiripad, known by her pen name Sumangala, was an Indian author of children's literature in Malayalam. Some of her notable works included Neypaayasam, Mithayippoti, as well as translations of the Panchatantra into Malayalam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugathakumari</span> Indian poet and activist (1934–2020)

Sugathakumari was an Indian poet and activist, who was at the forefront of environmental and feminist movements in Kerala, South India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attoor Ravi Varma</span> Indian poet and translator (1930–2019)

Attoor Ravi Varma was an Indian poet and translator of Malayalam literature. One of the pioneers of modern Malayalam poetry, Ravi Varma is a recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Poetry and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Translation, besides many other honours. The Government of Kerala honoured him with their highest literary award, the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, in 2012 and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi inducted him as their distinguished fellow in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kovilan</span> Indian writer

Kandanisseri Vattamparambil Velappan Ayyappan or V. V. Ayyappan, better known by his pen name Kovilan, was an Indian Malayalam language novelist and freedom fighter from Kerala. He is considered one of the most prolific writers of contemporary Indian literature. In all, he had authored 11 novels, 10 collections of short stories, three essays and a play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kakkanadan</span> Indian Malayalam-language writer (1935–2011)

George Varghese Kakkanadan, commonly known as Kakkanadan, was an Indian short-story writer and novelist in the Malayalam language. His works broke away from the neo-realism that dominated Malayalam literature through the 1950s and 1960s. He is often credited with laying the foundation of modernism in Malayalam literature. He is a recipient of Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards in addition to numerous other awards and recognitions.

Gracy is a Malayalam author. Her first collection of short stories, Padiyirangippoya Parvati, was published in 1991. Her awards include the Lalithambika Antharjanam Award (1995), the Thoppil Ravi Award (1997), the Katha Prize for the Best Malayalam Short Story (1998) and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2000). Her major works are Narakavaathil, Randu Swapna Darsikal, Kaveriyude Neru, Eezbu Penkathakal, Panikkannu and a collection, Gracyude Kathakal. Her stories have been translated into English, Hindi, Tamil and Oriya. She was the head of the Malayalam department, Al-Ameen college, Edathala, Aluva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subhash Chandran</span> Indian writer

Subhash Chandran is a Malayalam novelist, short story writer and journalist from Kerala, India. His work includes the 2010 novel Manushyanu Oru Aamukham and the stories "Vadhakramam", "Sanmargam", "Parudeesa Nashtam" and "Gotham", which have been adapted into films. Chandran is the only writer to receive Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards for both his debut story collection (2001) and debut novel (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Joseph (author)</span> Indian novelist and short story writer in Malayalam

Sarah Joseph is an Indian novelist and short story writer in Malayalam. She won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and the Vayalar Award for her novel Aalahayude Penmakkal. She is a leader of the feminist movement in Kerala and is the founder of the activist organization Manushi. She joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2014 and contested the 2014 parliament elections from Thrissur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. Leelavathy</span> Indian writer and academic

Mundanat Leelavathy is a Malayalam writer, literary critic and educationist. She taught at various colleges in Kerala before retiring as Principal from Government Brennen College, Thalassery. During her long literary career, she won several awards including Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award. She is a contemporary of such noted critics in Malayalam including K. M. George, S. Guptan Nair, N. Krishna Pillai, P. K. Balakrishnan, M. K. Sanu and Sukumar Azhikode. Leelavathy is a recipient of the Padma Shri Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. R. Meera</span> Indian writer

K. R. Meera is an Indian author and journalist, who writes in Malayalam. She was born in Sasthamkotta, Kollam district in Kerala. She worked as a journalist in Malayala Manorama but later resigned to concentrate more on writing. She started writing fiction in 2001 and her first short story collection Ormayude Njarambu was published in 2002. Since then she has published five collections of short stories, two novellas, five novels and two children's books. She won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 2009 for her short-story, Ave Maria. Her novel Aarachaar (2012) is widely regarded as one of the best literary works produced in Malayalam language. It received several awards including the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award (2013), Odakkuzhal Award (2013), Vayalar Award (2014) and Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award (2015). It was also shortlisted for the 2016 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature.

<i>Oru Desathinte Katha</i> 1971 novel

Oru Desathinte Katha is a 1971 Malayalam novel written by S. K. Pottekkatt. It portrays the people of Athiranippadam, drawing on history while detailing the story of one place. It won the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award in 1972, and the Jnanpith Award in 1980. The story takes place over a span of about 55 years. It travels from Athiranippadam to North India to Africa and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sethu (writer)</span> Indian writer

A. Sethumadhavan, popularly known as Sethu, is a Malayalam fiction writer. He has published more than 35 books. He won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007 for the work Adayalangal. He received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards in 1982 and 1978 for his works Pandavapuram and Pediswapnangal; and Vayalar Award for Adyalangal in 2006. He also won Odakkuzhal award for his novel Marupiravi. Sethu's other literary works include Velutha Koodarangal, Thaliyola, Kiratham, Niyogam, Sethuvinte Kathakal and Kaimudrakal. He also served as the chairman and CEO of the South Indian Bank. In 2022, he won the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, highest literary honour of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. P. Ramanunni</span> Indian novelist

K. P. Ramanunni (Malayalam:കെ.പി.രാമനുണ്ണി) is a novelist and short-story writer from Kerala, India. His first novel Sufi Paranja Katha won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1995 and the novel Daivathinte Pusthakam won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award in 2017. Jeevithathinte Pusthakam won the 2011 Vayalar Award.

Nalapat Balamani Amma was an Indian poet who wrote in Malayalam. Amma (Mother), Muthassi (Grandmother), and Mazhuvinte Katha are some of her well-known works. She was a recipient of many awards and honours, including the Padma Bhushan, Saraswati Samman, Sahitya Akademi Award, and Ezhuthachan Award. She was the mother of writer Kamala Surayya.

<i>Smarakasilakal</i> 1977 novel by Punathil Kunjabdulla

Smarakasilaka is a Malayalam novel written by Punathil Kunjabdulla in 1977. The story of the novel is woven around a mosque and its surroundings. The key figure is Khan Bahadur Pookkoya Thangal of the rich Arakkal family whose character is a rare mixture of dignity, benevolence and insatiable lust.

<i>Agnisakshi</i> (novel) Novel by Lalithambika Antharjanam

Agnisakshi is a Malayalam novel written by Lalithambika Antharjanam. Originally serialised in Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly, it was published as a book by Current Books in 1976. It tells the story of a Nambudiri woman, who is drawn into the struggle for social and political emancipation but cannot easily shake off the chains of tradition that bind her. The novel was concerned with implied criticism of aspects of social structure and behaviour.

Gurusagaram is a 1987 novel written by O. V. Vijayan. The novel is a spiritual odyssey into the human psyche. It differs in language, vision and characterisation from Vijayan's earlier works such as Khasakkinte Itihasam and Dharmapuranam. It won many major awards including the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award and Vayalar Award.

<i>Aarachaar</i> Malayalam Novel

Aarachaar is a Malayalam novel written by K. R. Meera. Originally serialised in Madhyamam Weekly in continuous 53 volumes, the novel was published as a book by DC Books in 2012. It was translated by J. Devika into English under the title Hangwoman: Everyone Loves a Good Hanging.

Annie Thayyil, was an Indian novelist, journalist, translator and biographer of Malayalam language and a member of the Cochin Legislative Council between 1945 and 1948. Her oeuvre comprises 78 books covering the genres of novel, biography, politics, travelogue and biblical literature. She was the secretary of the Sahitya Parishad and a member of the executive council of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

Savithri Rajeevan is an Indian poet, short story writer and painter. One of the leading female writers in Malayalam, she has published four collections of poetry and a volume of short fiction.

References

  1. ↑ "Kerala Sahitya Academy- Awards". Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Kendra Sahitya Academy Awards (Malayalam)". Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "List of award winners since 1977" . Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "ചെറുകാട് അവാര്‍ഡ് സാറാജോസഫിന്". Oneindia (in Malayalam). 2 October 2000. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Aalahayude Penmakkal-Book Review by MARIAMMA PANJIKARAN". Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.