" Splashes in the Backwaters of Kumarakom" is the title of the unconventional self and social portrait of an unorthodox Malayali SyrianChristian,nostalgic about his roots and mother tongue. My intimate friend and a former RBI officer K. Cherian never gave an inkling of his autobiographical venture. Sri C.J.Cherian, an illustrious recipient of the National Award for for Best Teacher from the first President of India, was keen that his son should be a mathematician like Srinivasa Ramanujan. Son Cherian wanted to pursue higher studies in English literature like his father. Ultimately the patriarchal authority prevailed and Cherian joined MSc course in Statistics. Even motivated students found it difficult to sit through the classes of our Professor Aleyamma George( may her soul forgive me ), who had never smiled even once in the class during the two years of the course. The MSc result was a shock only to father Cherian.My friend took up a job in RBI and retired from the Central Bank and NABARD. After more than five decades after his mathematical disaster, Cherian brought out this autobiography in ENGLISH as an ultimate fulfilment of his life-long ambition of becoming a writer in English,which in a way is a tribute to his father who was a well-known English teacher.
Cherian's autobiography is written in lucid Indian English with Malayalam poetry and prose interspersed through out like icing on the cake. He portrays Kumarakom,which nestles on the banks of the enchanting Vembanad lake . The romantically swaying coconut palms and the abundance of lobsters, prawns and KARIMEEN ( pearl spot ) appear before the reader's vision. He vividly describes the economy, social relations and family patterns over time like a social commentator. The emergence and rise of the Communist Party,which radically altered the economic, political and social landscape of Kerala, has been presented in an interesting manner. He describes the Kumarakom scenario frame by frame like a film-maker. Cherian's marriage with a brilliant History lecturer Geetha and the different phases of his family life are emotional narratives. Justifiably many pages are devoted to his RBI and NABARD days where he spent around thirty-five years of life. A critical reading of his autobiography will reveal a wealth of information on the social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of a changing village in Kerala from the early fifties.
Cherian's memory is amazing, and his flair for soft and harmless pornographic literary outing makes his autobiography more human.In his characteristic style,Cherian describes his self-presentation a diabolical masterpiece and this century's most controversial memoirs to be.
Cherian's autobiography is written in lucid Indian English with Malayalam poetry and prose interspersed through out like icing on the cake. He portrays Kumarakom,which nestles on the banks of the enchanting Vembanad lake . The romantically swaying coconut palms and the abundance of lobsters, prawns and KARIMEEN ( pearl spot ) appear before the reader's vision. He vividly describes the economy, social relations and family patterns over time like a social commentator. The emergence and rise of the Communist Party,which radically altered the economic, political and social landscape of Kerala, has been presented in an interesting manner. He describes the Kumarakom scenario frame by frame like a film-maker. Cherian's marriage with a brilliant History lecturer Geetha and the different phases of his family life are emotional narratives. Justifiably many pages are devoted to his RBI and NABARD days where he spent around thirty-five years of life. A critical reading of his autobiography will reveal a wealth of information on the social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of a changing village in Kerala from the early fifties.
Cherian's memory is amazing, and his flair for soft and harmless pornographic literary outing makes his autobiography more human.In his characteristic style,Cherian describes his self-presentation a diabolical masterpiece and this century's most controversial memoirs to be.
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