Book Review: Stories of the True by Jeyamohan

 

Book Review:

Stories of the True by Jeyamohan

Translated by Priyamvada Ramkumar

 

It is a particularly tricky endeavor for a writer to convey a plethora of concepts, as well as portray endearing characters, in a form quite limited as a short-story. This memo, however, seems to have missed the evidently brilliant Mr. Jeyamohan. As a result, ‘Stories of the True’ serves as an unflinching, insightful, and unabashed reflection of humanity and the unrelenting hope that comes with it.

Set in various locations in and around South India, this collection manages to illustrate the many rich and expansive cultures in the region in a manner that both resonated and reconnected with my heritage, much of which was lost to me as the unstoppable train of globalization chugs on. This is where I am compelled to highlight the excellent work of Mr. Priyamvada Ramkumar, who’s translation expertly employs the tools available in contemporary English, as well as maintains the cultural integrity of the work. Reading words like ‘vaeti’ and ‘Amma’ sandwiched between the likes of ‘ignominy’ or ‘cacophony’ not only filled me with strange and immense joy, but it also lent the book a unique identity. Thus, it presented South Indian and South Asian characters and narratives having complex, commendable or even flawed ideals in a way that is seldom found in western literature.

         Mr. Jeyamohan’s approach of throwing the reader into each story with a lack of context in the initial pages serves well to build suspense and provides ample opportunities to flush out characters. Many of the stories lack a linear or traditional narrative structure, instead serving as character studies or contemplations of various aspects of society. While I found some stories more gripping than others, each one held great value in my eyes, spotlighting the big questions that we often overlook in the monotonous drone of modern life.

         There were plenty of standouts among these tantalizing tales. ‘Elephant Doctor’ was the first story I read, and it greatly succeeded as a celebration of compassion, humility, and nature. Through intricate descriptions, the writer manages to paint nature as both a revolting force and a divine beauty. This story also highlights Mr. Jeyamohan’s incredible and rare talent of writing characters that are witty and wise without being cliché, boring or displaying hubris. In the same vein, ‘Meal Tally’ illuminates the extraordinary lengths a stranger’s kindness can go, and in the process, blurs the line between gender roles, which makes this narrative almost timeless. The shift in focus between the two main characters also works as a compelling narrative device in this particular story.

         Another one of the author’s strengths is his ability to expound the contents of a scene without missing out on a single gruesome detail, making for quite a gut-wrenching effect. Whether it be the punishment of being tied to and dragged around by an elephant in ‘He Who Will Not Bow’ or the nausea-inducing graphics peppered throughout ‘A Hundred Armchairs’, it’s as if Mr. Jeyamohan has pried open the reader’s eyes and is forcing them to stare at these very real horrors faced by those people. Even so, no story lacks a glint of hope or spark of justice. In ‘Aram – The Song of Righteousness’ and the aforementioned ‘He Who Will Not Bow’, the much-needed closure and triumph of the protagonist would make anyone with a sliver of soul jump with joy. His descriptive passages also hold the ability to create esoteric or mighty images – just browse the paragraph in ‘Aram’ likening the wife to a goddess, and you are certain get goosebumps.

         ‘Stories of the True’ is as apt a title as a title can be: despite it being categorized as fiction, its stories hold nothing less than reality. It is a book imbued with the heaviness of injustice, grit, hope, perseverance, and love. At heart, it is a book about humanity, and is sure to captivate any reader!