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Focus on books:
The fascinating adventures of Chuttan malli
Professor Sunanda Mahendra
Chuttan Malli, a series of four stories for children written by
Lalitha Siribaddana. Published by Fast Publishers.
The title of the series of children's books as designed and written
by the former children's television programme producer, Lalitha
Siribaddana (of Mutuhara fame) is one of the apt and eye catching terms
for children. It is the smallest brother or the chuttan malli in a
family who features as the protagonist of these mini narratives, a
series of four stories, brought out with illustrations.
Each has a title for the series where the funny mannerisms of a
little boy with a brother and a sister both elder play a vital part.
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Chuttan Malli series |
Chuttan Malli is not a mischievous one but an innocent and
intelligent seeker of things happening in the outer world around him.
For instance he is an experimentalist in the first book "Rosa Malai
Samanalayai" (The Rose and the Butterfly) in which he is discovered as
making use of some items used in the kitchen for cooking purposes such
as coconut scrapings and various other items like carrots and beets.
He hides from the eyes of the other family members inclusive of the
father and the mother who are not very strict but encourages his
innermost talents. These items have been used colourfully laying them on
a chopping plank by the protagonist, Chuttan Malli for his own fun and
curiosity.
But the end result is superb from the point of view of the others for
he has been trying to bring out a fine picture in the collage form which
he had seen earlier in an exhibition. Then comes the moment when the
entire family discovers to their surprise what the Chuttan Malli had
engaged in removing items from the kitchen. They discover that he is a
talented one and the fact is disclosed by them, especially by his sister
Chamari and brother Samira.
They all appreciate his talents as a budding little craftsman. This
little story tells much more things than a story one can simply imagine
of. It hails the family values that are gradually losing from our midst.
Then we observe that the little reader who comes across this flimsy
story will have the chance of discovering himself, a sort of a help
narrative.
The second in the Chuttan Malli series titled as Dannam Terenava (now
we understand) is a story that revolves round the character of a grand
dad who teaches the children about the need to plant the trees that give
them shade.
This happens when they are seated under a tree with their grand dad.
The brother and the sister listen to what the grand dad has to say in
response to the questions raised by Chuttan Malli. The onlooker happens
to be the mother who brings them tea.
The answers seem to be practical and the grand dad in one instance
makes it a point and pretends to cut down the tree that gives shade to
them.
But Chuttan Malli who had learnt from the grand dad about the value
of the tree does not allow it to happen and the mission of the grand dad
had been successful and believes that he had given them a good practical
lesson about environment and the virtues of good relaxed living.
The mini narrative also touches on aspects like the seasonal changes
and the withering off of twigs and the need to prune them from time to
time in order to keep the tree healthy.
The third in the series, Hora Lede, is about Chuttan Malli attempting
to learn the computer use which he sees being used by his father. But as
he did not have access to the use of it previously, he was curious about
the use. He wished to use it like his father who had typed a letter and
gone to answer a telephone call.
During the brief period of his father's absence, Chuttan Malli tries
his hand on the keyboard and finds that the letter gets lost or erased.
Fearing that he will be accused of the mischievous act he pretends to be
terribly sick and complains of a tummy ache. Then they wanted to take
him to a doctor and the whole house is disturbed. But then the actual
fact is discovered as to what had really happened by the rest of the
members of the family.
The pretentious sickness was a result of the fear. The father who is
kind hearted and knowing the desire of Chuttan Malli regarding the
computer teaches him as to what had happened. He teaches him the basics
of the use of the computer which in turn becomes beneficial to Chuttan
Malli.
He in turn teaches his mother what he learnt from his father. This I
felt is a fine practical lesson for those of us who live in the
electronic world. Though we have access to some of the electronic
devices we have to traverse the technological ways and means to achieve
certain ends in our surroundings and in this direction the computer has
come to stay with us and the ignorance as regards the use of it is not
at all satisfactory in the life of a little boy or a girl. Thus Chuttan
Malli discovers his computer skills from the guidance given by his
father.
In the fourth of the series, Punchi Amba Pale, the reader comes
across a situation where the members of the family see that the
decorated bucket used to water the plants in the garden is lost.
The servant of the family Manike comes and tells the mother that the
bucket is lost and that she had left no stone unturned to find it. But
surprisingly enough, Chuttan Malli who as a solitary planter of a mango
plant had removed it from the place it was kept by the servant.
She discovers that Chuttan Malli had gone far away in to the garden
and sings alone in delight a song composed by him after planting a mango
tree. They all discover the sense of sheer happiness of Chuttan Malli
who had learnt the value of planting a useful tree for the future
generation and to himself as he grows up with time.
They also discover the inner happiness which is expressed by the
words he sings and the melody he makes in the process. They come from
their hiding and applaud together sharing his joy.
These mini narratives I presume are delightful moments in one's life
which are usefully and resourcefully captured and recreated by the
writer Lalitha Siribaddana.
There are quite a number of sensitive layers of human relations as
taught via the narratives, such as the factors pertaining to the value
of teaching, observing, imagining and learning.
More chuttan malli narratives should follow. But I feel that the
missing point is crediting the illustrator's name who had taken the
trouble to bring out the inner meanings of the narratives.
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