Deen’s short stories
A collection 11 short stories and three short pieces written as
fables by Anbu Deen, a prominent writer from the Amparai district,
arrived for me to review it. His collection ‘Neruppu Vaasal’ (The Gate
of Fire) will be launched later this month in his hometown in the East.
The book runs to 148 pages and it is difficult for me to read them all
and review in such a short time before the release of the book.
Since this column concentrates on local writing in Tamil, I felt that
I must at least record regarding the writer and possibly translate into
English at least one short story from the collection But they are all
long stories. So, this is just an introduction and not a review as such.
First a few lines on the writer.
His real name is Kalander Levvai. He has another name Mohideen. On a
suggestion by his girl pen friend at 17 he took the pen name as Anbu
Mohideen. He has brought out four volumes of poetry: ‘Muhangal’ (Faces),
‘Aiynthu Thoonkal’ (Five Pillars), ‘Chaamarayil Moli Kalnthu’ (Mingled
with Language in a Soft Fan), and ‘Maranmalla, Jananam’ (Not Death but
Birth). He works for the Postal Department and lives in Addalichenai.
It is a common feature that most of the writers in the East write
more poetry than fiction. Perhaps the fertile environment in that part
of the country is conducive for poetic renderings. Anbu Deen began his
writing career as a poet, but his knack for wiring short stories became
evident in later years. His stories depict the various aspects of
Islamic culture prevalent in the East.
I shall now try to render English the fables found in his collection.
 |
|
Anbu Deen |
Gunam (Character traits)
It’s 12 Noon
A little while ago a woman dumped the waste into the dust bin. A
flock of crows surrounded it.
‘ KA..KA..Ka..KA’
Hearing the crowing of the crows a dog comes running near.
‘Ka…Ka…KA…’
The crows crow further and call their group towards them.
But the dog that came in the middle of the scene eats the rubbish
without making a noise.
‘………………’
A young crow asked the older one: Why is that this dog call its folks
to share the food while we call our folks crying ‘Ka Ka Ka’ since we got
the food?
To this the older one answers: Dogs are reared by humans. The
character of the humans has become used to the dogs. It’s only that’
***
Alakin Vilai (The Price of Beauty)
Kanthan was watering the tree that was spreading its grown height
straightened towards the sky. Roja seeing that Kanthan was watering the
mango tree for a long time got angrier with tree and its flowers.‘Chee.
Big tree she is! This work less servant pouring water to her that bears
not even an iota of beauty, and flowers without any scent’
In her anger Roja spoke aloud for the mango flowers to hear. Even
though the mango flowers heard this remark it remained silent minding
its own business.
***
To cut short the length of the account let me summarise the latter
part of the metaphor in the story.
Roja continued to belittle the mango flowers ridiculing their poor
beauty. The mango flowers without losing their cool said that though
they don’t smell sweet, they are productive. To this, Roja retorted that
a lot of humans come over to enjoy its beauty and fragrance.
Mango flowers replied Roja not to be arrogant and beauty is always
dangerous.
At that moment the boy of the house running to the Rose tree, plucked
the flower, and tore it into pieces and threw the petals away. Mango
flowers reiterated saying that pride of beauty is dangerous. Looking
down they saw that the Rose lay silent putting its head down.
Anbu Deen’s stories were originally written in the 1970s, 80s, but
his stories after that as late as in the first decade of this century
show his seriousness of purpose in understanding the craft of writing.
His social consciousness and satire are visibly seen even if one
flips through the pages of his stories.
[email protected]
|
