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Sheila Kumar’s Kith And Kin is an almost voyeuristic peek into the lives of the Melekat clan, written in an unusual format.
Review by Sandhya Renukamba
Imagine a tree that grows tall and strong, and bears many branches; each of which may have its own separate destiny. Yet, there is no denying the link they have to the roots of the tree, which grow deep into the earth and bring them their sustenance. Sheila Kumar’s Kith And Kin bring to mind just such a tree. It is aptly subtitled – chronicles of a clan. Meet, the Melekats; they are a formidable bunch, in all their dysfunctional glory.
The novel is in an unusual format – 19 short stories, each in the voice of one of the various characters that populate the Melekat clan, narrated from the point of view of that particular person, a slice of everyday life as they live it. Each story is complete in itself, able to stand alone. Collectively, they paint an interesting picture of human dynamics in a large, extended family that is multitudinous in hopes, needs, wants, motives, wishes, action and station.
Right from the first story, Sheila Kumar’s narrative draws the reader into the lives of her characters. They are far from perfect, seriously flawed even, which makes them human and real. There are pragmatic ones as well as dreamers. There are impractical optimists who embark on impossible relationships as well as brooding pessimists who live only in past glory. There are passive-aggressive ones who feel relieved and ready to live their lives after the death of a spouse, as well as resentful ones who try to make things work despite everything. There is adultery as well as commitment. There is destructive hatred as well as joyous celebration. At one point I was wondering if I was reading about a celebrity I know of, one who belongs to the same community the Melekats belong to.
There is also an interesting circular pattern to the stories, which begin in the present, go into the past, and return to the present. We even have the first and last stories about the same characters. There is a sense of inevitability to the way they play out their destiny in the unexpected twist in the last story.
Ammini Amma rules over Mon Repos, the improbably named, sprawling ancestral home. She is the loved but somewhat feared mother, beloved grandmother or legendary matriarch, whose word is always the last one. She rarely features in person in the stories, but we get a composite picture of her through the voices of each character. Her presence is unmistakable in the background or foreground of their lives, as is that of Mon Repos, a home that is comparable to Manderlay in Daphne du Maurier‘s Rebecca or Tara in Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind – almost a separate character by itself.
There are a couple of stories, though, that dragged a bit and could have done with a re-write. There is also a story involving a ghost that could have been edited out; it somehow did not feel essential to the narrative as seen from a bird’s eye view. All in all, a well-written debut novel.
Publishers: Rupa Publications.
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In her role as the Senior Editor & Community Manager at Women's Web, Sandhya Renukamba is fortunate to associate every day with a whole lot of smart and fabulous writers and readers. A doctor read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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