Appa, who is Perumal Murugan?.
Parthan replied, Ambu, who pronounces Sherin as sarin, Kadavan as kadu, and Goutham as kotham once surprised the universe with this question. Other than appa, ammi, and mama only his ammi's friends who gathered in their house very often for all reasons were a part of his universe. Mamu alias Mamas ettan, a movie director, an artist is rarely seen in these gatherings but was always observant about his kid. Now Mamas ettan's thamba has grown up and he is one month old in his new school.
I wish if this has anything to do with the question that I asked, Appa.
You should know why, before you know who, Kannama.
Answers are easy to be found, but not reason.
Kannama, was one among the most acclaimed young author and member of Kerala Sahithya Academy. The 13-year-old had three books to her name and all of them were out of stock in almost every bookstore. Neither any big publication agreed to publish her literature nor the agreed publisher had that capacity to print as many books to meet the demand. Her first book released three years back titled " Bhendhankalde Shishirakalam" was critically discussed for its seriousness of the content contradictory to the age of its author. Her second and third book stood out for its special way of storytelling and the unique kind of genre. In this age of increased social media presence, Kannama was more remembered and discussed not for the feats she had achieved, but for that 10 minutes interview of a 10-year-old aired in a news channel while she was asked the million dollar question
People wants to know what inspired you to write
"Bhendhankalde Shishirakalam".
Appa named me Kannama because I was the darling of my family when I was born. Appa first asked me to write when he found me crying after my mother left us, and gradually when I was 8 years old, there was no family. All I had was Appa with me and I became Appa's alone Kannama.
No one saw this coming from a ten-year-old.
Just because she had handled a prominent genre in the best possible way, she was overshadowed with expectations. She became a topic of discussion in days that followed. Media houses kept making shows, debate forums, and discussion tables in her name and her topics. Little did she know about all those prominence. No one wanted to believe that she is just another normal girl who IQ level is as normal as any other girl of her age. All weird and irrelevant questions showed up in any discussion or question forum that had her presence.
Parthan accompanied her everywhere, and laughed at all those questions that he advised Kannama to put it under "amazing questions that should be unanswered". Even a matured and content man like Parthan was sometimes taken aback by those curious questions that his daughter had to answer. Little did the people know that his daughter was never influenced by any authors or stories nor she cared less about developments in literature. Only once in this three years that Parthan spoke for his daughter in the limelight, but no one considered or could consider the statement. He stressed in front of the camera that Kannama's writing was not influenced by anyone but was induced from her thoughts, it was only her practice and observation that made her a better writer.
Celebrating the success of her third book, Kannama was invited for such a chat show where there would be her ardent fans on the other side asking questions instead of the host. The first TV show in which Parthan could not accompany her owing to official commitments. Everything was arranged preplanned and organized from her pick up, costume and drop, except for the questions to be asked.
Kannama looked perplexed and nervous at the same time. Though she did not know answers to the questions asked to her, she clearly understood that her little knowledge about anything that is asked will be brutally dissected and discussed.
Without considering her age and innocence, questions started firing upon. Kannama managed to handle the situation. Sometimes she never understood the names in those questions, sometimes she never understood the question itself. People differed to believe that her published literature was her own writing reasoning this neglect towards general affairs. Several claims by publicity mongers regarding ownership of her most acclaimed book got prominence in that very debate.
A very intellect journalist wanted to put an end to this scenario of neglect which was dubbed to be suspicious and he who was famous for satires addressed himself to be Mr. Parishkari. Sitting with crossed legs and round spectacles with strings hanging from his grey sideburns. His lips widened to ask, being an author of such a serious genre in this very young age, do you feel if your serious portray of stigma in this society will have the same effect that Mr. Perumal Murugan had to face for his portray of stigma.
Kannama shivered to the question. Never had she heard about Mr. Perumal Murugan. Never she had realized that the content she wrote was about the stigma in this society. She was a gifted talent who could make words from thoughts, frames from situations, books from stigmas. She struggled and stammered before the audience. The cruel and skeptical literates tore her apart, rejecting ownership of all three books written by her. Many came forward with claims of ownership, the debate and discussions continued. She was stripped of her membership from Sahithya Academy.
If this is what a 13-year-old has to face just because she does not know Perumal Murugan, I do not pity Perumal Murugan anymore if he was denied freedom of expression, Mr. Parishkari. Parthan flew all the way to Delhi to meet him and tell this. Parthan did not wait for the answer.
The very next morning Parthan was all equipped to confront Kannama regarding what had happened in the previous day. With one full night to think Kannama was more thrilled about what her appa was about to say when quizzed.
Kannama started thinking from where Parthan stopped. It was not tough for a girl who interpreted her life lessons into a best selling book. She was brilliant enough to understand what her appa intended with the story of a 3-year-old boy. She reasoned and realized, influence by knowledge from school to pronounce fluently silenced people around Ambu and that disturbed her.
But wait, isn't what even I had to face. She murmered in a husky voice looking at Parthan as he stood smiling feeling proud about his kannama.
NOTE: "Bhendhankalde Shishirakalam" is a Malayalam text that translates into " Withering season of Relationships"
Ettan: Translates into Brother
Appa: Translates into Father
Ammi: Translates into Mother
