Tamil-in translation
The book opens with the title story ‘Along with the Sun’ by SA Tamilselvan, the sad-yet-sweet story of Mari who dreams of marrying her uncle according to the custom of her caste.
It was written as a year-long series in the well-known magazine, Ananda Vikatan and was well received by readers. The aim was ‘to introduce young readers to outstanding Tamil stories’ (p. ix). The collection has been translated with sensitivity by PC Ramakrishna and Malini Seshadri
The first point to note about this work, a fact that the ‘translator’ records in her Note, is that it is no straightforward translation of the original Tamil novel
The harsh realities of the caste system and patriarchy are brought to light in this collection of 14 heart-breaking stories of Sahitya Akademi awarded writer Imayam (V Annamalai). They showcase his unparalleled storytelling skills, marked by a strong sense of justice.
The first story ‘Over in a Moment’ offers a peek into the lives of a middle-aged couple. The wife, Kamatchi, feels her life has ‘everything but salt’ as she has an unsatisfactory sex life.
The anthology has a larger pedagogic purpose and is part of the Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation’s initiative to identify and translate Tamil literary works into English to ‘enhance the reach of Tamil antiquity, tradition and contemporaneity and enrich world literature’.
The novel’s frame story unfolds as a personal investigation: did the narrator’s mother commit suicide by jumping into a lake in Kodaikanal as the police inquiry had concluded, or was she killed? If so, by whom and why? The main story is complex and compressed.