Kaalam
Kaalam is a novel by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, for which he was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1970.[1] The book takes the reader along with 'Sethu Madhavan', the protagonist, through a journey across time (Kaalam).[2]
Story
The story is narrated during the early 1960s amidst the backdrop of land reforms and the pity state of poverty of Kerala.Sethumadhavan a member of a joint family in erstwhile Valluvanad of Malabar cruises through several hard times in emotional and financial hardships and finally realises the worthlessness of achievements and understands that life is put at mere mercy of time and we need grace of Destiny to live a better life of our dreams.
In his life he meets three females in different time span and they make deep impacts on his life.He has to part from all of them and his life is left to a solitary struggle of sadness of abandonment. First one is Smitra who is his cousin and his relationship is portrayed as a teenager's fancy which sometimes become even physical.Then he meet Thankamani and he defines his relationship a real one and fancies as to make her his life partner.But his inability to acquire a handsome job deters him.He finally manages to get a Government job ,A low profile one of a Village Extension Officer but he has to quit it due to problems with higher officials and to face a long period of changing petty engagements for survival. He then anchor as a clerk of a private firm of Sreenivasan Muthalaly in a faraway coastal city.He happens to meet Lalitha Sreenivasan who is the wife of his boss and she is leading a tasteless life there due to his husband's neglect towards her feelings.A strong relationship is seen growing between Lalitha and Sethu which firstly due to the fact that they have similar interests.As a trustworthy employee Sethu manages to take involvement in larger responsibilities and his ambitions get aroused and he slowly manages to make money using his position. At this point of time Sreenivasan falls I'll due to stroke and he come to know the relationship between his employee and his wife but Sethu parts his ways with Sreenivasan and ask Lalitha to seek diivorce and finally Lalitha and Sethu begin a new life.During this time span he keeps himself away from his father ,Mother and other relatives as a matter of revenge of his past sufferings.But the new life in the high society becomes difficult to adjust for Sthu and after a small domestic fight he plans a quick visit to his village.This is homecoming as a wealthy Sethu to all at the village but Sethu is in a state of inner conflict. He comes to know that Thankamani is now leading a family life at Bombay and has kids.There he finds Sumitra in an all abandoned state but she declares she is happy being alone and turns down his request of help citing that Sethu has no sincerity and compassion to any body except himself.This statement become a severe blow to him an he stand helpless and decided to return.The return journey becomes a poetic narration and the novel ends as Sethu returns to city with a lot of lessons taught by life and time.
Translations
The novel has been translated into English:
- Celine Matheu (= Mathew) (1975). The Legacy. Vikas Publishing House.
- Gita Krishnankutty (1998). Kaalam. Sangam.
- Gita Krishnankutty (2010). Kaalam. Orient Blackswan.
