Yathi – A review: Jinapriya AjithaDoss
This is a book which I avoided for a while because it states as story of sages…and I thought it would be a sad story and confusing a lot…
Oh man…you dont expect a revenge thriller with a prelude of philosophies.
A typical family is described with normal desires of parents. When starting to read about the confusions of the sons, we probably assume the teenage confusions due to hormonal changes. As we progress, the knots are put tight that we start looking of evidences of ancestral karma or blessing of God to the family to move towards moksha
When the elder one talks abt Rishi under water, calling of animals etc we expect the Siddhar or a story of a Nayanmar types. Then suddenly he vanishes, it does bring heaviness but not scariness. Then comes the 2nd, who bring the scariness. And the way he puts a fakes a shield over his carnal desires as if he is looking the body as flesh and blood, we think he may be a cannibal or a nara mamisam thinnum sadhu…but suddenly turns him to virtuous boy…and when we expect him to fulfill his parent’s desires, alas he is gone. We are told in the beginning the last boy would be 3rd to disappear. But when he decides that, thinking of his affection to his mom will be his shortcoming, there brings the heaviness. And he happens to be the corporate samiyar you see . The fourth is the third son…left to go on till the marriage day and boom…he is gone…
All these just take you on the flow, the twist comes in the last parts, which will make you feel so unsettled. It is a shock.
The description of Madikere, Kuttralam, the description of the underwater pond (hallucination scene), the usage of drugs, the way we look for signs to reinforce our beliefs are all so so well written
Right from Yogis (Guru of Vimal), to Siddhars to Tantric Yogas, Adharvana practices, Make beliefs, Drug usages, Hallucinations, to Corporate Gurus are all brought in so naturally into the flow
The scene setting in ECR , thiruvidandhai, kelambakkam is so well done.
The uncle character is the most pitiest among all. Next is the dad, though he is the reason (reason for what will be spoiler alert), because he never knows at all that he is the victim to the fruit of his misdeeds.
There are sentences sprinkled all the over the novel for our deep thoughts:
முடிந்ததைச் செய்வதுதான் யோகம். முடிந்ததையும் செய்யாதிருப்பதுதான் யோகத்தின் எதிர்நிலை.
அறிமுகமற்ற முகங்களின் நடுவேதான் தனிமையின் உச்சத்தைக் கண்டுணர முடியும். கூட்டத்தில் கரைவது காற்றில் கரைவதினும் பேரனுபவம்.
*
ஒரு போதையாகிவிடும் அளவுக்குத் தனிமை பழகிவிடுவதும் ஆபத்தே அல்லவா?
The scary part comes in last parts. The actual plot. The plot leaves the reader so unsettled. I had to read thrice the last 500 pages to understand the way the knots are unknotted. There is absolutely no remorse of the whole happening from any of the characters. Rather a contentment that the characters have inspite of the happenings- which is what makes it so scary.
The meaning and goal of Yoga or Penance could be anything. Penance is not renouncing outwardly, it is a mindset. What we choose matters.
Lighter note, whoever gets into adultery or affairs, be careful, you never know how you or who, may have to repay for the misdeeds; And when you see any man in rags or dogs looking at you on streets, better to think twice than feeling disgusted, never know who that soul is ;if there are signs from nature but reinforced by human, double confirm if they are real or not.
One of the must reads. Makes us get into some deep thinking.
Netflix should do a series with this.
O
2022 ஆம் ஆண்டு இந்த மதிப்புரை எழுதப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. ஃபேஸ்புக் மெமரியில் இருந்து கண்டெடுத்தேன்.
All rights reserved. © Pa Raghavan - 2022
