Tantu By S L Bhyrappa

[Gorab, TheGunman]

there are political and communal flavors so far... being against left wing, bhyrappa ji hasn't hesitated aiming a jibe or two on Indira and Pandit Nehru.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Arvind wrote: "@Em - I am done with Chapter 1 and still unsure that Ravindra is the main protagonist. The guy is a bit too fond of tradition and nostalgia for me."

as per the blurb, he is the protagonist...

[Gorab, TheGunman]

wondering why this title...

Tantu means fabric as per Google baba. protagonist being editor and news being fabricated?? or will there be different layers in the story?

interesting how many of his novels are titled using single word - Aavarna understood, Saakshi also explained in the book, Mandra is obvious....

didn't catch Bhitti. GR blurb says Bhitti means canvas. Bhyrappa ji thinks his life as canvas depicting various colors and shades??

not sure about this one too - Tantu.

[Ahtims]

Actual Meaning of
Tantu is atom, or the smallest particle , as far as I know
Bhitti is wall .. perhaps it has been then likened to a canvas ..
Even on wall, paintings may be done ..

Or perhaps in Kannada, canvas is also called bhitti

[E.T.]

Tantu - the fibers that make up the cloth of society.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

oops... somehow converted fibre to fabric. sorry for that.

atom or fibers that make the cloth of society., i still didn't get the context of title based on the plot and story so far.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

on page 153 and title word appears for the first time:

"समस्त राष्ट्र के समकालीन इतिहास के स्थूल तंतु को खोलकर देखनेवाले मन के लिए सितार का खिन्न गंभीर भाव सही पृष्ठभूमि प्रस्तुत कर रहा था।"

[Gorab, TheGunman]

as mentioned earlier, loving the translation. only one irritating thing - it's mentioned कन्नड़ everywhere instead of कन्नड़ा

[Ahtims]

Am the 🐌 here. Just finished chapter 1. I can't take this book in huge doses as I feel very depressed when I read about injustice .
Guess you both have advanced much .
After meeting annayya , I am now back to the doings of the 4 naughty boys.

[Ahtims]

Yes, Tantu means fibre ...
I was really under the impression that it is Atom.

[Ahtims]

Atom or particle

[Gorab, TheGunman]

This is the only book I'm reading regularly every morning. Have read till page 200.

Almost 25% done and still on Chapter 3. Can't believe there are 27 chapters in total. Guess the latter ones will be very small.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

according to his autobiography, during his coming of age phase, he travelled a lot, learnt many different skills and i loved that part.

Was wondering since then, whether there is any of his novels where the protagonist is coming of age. Hoping there will be some parts with Anoop's point of view.

[E.T.]

I will resume today probably.

[E.T.]

Page 168 - Halfway thru Chapter 2
Its been a commentary so far. Lets see what Anup does in his new school.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

I've been off the grid and away from reading much for a week now.
Have stopped at beginning of Chapter 5, page 214.

[E.T.]

On page 252. My edition contains 1236 pages.

[Ahtims]

I am lagging behind. Won't be able to read till 21st as I will be out of station ..
You two carry on.. as soon as I resume, will come here and discuss .I have just reached the beginning of chapter 2, I guess

[Gorab, TheGunman]

While picking this book, had thought of reading it in 10 days. Initial progress made it look possible. Now also I want to read it before 26th Jan, when I'll be travelling home for a week and only Kindle will be there.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

And by the way, I've also ordered Daatu English edition by Bhyrappa... at 550+97 shipping. Assuming the MRP will be 450/- and I might demand some refund ;)

[Ahtims]

Ha ha ha ha ..
After my complaint Amazon had taken down the book .. which website you ordered from ?

[Ahtims]

Checked Amazon. It is 450 plus 79

[Gorab, TheGunman]

ordered from Amazon only!! yes the price has been updated now. i think they'll refund the difference.

[Ahtims]

Read a bit today .. will read a few pages tomorrow morning too.. after that adieu to Tantu for a week or so.
Now I am with Atul , whos almost reforming his nature on the Hilltop school.
Thought a bit about nature vs. nurture, and still cant understand why some people turn out bad, and others, good.
My aim is to complete the section nearest to 200 pages.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Em*bedded-in-books* wrote: "why some people turn out bad, and others, good."

For the below reason:

:):):)

[Ahtims]

Lol..still unenlightened

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Chapter 5 part 5. (page 242)
(view spoiler)[Somehow I feel the plot losing its glitter now. Its running like a daily soap opera. Was expecting more cruel mental dilemmas or deeper characters. Liked the part about Ravindra scooping all that info and publishing a newspaper article.
Currently at the part where stuff got stolen from the mountain and police is torturing the poor temple priest. (hide spoiler)]

[E.T.]

Done with Chapter 3 (Page 302).
While it is an easy read, there is little about the society and politics that we didnt know already. To me, Bhyrappa’s strength is philosophy and that has been missing.

[Ahtims]

I have reached the part where Kanthi visits her son in the Ashram school.
I am sort of angry at Bhyrappa ..
I am sort of sympathetic to Kanthi. It seems Bhyrappa wants women to cook and serve , and whoever is out of that mentality is portrsyes in a
villaneous role
And why did Ravindra and Kanthi marry each other .. their ideologies don't match at all.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Arvind wrote: "To me, Bhyrappa’s strength is philosophy and that has been missing."

Totally agree!
I'm taking a one week break from reading this.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Em*bedded-in-books* wrote: "I have reached the part where Kanthi visits her son in the Ashram school.
I am sort of angry at Bhyrappa ..
I am sort of sympathetic to Kanthi. It seems Bhyrappa wants women to cook and serve , an..."

Why angry at Bhyrappa? Anger should be contained to Ravindra only for that reason :P

[Gorab, TheGunman]

4 days back, swamiji passed away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaku...

I somehow relate Annayya from Tantu to this character.

[E.T.]

Women to cook and serve ? It is a harsh comment but I can sense where it is coming from. More of a soft patriarchy.
You will encounter a female soon who decides to remain unmarried and is independent and unapologetic. So far at least.

[Ahtims]

He he ..Gorab .
Angry at Ravindra too. But somehow I see Bhyrappa in Ravindra.
Aravind . Waiting to encounter that lady.

[E.T.]

Personally, I think Gandhian prudishness of ppl like Ravindra can be torture to one's near and dear ones. And ofcourse to readers like me too :)
He could have attended his father-in-law's function and accepted the air tickets as they were for a personal function. How would it have corrupted him as an editor ? Beats me ! And I sympathise with Kanti on the school issue.
Am reminded of one of the finest proverbs :-
अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत
Excess of anything is bad.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

He he ...
i like characters having Gandhian prudishness... and so far having fun reading Ravindra's part and his thought process.
Accept air tickets? Some people don't agree to even accept salt from sasural... against "usool".

Don't know Ravindra didn't accept because of usool or some other reason - self respect..... since his counterparts in laws were well off and doing good, so even if he would have accepted air tickets and attended, he would have felt insulted.

whatever may be the case, he should have attended the function with his their son!!!

[Ahtims]

Eagerly waiting for air ticket scene. And I agree with Aravind .
If I were in Kanthi place I would have hit Ravindra if he became high and mighty with me 😑

[Gorab, TheGunman]

he would have turned the other cheek ;)

[E.T.]

@Gorab LOL - Tantu ki parody ban rahi hai :)

[Ahtims]

Ha ha ..
Now am at page 253... Kanthi has come as a new bride and is refusing to cook 😛

I feel Kanthi is just an ordinary person who values position and money ..
Ravindra is quite idealistic ..

Taken alone, both of them aren't too good or too bad... But their combination is dangerous , especially in an institution like marriage where combined decisions are the norm. . and I don't think what one decides will be palatable to the other ..

Waiting to see how this story turns out..


I don't mind the non philosophy...
I am in mood for soap opera 😝

[E.T.]

@Smitha - This is the part where I felt Ravindra was dead wrong. He took Kanti in a 3rd class railway ticket for honeymoon. And Kanti is not that wrong if she wants to live in a house of her own.

[Ahtims]

Agree with you Aravind ..
I read further and have completed section 3.
Ravindra is too ethical .. but he doesn't know the first thing about gender equality .
Kanthi is not wrong in thinking any decision about their child should be taken collectively .
Now am keen to see how he will take Kanthi deciding upon a business and the money gifted by her parents

I guess Tantu is 1200 odd pages because this couple didn't do the sane thing - i.e. divorce each other and find partners on the same mental wavelength with them ..😁

[Ahtims]

I pity Honnati couple too ..

Guess I am very materialistic 😂

[Ujjwala]

Has someone in this group read (or reading) the Hindi translation of Tantu? If yes, how is the translated work? I am undecided which one to pick Hindi or English version.

[Ahtims]

Gorab is reading the Hindi translation . Mine is English , and it is fine enough .

[Ahtims]

At page 370. Oderayya's torment is just over and he's upset with Annayya and Honnati.

Have seen such police cruelty in many movies in my childhood.

Hope the police force is more refined nowadays .

[E.T.]

Done with the short Chapter 4 - Page 320. I hope this thread of conflict between Ravindra & co and the local MLA continues.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Arvind wrote: "@Smitha - This is the part where I felt Ravindra was dead wrong. He took Kanti in a 3rd class railway ticket for honeymoon. And Kanti is not that wrong if she wants to live in a house of her own."

Ravindra was setting the expectations straight i guess.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Em*bedded-in-books* wrote: "Ha ha ..
Now am at page 253... Kanthi has come as a new bride and is refusing to cook 😛

I feel Kanthi is just an ordinary person who values position and money ..
Ravindra is quite idealistic ..

T..."

Totally agree!!
For a couple like this, combined decision is a myth!
Its more like combined compromise :)

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Em*bedded-in-books* wrote: "I pity Honnati couple too ..

Guess I am very materialistic 😂"

Two instances of clash between materialistic vs "aadhyatmik" lifestyle.
Ravindra vs All in laws
Honnati vs parents.

In a way, good that Honnati didn't get married. Wife would have been tortured like hell!