Prof. K. V. Dominic’s Short Stories During Covid-19.
Authorspress, New Delhi, 2022. Price: Rs. 195 / $ 15. Pp. 52. ISBN 978-93-5529-383-1
Dr. K. Balachandran
Short
Stories During Covid-19 is Prof. K. V. Dominic’s third collection of his short stories
in English. Who is Responsible (2016,
Authors Press, New Delhi) is his first; Sanchita
Karma and other Tales of Ethics and Choice from India (2018, Modern History
Press, U.S.A.) is his second collection.
It is really interesting to note that he selected themes from various
walks of life. They are both local (from
Kerala) and universal. The themes
embedded in his stories are loneliness, problems of old age, compassion, cruel
destiny, duty consciousness, humanism, honesty, exploitation in the name of
religion, fight against superstition, corruption and bribery in Government
offices, fair judgment murder, robbery, sexual desire, thirst for love,
politics and political exploitation etc.
K. V. D’s third collection
comprising 7 short stories word-paint the issues that existed during the cruelest
period in the History of the world, the Covid-19 (from 2020 to 2022) –
detailing the difficulties due to corona, acid victims’ struggle for existence,
lottery sellers’ problems, problems of sex workers, man’s cruelty, Nature
restoring man and caste discrimination etc.
The first story, “Clement’s Return
from UAE” happens both in the Indian and foreign soil. Clement who hailed from a poor family had the
duty of looking after his father, (an asthma patient now) an auto-rickshaw
driver and his mother a housewife; his young sister waiting for marriage. After
passing M. Sc (Moths) he couldn’t get any government job. Somehow managed by
coaching Maths in a tuition centre; the salary was not enough.
One of his college classmates, Aravind
who was working as an accountant in a shopping mall invited him to come to
UAE. Clement by the help of his friend,
Aravind got an accountant post in UAE.
For three years, he led his life somewhat satisfactorily. Every month he sent Rs.30000/- to his
father’s account. Three years he could send 10 lakhs and eighty thousand. With
this amount his father bought a small house in a five cent plot. His saving helped his sister to get married
off. Clement too married a girl Merlin from
a poor family. He was a good man and so didn’t demand any dowry. Fortunately his wife Merlin was good looking,
loving, gentle and meek. God blessed
them with two issues, Meena (8) studying 3rd standard and son Jaison
studying 1st. So for his
family car was running smoothly.
Covid-19 gripped the whole world
including India and UAE. Lockdown
started on April 5th. Because of the lockdown, many were thrown out
of employment, Clement also. It was
spreading fire-like. Covid victims flooded all the hospitals. UAE’s population
is 10 million; Keralites are one million among them. Almost large number of the
immigrants tried to return to their motherland but flights were less in number. Patients in UAE increased to fifty thousand
and 300 people died due to corona.
Clement after losing his job, due to
the clemency of UAE shopping mall owner, could stay without paying rent. Lockdown drowned the economy of every
country; Kerala and every individual too.
Somehow he could return to Kerala.
The story begins with the mobile talk between the husband and wife, Clement
and Merlin. On a Saturday he landed
Kochi air port. As long as it (phone)
was in the hand of Merlin, no shock to him.
When it was snatched from her by his mother he could hear shockingly. “Dear
son Clement, our papa is serious now.
Breathing is very difficult for him even though he is taking the inhaler
and tablets. You spend the quarantine period in some hotel so that there is no
risk for papa?” (Short Stories, p.11.)
The story gets it climax when he appeals to her that he has no problem and
negative certificate and so can stay in one of the rooms in their house. She
negatives his suggestions insisting that he should stay in a hotel for 14
days. After hearing this tears flowed on
his cheeks. “He is denied entry into his
own house, which he built with his own money.” (S.S, p.12.) For the past 20 years he was looking after the
family. Near the airport exit he sat
with tears.
God never forsakes his devotees, it
seems, “Clement sir, do you know me? Why are you crying sir? Sir. I am
Krishnan, your student, because of your tuition class for Mathematics I passed
my exam in the second chance... Now I am an Assistant Professor of English in a
Government college at Sharjah. Don’t worry sir, kindly come with me. I have got a large house which can easily accommodate
you. My wife will only be happy to have
you in our house for two weeks.” (p.12.) What Clement wanted God (Krishna) has
given him in the form of man (Krishnan).
The story has a good nucleus and
focus. There used to be a maxim, “Whoever
believes in God will never be let down.”
This story, “Clement’s Return from UAE” proves that. There is one more truth embedded in this
story. Good people will never see for
community or religion when it is a question or situation of help. Clement is a Christian
and Krishnan is a Hindu. There is no religious discrimination in them. They (the
two characters) are the good example of Religious Harmony. Here is a third
observation. True students will never
forget their teacher. Krishnan has not forgotten his (Maths) Guru, Clement.
There is a fourth point to be noted, Teacher-student relationship should be cordial
and loving. Here the story proves this
aspect.
The second story, “Fate of Migrant
Labourers” is a truthful picture of North Indians (mostly from West Bengal,
Assam, Odisha and U.P.) working in construction field in Kerala and their
return to their home states during corona. Four labourers, Aminul Shakib, Emran
and Tarique preferred to stay in their work place and with the owner, Arjun, an
architect-cum-builder. The story moves very pathetically because of Aminul’s
wife bedridden in Kolkata. Shakib’s
mother, Tarique’s father became corona victims.
The story centres around Arjun who
is broad minded even during the crucial corona period, by paying Rs.500 per day
to them. Whatever profit he earned he
spent for his workers. When Aminul approaches
him for help to save his ailing wife in Kolkata, he offers him one lakh rupees
for his wife’s treatment, air travel and other expenditures, Arjun consoles, “I
will bear the expense of your travel. You are like a brother to me. You have been serving me for the past five
years. It is nothing but my duty to serve
you back in your urgent need though I am going through a financial crisis.”
(p.17.) Aminul fulfills his domestic duty - saves his wife and returns to Kerala
(with his wife and two children) to work again in Arjun’s concern. “You are my God, dear Saab I will never
forget this love and kindness shown to me.
I will be at your service till I die.”
These words should be borne in mind by the workers.
Again a very touching story by KVD setting
as an example to the employers and employees!
The society mostly and mainly is an inhumane society. It is bereft of loving kindness and helping
nature. The story ends very befittingly;
“In an inhumane society where employers show least love and kindness to
employees and labourers, Arjun shines like a star a polestar showing an exemplary
model to all.” (p.18.)
The third story, “Nature Teaches” is
also an admirable one, for, it tells, “Man has to be considerate to plants and animals.” The Municipal council and power mongers decide
to fell a century old fig tree near Gandhi Square and build a three storeyed
shopping complex, for, additional income to the municipality. The moves taken
by the council and people in power are in one side. Nature – lovers, the birds, insects residing
in that tree are in the other side. The
battle goes on! The end? Who is successful, how, why - for all these go through
the pages of this story. A well
organized theme well delineated by the human and nonhuman characters, the role
of wasps are dexterously brought out by KVD and the change of mind in the
power-mongers results in, “We should be considerate to non-humans because this
earth belongs to them also.” (p.23.)
The fourth story, “Seetha’s Resolve”
is about an acid victim. Seetha working
in a private college wasn’t mentally prepared for her marriage. Her father, Raveendran and mother, Laxmi
coerced her for it. The son, Anand of her father’s friend, came to see her and
all the family members decided to conduct her marriage after a month. Fortunately or unfortunately the bride’s side
didn’t have faith in astrology and horoscope; bridegroom’s side also.
Seetha’s neighbour, Venu happened to
be her schoolmate and also in the college.
Since he didn’t fare in the exams, he preferred to be an auto rickshaw
driver. Seetha had to reach the town
which took 20 minutes to her college. He
came to her rescue. Not only that he began to love her - it was one sided love. She didn’t reciprocate his proposal. When he came to know that he can’t marry her,
as usual he came to her house not to leave her in the college where she has
been working, but to throw acid on her face.
He succeeded in his attempt; her right face and neck go burnt.
Immediately water was thrown on her and she was taken to the hospital. After a month’s stay and treatment in the
hospital, she returned home.
Her original beauty, activeness, and
vigour were not in her. Her marriage
proposal with Anand was also burnt by the villain, Venu. Life became very
meaningless and difficult for Seetha.
Though she was house ridden, the whole village visited her house. She used to hide her head with saree to hide
the frightening scars. The principal of her college, Dr. Mukundan and other
staff members, students invaded her house.
What happened then? Go to the story...
Many turning points! She was awarded the ‘Best Teacher’ Award. Her college also got recognition to become an
aided college resulting in teachers getting higher salary.
The story is well presented by KVD the anguish of Seetha’s
parents. Seetha’s dream, her dream burnt to ashes, her lonlied
life and a change after. Her speech
during the ‘Best Teacher Award’ Ceremony, “I dedicate this award and honour to
the thousands of acid victims ... I could come back to my life and rise to this
stature only because of the love and compassion shown to me by the people
around me.” (p.30.) This seems to be the message of the author – inhuman
atrocities are happening. If the acid victims are given proper love and
compassion, they can come back to normal happy life like Seetha. The writer has
done a greater yeoman service to the acid victims by penning this heart
touching story.
If the bride’s parents had faith in astrology and
horoscope, Seetha’s fate would have been different. She would not have become a
victim for the villain. Astrology is pure science and great astronomers people
know. Horoscope also tells about one’s past, present and future if it is
properly explicated. Ok. The writer may have or may not have faith in them. But
he has taken a character (Seetha) who doesn’t have faith in them and her
sufferance (fate) may be due to it. What happened to her beauty? Nobody could
conquer or taste it. Is it not a loss to her?
The fifth story, “What’s wrong with us” deals with the converted
Christians’ problem – they are not supported by the Church; they lose the S.C.
reservations offered by the Govt. for education, employment, medical treatment
etc. Vijayan’s decision (to pursue LLB to plead for the lower caste people in
the court) is applauded. Mother India too smiles.
The sixth story, “Aren’t they our Sisters?” is about sex
workers and their rehabilitation. Rajesh, GM of Govind Mills of Kochi is going
to Kamathipura in Mumbai not for sex but for relieving 20 sex workers from
their hellish life. He narrates his story to brothels - his father deserted his
mother; she became a sex worker in Kamathipura. He had his higher education and
employment abroad, earned a lot. Now he wants to fulfill his mother’s wish – to
relieve sex workers. Now his mother Radhadevi is the MD of the factory. Did he
succeed in his attempt is the remaining story? A very fine sex subject, treated
asexually by KVD is highly appreciable. Who’ll turn a new leaf in the sex
workers’ life? Very rare to have character like Rajesh! It may be even the
author (imaginatively). Anyhow, well done, congrats!
The last story, “Bhagyalakshmi’s fate” is about a poor
woman, a seller of lottery tickets. She didn’t have either bhagya (good fate) or
Lakshmi (wealth). How Prof. Krishnaraj brings both in her life is the story.
Well conceived, well written with a happy and surprising end! Once again
‘Sabash’ to KVD! Prof. Krishnaraj may be even KVD? Will all professors be like
Krishnaraj? Rare. The protagonist’s fate has been topsy-turveyed (by God?)
through the English Professor. “Income from lottery and liquor sale is the main
revenue of the literate State Kerala.” (p.47.) Is this not a sorry state of
affairs? The writer moans “It is a tragedy that both lottery and liquor have
become addictions to thousands of men in the State.”
His concern for the poor, downtrodden and laborers is
well brought out in all the stories. Like a social reformer his interest in
bringing out to light their sufferings has to be appreciated. He is a writer with
social consciousness. Pen is mightier their sword! KVD has proved his dictum is
suitable for him. Everything - theme, language, style, presentation is very understandable
and undisputable, unerring and unflinching, unfurling the ‘Covid-19”
ungrudgingly and unimpeachably. KVD, you are unique as a story teller and short
story writer. There is universality in them unraveling the unpleasant and the
unseemly! You are an untiring umpire of setting right social maladies
(Covid-19). We expect more stories to unveil social malaise from your facile pen.
K. Balachandran
Prof. Dr. K. Balachandran, Former
Prof., Dept. of English, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002 (Tamil
Nadu), is a bilingual writer who has published 20 books (16 in English and 4 in
Tamil) and a number of poems, research articles and reviews in India and
abroad. A Gold Medalist from Annamalai University, he has won several awards.
He has been serving as UPSC Examiner for the past 20 years. After retirement he
has served as Dean and Principal in two colleges. Email:
prof_k_balachandran@yahoo.co.in
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