Vanavasam (1965 ?)

Language: Tamil

Author: Kannadasan

Kannadasan, Kaviarasar or King of Poets for many of us Tamils was and is still one of the best contemporary Tamil poets the world has seen. Vanavasam is the first part of his two part autobiography. This culminates with him leaving the DMK (a political party from Tamil Nadu), disillusioned by the internal politics and personality clashes.

In the interim there are some grim moments which force the King of poets to discontinue studies, flee his home in search of greener pastures, finding his foot, stepping on the first step to the gateway of recognition, friendships, courtships, controversies, heartbreaks – emotional & economic and realization.

It is a fabulous rollercoaster ride through his life in second person. For there is no I in this book, there is a he. There are times when you feel the details are overdone, like the woman he loves from Mylapore episode and like where characterless, promiscuous politicians make an appearance. You like a true blue voyeur want more but there isn’t any more detail.

Overall I would say this is probably one autobiography from where you can’t take much out. The author himself says that in the start. That one can’t take much out as the moral of the story but can understand the things that need to be avoided to be a better human being.

For those who have an interest in Kannadasan this book is a primer, for it gives details of where, when and how he made it big and the circumstances surrounding that. The circumstances interest the reader more because they involve the politicians and famous people who have ruled page 3 and also our lives (literally and figuratively) .

This one is a good book to read if you satisfy one primary condition and two secondary conditions. (1) is the primary which I’m not sure everyone would satisfy but (2) & (3) is something most of us are.

1. If you can read and understand simple Tamil
2. If you are a voyeur (If you say you aren’t, sorry you shouldn’t be reading this blog. For you are not a human !!)
3. If you like literature of any kind

A very good read.

I love Kannadasan, but I still believe there is something that stops me from marking this a Super read. That said this one is really, really worthwhile, buy it and read it if you can read Tamil.

PS: In the foreward to the 1981 edition the author says that this book was sold for INR 4 in 1962