Musing on Manoj Panchavishati by Manoj Das

I grew up in my home state with both parents belonging to the same state so for me there was no language confusion. For me my mother tongue Odia was most natural mode of communication in the world. But over the decades living out of the state and gradually not going home at all, Odia script started looking like leftover from some forgotten dreams.

Generally social networking sites are criticised for various modern day problems but personally I have gained a lot through social networking. Among other things it has made us aware about each tiny thing happening at each corner of the world. Thus lately I have been getting lots of chance to refresh my memories of forgotten places, food, costumes, words and dreams. The attack of nostalgia is stronger than super cyclone (I can say that without being offensive because I am an Odia, the perennial victim of super cyclone)

Hence I had to add a book from my mother tongue in my reading challenge of 2020. I wanted to start something I would find easy to read at the same time could enjoy. Hence Prof. Manoj Das was the natural choice.

Prof. Das writes both in English and Odia and leads an ascetic life in Aravind Ashram at Pondicherry. So it is apparent he has inclination towards spirituality. However, his writing is not overwhelmed by spirituality. He has written many non-fiction works and novels but he is chiefly famous for his short story collections.

The book I took up to read is “Manoj Panchavinshati” or Manoj 25 is a collection of 25 stories, taken from his various short story collections. The special feature of this book is, in the beginning there are excerpts of various interviews he has given to different newspapers over the years. The excerpts are a great pleasure to read as we readers can have a peek into the mind of writer, what he himself feels about his writing.

Characteristics of Prof. Manoj Das’s writing

1. As mentioned, his works have sign of spirituality and mysticism but only as per requirement of the story. They never overwhelm any narration.
2. His style is subtle and subdued, never on-your-face-dramatic
3. In simple language and non-complex sentences he can put up most complex concepts.
4. Surrealism is a common theme of his works. In his unassuming simple language he effortlessly crosses the border between reality and surreality.
5. He celebrates the goodness in human beings even in most difficult times and under the layers of masks.
6. He also shows the evil side of our society through two-faced people, evil effect of superstitions, entrapment of alcohol and drugs etc.
7. His works is universal in approach yet the expressions are sometimes typical to Odisha. For instance in one line he has narrated about the devastation of age on one’s face by saying “Age’s Kalapahada-like devastation”. Kalapahada is a mythical Muslim attacker encompassing multiple Muslim attackers, who had destroyed temples and idols all over Odisha and forced Shri Jagannath to flee from his abode in Puri. So we can see the humour in comparing that to attack of age. I don’t know how will that work in translation. I have yet to read his works in English.
8. With his words, he successfully creates authentic images of Odia people, cities and villages from last century.
9. Many chief characters in his stories are children. He successfully narrates the stories from child’s perspective. He seems to be an expert in child psychology.
10. He successfully assimilate folktales, myth and history in his stories.
11. Short story lacks the scope to build a broad premise for the plot or character. Hence it is challenging for the writer to build the premise with minimum lines. Short stories also lack the luxury to narrate and gradual transition. A twist at the ending in the tradition of O’Henry and Maupassant can take the stories to a different level. That kind of twist at the end is common in stories of Manoj Das.

Hence he successfully can create the premise as well as can give an interesting and satisfying ending to his stories.

From the excerpts of his interviews given in the beginning I came to know about his reputation outside India as an Indian writer who maintains the purity of his theme and never compromises on it to cater the non-Indian readers.

In his book Where I’m Reading From: The Changing World Of Books, famous literary critic Tim Parks has mentioned how to know about another country or real literature tradition of another country it is essential to read indigenous writers who never compromise on their theme or language to cater foreign readers. Manoj Das has achieved his own place in international scenario for being such a non-compromising writer.

The 25 stories of the book are:

1. Magna Upatyaka or The Sunken Valley

Because of construction of a big dam the narrator’s childhood village gets submerged in water. The narrator’s father is a government official and supports dam whereas rest of the family and the villagers are against the dam. This story goes beyond putting big dams and the people of submerged area in black and white respectively. The father explains the dam is desirable for greater good so villagers and his own wife thought him to be heartless. But in the end he shows he is true to his belief by taking risk to save a life.

This is a simple yet extremely feel good story.

2. Andhakaar or Darkness

A story about a female leader from independent struggle time, who was used by various vested interest groups. But then the story somewhere loses the focus and becomes about lost love.

This story does not work for me.

3. Uttar Upatyaka ra Kahani or The Story of North Valley

This maybe my favourite story by the writer. The story is about a small insignificant town called North Valley. The significant thing about this town is, rumour is an irreplaceable part of the residents’ daily diet.

The story is written in a beautiful satiric surreal style. This story about gossipmongers not only makes the readers laugh loudly but also they are forced to think about their own careless remarks and gossiping.

4. Prithviraj nkara Ghoda or Prithviraj’s Horse

In this surreal humour a timid history teacher gets inspiration from history to change his personality altogether for few moments.

5. Ota or Camel

Using camel as a metaphor writer has shown us the flaws in politics done in the name of our so-called non-violent freedom struggle in pre and post-independence.

6. Eka Surjyasta or One Sunset

This is a sad story of fantasies of a failed man at the sunset of his life.

7. Suna Medal or Gold Medal

Another feel good story which narrates how some people have managed to keep their heads above the water in the time when old ways are in general failing.

8. Premapatra or Love Letter

This is another story set in North Valley. It is about talented artist Geeta who dies in her youth. She dies as a single woman. Male egos can’t let her to be free in her death. They desire to possess her, to put their claim on her. In the end one male at least realised the futility of this desire.

9. Kripana or Saber

This story is about how a father lost the trust and affection of his son because of a villain role he played on theatre. Is it because he played the villain or is it because of the play but in a different way? The father lives in a different city and has come on a short leave to his family. His son yearns to be with him all the time. But the father chooses to go to rehearsal for a long time everyday instead of spending the limited time with his son.

This story is written brilliantly from the point of view of the child.

10. Palanka-Vijay or The Winning of the Bed

This is another story about falling of old ways and old system.

11. Bhola Ajaa or Grandfather Bhola

This is a humorous story about a forgetful old man.

12. Naatuni or Granddaughter

This is a lovely story about a small girl which narrates how brave warriors too become helpless in front of a child.

13. Hatyakari or Murderer

A funny story with a twist in the end about a murderer who has been enjoying respect and fear of the villagers for decades.

14. Senapati or The Commander

This story is about a commander who became accidentally a hero and then maintains his heroic status even in a community theatre.

15. Surjyasta Pare or After the Sun Set

This story humorously depicts how superstition may overpower mind and mislead one’s brain.

16. Baratie Loda or Need for a Groom

Another humorous story on the proverbial cat lady from the previous story.

17. Kalpavata or Wishing Tree

A surreal story written in the style of a fairy tale depicts the desire of a poor man to meet a princess. But today’s princesses are quite different from fairy tale’s princess. And unlike fairy tales, meeting a princess does not automatically means the princess falling in love with the man.

18. Dardura or Frog

This is a satire on how deeply we are affected by social standing, for which we create our own imaginary parameters.

19. Baakpatu Hamsa or Speaking Expert Swan

Another story in fairy tale style which becomes extra interesting with two endings.

20. Alikhita Galpa or Unwritten Story

This narrates the mental crisis of a new writer to write about misfortune or death of his main character.

21. Janha O Hawara Sandhya or An Evening of Moon and Breeze

Another story set up in North Valley, this depicts how a pre-conceived notion like superstition may overpower mind and mislead one’s brain. However, in this story the characters try to analyse events to be free from the notion.

22. Shatru or Enemy

When one gets obsessed about revenge his mind becomes his own hell and they can never be free even after physically taking the revenge.

23. Bhanugunda or Hooligan Bhanu

This is a bittersweet story about a hooligan with a twist in the ending.

24. Nimantrana or Invitation

Another story about falling of old ways and how the old aristocrats can’t comprehend the new aristocrats, the bureaucracy.

25. Juddhajatra or Journey to War

A person in search of a war may not always meet a war.

Overall a great read with all his trademark characteristics but I am so sorry about the physical condition of the great book. The pages are so thin that they are almost transparent. There are many printing mistakes like repetition of a whole paragraph. And then a big blunder in page arrangement with many pages not arranged in proper order. The printing was done at minimal cost no doubt given the low price of the book. Maybe we are to be blamed because we are not willing to spend more on books written in our own mother tongues.

Is it pertinent to write my musing about the book in English? I don’t know the right answer. I had to write in English because over the years I have become more comfortable in expressing my thoughts in English. I know my musing in English would be more sincere and honest.

Initially when I started the book it felt odd reading my own language but gradually it felt like coming home. I am planning to read much more Odia books and reread some of the difficult/important novels.