Balakumaran
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பாலகுமாரன்"Thayumanavan" is the name for Lord Shiva, who also served as a mother. I feel it is a poem in one word, something that conveys the need of a feminine sensitivity in a man. I came across the novel by my favourite writer Balakumaran when I was in 9th standard. Before reading that I saw it as a TV serial in DD, with Chandrasekar and Vanaja essaying the lead roles. Only when I read the novel I realised the difference between the paper and execution on screen. The written form was simply amazing. Somewhere deep inside my mind it stayed and I feel it started influencing over my personality too, as those were the formative years of a human personality. I loved the way of life "Thayumanavan" portrayed.

Page 1

This is a story of a simple middle aged union leader Paramasivam, blessed with a happy family of a wife Saraswathi and two kids, elder one is a daughter and younger being a boy. He also commands respect in his working place. He has a good reputation in his management that Paramasivam is an impartial leader. As usual there were teething problems between the management and the working class and in a certain incident, Paramasivam's reputation is tarnished and he quits the job. Who should take care of the burning kitchen? Saraswathi takes up a job again and reluctant Paramasivam had no other option than letting her go. As someone who had always seen the world in the working place, it is entirely a New World to be in home as homemaker.

His reputation of a fiery union leader goes against him in getting a job, his plans to migrate abroad is aborted by a fraud agent makes him go weak on his knees. Around the same time his daughter "grows" big, his son falls sick and understands the working pressure of his wife, he comes across an indecent proposition of a spinster next house, making him travel though a wide gamut of emotions and experiences. At the end of the novel, Paramasivam gets a job in Bombay and goes all alone leaving the entire home making responsibilities to his wife with a joy and satisfaction that he too had been a mother for some time. This justifies the title of the novel.

Since the story is set in early 80s thus making the life simpler and a delight to read. The milieu of middle class makes you sigh why life cant be so simple all again. This is one of the reasons why I am reading this book again and again.

The book starts as a flashback told on the eve of Paramasivam leaving to Bombay. The character graph of Paramasivam is told in a linear fashion. He is strict that the labourers fear of misbehaving in the shop floor. He is considerate that he makes it a point to be there for his colleagues whenever they need a moral support. The petty politics that exist in a factory, how the least educated employers are misguided and the professional rivalry, shop floor happenings make an interesting reading.

However the core of the novel, when Paramu is jobless is far interesting and rendering than the previous incidents. Every page will be identified and related with some of the happenings in our life or with someone next to us. The way the series of incidents unfold since Paramu loses his job, how it was conveyed to his wife, how she reacts and the incidents that happen in that night as a result of the reaction, whole things are told in an engrossing manner. (So engaging that despite reading the book for 10-12 times, it is still interesting every time as if it is being read for the first time).

Through out the novel there are many small characters that pop up for an incident yet stay in your heart for a long. Like…. "aappakkara kizhavi", who shakes Paramasivam with her unconditional affection. Paramu says "Aayiram perudaiya pagaiya kooda samalicchidalaam, aanal ivaludaiya anbai ennal samalikka mudiyavillai. Yaarival? enakku sonthama? Illai ennai keli seigiraala?” (Even if thousand people gang against, you can come up, but you can't withstand any unconditional love. Who is she to me?)

Another part that touched me is the relation between Paramasivam and his daughter. As usual the daughters are fonder of their fathers. I could visualise the scenes between them. But there are two instances I felt touched. One situation is when Paramasivam was in an embarassing situation about how to let know her daughter about the physical advancements made by his spinster neighbour. Latha understands it and as "Athu thuni pirichu padutthu kidanthatha? Nee keezhe poikko…. Naan thuni kaaya pottittu varrein". It needs a lot of understanding and care to help her father in such situations.