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The British Commission to India: Historical Novel
by MN Pavithran
248 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #05-0789; ISBN 1-4120-5888-0; US$18.50, C$21.28, EUR15.20, £10.64
This Indian modern epic historical novel unveils the hidden history of Kerala as revealed by the British Commission. It is a love story never narrated before; it involves Emma's revenge against her own cousin and love disaster at gun point!
About the Book
The British Parliament constituted a Commission to probe into the matter as to why the Brits were constrained to quit India after 200 odd years of reign. One of the Commission Members came and stayed at Thalassery in kerala. it so happened that the house he stayed in was that of his uncle, who was a police officer. The uncle's wife and daughter were also staying in the house. Uncle left India in 1947 when india gained freedom.
The daughter had a lover named Jerry, who was Anglo-Indian. Her Indian cousin, Devan, also loved her. The Commission Member, Mr. Ronald, became her paramour.
During the probe, the Commissioner unearthed the history of Kerala before and after Nambuthiri's reign. The novel purports to unravel the hidden history of Kerala.
When the Commission's work was over, Mr. Ronald called a press conference to discuss various exerpts from the Commission's report.
After that he made arrangements to leave India. When Mr. Ronald got into his plane on the day of departure his love, Emma, became wild. she smashed her head against the iron gate of the aerodrome. on seeing this, her cousin, Devan caught hold of her. She became furious and fired at him with her pappa's revolver. Mr. devan fell dead on the spot. She became hysterical and fell unconscious in the hands of her lover, Jerry, who had dashed to the scene upon hearing the alarm. The plane slowly disappeared into the evening blooded sky.
About the Author
Pavithran Nellikka Mathiambath was born to a government clerk named Nellikka Kunhikannan of the Registration Department, in the year 1930 at Panur. The author too became a government Clerk with the police department in 1948. His father retired as a Sub-Registrar and Pavithran retired as an Administrative Officer. He was the eldest son to four brothers and one sister.
Reviews
On a sound reading of the book "The British Commission to India", it may be said in general that the author has done proper research and skillful investigation to unravel the Brahmin autocracy and the resultant oppression of the down trodden victims existed especially in North Malabar. The author has succeeded in depicting the denial of birth rights and customs prevalent then in the society even. It was a naked suppression by the Brahmins and upper caste. The author has done well to disclose the reality to the open world.
Mr. Ronald, a Parliamentarian sent by the British Parliament to India came to Kerala. He had studied well about Kerala. On reaching Thalassery he went to every nook and corner of Kerala and collected data. He narrated what he collected to the members of the house in which he dwelt. The main theme of the story was got developed by such narration.
The author lost a golden opportunity to unravel the sinister attitude of land lords. None of the menstruated girls was dared enough to confront the land lords in their heinous actions. The author failed to present a daring youth to chastise a land lord on his attempt to molest her. She could have given a bowl of poisoned toddy and killed him. Such an act when done would have rumored all over and the practice of getting girls with toddy could have ended then and there.
The author has tried his best to root out the Brahmin autocracy in his narration. In the old days Dharmadam was the center of Bushism. The idol "Peetom" (Stool) of Andalurkavu (Temple) was installed according to Budhist customs and ceremony. In the logical debate ensued the Brahmins some how defeated the learned Budhists and cut off their tongues. Fearing such atrocious actions all the Budhists left the place.
The wordings 'he fucked her' could have been avoided in this Historical Novel. However, in unequivocal terms it may be declared that the book is one of the best.
Shri M.Lakshmanan
Eranholi, Thalassery about the British Commission to India
The book brought out in beautiful print and immaculate cover by M/s Trafford Publishing Canada deserve serious reading. Setting apart three days during Onam Holidays the reading took hardly one day. The contents were so gripping that I hardly kept the book down except during meals. The one book that I had a similar experience in reading in the recent past was "God of small things" by Arundhathi Roy.
The author's bold attempt in depicting the history of Kerala, as the author had perceived it after the author's by-pass surgery is commendable. The fulfillment of the author's burning desire to put the real history of Kerala in general and Malabar in particular in itself is a great achievement. This piece surely shall serve as a beacon for the posterity to unravel the obscurity of the past as the author desired.
Even to me, who grew up in the area where the sequences of the book are unfolding, the back ground of most of the episodes narrated were new knowledge. The inquisitiveness of the author and the quality of research conducted before putting down the same make them convincing instantly. Notwithstanding an error had crept in like the British installing Jayachamaraja Wodayar as Mysore king after defeating and killing Tippu Sulthan. Jayachamaraja Wodayar was king in nineteen fifties and sixties, who lost actual kingdom after India attained freedom, whereas Tippu was killed in 1779. The book has several scholarly traces delving deep into the past, interspersed with mythology, to drive the point.
The book is quite likely to ruffle the feathers of many a powerful group that might feel antagonized, like Nambuthiris, Brahmins, Nairs, Communists etc. in whose hands the mistake pointed out shall act as tool to deride the work. The author should not get disheartened in case such an attempt is made from some quarters. Such error is unavoidable in any work, more so in maiden work. It does not in any case erode the basic them nor diminish the worth of the total contents.
To get readership in the present day world is altogether a different proposition. The area where it can circulate with a supportive frame of mind is among the organizations like S.N.D.P. Trust, Pulaya Mahasabha, M. E.S and the like in Kerala and forces that stand for oppressed classes in general in India and abroad.
I am sure that the book will get readership slowly but surely since the author had found a publisher from Canada. The language being English the area coverage is very vast, which should give the author hope.
The book is a very good literary work. Best wishes for the huge success of the book.
(About the error: The wordings "the ancestor of" were some how omitted; which is regretted) (in page 159)
Pradeep Nettur, Bangalore
Excerpts
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