| Publisher |
Niyogi Books |
| Publication Year |
2017 |
| ISBN-13 |
9788193393550 |
| ISBN-10 |
9788193393550 |
| Binding |
Hardcover |
| Number of Pages |
448 Pages |
| Language |
(English) |
| Dimensions (Cms) |
21.7* 14.1*3.1 |
| Weight (grms) |
640 |
Saakshi uses the Puranas and Vedanta as well as Gandhian concepts to discuss the meaning of truth and its distortions through greed, sexuality and desire. Overcome by guilt at having committed perjury in court, in a murder trial, Parameshwarayya, a village elder, commits suicide. Yama, the god of death and righteousness, affords him the privilege of presenting his case himself. Thereafter, he commands Parameshwarayya to return to earth in spiritual form to witness, but not to intervene, in subsequent events. Parameshwarayya observes his daughter Savitri, son Ramakrishna, son-in-law Satyappa, the woman Lakkoo and the sensitive Dr Hasheem as they are confronted by difficult decisions and revelations, which cause them to look inward and attempt an appraisal of their lives and values. Bhyrappa’s portrayal of the greedy Nagappa, who grudges his only grandson the rice he eats, and the arrogant, selfish, and lustful Manjayya creates indelible impressions on the mind. This powerful novel questions what it means to be a witness—in a courtroom, before the gods, to the lives of others, or finally to one’s self.
S.L. Bhyrappa
Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa is widely regarded as the greatest living novelist in Kannada. In a literary career spanning over fifty years he has authored twenty-two novels, which have been translated into most of the major Indian languages, including Urdu. His works have run into numerous reprints and have been the subject of numerous scholarly studies, as well as heated public debates. Of his books, Daatuwon the Sahitya Academy award while Mandrawon him the prestigious Saraswati Samman. He lives in Mysore.
LV Shanthakumari
LV Shanthakumari is a life-member of ‘Akhila Karnataka Lekakhiyara Sangha’. Her poems, articles and critical essays are published in Kannada and English magazines and journals. She has translated award-winning books to and from Kannada including Bhyrappa’s Mandra (published by Niyogi Books) and Bhitti along with Dr S Ramaswamy. She has authored Yugasaakshi, a critical study on S L Bhyrappa’s novels..
S.L. Bhyrappa
,LV Shanthakumari
Niyogi Books