REVIEW
THE
VILLAGE BY THE SEA
ANITA DESAI
Anita Desai was born and educated in India . Her published works
include novel, two Collections of short stories and two books for
children . She is a fellow of Royal Society of literature in London
and Academy of arts and letters in New York . She has won the Annual
Guardian children’s fiction prize, a book awarded judged by a panel
of British children’s Writer.
The village by the sea is an
award winning story about a family surviving in a small village in
India.Main characters are Hari,Lila,Bela
and Kamal (three
sisters) and their ill mother and a drunken father.The story is
written by simple language which is understood by all. Some Indian
words are used in the story.The village is set in a small village
THUL near Bombay.
The story tells us about the survival of a small family in a village.
Their hard work to meet the day’s expense both Hari and Lila worked
very hard to look after their family.Bela and Kamal were the two
younger sisters .Their mother is ill and she always lies on the
bed.Father who is a drunkard and spends money to buy toddy.He doesn’t
take care of his family and children.He earns money and spends it in
the toddy shop.He will not spend a little bit for the family.There is
one more character in the story “PINTO” a loving dog.The dog is
loving and the family too loves and takes care of Pinto.
Bela earns money from the rich Dr.Silvas who own bungalow,by cleaning
and taking care of the bungalow and helping them.The bungalow is
named Man repos and is next to their hut.Hari is always dreams of
going to Mumbai.One day government planned to build a factory
atTHUL,the plan will destroy the Thul’s beauty and Nature.Villagers
protest against it and decided to go to Bombay to meet
authorities.Hari too had gone with them.He was alone at Bombay and
some how reached Jaggu’s restaurant “Sri Krishna Eating House”.
Jaggu was the proprietor of the restaurant.Hari worked in the hotel
and earned money.He got sufficient income and food from there.Next to
Jaggu’s hotel was Mr.Panwallah’s watch repair house.Hari become
friendly with Mr. Panwallah .Mr. Panwallah taught him how to repair
watches.Hari understood that he could start a watch repair shop and
start career as a watch maker.Mr.Panwallah gave him courage and
inspiration to lead a strong life in the village.He also advices him
some plans to survive in village.
In village conditions was worse.Hari’s mother had become weak and
she was taken to hospital Bella , kamal and lila with help of
Silvas.Sudden change came to their life,their father changed a lot.He
somehow changed to new life.He accompanied their mother 7months in
the hospital.He never spend a ruppee for toddy in those seven months
. Meanwhile Hari decided to return the villae Thul.Jaggu and
Mr.Panwalah helped Hari by buying him a ticket and giving him some
money.Hari reached Thul .
Hari found a different environment around
his house.It was a diwali time.When Lila saw Hari, Lila and his
sisters explained the story to Hari that happened after Hari
left.Hari too explained his life at Bombay.How he turned to repair
watches . Hari along with his sisters planned how to spend the money
that he had saved.Hari told that he would start a chicken farm so
that he could sell eggs and small chickens.After some months he could
earn better and start a watch repair shop.
Hari decided to bring their mother back to home for Diwali. When Hari
reached hospital he was surprised at the sight of his mother and his
changed father.He paid all the bills and took his mother to home.The
whole family enjoyed Diwali happily with sweets and crackers.All were
happy.
Hari and lila his sister, started adapting new ways to survive life
in the developing world.Thus the novel ends by their turn to new
life.Novel portraits the situation that has to be faced by a village
family.How they earn money to meet their survival.Eventhough a simple
story,the story has touched a cord about the life of the common
people.
T.S.
PAVITHRA SHENOI
No comments:
Post a Comment