Ther's a young wife yearning for a kiss from her husband who did not like kissing on the mouth. There's this young man wondering what is the purpose of the language other than communicating and connecting with people. And why do they need to protect the 'honor of the language, when they can't protect the honor of a woman who was molested because she came out in ' Bandh' observed in the name protecting their language. There's a young wife dying to have kids and wondering what sin she might have committed to anger Gods that they are preventing her from having such simple joys.
In the land of beaches, beer and parties, live simple people with their simple stories. What makes their stories extraordinary is this Sahitya Acadamy winning Konkani writer, Damodar Mauzo. Translated by Xavier Cota, Teresa's man and other stories is a delightful collection of short stories based in Goa. Most stories tell the plight of women and their highly patriarchal house. For instance, In Teresa's man, a young woman named Teresa is the sole earner of her family. The husband does not do anything while the mother-in-law simply makes things difficult for her by inciting her son to be the MAN of the family. And then there's Electrol Empowerment in which the housewife who is not allowed to do anything her husband's wishes, goes out and vote against the candidate her husband asks her to. That's the most empowerment she ever got.
My favorite is The writer's tale wherein the writer meets a young Tamil writer in a conference in New Delhi. The Tamil writer, Jayatha opened up about her life and tells him that she lives with her husband and his family in a huge house where nobody is interested in her stories. A strange but interesting bond established between the two, leaving the writer puzzled.
I think I will read more books by regional writers. Their stories are simple and yet deep and make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
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