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On the Far Side of Memory: Short Stories of Lalithambika Antharjanam
Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909-1989) was one of the earliest women to gain recognition in modern Malayalam literature as one of the first voices raised on behalf of women. Her works deal with the struggles of the women in her community, their assertion of independence from the men in their lives, and their unease with modern domesticity and community reformism. She has, however, always been straitjacketed as a 'romantic author', as a 'voice of social reform among the Malayali Brahmins', due to a selective readings of her writings, which projected some of her writing as more valuable than others.
This collection of her twenty-two short stories covers almost the entire span of her writing, from the 1930s to the 1980s. The volume seeks to place her as a feminist public intellectual intervening in the literary and sociopolitical debates of her times, which, of course, change dramatically across the course of the century.
Antharjanam emerges as an important voice that responded critically to imaginations of gender that were dominant in the mainstream of social reform discourse in the 1930s and after, and indeed sought to rewrite the terms of that discourse in ways that could potentially be more favourable to women. It also reveals the limits of her attempts at reinscription, due to the limitations of her times and social location.
This collection of her twenty-two short stories covers almost the entire span of her writing, from the 1930s to the 1980s. The volume seeks to place her as a feminist public intellectual intervening in the literary and sociopolitical debates of her times, which, of course, change dramatically across the course of the century.
Antharjanam emerges as an important voice that responded critically to imaginations of gender that were dominant in the mainstream of social reform discourse in the 1930s and after, and indeed sought to rewrite the terms of that discourse in ways that could potentially be more favourable to women. It also reveals the limits of her attempts at reinscription, due to the limitations of her times and social location.
200 pages, Hardcover
Published February 28, 2018
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About the author
Lalithambika Antharjanam
11 books57 followersLalithambika Antharjanam (ലളിതാംബിക അന്തര്ജനം) (1909–1987) was an Indian author and social reformer best known for her literary works in Malayalam language. Her published oeuvre consists of nine volumes of short stories, six collections of poems, two books for children, and a novel, Agnisakshi (1976) which won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977. Her autobiography Aathmakadhakkoru Aamukham (An Introduction to Autobiography) is a very significant work.
She was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and social reform movements among the Nambudiri caste led by V. T. Bhattathiripad. Later she contributed to the social reform in her own way. Her writing reflects a sensitivity to the women's role in society, and the tension between the woman as a centre for bonding and the woman as an individual. She was concerned particularly the nature of the sexual contract.
She was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and social reform movements among the Nambudiri caste led by V. T. Bhattathiripad. Later she contributed to the social reform in her own way. Her writing reflects a sensitivity to the women's role in society, and the tension between the woman as a centre for bonding and the woman as an individual. She was concerned particularly the nature of the sexual contract.
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May 2, 2020
First of all I should appreciate the translator, J Devika, who did a great job by transferring worlds without losing its soul.
Each story is different worlds made up of polished language. Lalithambika Antharjanam, one of the greatest writers of that time, proved that the women not only able to manage a home but she is better in conquering the literary world too. I really loved each of the stories. Understood, how women were treated and how how pathetic it was. Whenever she tried to raise her voice the patriarchal society always made it numb. It's truly shameful that the situation is yet not changed.
A great book.
Each story is different worlds made up of polished language. Lalithambika Antharjanam, one of the greatest writers of that time, proved that the women not only able to manage a home but she is better in conquering the literary world too. I really loved each of the stories. Understood, how women were treated and how how pathetic it was. Whenever she tried to raise her voice the patriarchal society always made it numb. It's truly shameful that the situation is yet not changed.
A great book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review