A way with words

THE SAHITYA Akademi, recently organised a reading session by well-known Malayalam short-story writer, Vatsala, in the city. She read two of her stories - "Pankuru Pushpathinte Then" (Honey from the Pankuru Flower) and "Ammayute Makan" (Mother's Son). Later, talking to Vatsala proved to be a fascinating experience.

Born in 1938, Vatsala had her school and college education in Kozhikode, Kerala. She pursued a career as a school teacher and began writing even as a school student. Starting with poems she went on to penning short stories and novels. Today, she is one of the foremost woman writers of Kerala.

All her collections have been reprinted several times; she has a distinct, individual style of writing. During her 40-year literary career, she has written 38 books, seven novels, besides collections of short stories. No mean achievement, this. But, what is remarkable about Vatsala is that she has successfully managed to run a family, pursue a career and be a creative writer as well. What strikes one the most about Vatsala, is her quiet efficiency and an unfailing optimism that is reflected in her writings.

She was born in an Ezhava family at a time when the caste system was predominant in Kerala and must have felt and understood the lot of the marginalised sections in society. Being a woman, she must have also felt the oppression of a dominant patriarchal system. But, these two aspects of her life gave her the impetus to write. She says, "A woman in the society she was born in, was made to feel unimportant. There were many social taboos that prevented women from independent expression of ideas or values." She found writing a way of declaring her independence. This independence inspired and sustained her literary activity.

"Life in Kerala is especially complicated. Though the feudal system has been abolished, the thinking and general attitude to life continues to remain so. The country's struggle for freedom did bring about a certain equality in the social sphere. Writing, which was till then considered the preserve of the upper classes such as the Namboodiris and the Nairs, was freed from these casteist influences. Today, in Kerala, there is no inequality in the sphere of writing on account of caste, creed or religion. Indeed, a salutary trend." Vatsala is not actively involved in politics and is not a member of any political party. In fact, when she was described as a "Marxist" she took exception and clarified: "I do have Leftist leanings. But, I am not a Marxist. Being a party member would place restrictions on my writing. I would like to have absolute freedom of expression to write creatively." However, she is conscious of the socio-economic problems of the people around her and they are reflected in all her books.

The other awareness that makes her a sensitive writer is of being a woman and the constant struggle it is for a woman to maintain her self-respect and dignity. She would like to termed a "humanist", one who is aware of the problems of the marginalised sections of humanity. Her ideas on 'feminism' are very clear. "Feminism, she says should be rooted in the experience of women in society. It is not something abstract to be propounded on platforms and theorised in books. "Freedom has to be earned and should not be considered a gift. Women have to assert themselves and make their position about life and values clear. Freedom has to be won through self-awareness and assertion of independence in the personal and public spheres."

Vatsala believes that unless women are strong enough to bear the responsibilities of their personal as well as public life, there will be no liberation. She says, "The capable and efficient will be free; the incapable and inefficient will always remain slaves." She, therefore, shifts the onus of freedom on to the individual and his/her passionate longing for it. She cannot understand why a woman should ask for maintenance expenses after a divorce. "Divorce takes place after arriving at a mutual understanding to separate. What is the logic of asking for monetary payment afterwards? A woman who wants to be independent should be capable of taking care of herself after a divorce."

Unlike other authors, Vatsala does not have a common style in all her works. Her language and style change according to the theme and its requirements. Her famous work "Nellu" (Paddy) is situated in the forests of Wayanad. So her language takes on the nuances of that of the tribals of the region. Her other famous work, "Agneyam", where the protagonist is a Namboodiri woman, takes on a different texture and style.

Asked which is her favourite work, she unhesitatingly replies, "Agneyam" because of the strength of the protagonist, Nangema, who had the courage to fight and carve out a life of her own despite adverse circumstances. The lyrical quality of the language used is also appealing. The nuances of the Naxalite Movement in Kerala have been subtly documented in this work.

What is the function of literature? She replies, "To elevate the human mind. And this, should be the attempt through language, tone and expression. In Malayalam literature, the late Sankara Kurup had this quality." Asked about the differences between a short story and a novel, she says, "While the short story, as an individual expression of the soul, tends to be subjective, a novel that deals with the feelings of an author as a social being tends to be more objective. About why women succeed as writers, she has this to say: "A woman's mind has always been the fountain of creativity. She will always find the energy for creativity; she is the creator in the true sense of the term; she alone forgives and finds the quality of goodness in all human beings. Therefore, writing comes naturally to women."

VASANTHI SANKARANARAYANAN

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