Naalukettu: The House Around the Courtyard
M.T. Vasudevan Nair
Translated by Gita Krishnankutty
OUP, Rs 395

In the 50 years since its publication, M.T. Vasudevan Nair’s first novel has seen 23 reprints and 14 translations, and sold half a million copies. Gita Krishnankutty now brings us this affecting work in a skilful English translation. Written in three weeks when MT, as all his readers call him, was a 24-year-old trainee at Mathrubhumi, Naalukettu is about many things — the decline of the matrilineal system, the disintegration of the tharavad (Nair joint family) and, literally, the crumbling of the naalukettu (the family house around the courtyard). More than anything else, it is about life in Kudallur, MT’s Kerala village to which he returns repeatedly in his writings. A small village, with a river running through it — and the ebbs and tides of destiny that can take its inhabitants from bitter anger to forgiveness within a lifetime.

Appunni is a young Nair boy who dreams of taking revenge on his father’s murderer. His mother, Parukutty, is the daughter of a great tharavad who falls in love with Kondunni Nair, the best pagida (dice) player in the village, and escapes the arranged marriage that her family has planned for her. Kondunni has no wealth, but he and his partner Syedalikutty start a tapioca business that looks promising — until, one evening, after a dinner at Syedali’s house, Kondunni collapses. Now, with the tharavad having turned away from her troubles, Parukutty works as a domestic help to bring up her son.

... contd.