யதி – ஒரு மதிப்புரை

GoodReads இல் யதிக்கு இந்த மதிப்புரையை எழுதியிருப்பவர் கிரிஷ். என்றோ எழுதிய நாவல் என்றும் படிக்கப்படுவதினும் நம்பிக்கை தருவது வேறில்லை. செயல் சரியாக இருந்தால் விளைவு சரியாகவே இருக்கும். யதி Trilogy இல் முதல் நாவலான சலத்தை நிறைவு செய்திருக்கும் இத்தருணத்தில் யதிக்கு வந்திருக்கும் இம்மதிப்புரை மகிழ்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.

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Some books have to be read at the right stage of your life. If this book had been read when I was younger, I would have dismissed it completely and had I read it after 10 years – I would have too many fixed opinions that I might have found something to take offence.

Pa.Raghavan’s Yathi is a book like no other that I have read across any language. It is about 4 brothers from a family who have chosen to become sanyasis – each a different path. From the narrative standpoint that is a prophecy told to us very early on and yet there is denial and ridicule every time it comes across.

Three of the brothers are returning home after 35 odd years for their mother’s death and last rites. The paths they have taken are told to us through narratives set on the youngest brother Vimal. The first brother is a mastered Siddhar who could communicate in dreams and make people do their biddings. People can’t find him unless he wants to be found and he has a couple of agents – a sufi outside a mosque and an uncouth siddhar called Sorimuthu who guide the brothers at different points of time.

The second brother Vinay is struggling to find God and peace. He indulges in black magic and is an unhappy soul who derails from his path often. The third brother find spirituality in Krishna and the fourth is the atheist king maker who leads an enlightened life. The characters and narratives are highly rewarding and the character arcs are amazing!

The pawns in their journey like Chitra the young girl who three of the brothers have fancied in their childhood or their poor uncle who stays by their mother. This is a book that I imagine would have taken every ounce of energy and accomplishes to not offend anyone. Even when they are debating the philosophies, there is humor used to express the fallibility of ideas.

This is a book that was surprisingly high on philosophy and yet had a great entertainment quotient. This along with Iravaan are two books that can’t be categorized into genres and can’t be explained without spoiling it. Read it if you can. A genius author!

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