Generations (F.B)

Generations is an intricate tale, told by a master of fiction, about a community of Tamil speakers who live on the borders of modern-day Kerala. Set in the 1940s, this novel explores generational change and conflict, as well as the boy Diravi’s growth into taking charge of his family, which embodies a distinct culture. Diravi’s sister, Nagu’s marriage to Perumal is wrecked when the latter, enraged at his failings, rejects his young wife. Unacceptable in her own family, Nagu continues to endure Perumal’s cruelty until her brother, Diravi, decides on an alternative course of action, slashing through outdated social customs that discourage any constructive solutions. Amidst the backdrop of language, myth, and ethnic consciousness, we are offered a sensitively drawn portrait of the transition from a traditional way of life to modernity and the nostalgia that accompanies change.