Review of The novel Rekai by the Tirupur-
Subrabarathimanian
When Astrologers Failed to Foresee their Future
The novel Rekai by the Tirupur-based popular
novelist Subrabarathimanian is a portrait of the contemporary society, which
has almost lost its tradition and culture as a victim to the widespread
globalization and privatization. Set in a village on the banks of a river
called ‘ Muruga Nadhi’ ( Could be Shanmuga Nadhi) near Palani, the southern
border of the ancient Kongunadu, the Tamil novel brings to light the uncertain
lives of the people, particularly, the Valluvars – a community, whose
traditional occupation is palmistry and astrology.
At a time when the invention of computer is working
wonders in science and technology, the features in the machine in Tamil Nadu
are used even to predict one’s future by
‘ scientifically’ analyzing horoscopes in the name ‘Computer Jathagam’
The book, which reveals the reality of modern life through its characters Amalam,
Parameshwari, Gopal, Rathinavelu, Ganapathy, Subbaiah and many others, reflects
a society, which is devoid of its moral values with the impact of
socio-economic changes.
“My husband became a habitual drinker and was of no
use to the family. So I drove him out of my home” says the character Amalam,
who ekes out a living by selling flowers at the foothills of Palani.
However, Subrabarathimanian has portrayed the
Amalam as the one, who again looks for her husband in the temples of
Thiruvannnamalai and Perur.
Subbaiah, a playwright and cinema buff, who, once,
staged a number of plays of artistic interest in the village, is eking out a living by staging street plays
and composing songs on awareness on HIV, child labour and so on as directed by
the NGOs, which make big money from foreign funds. On the other hand, Gopal,
who hails from a traditional astrologers family, realizes that survival was
hardly possible without giving a ‘scientific character’ to traditional
astrology. Hence, he sets up his ‘astrology offices’ at Tirupur and Chennai –
the two wealthy towns of Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, he also self styles himself
wearing a kurda and smearing sacred ash with sandal paste on his forehead
and calling him as ‘Cinema Jothidar
‘(Cinema astrologer). By doing so, he attracts many clients from the tinsel
town, as they are believers in the omen, which is sure to bring fortunes and
misfortunes in their venture.
The village near Palani still has a handful of
traditional astrologers, who ‘predict’ one’s future by analyzing the person’s horoscope.
Nevertheless, in the contemporary commercial world, a parrot astrologer has set
up his stall at the Muniappan Temple in the village. When a man in the novel
questions him of doing business by interfering the profession of traditional
astrologers, the parrot astrologer says:
“Parrot astrology is like ‘fast food’ and it helps
people know their fortunes at once. You are a bachelor. Aren’t you? Why don’t
you know your marriage prospects from a card picked by my parrot? “
B. Meenakshi Sundaram
