Verukal
Verukal (English: Roots) is a Malayalam semi-autobiographical novel written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan in 1966. It is widely credited as one of his best works.[1][2] It won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967.[3]
 The cover of Verukal | |
| Author | Malayattoor Ramakrishnan |
|---|---|
| Original title | വേരുകൾ |
| Translator | V. Abdulla |
| Cover artist | N. Ajayan |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
| Genre | Semi-autobiographical novel |
| Publisher | D. C. Books |
Publication date | 1966 |
Published in English | 2002 |
| Pages | 132 |
| ISBN | 81-7130-858-9 |
Plot summary
Verukal tells the story of a family of Tamil speaking Iyers who settled in Kerala. Raghu is the protagonist of the story. The pivotal event on which the novel turns is the return of Raghu to his native village after a lapse of several years, to raise money to build a city mansion for himself by selling his ancestral home. He sets about this reluctantly, under pressure from his shrewish and domineering wife. In the village, as he meets his sisters and others among whom he grew up, a flood of memories overwhelms him, and he abruptly changes his mind about selling the property.
Main characters
- Raghu - the protagonist
- Ammulu - Raghu eldest sister
- Lakshmi - Raghu's sister
- Maniyan Athimbaar - Ammulu's husband
- Yajneswarayyar (Ammaanchi) - Lakshmi's husband
- Vishwanathan Iyer - Raghu's father
- Amma - Raghu's mother
- Aadi Narayana Swami (Patta) - Raghu's grandpa
- Ganapathi Patta - Raghu's great grandpa
- Geetha - Raghu's wife
- Ajayan - Raghu's son
- Suma -Raghu's daughter
- Saraswathy - Raghu's younger sister
- Bharathan - Saraswathy's husband
- Rajappan - Raghu's Roommate
- Raman Karthav - manakkale karyasthan
- Periyappa (appu) - Raghu's uncle
References
- Hari Sundar G. (28 December 2002). "In memory of Malayatoor". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
- "The indescribable experience of Thani Illam". OnManorama. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- "Chemmeen to Aarachar: Ten Legendary Malayalam Novels You Must Read!". The Better India. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
