This Is my first novel. Written originally in Malayalam as Khasakkinte Itihasam, it made its appearance as a serial in the Mathrubhumi Weekly in 1968, and as a book in 1969, published by Current Books, Trichur. The actual work on the novel was begun in 1956, and one of its chapters was printed prematurely in the Mathrubhumi Weekly in October 1958. The final form of the work was delayed due to a number of reasons. The book in Malayalam, currently published by D.C. Books, Kottayam is now in its twenty-first impression.
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It has been difficult translating this book. It is full of dense images of nature, old folk customs, evocations of caste differences, the rich play of dialects, all of which are difficult to render into English. So much has been lost, there was no way it could have been salvaged. I have tried to make the narrative depend on its own energy as much as possible, and preserved the pace and rhythm of the original.
Rustic Malayalam is courteous, even when it is familiar. Thus forms of address establish a tone of friendship.
Maash in Malayalam is taken from School-master in English; Kutti, literally child, is a mildly affectionate way of addressing a younger person and is sometimes part of a name; Yajaman, the servant’s appellation for his master, is a placatory form of address; Attha, Umma are in the Muslim patois, father, mother. Umma is also how a Muslim woman is addressed; Acchan (fem: Acchi) is a term of respect used for older people and is usually suffixed to names. Also Ettan, Etta, Annan; Poothams are familiar demons and are, at times, comical.
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For helping with the making of this translation, there are some people I’d like to thank. First, my nephew, Paul Vinay Kumar, for keeping track of the translation schedules. Also, Ms Shobha Ramachandran for typing out the novel without errors.
New Delhi
July, 1997
O. V. Vijayan