Cover of the French (2004) translation by Dominique Vitalyos (Fayard)
Author
O. V. Vijayan
Country
India
Language
Malayalam
Genre
Novel (Magic realism)
Published
1968 (Mathrubhumi Weekly)
1969–1990 (Current Books)
1990 onwards (D.C. Books)
1994 English version (Penguin Books)
Publisher
DC Books (Malayalam)
Penguin Books (English version)
Awards
Muttathu Varkey Award (1992)
ISBN
978-8171301263
Khasakkinte Itihasam (transl. The Legend of Khasak or transl. The Saga of Khasak,[1] generally referred to as Khasak in Malayalam literary circles) is the Malayalam debut novel by Indian writer O. V. Vijayan (1930–2005). It was first serialised in 1968 and published as a single edition in 1969.[2][3] The novel has been translated from Malayalam into French by Dominique Vitalyos.[4]
The novel tells the story of a young university student, who leaves a promising future to take up a primary school teacher's job in the remote village of Khasak. Little by little, the village reveals its secrets. The protagonist is soon bewitched by this ancient village where dreams and legends intermingle. He immerses himself in the "bewitching sensuousness" of the new "rustic, amoral world", only to emerge as an "involved outsider".[5] He finds rational inquiry meaningless and begins a metaphorical journey inwards.[6] The novel is often associated with the general disillusionment with the communist movement in Kerala in the 1960s.[6]
The novel is characterized by the matter-of-fact inclusion of mythical elements into seemingly realistic fiction (magic realism).[7] The novel, published in 1969, after more than a decade of drafting and re-drafting, became an instant hit with young people in Kerala.[7] The multi-faceted work is still one of the bestsellers in Malayalam.[1][7] It has had over 50 reprints, making it one of the most widely read Malayalam novels.[8]
The novel was "translated" into English by Vijayan in 1994 (under the title The Legends of Khasak, Penguin Books), but this version differs substantially from the Malayalam original. Most Kerala readers prefer to read this as an independent novel rather than seeing it as a translation.[4] The English version has also been translated into German by Ursula Gräfe.[4]
^ abFarooq, Omer (30 March 2005). "Key Indian Writer OV Vijayan Dies". BBC. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020.
^Vijayan, O. V. (1994). "Author's Note". The Legends of Khasak. Penguin Books.
^Shaji, K. A. (22 March 2015). "Njattupura Recreates Thasrak Magic". The Hindu (Kerala ed.). Palakkad. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
^ abcRaveendran, P. P. (1999). "Translation and Sensibility". Indian Literature. 43 (3 (191)). Sahitya Akademi: 177–186. ISSN 0019-5804. JSTOR 23342612.
^Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abJain, Madhu (10 August 1989). "Writer O.V. Vijayan Grows in Stature". India Today.
^ abcCite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Jayaraj, V. R. (14 July 2013). "Pilgrimage to Thassarak". The Pioneer. The Pioneer. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
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