A Big Slice of Odisha

Dasuram's Script -- Book Review 

A collection of sixteen short stories, edited/compiled and translated by Mona Lisa Jena that provides a big slice of Odisha.

Contemporary writing that shifts spatially from urban centers to rural lands, farms, dense jungles in the hinterland and culturally maps in time from 70 s - times of all powerful landlords, landless laborers,  religious and 

socio-economic discrimination, gross disparities, black magic and superstitions to post 90 s where corruption trickles further into interpersonal relations, running clearly in threads even within a family.

Apart from hardships faced by the commoner, love, betrayal and such run-of-the-mill emotions, there are many interesting revelations from stories in this kitty.Unemployment, child abuse, domestic violence, superstitions, local folklore, confining traditions dealt with in these stories paint a picture of the not so perfect life.

The scape shifts from developed Cuttack on one end of the spectrum, it's well lit lanes and Khatjodi river to remote Guduripanka village where Kui tribes strive for an identity and fight against an authoritarian state. There are ponds brimming with fish, Sal trees, mahua overflowing that make a perfect backdrop in stories.

All are good stories - Dasuram's script, This short story should not be remembered, The genius, The shy bride bearing more impact than the rest. A note on the contributors and a short story on writing/ literature in Odia at the end of the book is worth paying attention to.

The cover on the back says - this book is a startling introduction to parallel realities that exist not so far from the self absorbed existence of India's big cities ... and this is very true.

Dasuram's script as a book is like a good flower bouquet, there are some flowers that are bright, some that leave a waft of fragrance in the air and some mere fillers for the sake of adding up volume. Do pick this bouquet, for it does have a charm.