We are extremely delighted to announce the publication of “The Crimson Hibiscus”, an English Translation by P. Balaswamy of one of the best selling novels of Thi. Janakiraman Sembaruthi (1968) by Ratna Books, New Delhi. Thija authored nine novels, many of which were popular best sellers like Mohamul, Amma Vandal, Marappasu, Anbe Aramudey, Malar Manjam etc and we are very happy to see Sembaruthi come out this year. It is only the third English translation of his novels apart from Marappasu (Wooden Cow) and Amma Vandal (Appu’s Mother).
“Set in the pre-Second World War decades in a fictional village in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu and considered among one of the best of Tamil novels, ‘Sembaruthi’ is the story of an ordinary person and his family in the backdrop of the freedom struggle, teething troubles of a newly independent India and communism. Full of twists and turns, it is an intense and psychologically deep examination of the inner lives of men and women. The protagonist’s stream of consciousness examines the nuances, contradictions and ethical dilemmas; and poses the most daring question – can a man allow two women to rule his heart?” Now available on Amazon.
In this discussion below, Samyuktha and Lakshmi discuss interesting trivia on Sembaruthi in a conversation with Uma Shankari.
T. Janakiraman's Short Stories 