Password and other stories – Appadurai Muttulingam, Translated from Tamil by S. Thillainayagam

Description

These nineteen stories in English translation are from among the more than 150 written by Muttulingam in Tamil. Each story uniquely portrays an astonishing variety of human emotions underlining issues of human rights. They have varied motifs and locales in Sri Lanka, Africa, Europe, America and Canada. The author’s wide knowledge of cultures, customs and religious practices of diverse people and understanding of environmental issues coupled with his acquaintance with hundreds of birds, animals and numerous branches of science evoke a sense of wonder about the world we live in. This wonder gets deepened as we observe Muttulingam’s distinct way of dealing with complexities of personal life in the public domain as well as in family. All his stories reflect lived experiences narrated in a style that is precise and incisive; the dramatic quality is leavened by abundant humour – features that make Muttulingam one of the greatest Tamil short story writers.