Author of the novella, Mrinalini Padhi, is a well known law practitioner, social activist, famous for her Public Interest Litigation on practices in Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, besides being the daughter of Barrister Gobind Das, 2-time Advocate General of Odisha, and author of the iconic Odia novel ‘Amabasyara Chandra’.
In literature, following the literary footsteps of parents are not very common except VS Naipaul, Derek Walcott, Kiran Desai to name a few.
In her first novel, Mrinalini Padhi shows incipient signs of her father’s style notwithstanding her admission that she can’t ever attempt to reach his level. In the preface she cites her father’s letter and advice which has motivated her to write.
Well, she has pulled it off with elan.
The protagonist of her novel is Fakir, a fatherless boy, poor but with big dreams in his eyes inspired by a gentle Bengali Doctor in the neighbourhood. The credit of painting a poor boys’ mindset and habits in different situations with a light touch evoking mirth and laughter goes to the writer.
What could have been a sombre affair is made humorous and amusing especially in the environment of Ravenshaw College and SCB Medical College, Cuttack, where the boy gets to study by dint of his merit despite his poverty stricken background.
Allusions to historic landmarks of Cuttack city where he studies adds a touch of history to the novella.
Coming from abject poverty, the desire on the part of Fakir – now Fakir Babu – to accumulate money, make property, build assets all through his career makes sense as the story moves on with a failed romance and funny episodes showing his quirky character.
But what makes Fakir Babu take a leap of faith at the fag end of his career is revealed only in the last chapter. The climax is what makes the character exceptional. His action transports the novel from a light-hearted narrative to a lofty height of humanism.
Writer Mrinalini Padhi is educated in English medium but shows promise in the genre of Odia novels.
(Odisha Book Store, pages 94, price Rs100 only)
