Is there anything worse in this world than being rejected and neglected?
Plot
This Tamil novel tells the story of Devaraj, a man who faces challenges because he can’t hear well. Life throws many obstacles his way: sometimes it’s his own insecurities, sometimes it’s bad luck, and sometimes it’s just the way things turn out. A rude teacher at school forces him to quit, and a trip to a sign language school exposes him to the darker side of people. Everywhere he goes, he seems to return home empty-handed or feeling guilty. Back at home, he faces the disappointment of his angry father and frustrated mother. But his friend Ramasubbu stays by his side, encouraging him and helping him find a new path. The story follows Devaraj until he’s 47, leaving the reader wondering if he’ll ever find his place in the world and settle down with a wife.
Compelling Narrative
The interesting thing about this book isn’t just the story, but how it portrays different characters. Each chapter focuses on a different person, or even a few people! “Sumitra” by Kalpatta Narayanan narrates the story in similar approach too. So what makes this style of storytelling so engaging? It’s because we get to see human relationship, behaviour unfold through these characters, some of whom are listed here.
- Devaraj’s mother
- Ramasubbu, Devaraj’s childhood friend
- Devaraj’s father
- Razak sir, Devaraj’s rude teacher at school
- Kanthi akka
- Sreenivasan, the communist leader during emergency period
- Daniel, The supervisor of the Sign school
- Naomy, Maid of the Sign school
- Rajamani, A Gandhian and the proprietor of Gandhi Vilas hotel
- Man Udaiyar, Devaraj’s Grandfather at Timmalapuram
- Vairavan Chettiar, Timmalapuram and his 2nd wife BhuvanSri from Penang
- Sudharsanam sir and teacher
- Thambaiyah from Vandipettai
- Veppankulam Reddiar
- Sangunni Pandaram
- Perumal Nayakar and Manga
- Gopal ayyar, owner of Gopalar Canteen at Vandipettai
- Kesava Reddy, commission broker at Vandipettai
- Joseph, printer training batch mate at Tuticorin
- Grace Ammal, oldie at Sangu Thurai, native of above said Joseph.
- Savari Muthu, the rationalist
- Joslyn, Devraj’s first lover
- The Sri Lankan refugees
- The unnamed lady at Madurai town bus
- Saveetha, coworker at Khadi shop at Ooty
- Dr Balaiya, Mrs Balaiya, son Prabu, maid Subbamma
- Pulenthiran, the passerby during new year
- Valli Aachi and Meena Aachi from Chettinad
- Guna, the assistant boy at Kaashi
- Hemavathy, the spirit at Kaashi
- Sadhu Siddhalingam
- Devaraj’s brother and sister-in-law
- Chakarapani, the scammer at Meenatchi Chit fund
- Sivasu, the late married man
It feels almost like reading a collection of blog posts, each one revealing a different perspective on the story.
Emotional Depth
Many of us get discouraged when we keep failing. We try our best, but come home empty-handed or feeling ashamed. Ideally, eventually one of those attempts pays off, and things take off. But what if that breakthrough never comes? The constant disappointment can drain your energy and make it hard to keep trying. It’s like being trapped in a cycle of negativity, and it’s tough to break free. Very few stays energized and continue their hunt. Nimitham delves into profound such human emotions.
I liked all the chapters, to name a few, –
- There’s a particularly interesting chapter titled “கனவுகளும் வளர்கின்றன / Kaṉavukaḷum vaḷarkiṉṟaṉa” (which literally translates to “Dreams Grow”). It dives into Devaraj’s nightmare. It brings out a gambler who gambles against himself. This reminded me of a similar concept in “Venmurasu” by Jeyamohan, where characters like Draupadi or Yudhisthira gamble against themselves. I’ve even tried it myself, but it never seems to work out! Gambling against yourself requires a unique skillset. But it is a strong metaphor. It fits into the narrative of Devaraj’s life gambling against himself. It’s a very thought-provoking chapter!
- There’s another great chapter called “The World of Vandipettai” (வண்டிப்பேட்டை எனும் உலகம் / Vaṇṭippēṭṭai eṉum ulakam), which focuses on the bustling Vandipettai cotton market. It introduces us to a bunch of fascinating characters, like ‘well maintainer’ Thambaiya, ‘Penang’ BhuvanSri, ‘Efficient housewife’ Manga, ‘Gopallar canteen’ Gopal Ayyar, and ‘Commission Broker’ Kesava Reddy. The author makes a great point: every place has its own story, whether it’s the village you grew up in, the temple you visit, or even the tree where you used to play. And when someone tells the story of a place, it leaves a lasting impression on you. This chapter does exactly that – it captures the rise and fall of the Vandipettai market, along with the stories of the people who made it what it was. It’s a truly captivating read.
- The novel explores Devaraj’s relationships with women throughout his life. We see this theme play out in Naomi, Joslyn, Vanarani and RangaNayagi – relationships filled with hope, and a brief encounter with an unnamed lady in Madurai. The stark contrast between experiences with Naomi and the Madurai lady leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It’s interesting to see how Devaraj, despite facing limitations in his life, might subconsciously expect certain qualities from his partners. However, it’s important to remember that limitations shouldn’t dictate expectations. Just because someone faces challenges doesn’t mean they can’t have desires, and general human nature plays a role. This point is tragically mirrored by a real-world incident: a worker, enraged by a woman refusing service due to his race, ended up taking her life. This horrifying event reminds us that limitations shouldn’t justify prejudice.
Conclusion
What truly elevates Nimittam is its exploration of human relationships. The way the story unfolds through different characters, allows us to experience a rich tapestry of connection, rejection, and hope. Overall, it’s a deeply satisfying read that leaves a lasting impression.
- NLB: நிமித்தம் | Nimittam
- Buy from publisher: நிமித்தம்/Nimitham
- Buy from Amazon: Nimitham / நிமித்தம் Paperback
