Skip to main content

KR Meera's The Gospel of Yudas: A gripping, disturbing portrayal of the Naxalite movement during Emergency in Kerala

Winter mornings are great to read gripping novels that explore the heart's longing for the forbidden, but you need the comfort of a warm sweater, an inviting quilt and a cozy bed to snuggle into. 

 And lots of chai - piping hot, laced with a dash of cardamom.

 That is how I read the first sentence of KR Meera's novel, The Gospel of Yudas, translated by Rajesh Rajamohan, and the sentence simply leapt  into my consciousness as I read the words, "A traitor can never sleep. His hunger is eternal; his thirst, insatiable."

I HAVE to say this: This blurb took my breath away - the different shades of green-blue tones and the sinking girl evoked strong emotions even before I touched the first page. 

 For latest book reviews, subscribe to Svara's Newsletter!

And you feel a spark of rebellion stem from within when you read poignant sentences like this, "In our lake, dead bodies raced among themselves daily to find their way to the surface," and "In our feudal home - our Naalukettu - before I went to sleep in my room under the yellowed ceiling made of Anjiliwood, I'd chant silently 'Naxalbari Zindabad!'

The story of the hero, is narrated through Prema, a retired policeman's daughter who is infatuated with Yudas, a man whose existence is all about diving into lakes and river bodies to retrieve corpses. 

 The  novel is constructed around Prema's dangerous obsession with Yudas, who is still grieving over his betrayal of the woman he loved - Sunanda. This leads Prema to undertake an intense exploration of his past, blending with it all the elements of a bittersweet love tragedy, neither page turning nor sensual, but deeply moving. 

 One of the most impressive aspects of this book is that within the hidden layers of human behavior, more is revealed about what the Emergency did to change human nature, turning it into something  darker than we can ever imagine and how those people caught in its warp try to snap out of it but remain stuck, unable to pierce beyond the damage that the era has wrought on them.

 We are perplexed by the questions that Yudas and Prema inject into our minds as they dive deep within their own seas asking-  What is it about fear that causes people to betray those whom they love?

Prema's self-inflicted confusion is consistent and comes through more strongly than the author may have intended. It is made bare for us to see when she meets Sangeeta, who tells her, "I am not scared, sister. Don't I have the blood of Sunanda and my grandfather coursing through me?" 

 The emotion this statement triggers in Prema makes her vulnerable and strong at the same time, as she reels under its impact, "I was speechless. Rage surged inside me...Sunanda was always ahead of me."

 This 'Prema-moment' feels like the ultimate moment of truth and betrayal.

 KR Meera's novel, The Gospel of Yudas, offers no answers but it is dark and brilliant in a way that intensely grips your mind, word by word, para by para and page by page. 

 Prema's obsession throws into your face the bleak truth of what happens to human beings when they are forced to conform with laws imposed on them by an authoritarian State, where brutality becomes a way of preserving the draconian laws.

 The way this book ends turned out to be slightly disappointing for me. I had expected something very unpredictable, as KR Meera had done in The Hangwoman. But that didn't happen with this latest novel on Yudas. 

 [MUST READ: How the Hangwoman Swept Me off my feet ]

And if you liked reading this book review, do check some of the other books that caught my interest:

 1. The Other Woman in Your Marriage
2. The Nambisan Novels
3. Daughter by Court Order 
4. Custody
5. The Marriage Bureau for Rich People

Summing up, KR Meera's "Gospel of Judas" is a short, gripping book that has much to say about how the Emergency messed up many lives in Kerala.

 Now, it's your turn to tell me - What's on top of your reading list this winter? 

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Unknown said…


Respected madam,

Many congratulations for your wonderful blog. You are doing a great work in raising awareness. I realized the emptiness couple of years back and since then have been doing my sadhana and learning under the guidance of guru. Sometimes I write on spirituality, please check powerinself.blogspot.in .

For last 6-7 months I am feeling intense urge to do something in this direction, everything else has become secondary. So I have decided to start ‘Spiritual Travel’ for real seekers of truth. Commonly spiritual travel is understood as pilgrimage or visiting religious organization or ashram. They become more like sightseeing trips or faith travel with no advancement in knowledge.

Our idea is to design a trip where the seeker gets knowledge of truth, interaction with learned, yoga and meditation. I have myself visited many enlightened saints and I want to share same experience to other genuine seekers. The destinations could be Vrindavan, Rishikesh, Dharamasala etc as of now. It’s for both Indians and foreigners; a 10-20 days of group travel wherein interaction, education, yoga, meditation will be included, something like this worldweavers.com .

I want your views on the practicality and potentiality of this idea and discuss the possibility of your association in package designing, general guidance and interactions. This will be on commercial basis. We are not focussing on any specific religion or school of thought but only on ‘pure knowledge’. As of now this is what I have thought and am working on details. Looking forward to your reply and appreciate your guidance.

Thanks

Kartikey K. Poddar
9359911177
kartikeykumar@gmail.com
Agra
Business – paragonspares.com & derecho.in
November 15, 2016 at 6:06 PM
Maliny said…
I have been wanting to read this book since long. I am a malayali and am proud of Meera's writings.
December 3, 2016 at 1:12 AM
Vishnu said…
Wow, I haven't read much fiction of late Swapna but this book seems intense!!

I have read the marriage bureau - great book! otherwise, the book you mentioned about the other woman in your marriage made me highly curious if we were talking about betrayal or family (mothers/mother-in-law). I had to click to find out :)
December 11, 2016 at 12:10 PM
Post a Comment

Most LOVED Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being bor...
181 comments
Read more

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v...
1 comment
Read more

Summer vacations in India: Remembering the 80s with nostalgia

Summer is blazing in full throttle! For parents like me, this is also a time of getting children ready for a new school session. Loads to do, yes!  [READ: 5 Powerful to Teach Your Child to Care and Transform the World] Preparing for the new school session isn't as easy as it sounds. It involves buying the new text books, school supplies, stationery and even a brand new bag to kick start the academic year. A textbook may not be available in the market, which leads to discussions with other parents on where to procure it from and so on.  For kids, summers are a terrific start to reckon with just before the school closes for vacations. Somehow there is a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. As a child growing up in the 80s, I used to look forward to summer vacations with my parents. [READ: Learn to behave: The Wisest Lesson I learned in 2018] From Africa, we would plan our vacation to India months ahead. A direct flight was next to impossible, which ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Elsamma Enna Aankutty: Malayali humour in full throttle! Kunchacko Boban, Indrajit and Ann Augustine shine in this Lal-Jose directorial

When my parents and I opted to watch Lal Jose's film 'Elsamma Enna Aankutty', we never expected that Padma theater in Ernakulam would be packed with college students, families and batches of girls. The film poster had seemed to hint comedy and entertainment, with stars like Kunchako Boban and Indrajit. Elsamma enna aankutty: Story, Screenplay This movie is beautifully shot in the hilly ranges of a village near Idukki. I am not a photography expert but the landscape's scenic beauty is truly breathtakingly remarkable.   The protagonist is a young girl called Elsamma (starring Ann Augustine), who dons various hats in her struggle to make an honest living to support her three sisters and helpless mother. She works as the village's newspaper girl and her close friend is Palunni (Kunchacko Boban), the milk delivery boy.   Elsamma enna aankutty: Kunchacko, Ann Augustine shine Right from the start, the conversations are typical of two young people who know and respect each ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Best time to light diya

Want to know when is the best time to light diya or deepam at home? In most Hindu homes, 'deepam' or 'diya' is lit at least twice - once in the morning and then in the evening. For both times, brass is considered to be auspicious for lighting deepam or lamp at home. Clay diyas are also considered auspicious for lighting at home. When lighting diyas on Fridays, it is better to use ghee than oil, if possible. [READ: What Does Deepam Represent , Why Malayalis Light Nilavilakku ] When Should I Start Lighting Diyas? The symbolic shift begins from darkess to light. Therefore, in the evenings, light diya before sunset to usher in divine blessings into your home. Can we light diyas at 4pm? Typically, we don't see sunset at 4 pm. If sunset is at 4 pm, you can light diya. When to light a lamp in the puja room? Every morning at sunrise and every evening before or at sunset. Whatever you do, offer it with sincerity and love in your heart. Our Devatas are watching, they know wh...
Post a Comment
Read more