Every character in the novel Pethavan , now published by Oxford University Press as The Begetter , has a close resemblance to the tragic love affair of Ilavarasan and Divya in Dharmapuri.
The pride in casteism denied a peaceful life to the couple even after claiming Divya’s father. Only Ilavarasan’s death on the railway track brought the curtains down on the episode.
Writer Imayam, author of Pethavan , however, sought to achieve in fiction what could not be achieved in real life. But, he found a way out for the couple but at a heavy price — the suicide of the girl Bhakkiyam’s father Pazhani.
“Though characters in my stories were part of real events, the inspiration for Pethavan came long before the Dharmapuri incident took place. I approached many leading weeklies, but they refused to publish it. Finally it appeared in Uyirmai , a literary magazine,” said Mr. Imayam, whose works portray the lives of fringe groups among the subaltern.
In the novel, when the caste Hindus in the village make it clear that Pazhani should kill his daughter by pouring pesticide in the mouth of Bhakkiyam for falling in love with a Dalit youth Periyasami, Pazhani consumes poison after making sure that she reached her lover.
“The lovers in my story survive because the boy succeeds in joining the Police Department as Inspector. Probably, the love of Divya and Ilavarasan would have sailed smoothly if Ilavarasan, who had appeared for police selection, received the appointment letter,” said Mr. Imayam, a school teacher.
Explaining the process of translation, Gita Subramanian in her note had said that there was a sense of urgency in every line. “To convey the tone and import of the spoken words was extremely difficult, especially all dialogues are in local dialect,” she said.
Reiterating that his characters were witness to how Tamil society lived in a particular period of time, Mr. Imayam said he had never imposed himself on the characters or their language.
“I also have no special attachment to my characters. Pethavan is a not a story authored by me — it is a story written by society itself,” he said.
Imayam’s novel, whose theme bears a strong resemblance to Divya-Ilavarasan affair, is now available in English
