Nila — An emotion that ebbed and flowed in MT's writings

“I PREFER the Nila that I know to the great oceans that hold unknown wonders in their wombs,” M T Vasudevan Nair once said in an interview.

- SHYAM PV @Kochi

Alongside his characters, the Bharathapuzha river — which is romanticized as the Nila, mostly in literary works — plays a significant role in the writings of MT.

Published in 1962, ‘Asuravithu’ stands out as one of MT’s remarkable works that portrays the myriad emotions of the river. Skilfully written and featuring well-crafted characters, the novel’s narrative offers a candid examination of the deteriorating matrilineal order and the collapse of the joint-family system. Readers find themselves next to Govindankutty, who gazes at the Nila from atop a wall, with his emotions reflecting in the nuances of the river.