Reading of the novel ‘Ya Ilahi Times’ by Anil Devassy at Pustakupuzha. Vineet Vishwadev writes
First Published Oct 13, 2022, 2:33 PM IST
A novel is a means of traveling through many countries in one direction. This book also gives the reader a visa to other worlds where imagination and reality mix.
The success of a good novel lies in making the reader feel the pain and suffering of the main characters. In that sense, ‘Ya Ilahi Times’ by expatriate writer Anil Devassi is a successful novel. Passing through Canada, Egypt and Turkey, this novel is a transcript of the hardships of refugee life.
The story proceeds through a young Syrian named Alteb and his family and friends. Alteb’s Baba sends him to Dubai, foreseeing civil unrest and a climate of terror in Syria. Later, Baba, Mama and Anujan Althez had to leave their country and flee to many countries due to the terrorist situation in Syria. The author has managed to reflect the helpless situation of Alteb’s family members who have to become refugees in the hearts of the readers.
Alteb’s only connection with family members is through a WhatsApp group called Amal. Alteb also keeps a cat named Amal. Even the cat is denied freedom at the end of the story. The lives of Alteb’s friends Athuratharanga from Sri Lanka, Tharanga’s wife Nalinakanti from India, and Margaret from the Philippines become a moving experience in the novel. The life conditions and passions of people in Syria, Turkey, Canada, Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Dubai, Lebanon, Germany and many other countries and the seeds of conflict that the new age sows in them are beautifully presented in the novel.
A novel is a means of traveling through many countries in one direction. This book also gives the reader a visa to other worlds where imagination and reality mix. This book by expatriate writer Anil Devassy is closely related to my life experiences as an expatriate. Although the novel ends at a definite point, the novel leaves the question of what happened to the characters.
In 190 pages, the author beautifully chronicles the plight of the refugees. DC Sahitya Puraskar 2018 was for this novel.
Last Updated Oct 13, 2022, 2:33 PM IST
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