New book from Sethu

One of the most innovative of modern Malayalam writers, Sethu pioneered a radical transformation of sensitizing in the sixties and seventies. His most critically acclaimed work Pandavapuram has been translated into many languages and has also been made into films in Malayalam and Bangla.

Releasing Sethu’s During the Journey and Other Stories, a collection of stories in English, Pavan K Verma, former ambassador and advisor (culture) to the chief minister of Bihar, said, “The brilliance of these stories is that it has to be completed by the reader.” Referring to the book as a remarkable collection, Verma said, “The quality of the writing to explore the inner mindscape and the sheer brilliance of understatement mark these stories.”

“I wrote my first story 47 years ago in a barsati in Karol Bagh, New Delhi. I did not write of a small village in Kerala but on Bihar,” said Sethu in his address. Published by LiFi Publications Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, During the Journey and Other Stories is rendered into English by Aboobacker Kappad. The stories explore the wondrous world of archetypes, dreams, fantasies and nightmares, shedding precious light on the enigma of experience. A former banker, Sethu (A Sethumadhavan) is currently the chairman, NBT, India.