The Vanishing Generations

The Vanishing Generations is the translation of his magnum opus, the critically acclaimed ‘Manjupokunna Thalamurakal,’ a modern classic in Malayalam. Mr. A. K. Srikumar, a creative writer, is the translator. And the Tranquebar/Westland published the voluminous work of fiction.

Noted writer, editor and critic Sheila Kumar, opined in her preface, ‘The Vanishing Generations, T.V. Varkey’s epic work of historical fiction, takes a sweeping look at the social, cultural and historical transformations of Kerala from the 1840s to the 1960s. Using the peg of a Syrian Christian clan and their sprawling homestead, Paalat House, the author positions a klieg light on events in Kerala. The transition from slavery to emancipation, from feudalism to a land-owning community, from being a submissive lot to breaking out in political protest, from waking up to the iniquities of the local monarch to wanting the British overlords to quit India, the reader goes through it all with the various generations of the Paalat clan… The novel’s strength lies in the strongly fleshed-out characters, seven generations of the clan, all of them distinct and interesting personalities with opinions of their own; all of them, in ways big and small, contributing to happenings within their home, in their hamlet of Kudamon, as well as in various parts of the state…’

Endorsements

“Melding political convulsions in Kerala with the evolution of the Syrian Church, The Vanishing Generations narrates the engaging tale of a family negotiating change through several generations, with all its traumas and joys, and successes and failures. Srikumar’s translation retains Varkey’s singularly authentic voice in all its richness of meaning and depth of substance, giving us a thoroughly captivating read.” Shashi Tharoor, author of An Era of Darkness (Aleph, 2016) -- From the Back Cover

“The Vanishing Generations, T.V. Varkey’s epic work of historical fiction, takes a sweeping look at the social, cultural, and historical transformations of Kerala from 1840s to the 1960s. The story touches on several pertinent socio-historical points. It depicts the struggle of different communities in the state for their rights and privileges, the work of social reformers and revolutionaries, and the larger picture of the struggle for a country`s freedom. … The quests are multi-directional: the personal, the economic, the political, and the religious. The author harnesses all these strands together with great felicity to make a cohesive and riveting whole, concluding the saga in a most poignant and unforgettable manner. “Sheila Kumar, author of No Strings Attached (Harlequin, 2017) and Kith and Kin: Chronicles of a Clan (Rupa, 2012) -- From the Preface

Reviews

“T.V. Varkey's latest novel, The Vanishing Generations, is a tale of epic proportions about a family in Kerala and its brush with changes wrought by modernity on a traditional society.” The Sunday Guardian, 24 September 2017.

“This book probes how historical events shape individuals and how people shape history. It is saga at once uplifting and also reflective of the tragedy of modern times.” The Asian Age, 20 September 2017.

“This is an ambitious book. It is not easy to bring so many elements together in a believable, readable manner. Yet TV Varkey manages to do so, and impressively.” Indian Express Sunday Magazine, 14th October 2017

"The backdrop of this sweeping saga is Malabar—as it moves from being a backward society, torn apart by casteism, illiteracy and superstition, to a more progressive land. Varkey brings each period, its problems and its progress, as deftly to life as he does the lives of the family at Paalat House" –"Madhulika Liddle, Sunday Magazine, 14 October 2017.

“In this novel, T.V. Varkey narrates not only the story of Syrian Christians during the past 125 years, but that of all communities in Kerala.” Mathrubhumi Newspaper.“A much-loved epic of Malayalam literature, T.V. Varkey’s magnum opus probes how historical events shape individuals and how people shape history.” DC Books News, 26 September 2017.

"The Vanishing Generations succeeds brilliantly on its own terms magnificently summed up through the haunting melancholy of the last chapter that casts a lengthening shadow of the inevitable pathos of human life and endeavour-" critic Sonia Sahoo ends her lengthy article in the Telegraph – Kolkata, 9 February 2018.

"A beautifully crafted mosaic of the lives of a family, that's also a sharp lens with which to explore the socio-political history of Kerala…" Shiny Varghese, Indian Express, Delhi - Published: February 17, 2018.