Novel: AN IMMIGRANT By V.N.Giritharan ; Translation By Latha Ramakrishnan; Proofread & Edited By Thamayanthi Giritharan

I have already written a novella , AMERICA , in Tamil, based on a Srilankan Tamil refugee’s life at the detention camp in New York. The journal, ‘Thaayagam’ was published from Canada while this novella was serialized. Then, adding some more short-stories, a short-story collection of mine was published under the title America by Tamil Nadu based publishing house Sneha. In short, if my short-novel describes life at the detention camp, this novel , An Immigrant , describes the struggles and setbacks a Tamil migrant to America faces for the sake of his survival – outside the walls of the detention camp. –

Chapter 1 am born anew
Chapter 2 In the middle of the night
Chapter 3 Cyclone
Chapter 4: A Courageous Priest
Chapter 5 From Ilango’s diary..…
Chapter 6 The heart that gets into a trance in the rain
chapter 7 Mrs. Padma Ajith
Chapter 8 Fabulous Feast
Chapter 9 The pride and glory of 42nd Street
Chapter 10 The camels of the desert that have lost their way.
Chapter 11 The tale of Ilango turning into Ilanagaa
Chapter 12 With hope intact!
Chapter 13 I want a job
Chapter 14 Funny immigration officer!
Chapter 15 Selling Umbrellas!
Chapter 16 16 Haribabu’s advertisement
Chapter 17 Haribabu’s road side business.
Chapter 18 Henry’s Cleverness (Yes?)
Chapter 19 Gosh in Love !
Chapter 20 Indira’s doubt
Chapter 21 By the grace of Carlo….
Chapter 23 An appeal to the goddess of freedom
Chapter 24 Heading towards lawyer Anisman’s office!
Chapter 25 Anisman’s advice and suggestion!
Chapter 26 A clever agent called Papblo
Chapter 27 I am born anew

CHAPTER 1: I AM BORN ANEW TODAY

From the fifth floor of the wartime naval force office building, which also functioned as the Correctional Facility, Ilango looked out to the streets of great, grand New York City. Situated on Flushing Street, the place had doubled as a detention camp for illegal immigrants and had been his only home for the past two months. Darkness from the night continued to seep through with all kinds of thoughts swirling Ilango’s mind. At last, the dream of escaping this detention camp would soon become a reality.From tomorrow onwards, he would be a real free bird. The Court of Justice has allowed him, who hitherto, has been detained in prison as an illegal immigrant waiting to be released on bail. Now, he could hope for the solution of demanding refugee status. He can go out without any constraint and face the challenges that life has in store for him. But before we continue, it would now be helpful to the readers to learn some details about this man.

Ilango: He is a Tamil citizen of Sri Lanka. A young man. One of the thousands of Tamils who fled from their Mother Land following the 1983 ethnic riots. The conflict, wrath, and hostility between the two main social groups – The Sinhalese and the Tamils – are known to have a long-fought socio-political feud of over two thousand years. However, since 1948, when the foreigners who had last ruled the island (e.g. the British) left Sri Lanka, the ethnic clashes resumed. The past historical events of the island greatly contributed to the current situation. Beginning from Thuttakamini/Ellaalan, continuing through Rajarajan I/Rajendran, then Singai Paraasasekaran, and ending with the king of Kandi Sri Vikrama Rajasinhan – such a lengthy history cannot be brushed aside with one stroke. The enmity and distrust between these two ethnic groups gradually intensified to the present stage of treacherously raging fire. Further deliberate, strategic settlements on the basis of ethnicity, the method of grading in Education, political priorities on the basis of religion have just added fuel to the fire, so to say. But, these are all superficial reasons. The deep-rooted causes are really the distinctly different traits, problems and conflicts on both the socio-political and economic fronts.

Serial Novel: Modern Vikramathithan - Chapter Two: Urban Rain and Manoranjitham!

 

Lightning makes a line through the city,
engulfing it in darkness.
Thunder roars.
The rain opens up like a scene
in a silent movie.

I am looking at the rain from a nest in the concrete tree. Like scenes from a silent movie, the rain appeared to me. Rain is one of my favorite natural events. Watching it is one of my favorite hobbies. Enjoying rain is a kind of sweet and unique experience.

The relationship between rain and me started in my childhood while I sang 'come rain! come rain!' while making a paper ship and watching it sail in the rainwater falling from the gutter. It continued through my teen years, and it still continues.

Serial Novel: Modern Vikramathithan: Chapter One: I, Vikramathithan, Speak!

 Serial Novel: Modern Vikramathithan!

Chapter One: I, Vikramathithan, Speak!

My name is Vikramathiththan. People who know me well even call me 'Modern Vikramathiththan.' My short name is Vikraman, and I never get tired. Similar to Vikramathiththan, who tirelessly climbs up the murungai tree (drumstick tree) again and again without fatigue to retrieve the dead body and descends without tiring, I also face challenges tirelessly.

Each time I encounter failure, it doesn't deter me from trying again and again. In that sense, I am like him. That's why my close friends call me 'Naveena Vikramathiththan.' 'Naveena' means 'Modern' in Tamil. I never tire of trying new things, even if they result in failure. In fact, if you think that during these circumstances, I feel happy, that would be a nice thought, I believe. I don't have any objections to that.

Novella: America By -V.N.Giritharan; English Translation By: Latha Ramakrishnan; Edited By Thamayanthi Giritharan

1.
                            
This narrative unfolds in a corner of Brooklyn, situated on the fifth floor of a building whose total number of floors remains unknown to me. My perception of this fifth floor represents a distinctive realm within America. Amidst the allure of fashionable hairdos and fragrant flowers lies an underbelly riddled with lice, an analogy for my American journey.

America, touted as the pinnacle of democracy and affluence, initially stood as a beacon of human rights until my first-hand encounter contradicted this ideal. I often pondered whether my American experience was an aberration, juxtaposed against the successful lives led by fellow Americans of my background.

The American society seemingly offers boundless opportunities for financial gain, yet the same society was the stage for the unsettling encounters I faced. The Statue of Liberty symbolizes justice, freedom, and equality, while the Constitution emphasizes fundamental rights. However, the reality I encountered was quite different, akin to a verdant pasture on one side and the harsh truth on the other—idealism prevails until one steps foot inside.

As I pen these words, I am a young and aspiring writer, earnestly striving to carve a niche in the world of literature, while also identifying as a Tamil Canadian. Reflecting on my experiences in America, especially the three months spent in Brooklyn's Detention Camp and the subsequent year in New York City, has offered profound insights into life's truths. Despite the bitterness of these encounters, the lessons gleaned are invaluable. I dedicate these experiences to all those languishing in various American detention camps, yearning for freedom and release.

Ah, even my name slipped my mind momentarily—Ilango, a name bestowed upon me by my father, an ardent lover of the epic Silapadhikaram. Perhaps it is this literary significance embedded in my name that nurtured my inclination toward creative writing.