Smarakashilakal

By Punathil Kunjabdulla

Smarakashilakal is set in a predominantly Muslim North Malabar village. It is the story of a feudal lord Khan Bahadur Pookkoya Thangal of the rich Arakkal family who could build a world of his own in his village. The mosque and its cemetery weave a background of traditions and legends for the tale. Every character reflects some aspect of the social set up, at the same time lives as a person of individuality. Thangal stands head and shoulders above every other character with his unbounded generosity and insatiable lust. Published in 1977, Smarakashilakal was Kunjabdulla’s celebrated masterpiece and one of the most significant novels of all time in Malayalam. It won both the Kerala (1978) and Central Sahitya Akademi Awards (1980). 

About the Author:
One of the finest practitioners of the avant-garde in Malayalam literature, Punathil Kunjabdulla (1940–2017) was a medical doctor by profession. His work includes more than 45 books, including 7 novels like Marunnu and Kanyavanangal, 15 short story collections, memoirs, an autobiography and travelogues that have stood the test of time.