Dear Dr. Kailasam-
I read with satisfaction your fictional short story based on historic events during Rajendra Chola.
Please accept my congratulations on an interesting plot and good cogent narration of the events.
a. You have very cleverly used in the plot administrative restrictions during important days of month such as full moon which was fully exploited to the legal advantage byheroine Karthigai in fighting for her hero ( relevance here is character Kannagi fighting for Kovlan) ! Another interesting reference is the release of water after midnight referred by Chief of Garden (தோட்ட வாரியம்). He seems to know the rules better than the Head of Sathurvedi Mangalam, Mayavan !
b. There essentially lies the weakness of character of Mayavan, adevioushead of the village/ town without scruples. He is referred in conversation as ‘Maharaja’ ; this is confusingly and contradicting especially when emperor Rajendra, being the epitome of justice so central to the theme of the story is the real ‘Maharaja’.
c. There are a few side incidents I thought not relevant and did not go well with the main theme of the story; Mayavan’s reference stating’ சோழ மகாராஜா என் மேல் கோபமாக இருக்கிறார்’ and his subsequent reprimand of the hapless ‘ மெய்க்காவலன்’; Karthigai’s mother’s resurrection from death and making that some how relevant to the family’s faith on ‘ambigai’, relevance to Varadhan who helped Ananthan to join Veda pata salai etc.
d. You have well referred a few historical systems prevalent at Chola’s regime such as ‘குடவோலை’ ; apt description of the salutations to Chola emperor by the horse riding soldiers, historical reference of Kailasnathar temple constructed during Pallava’s period.
e. Your description of the sun rise and mutual response of the living and other organisms and the introductory paragraph nicely describing the lake, setting sun, irrigating canals are all good, showing a good command over the language and interesting usage of words.
The narration brings out your eloquence as a story teller and intelligent observer of the historical references learnt from inscriptions and other sources.
I wish you every success as a historicfiction writer,
