Tags
cheras, cholas, kadai ezhu vallal, kapilar, legend of paari, literary historical fiction, malaiyaman, pandyas, parambu nadu, piranmalai, purananuru, sivaganga, speculative fiction, tamil monarchs, Tamilakam
This is my journal of the time spent with Vel Pari, a son of the vast and storied Bharata lands. History will remember him as a warrior king and a great administrator of Parambu Nadu who braved the combined might of the Cheran, Cholan and Pandyan.
The widowed father of two angelic girls, Pari was also a gentle soul. And my beloved friend.
My record of events relies on Pari’s many recollections, confided for the purpose of posterity, but for the greater part these notes are my observations, faulty as these might be.
I know of another, my former master and man of craft, Raj Guru Kachagan of the Cholan Empire, who is also maintaining parallel ledgers. If his Emperor Cholan prevails, Kachagan’s version of antiquity will attain ascendency over mine.
But I believe the world will remember Pari for the gift of his chariot to a common vine, a bent jasmine; just as the misty swirls of memory will swallow the Emperor Cholan’s name. History will remember the Cholan by many names, none of which his own but all written on the shifting sands of time.
As for Kachagan, he does not wish the present to remember him, the past. He once said we were two denizens stuck on the wall and lived on borrowed space, on borrowed time. By that, he meant I was a fly for he fancied himself a gecko. Kachagan was right. He was like a lizard. Cold. Calculating. Callous.
He wrote his version of the events we witnessed and lived. Perhaps his narrative holds better truth. You be the judge, for it is your history we relate.
Kabilar
–
Copyright @ Eric Alagan, 2019
Continued Monday 12 August 2019
Hello Eric — I’ve been a bit slack with reading lately but now have a little time on my hands so thought I would start off on this series.
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No worries, Dennis – and welcome back.
Life catches up with all of us. I hope the time you spend reading my posts proves worth your while.
Have a great week ahead,
Eric
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The phrase ‘…for it is your history we relate’ sounds ominous and true. History is a shared past. Who knows what strand of that past has brought each of us to where we are today.
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I like that – history is a shared past.
Thank you, Ankur, for reading and commenting.
All good wishes,
Eric
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Gripping start, Eric and I am looking forward to reading the next chapters. Writing in first person must be challenging, yet I was engaged from the start. I shall enjoy this as much as ‘Ankle Rings’ I just know it. Hugs for you my thoughtful buddy. xXx
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Hello Jane, mu buddy
Glad that the opening is gripping. I’ll do my best and see how the book comes out.
L&H
Eric
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Your usual gripping start to the story Eric. I’m sure it will be a winner like your Ankle Rings. 🙂
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Thank you, Ian 🙂
Appreciate your encouragement. Feel free to point out errors. I need all the help I can get.
Thank you,
Eric
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A fly and a gecko, with a stretch of the gecko’s tongue, the fly is dead meat. The stage is set and we can already feel who’s going to be the predator and who’s the prey. Will see how the story develops.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend, Eric..
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Hello Windy,
Prey and predator – sometimes it is not so obvious. Thank you for reading.
My weekend’s good 🙂
Eric
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YES! This is an awesome beginning! in addition, I like first person narratives.
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Thank you, Jane.
Writing in the first person for this novel proved extremely taxing.
As you know, in the first person, one can only write what that person sees/hears/experiences. If the person is walking down an alley and a demon lurks around the bend, ordinarily one cannot write about the demon until the person encounters it. That restriction stifles quite a bit of potential for drama.
But I love getting into character 🙂
Thank you for your visit and comment.
Cheers!
Eric
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