Book Review 116: What the Rains Foretold by N. Mohanan, translated by Manoj Neelkanthan
Based on the origin myth of the South Indian state of Kerela and its people, N. Mohanan's What the Rains Foretold narrates the mythical tale of the highly accomplished scholar, Vararuchi. The book has been translated into English from the Malayalam original Innaathe Mazha by Manoj Neelkanthan. The tragic story of Vararuchi evokes pity and makes the readers contemplate. The young scholar Vararuchi refused the coveted position of the Roya Pundit at the King's court and decided to embark on a journey in pursuit of truth and knowledge. While on his journey, he happened to hear a prophecy which stated that he was destined to marry a Pariah girl. On hearing this, he was distraught and tried to prevent it by subverting fate. Years later, he got married to the beautiful and gifted daughter of a Brahmin, Panchami. However, Vararuchi was unable to escape from the clutches of fate. As fate would have it, he comes to know that Panchami is the same child of the Pariah coup l e whom he