Chomana Dudi

 "Chomana Dudi" by Kote Shivarama Karanth masterfully crafts its protagonist, Choma, as a vessel for the reader to experience the struggles of his existence. As one delves deeper into this absorbing tale, it resonates as a story shared by a stranger on a long train journey. The narrative flows like an engaging conversation, punctuated by the empathetic nods of the listener. It is a story that beckons you to revisit its pages, to unravel the layers of emotion, injustice, and ultimately, the resilience of the human spirit, in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. 

The bounded laborer protagonist, widowed with his five children struggles due to the social constraints of caste, oppression and exploitation of innocence and his desire of a seemingly simple yet unrealistic dream- plough his own land. A pair of bullocks he found in the nearby forest ignite the hope that he might one day be a farmer.  His mere compensation as a labour being a jar of paddy, hardly enough to sustain a living. His howl of emotions, be it happiness, anger or his sorrows echoes in the beats of his drums. "Chomana Dudi" is a literary gem which tails the reader on an unforgettable journey through its pages.

~ Daebee