I like reading travelogues. They educate me on the history of the place and culture of the people, etc. But, reading Inge Poyirukkireerkala? (Have you been to this place?) of Saavi was a different experience. Seeing the title while shopping for a book, I remembered that it was a series of articles that Anandavikatan published in the 1960s, when I was a school boy. Illustrated by the inimitable Gopulu, the jottings of Saavi laced with humour were grabbed by readers.
Saavi’s diary of his travels does not go deep into the places or get into analyses. His impressions score by transporting the reader to the places through sheer flavour. The language is fluent, simple and makes you smile. The wit is charmingly natural.
The places stand out for the variety — from Marina Beach to Kolar Gold Field, Madurai Meenakshi Temple to Teen Murthy Bhavan, Pollachi Market to Ooty, Tiruvayaru Tyagaraja Utsavam to Bangalore Race Course and so on. Though famous for his hilarious ‘Washingtonil Thirumanam,’ Saavi’s stories and novels like ‘Visiri Vazhai’ and ‘Vazhippokkan’ reveal strong characterisations, the humour never leaving the script. In this travelogue, however, his strength lies in keen observation of the places and smart expressions, information neatly woven in. Above all, some of the quick repartees on many places make us either smile, grin or laugh out loudly.
On ‘Kotwal Bazaar’ after seeing the mess and confusion prevailing, he says it should be named ‘Kotwal Bejaar’! After roaming in search of his friend’s house in the hot sun at Neyveli township he says ‘Analveli’ might be right name for this place! A small boy of 7 years old quips in a cricket match ‘I haven’t seen in my life a cricket match like this appa!’
The trip to Goa is rather long as it happens just after Goa’s liberation in 1961. I remember this appeared for a few weeks under the title “Anniyar Aanda Bhoomi.’ The visit to Teen Murthy Bhavan looks as if it was just after Jawaharlal Nehru’s death. The mood is captured through descriptions and the conversations with the people over there. Ellora is enticing while Mudhumalai and Bandipur parts are just laugh riots.
Gopulu’s sketches
‘Washingtonil Tirumanam’ benefited immensely from Gopulu’s lively line drawings. This book has been denied that privilege. Gopulu’s illustrations, which made reading the series such pleasure in those days should have been included.
Wish some shrewd publisher followed this up and brought out ‘Inge Poyirukkireergala’ with Gopulu’s contributions.
The book has been published by The General Supplies Company, 31, First Floor, Venkatakrishna Road, Chennai 600 028. Also available at Alliance Publications. Price: Rs.160.
