: A Malayalam book that made waves at the Sharjah International Book Fair is set for its Kerala release on November 19.
Nilachoru , a biographical novel written by Shabu Kilithattil, news director of a Dubai-based FM radio station, based on the life of medical philanthropist and organ donor Uma Preman was a literary blockbuster at the popular book fair.
“Her life inspires us all like no other. It amazes you to think that at a young age, she thought of donating a kidney to an absolute stranger. Who would do it unless they themselves were influenced by strangers?” asks Shabu, explaining what inspired his 4{+t}{+h}book.
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Shabu, based in Dubai for over 11 years, has had numerous professional interactions with Uma, who runs the now well-known Santhi Medical Information Centre at Guruvayur to help the needy with information on medical care.
“I was, however, clueless about her personal life. In a journey together to Attappadi sometime ago when she told me about herself, most of it appeared made-up and exaggerated. As a journalist, I grew cynical and sceptical as the struggles she related were too agonising to be true. But then I made some independent enquiries only to realise that there was not even an iota of hyperbole in her narration. It’s incredible to consider the kind of struggles she underwent as a child. Despite being surrounded by relatives, she was lonely. When her life was being controlled by others, she had to stay starving. Her life is a lesson in human resilience in the face of adversities,” says Shabu.
He was not interested in writing a biography, so he kept the facts intact and placed it against an imagined background. “For instance, I have never seen Sinthamanipuram in Coimbatore where she grew up. I just presented it as I imagined it,” he says.
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The book, published by Kairali Books, will be released at Kerala Sahitya Akademi Hall at an event attended by director Sathyan Anthikkad and writers Santhosh Echikkanam and Vaisakhan and poet Rafeeq Ahammed.