A compelling account of being gay in modern India
'Much like the great James Baldwin, the acclaimed Kannada writer Vasudhendra has transformed his personal experience of bigotry, shame and tragedy into harrowing but magnificent truth-telling. His work will leave you impatient with other writers.' -Siddharth Dube, author of No One Else.
A coming out of the closet for Vasudhendra himself, these stories of homosexual love and lives jolted Kannada readers out of their notions of the literary and the palatable. The gritty narratives of Mohanaswamy explore sexuality, urbanisation and class with a nuance and an unflinching honesty that will both unnerve and move readers in English and serve as a fine introduction to one of the strongest voices in Kannada literature.
About the author
Vasudhendra is an Indian author in Kannada language known for his short stories and novels.
Vasudhendra is a bestselling author in Kannada. Among his fifteen books are the critically acclaimed Mohanaswamy, which has been translated into several languages, the historical novel Tejo Tungabhadra that has become hugely popular, and the award-winning collection of essays Nammamma Andre Nangishta (I Like My Mother). He is the recipient of several literary awards, including the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Book Prize and the U.R. Ananthamurthy Award. After working as a software professional for over twenty years, Vasudhendra now runs his own publication house, Chanda Pustaka.
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You may also like these books of Vasudhendra.
Deftly crafted with gentle wit and a lightness of touch, each gripping story exposes the deepest contradictions of modern life. The fluid translation retains the flavour and nuances of the original Kannada, creating a rich reading experience.
Set in the late 15th and early 16th century, Tejo Tungabhadra is a grand saga of love, ambition, greed and a deep zest for life through the tossing waves of history.
Nammamma Andre Nangishta
Personal Essays
A unique essay collection about the relationship between a mother and son at various stages. This emotional and fun filled anthology has bagged state Sahitya Academy prize.