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About the BookTranslated by the joint-winner of the JCB Prize for Literature 2021.The Sampark Kranti Express is travelling from Thiruvananthapuram to Chandigarh. It's pulling a vintage steam engine called the Wanderer, which will be exhibited in the Republic Day parade in Delhi. This train travelling across the length of India carries a cross-section of the Indian populace. One of its travellers, Karamchand (named so after Mahatma Gandhi), through the intersection of his observations along the journey, his memories, and the history of the places the train passes through creates a fantastic, parallel journey along the one he is already on.Landmarks in the history of India-the construction of railways in India by the British, the notorious Portuguese sailor Almeida's attacks on ports in Kerala, the 1857 mutiny, the Chauri Chaura incident, the Godhra riots find mention in the novel.About the AuthorV. Shinilal is a popular, contemporary Malayalam novelist and short story writer. He hails from Nedumangad, near Thiruvananthapuram and works for the Indian Railways.His major works include the novels Udal Bhauthikam, Adi, 124 and Iru and the short story collections Chola, Buddhapadham, Garisappa Aruvi Adhava Oru Jalayathra and Naroda Patyayil Ninnulla Bus.Shinilal is a recipient of the inaugural Karoor Award (Udal Bhauthikam), Padmarajan Award (124) in 2021. He is the winner of the O.V. Vijayan Award in 2023. His works have been translated into many other Indian languages. Sampark Kranti (The Wanderer) was awarded the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the best novel in 2022.

About the BookA NEW TRANSLATION OF A MALAYALAM CLASSIC THAT MASTERFULLY BLENDS FACT AND FICTION.In the year 1741, King Marthandavarma would create history by thwarting the expansionist ambitions of the Dutch colonists in the decisive battle of Kolachal. But we meet him here as a young beleaguered prince-one who must defend his right to the throne of Travancore. As he navigates the web of courtly intrigues and personal vendettas spun by his cousin Padmanabhan Thambi and the influential Pillais of the Eight Houses, help comes from all directions-from the crazy Channan, the courageous Subhadra and the loyal Mankoyikkal Kurup. At the same time, having been accused of murdering his friend Ananthapadmanabhan, Marthandavarma must now not only prove his own innocence but also rise to the occasion as a ruler capable of defeating foreign imperialistic forces.C.V. Raman Pillai's Marthandavarma is not only one of the earliest novels in Malayalam but is also perhaps the first political novel of India, unique in its depiction of a history-making people's movement. Pillai's deft use of the prevalent idioms of the time, his nuanced characterisation of women and his sharp observations on sociopolitical events set this novel apart as a milestone in the development of Malayalam literature. Preserving the essence of the original, while also making it accessible to readers unfamiliar with Malayalam, this new English translation by G.S. Iyer opens the doors to Pillai's seminal work to a global audience.About the AuthorC.V. Raman Pillai (1858-1922), popularly known as C.V., was a prominent Indian writer, journalist and politician. Born in the princely state of Travancore (now part of Kerala), he was a pioneer of Malayalam fiction. His rich body of work that includes iconic novels like Marthandavarma, Dharmaraja and Ramaraja Bahadur continues to receive acclaim and scholarly attention.About the TranslatorG.S. Iyer, a career diplomat, is also a scholar in Malayalam and Tamizh, and has rendered several classics from these languages into English. He has served in China, Japan, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the US, and was India's ambassador to Morocco, Mexico and several Central American states. He was conferred the Grand Cordon of the Wissam Alaoui, Morocco's highest civilian honour by His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco.

About the BookA COLLECTION OF TWENTY-TWO FREE VERSE POEMS WRITTEN AS AN INNOVATIVE DIALOGUE WITH THE POET AND PHILOSOPHER VALLUVAR, ALSO KNOWN AS TIRUVALLUVAR, GREETINGS, VALLUVAR! WEAVES TAMIL MYTHS, EPIC HISTORY AND SYMBOLISM.How was it that your thoughts could soar beyond colour and caste?This profound question sets the tone for a dialogue between the poet Erode Tamilanban and the revered poet-philosopher Valluvar, or Tiruvalluvar. The result is a stunning collection of twenty-two free-verse poems interlaced with Tamil myths, epic history and rich symbolism, offering deep reflections on spirituality and societal norms.Winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil in 2004, Greetings, Valluvar! is a testament not only to the enduring relevance of Valluvar's ideas of universality and secularism, but also to Tamilanban's literary prowess and his ability to bridge ancient wisdom with contemporary thought.