This is a story of a young girl who hails from a Muslim community in North Kerala. The author, Vaikom Basheer, weaves an honest, simple tale of this innocent femme from the time she was a child to her womanhood. The language is simple and is in Malayalam. It is written in first person and is in the voices of a little girl and then a woman yet there is this underlying flavour of a unique personality which is obvious as the story unfolds. The local dialect is evident right from the title to the end of the book and adds to the whole feel of the tale. The writing is an absolute beauty in its ability to convey emotions, situations and actions that tugs at your heartstrings from page to page. Apart from it story line, the author dwells into the core thoughts, practices and lifestyle of the community ,never taking sides but yet provokes your mind ever so subtly. If anybody is wondering why there is a mention of an elephant in the title, i would encourage you to read the book to find out because saying it aloud now would damage the experience.
Personally, this book is a feather in my cap. I have always secretly felt embarassed that i have never read a book in my native language which is Malayalam (outside school books of course) and therefore completing this book has been redemption.
Anyone who would like to treat yourself to a Malayalam book, i would recommend this one.
Cheers!!
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