Review: ഒരു സങ്കീര്‍ത്തനം പോലെ [Oru Sangeerthanam Pole]

ഒരു സങ്കീര്‍ത്തനം പോലെ [Oru Sangeerthanam Pole] by Perumbadavam Sreedharan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

ഒരു സങ്കീര്‍ത്തനം പോലെ (Like a Psalm) by Perumbadavam Sreedharan (പെരുമ്പടവം ശ്രീധരൻ), is the writer's own ode to his admiration to Dostoevsky, one of the most seminal literary personalities of the 19th century and even today. In it, he reimagines the relationship between Dostoevsky and his second wife Anna Grigoryevna Snitkina.

Taking place during the time when the writer was engaged in composing The Gambler, we are shown how the pair came to meet, and over a period of a month get close and fall in love. There is some cliques which are evident when one reads the work, primarily that of the old writer who catches the attention of a young attractive muse. But rather than focus on the actual relationship, പെരുമ്പടവം tries to answer the question, "How can a man as self-destructive as Dostoevsky come to be loved by the young and innocent Anna", and further "How can such a man write so prolifically about the human condition"

This question does bear some consideration. Dostoevsky's contemporary Tolstoy, himself a wealthy aristocrat wrote about the upper echelon of Russian society. Dostoevsky, who was born in a modest household, and had poverty as a lifelong companion, often wrote about the worst yet best of humanity. His stories often posed the belief that no matter how vile a human being might be, they can always find redemption in God and spiritual awakening.

So പെരുമ്പടവം asks, how can a man who was a compulsive gambler, a chronic alcoholic, a temperamental man prone to mood swings, and who, by his owns actions waddled in poverty and decrepitude, be able to express such poignant observations about human nature. He argues that Fyodor is a man of much contradictions, who, despite his evils is someone close to god.

Rather he is someone who has 'The signature of God in his heart' (ഹൃദയത്തിനുമേൽ ദൈവത്തിന്റെ കൈയൊപ്പുള്ള ആൾ ). It is this inner true personality that Anna comes to know and love, argues our author.

I appreciate how, throughout the story, we are shown small moments, where the pair get to know each other and build a good chemistry. How Anna learns of Fyodor's past family and relationship, and what made him into the man that he is today. The innocence and humanity of someone who feels greatly for his fellow man, and who holds deep conversations with God, yet someone who is slave to those very evils which he loathes.

Largely based on Fyodor's own life journey, as well as the Biographies published by Anna following his death, it takes several anecdotes from their life verbatim. Like how Fyodor first proposed to Anna, pretending to narrate the idea for a new book, and putting himself and her as characters in them. How to his question "Put yourself in her place for a moment. Imagine I am the painter, I confessed to you and asked you to be my wife. What would you answer?" and how Anna replied: "I would answer that I love you and I will love you forever"

There is this sweet innocence to the way in which their interact. As is the relationship is something which transcends the conforms of mere physicality and is almost a spiritually binding one.

പെരുമ്പടവം, with simple and endearing language, is able to infuse a homeliness to these characters, introducing inflections and traits that make the characters feel like your next door neighbors rather than strangers who lived in another age and place.

If I had to point something out, it is how quickly the story runs out, immediately after their relationship comes to fruition.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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