"Death signs" by Vilas Vare translated from Marathi to English by Prof V. G. Apte. This book was published by Neehara Prakashan in 2019 and has 128 pages.
A new hospital is inaugurated somewhere between Pune and Mumbai. It's first of its kind. It is a speciality hospital for AIDS patients. A number of patients are admitted.
Are they ashamed? Will the patients gel? What impact does the impending death have on them?
This is not a fiction. It's a social novel that handles a rarely discussed topic boldly. AIDS is seen with disgust. It is associated with loose morals and the infected person is percieved as characterless. For the infected it's a social stigma and the hospital provides them the much needed shelter and escape from society.
A number of new relations take shape in the hospital. Mohan and Kalpana fall in beautiful love. Dattu and Tanu develop a father-daughter bonding. Kundalik regards Dora and Alka as sisters.
Characters are very good. Dr. Nimbalkar, the lone Doctor. Nurses Rima and Nita. Patients Mohan & Dattu. Defeated in love Kalpana. Warkari Kundalik. Six year old Tanu. Colorful Rekha Pawar. Prostitutes Dora and Alka. They come from all the strata of society. The only lacking representation in the mix was a rich person.
All of them have lost all their hope and have come to the hospital to make their final stand and to die. Nobody intends to kindle any kind of new relationship. Many of them don't even want to talk to anyone. However human being is a social animal and even when death is staring them in face, they create new relationships and cherish them. They take pleasure in small things, do little things for others and enjoy life till they have it.
Although death is a foregone conclusion, each death brings immense sorrow for the surviving patients. As if they have lost some one from their own family. It is ironical that people who have lived life without a thought of God make peace with death whereas, a person who has devoted all his life to God turns atheist in his final days.
Credit to the author for taking up such a subject and carrying it through on his able shoulders. Although the writing lacks the professional finesse, it does not reduce the quality of work. On the contrary, it appears to come from heart.
I read the English translation of the original Marathi book. Translator has stayed true to the job of translator. He has not added any of his own thoughts while translating and has stuck to the basics. He has also ensured that the beauty of Marathi is not lost in translation.
A good story and a good change.
Why did I read this book? I was one of the chosen pre-publication readers.
What I didn't like? Narration is a bit scattered at times.
What did I like? Subject and conviction.
Recommend reading.
Disclosure: Translator of this book is my father.
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