Parthiban Kanavu
{{Short description|Novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy}}
{{About|the book|the films|Parthiban Kanavu (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{infobox book|
| name = Parthiban Kanavu
| title_orig = பார்த்திபன் கனவு
| image = File:Parthiban_Kanavu.jpg
| caption =
| author = Kalki Krishnamurthy
| cover_artist =
| country = {{IND}}
| language = Tamil
| series =
| genre = Historical novel
| publisher = MacMillan India
| release_date = 1942 (An unabridged English translation was published in October 2021)
| media_type = Print (Hardcover)
| pages = 400
| isbn = 1-4039-0954-7
| congress = MLCM 2003/00425 (P) PL4758.9.K68
| oclc = 52846173
| preceded_by = Sivagamiyin Sapatham
| followed_by = Ponniyin Selvan
| native_wikisource = பார்த்திபன்_கனவு
| translators = Nandini Vijayaraghavan (October 2021)
Sajith M. S (Malayalam, 2023)
}}
Parthiban Kanavu ({{langx|ta|பார்த்திபன் கனவு}}, {{transl|ta|ISO|pārttipaṉ kaṉavu}}, lit. Parthiban's dream) is a Tamil novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy.
Details
The story is a sequel to Sivagamiyin Sapatham and a curtain-raiser to Ponniyin Selvan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tulikabooks.com/classics-in-translation/parthiban-s-dream-english.html|title=Parthiban's Dream (English)}} In 2004, Nirupama Raghavan penned an abridged (English) translation.{{Cite news |last=Vijayan |first=Naveena |date=2016-10-11 |title=Home is where the class is |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/Home-is-where-the-class-is/article15463274.ece |access-date=2023-12-28 |issn=0971-751X}} In 2023, Manorama Books Published a Malayalam Translation of The Novel Translated by Sajith M.S.
Plot summary
The novel chronicles the attempts of Vikraman, the son of the Chola king Parthiban, to attain independence from the Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman I.
In the seventh century the Cholas are vassals of the Pallavas. Parthiban conveys his dream of the Chola dynasty regaining its glory – which he believes is lost since they are no longer the independent rulers – to his young son Vikraman. Parthiban refuses to pay tribute to the Pallavas, triggering a battle in which Parthiban is killed. Before he dies, on the battlefield, an enigmatic monk promises Parthiban that he will make sure that Vikraman fulfills Parthiban's dream. On becoming an adult, Vikraman plans his revenge but is betrayed by his treacherous uncle, Marappa Bhupathi. The prince is arrested and exiled to a far-off island by Narasimhavarman.
Three years later Vikraman returns, longing to meet his mother and a mysterious beauty whom he saw before being deported. He discovers that his mother has disappeared, kidnapped by members of the savage Kapalika cult given to performing human sacrifices. He also learns that the beauty he has fallen for, Kundhavi, is none other than the daughter of his sworn enemy, Narasimhavarman.
Several twists and turns later, the monk is revealed as the Pallava emperor Narasimhavarman, who keeps his word to the dying Parthiban by helping establish an independent kingdom under Vikraman in Uraiyur, followed by the Chola prince's marriage to Kundhavi.
The novel ends by stating that Parthiban's dream of a great Chola dynasty was passed on from father to son and was finally realised three hundred years after Parthiban's time, in the reign of Raja Raja Chola I.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
As is his wont, Kalki mixes historical events/personalities along with fictional characters. The historical characters/events include:
- Parthiban - The Chola king.
- Narasimhavarman - The Pallava ruler.
- Paranjothi aka Siruthondar — The commander of Narasimhavarman's army and the 36th of the 63 Nayanmars.{{Cite web |author=B. Kolappan |date=2023-11-23 |title=A warrior from a remote village who conquered a great city of Chalukyas |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/a-warrior-from-a-remote-village-who-conquered-a-great-city-of-chalukyas/article67567433.ece |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN}}
- Pulakesi II - The Chalukya ruler.
- The visit of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang.
- Narasimhavarman's efforts to abolish human sacrifice.
Adaptation
The novel was adapted into a film of same name in 1960.{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=29 May 2009 |title=Paarthibhan Kanavu 1960 |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/29/stories/2009052950371600.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601103808/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2009/05/29/stories/2009052950371600.htm |archive-date=1 June 2009}}
References
{{reflist}}
Category:20th-century Indian novels
Category:Novels first published in serial form
Category:Works originally published in Kalki (magazine)
Category:Novels set in the Chola Empire
Category:Indian historical novels
Category:Indian historical novels in Tamil