Samuvel Sankari

       K. Ahmad Abbas (1914-1987) was a journalist and a creative writer. He is also an eminent and distinguished short story writer, novelist and journalist. He attained great fame as a good storyteller with two volumes of stories, namely “Rice and Other Stones” and “One Thousand Nights on a Bed Stone”. His stories genially reflect the feelings of the down trodden and the poor. ‘ The Sparrows ’ is remarkable not just for its narration but also for its characterization. This is a very moving story of sorrow and disappointment of a supposedly hard-hearted man. His transformation from cruelty to one of endearing love and compassion forms the life line of the narrative. Rahim Khan was a fifty-year old peasant. Everybody in the village hated him for his harsh and cruel behavior. He was harsh even to small children and animals. No one dared to talk to him. The children would run away if they saw him. But he was a very different man when he was young. His parents squa...

       Mulk Raj Anand(1905-2004) was a socially committed writer. He portrayed traditional Indian society and the centuries of injustice suffered by the poor under the traditional and colonial systems. This short story “The Lost Child” exemplifies his deep understanding of the human psyche. This story is set during a spring festival. The road to the fair is full of people who are happily and colorfully dressed. Among them, one little boy, who is full of life and laughter was fascinated on seeing the lined up toys shops. He was admiring the toys, forgetting everything. After hearing a call from his parents he joined them, but still he could not suppress his heart’s desire. Though he is used to refusal, he asked for the toy and got a cold stare refusal from his father as a reply. His mother attempted to divert him by showing the flowering mustard field nearby. On seeing a group of dragon flies and butterflies in the field, the child tried to catch them. But when he...