Toe that was not sewn together

In this blog I am writing a brief English review of the Malayalam book "തുന്നി ചേർക്കാത്ത വിരൽ  " ( Toe that was not sewn together) penned as a memoir by the author Kaavalloore Muraleedharan who lives and works in Saudi Arabia. The book traces his early life  in Kerala,  three years of work in the then Bombay and life in the Gulf. It also includes account of short travels undertaken by the author in Kerala,  to places like Rameshwaram, Tamil Nādu and Chirapunji, Assam.

In the initial part of the book the author reminisces about his father, K.R. Velayudhan who left for Sri Lanka at the tender age of fourteen in search of a better life only to return to India on a call given by India's first PM, Nehru to come back and serve one's country. He therefore came back and worked at the Bhilai Steel Plant till retirement. Thoughts of his father floods the mind of the author even as he travels from gulf to meet his ailing father. The journey is tough as it is undertaken during the Covid pandemic when a lot of protocols were required to be followed while travelling. 

The author is proud of his father whom he calls an "Institution" who gained  knowledge from a vociferous reading habit and down to earth experience from day to day living . Although, he laments that he could not spend sufficient time to get transferred the deep learning from his father, the author was able to be by the side of his father and do all the ceremonies on his passing away , in spite of working in a far off country .  

One thing that comes through clearly from the book is that Mr Muraleedharan makes friends easily and also cherishes relationships. He has a big heart to help others when ever and which ever way he can, be it those coming for the first time for job to Gulf or an old sickly man he meets at Farooke railway station in Kerala, India.  

We have generally known that those migrating to the deserts of Gulf do so initially with an intent of a short stint of two years. Unlike those going to the Western countries, people travelling to Gulf for employment  almost invariably daydream of returning to their village and savoring the greenery and calm, quiet lifestyle they left behind. That they are not able to do so because of the various compulsions to earn money for the welfare of loved ones back home is the big tragedy that many experience. This melancholic tone and mood can be be seen whole through the book whether the author is discussing his own circumstances or that of friends seemingly trapped in a vicious circle. 

For me, the caricatures Mr Muraleedharan has drawn  of the many people met at various points of his life journey  was very engaging and heart touching. As for example there is Bhuyyan, a young bright Bangladeshi who left his home town due to frequent riots and an ardent desire to build a pucca house for his mother in place of the one made of wooden planks. One day a letter arrives informing that his mother died when rioters set fire to their house. Bhuyyan quickly decides to return as his very purpose of coming was defeated with the death of his mother. This was a story however with a happy ending in the sense, on return he started doing cloth business with an Indian company and later moved to Shillong in India where his business flourished. Now, he runs a home for women in his mother's name and has the satisfaction of giving solace to not just one mother but 50 mothers. 

There is another narration of a muscleman labourer who as the lift was not working carried fridge and other heavy furniture to the author's  office located on the 7th floor. He was called "Pathan" by everyone on account of his huge size. When the work was completed, the man revealed that he was in fact a malayali and that he opted to do this heavy work since he wanted to fulfill  his son's wish (back home) for a toy JCB . 

Another story that touched my heart was that of Abdu Bhai with whom the author has a chance meeting at the multi storied building housing many offices. Abdu had worked for decades in Saudi , made money and returned to his native Palakkad in Kerala. There he did business, incurred losses and was back to the desert in 5 years time, starting afresh as a driver in his old age with many ailments. "Sometimes I wonder, why did I even come here in the first place. If I had bought an autorickshaw and drove it there, I could at least have spent  my peak years with family." Abdu Bhai sighed. 

There are many more touching narratives in the book including a hint of a romantic interest of the author from his youth. It is clear that Covid 19 pandemic was a big blow with thousands of employees returning to their native land. Those who got the opportunity to continue were under pressure and tension as service was extended on a month to month basis. This uncertainty was a psychologically crippling experience for everyone including the author.   

Finally, a couple of lines on the title of the book: "Toe that was not sewn together". In the initial part of the book,  Mr Muraleedharan relates an incident of his father  being accidently hurt while untying a cow that sped away fast. During the fall the little toe of the left leg of father got dismembered. Although crying out in pain and seeing  the toe lying around, father just got up and came home not listening to a neighbour's offer to go with him to hospital and get the toe sewed back. 

To my mind, the title is not derived only from this incident, it appears also to be a metaphor for the pain, loneliness and dismembered feel of a Gulf Malayali who yearns for his native place but is forced to live elsewhere by force of circumstances. In the chapter "Those Returning", there is a scene at the airport where the author is seeing off a junior colleague Rana  returning to his native, Nepal for good. While waving final good bye, the thought that ran in his mind was " I also came here like Rana to spend 2 years. The 2 years then became 10. then 20 and  is still continuing. Rana has escaped. When will my turn come?".