Shunya: A Novel by Sri M.My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Shunya comes to a village in Kerala and takes shelter at a toddy shop. He becomes friendly with the toddy shopkeeper. The shopkeeper is mesmerised by the knowledge of Shunya who claims he is nobody. The shopkeeper decides to give an unused shed behind his shop as the place for Shunya to live in and becomes his cook, supporter and devotee.
He satisfies all the idiosyncrasies of Shunya which includes drinking black tea and wanting to eat fish or other such items at will. Otherwise he is satisfied with simple food. Shunya keeps walking around the area and soon he becomes a popular figure. So much so that politicians start coming to him too.
A hardcore communist leader who comes to him with great scepticism goes back with a lot of respect for him.
A foreign educated person and one who has lost everything in life gets directed to Shunya and soon he is a constant companion.
Shunya's fame spreads far and wide. One day Shunya says that a dog will come and it should be taken care of. As predicted the dog comes and stays for a few days. It is treated well by all around and then it disappears after giving a few people some strange visions.
People gather in the evening to hear discourses/talks/screaming by Shunya.
One fine day Shunya disappears and the book ends with the lives of those close to him after his departure.
Definitely a good read.
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