CHENNAI: A reader at the 49th Chennai Book Fair, while strolling through the books in his stall, jokes to author K Arunabharathi saying, ‘You should get Naruto to tell them the history’.
Arunabharathi quickly pulled up his recent book Narutovum Pandya Nedunchezhianum much to the surprise of the reader, chuckling, “I do have a story with him in it.” The book published by Tamizh Desiya Periyakkam’s Panmaiveli Publications is the writer’s attempt to ease children into Tamil history and literature.
Narutovum Pandya Nedunchezhianum is the fourth book of a collection being curated for children. The book is a dialogue between Naruto from the Japanese manga and Pandya king Nedunchezhian. A young and curious Naruto asks the Pandya king if he is a strong warrior like all emperors who only fight. The king replies, “No, Naruto, for a king, virtuousness (aram) is as necessary as physical strength.” Then, the king takes the Ninja on a ride through how Madurai came to be known as ‘Pandi Muni’.
While Naruto was paired with the Pandya king for his bravery, Elsa was sent to meet emperor Pegan in the Sangam literature for her inquisitiveness and listening abilities. The emperor jumps out of the book Elsa is reading to narrate the story of his land in Elsavum Peganum. At one instance in the book, as Pegan gives away his shawl to a peacock shivering in the cold, a shocked Elsa asks, “Why are you covering the peacock with your shawl?”
“Kindness should extend to everyone, including those who cannot speak,” says the king, referencing the classic Tamil poetry collection Purananuru. Similar editions with popular cartoon characters Dora and Shin Chan will be released at the Tirunelveli Book Fair next month.
“We began the collection with simple historiographies of the leaders and prominent characters. However, it was only reaching those who already had a knowledge of the history. To attract young children, and to introduce them to the world of Tamil history, we attempted to familiarise them with characters they already know and admire,” he adds.
Panmaiveli has been publishing books on Tamil history and literature since 2010. “We are committed to telling the stories of our land and its people through the first-person narrative. These are stories of resistance, of courage and history that the current generation needs for a better tomorrow,” adds the writer, who also works as the deputy general secretary at Tamizh Desiya Periyakkam.
The response at the book fair has been reassuring, the writer shares. The books have intrigued kids, and they remember the characters, returning to the stall to enquire when the next editions will drop. “Some of them want us to write about Captain America, while some suggest Doraemon,” laughs Arunabharathi.