‘Nalabhagam’: a rare Janakiraman novel with a shocking theme and political undertones

The erstwhile composite Thanjavur district — now comprising Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai — was once a vibrant hub of political activity. Known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu, the region provided fertile ground for the mobilisation of peasants and agricultural labourers under the red flag of the communist movement, even as the landed classes largely aligned themselves with the Congress.

At the same time, the district’s dense network of temples, its rich legacy of music, dance and scholarship, and the entrenched social dominance of Brahmins created the conditions for the emergence of the Dravidian movement, which championed ideals of equality and social justice.