Dr. Santosh reviews Dilip Mohapatra’s collection of short stories, ‘More than Meets the Eye’. An exclusive for Different Truths.
This collection of 25 short stories – some short, some long, is indeed a captivating read. Dedicated to his beloved grandmother who used to regale him with stories, in his mother tongue, this intriguing ensemble of mystery, paranormal, satire, fables, crime and legends is indeed a reader’s delight. In the Author’s note to his collection of short stories, Twisted, Arthur Beaver says, “short stories are like sniper’s bullets”. Fast, shocking, intriguing. Mohapatra’s stories do the same, leaving one with a craving for more.
In the Author’s note, this multi-talented, award-winning poet, a decorated naval officer, a management expert, who forayed onto the literary firmament back in the seventies, Mohapatra says, “the fiction writer is a conjurer of a different kind. The conjurer waves his wand and shows clever tricks on the stage to create illusion that looks like truth. The writer on the other hand, wields his pen to present truth in the garb of illusion.” Mohapatra has headed into this new terrain with an élan which is not new to him. One can also glimpse his poetic sensitivity in his short stories.
I could see that there were some stories based on real incidents, which have been fictionalised…
I could see that there were some stories based on real incidents, which have been fictionalised with a great artistic imagination and deft characterisation.
“Fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth”. Albert Camus had said long back, and in many a story we find him camouflaging truth in the garb of fiction.
If one story left me with a tingling sensation in the eyes, another made me gasp in incredulity, still another made me sit on the edge of my seat. There were many which made me laugh out loud especially some examples of poems and present-day abbreviations that he gives in From Fiasco to Fracas.
The very first short story, Janha – The Moon had me hooked, and then there was no stopping me.
The very first short story, Janha – The Moon had me hooked, and then there was no stopping me. What transpires in the story is something which is happening all around us, violence following property disputes, materialism undermining compassion and kindness, and callous attitude towards the old.
The Return Gift, a very sensitively penned storybrought a lump to my throat. The twists in Reunion and Two to Tango left me gasping for air- it was totally unexpected.
Denizenship Dilemma is a very well-crafted satire on the state of things unfolding around us.
In Reunion, something happens on a ‘magical, enthralling intoxicating, enchanting, overpowering’ night in Nigeria – the denouement of the story left me dumbfounded. Denizenship Dilemma is a very well-crafted satire on the state of things unfolding around us. In fact, it is so intriguing and multi- nuanced that I had to read it more than twice to try to get at the subtleties cleverly hidden between the lines.
“I want to ask what’s wrong if a hyena heads this government. The King must either say ‘Aye’ or ‘Nay’ in a democracy. So I think that a Hyena could be the right candidate to lead the nation.” As I finished reading this powerful satire, these words remained buzzing in my ears, making me think and rethink.
Universally appealing, the book offers something for every literary palette. Midnight Blues, a very captivating story about the exploits of Abhinash, a cub reporter who insinuates himself into a nudist colony in Goa to get a juicy story for his editor, left me with a never ending smile. I could almost visualize the bewildered joy on Abhinash’s face at the result of the unexpected contest, he found himself a part of, at the party he had managed to sneak into. Whether the Entertainment Section of the Sunday edition of the newspaper carried his story or not, this story indeed made my day, tickling my funny bone.
From Fiasco to Fracas is a biting satire on the state of the present day so-called literary festivals…
From Fiasco to Fracas is a biting satire on the state of the present day so-called literary festivals, where mediocrity is glorified and the real writers who have a lot to say are rendered mute. There is a lot of blabbers over beverages, exotic food, and puppet shows, – while living legends in the field of literature, very much a part of the festival go unnoticed as the real VIP arrives, strutting and staggering.
A very poignant story in the collection is the one about the love affair between a squirrel and a lonely old man, Bhanu Pratap Singh – Love Story. It reminded me of many people who talk to flowers and birds, and even mourn the death of flowers and birds that they had built an affinity with.
Mohapatra is indeed a brilliant wordsmith…
Mohapatra is indeed a brilliant wordsmith, whose word- weaving has gifted these twenty-five literary gems to the literary world, which are stories to be forever cherished. I can go on and on about these stories, but I want the reader to get hold of the book and enjoy the delectable stories, which will not disappoint anyone. I read all the stories more than once, my favorite in the collection being Love Story which left me with a never ending churning of the heart.
This is indeed a book highly recommended for all lovers of short stories. Hope the writer gifts us more short stories in the future.
Visuals sourced by the reviewer and Different Truths
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