Life of a Raavulan, translated from the Malayalam Oru Raavulante Jeevithapusthakam, narrates the life of P. K. Kariyan, the renowned Gaddika performer and tribal activist from Kerala. In this free-flowing narrative, where the mythical blends with the political and the cultural intersects with the historical, Kariyan tells not only his own story but also that of his people. It revisits a turbulent moment in Kerala’s history, while celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of Adivasis.
P. K. Kariyan (1951–2020) was among the most renowned exponents of the tribal art form Gaddika and played a crucial role in bringing this Adivasi ritual performance into Kerala’s public cultural sphere. Born into the Adivasi Raavula tribe, he dropped out of school after being arrested and falsely accused of murder and involvement in a Naxalite action. During his childhood, he developed a close and warm personal relationship with A. Varghese, the legendary Naxalite leader, who inspired him to study, think critically, and become politically aware. After his release following years of imprisonment, Kariyan dedicated his life to serving his community, preserving Adivasi cultural traditions, and fighting for tribal rights in Wayanad, Kerala.
Fazeela Mehar is a writer and journalist from Wayanad, Kerala. She has been part of the editorial teams at Madhyamam Daily, Mathrubhumi Daily and Manorama Online. Her debut novel Khanithath was shortlisted for the D. C. Books Novel Award in 2018 and the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2024. She received the K. A. Kodungalloor Award in 2022 for the best short story in Malayalam.
The Translator V. Prathiba retired as Associate Professor of English Language and Literature from the University of Calicut, Kerala. She has co-edited The Oxford India Anthology of Malayalam Dalit Writing.
Foreword by P. Sanal Mohan Preface Translator’s Preface 1. Creation 2. How the Raavulas Came into Being 3. Amma and Maaman 4. My Birth and Achan’s Death 5. My School, My Native Place, My People 6. Learning Becomes Serious Business 7. Childhood Memories 8. Aashramam School, and then to S.K.M.J. 9. The Memories of S.K.M.J. 10. An Unforgettable Episode 11. The Gods Continue Their Journey 12. That One Year I Skipped School 13. Thrissilery and Varghese 14. Meeting Varghese 15. Memories of Varghese 16. The Thirunelli–Thrissilery Episode 17. After the Attack, Peruman’s Murder 18. To the Jail 19. Memories of the Days Spent in Jail 20. The Trial 21. A Raavulan’s Political Statement 22. Imprisonment under MISA and the Emergency 23. Freedom, and Activities Afterwards 24. Work, Family 25. I Start Learning about My Community 26. The End of the Story of Our Origins 27. Rituals and Customs of the Raavulas 28. Gaddika—for Humans and Nature 29. How the Raavulas became Adiyaas
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