Kuttu Thatha and the importance of good will – Interview with Uma Venkatesan – Part 2

Could you talk about your books written for Pachyderm Tales?

I have written two books – Kuttu Thathavum Chutty Kuzhandaigalum and Paroupkaram idam sarira. More books are on the way.

Extending good attitude towards others, extending good words and good relationship with them are some of the themes in these two books.

Could you talking about working with Pachyderm Tales?

Uma Aparna is giving  very good space for writers and keep on encouraging New Writers giving various titles for the Book on topic for Stories they wish to write. They are working with different audiences – children to old age persons. Uma is giving so many people a writing space. She is reenergizing the writers who are able to write for social causes. They encourage good writing. I won the Pachyderm Tales third prize for Kuttu Thatha and Chutty Kuzhandaigalum.

Could you talk about your writing process?

Books should not very scholarly and be able to talk to younger audiences. They should tell children how to be good to parents, society, in areas they are interested in working with, working for Indian causes and working in the global context with global understanding.

Children are growing as plants and fruits. Through books, they should learn about social development and their role in it. Whatever path they take up be it engineering, as authors, or saving human lives they should do it with social causes in mind.

Could you talk about your Story Kittu Thathavum Chutti Koyandigalum ?

“Kuttu Thathavum Chutty Kuzhandaigalum” is the imaginary story of a socially aware  and concerned retired teacher. He starts and runs an orphanage for children – helping them, sending them to school starting from LKG, UKG and teaching them about getting up early in the morning, doing yoga,  exercises, teaching them about punctuality etc. The orphanage started with 2-3 children and goes up with 40-50 children. The orphanage teaches children about different aspects of the world.  Kuttu Thatha is in his 60s. I am 60 years old and I have seen many people of this age doing things like Kuttu Thatha.

Could you talk about your second Story Paropakaram idam sariram?

The second Story is on how the purpose of the body is to be utilised to live for others. It is an imaginary collection of short stories. The tongue is something that can do wonders – it can spread both good and evil. The stories talk about the important of being kind and courteous.