Trial of Tenderness

English translation of Viswanatha Satyanarayana ‘s Telugu story ‘Pariksha‘.

A simple story of subtle significance

What is the nature of a man living on earth who belongs in heaven” How would his life be in our current society? What would be the experiences in store for him? How would he interact with the world around him? Will he survive? What remains of him? Trial of Tenderness’ narrates his story.

The story throws up questions to the readers about the extent of the deficit in intent and understanding of the world that witnesses the life of such a person. Wavering on the threshold of the utter destitution of sensitivity – the same sensitivity that makes a humar being human. And what if such a person were also in penury? The narrative examines how society gets blinded to the suffering caused by poverty and penury and provides clarity on why it happens so.

Viswanadha is one of the best story-tellers that India has produced in the twentieth century of the common era. His entire oeuvre serves as a commentary on Indian traditions for the contemporary times. He has been rightly hailed as ‘the living link between the past and the future.’ Trial of Tenderness’ is one of his gems.

Sri Viswanadha Publications Pvt. Ltd.