Cheliyali Katta

I have seen many literature fans giving the laurels to “Maidanam” – book written by Chalam. Chalam famous for his feminist subjects shoots an arrow that hits on marriage tradition in its heart. In the novel through the character Rajeswari, chalam asks lots of questions on marriage system prevalent in India, some of them may be valid but most of them shot with half baked analysis. The novel surely created a sensation to such an extent that people started fearing the future of marriage system. In the novel heroin, Brahmin housewife, elopes with a muslim and prophesizes that marriage system as a whole is useless. She tries to pretend that free sex is the most ethical form of living relation between any male and female, just like the dogs do on the street. It is a pity that Chalam did not realize its problems, may be he has never seen the minimum problems dogs on street face. Many writers fought war against Chalam’s ideas in their subsequent books, but the best of them is Viswanatha’s Cheliyali katta.

Cheliyali katta is the limit the sea enforces on itself. Tides come from the sea as if they are going to submerge the earth but no matter how much force they come with sea ensures that they do not cross a limit. That limit is called Cheliyali Katta. Viswnatha counters Rajeswari of Chalam with Ratnavali in Cheliyali katta. Ratnavali answers all the questions raised by Rajeswari. Ratnavali is similar to Rajeswari, a Brahmin housewife who elopes with Rangadu, his husband’s brother, in search of true love or free love. Rangadu, who is corrupted at his own expense, by the college education thinks that marriage is a bondage to women. He is in one way innocent and ignorant and thinks that by freeing Ratnavali of his brother he is doing a great favor to her. He did not even realize that Ratnavali is in no bondage to be released but in a holy matrimony to be cherished. He corrupts her and gets corrupted in turn.

He elopes with her to city and tries to introduce her with many friends of his so that she can find true love in one of them. It reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me. My friend who lived in US for long time, came to India and got engaged during his vacation. His American boss in dismay asked him, “you got engaged with just one day interaction? I cant believe it. Say for example, you want to buy a car, how can you afford to buy it before test driving it?” It does not surprise me when an American says this. But the marriage in India is not an agreement for sex but it is a holy phenomenon where two individuals come together to lead their live inseparable in Dharma, Ardha, Kama. Moksha is not tied here, because that is pinnacle every one has to strive at his own effort. Rangadu, who is influenced by western ideas, thinks like the above American manager.

The turning point to the tale is when Rangadu wants to give education to Ratnavali and her introduction to teacher Mukunda Rao. Mukunda Rao imparts teaching to her Indian way. He chages her soul and makes her realize what an irrevocable mistake she has committed. She also realizes that with her corrupt body she cannot go back to her husband and ask for forgiveness. Every word she talks there after gives answers to Rajeswari’s questions. As she has no other means to live with her head up, she along with Rangadu commit suicide after giving her full property to her husband’s son.

Ratnavali confesses her mistake saying spoilt body that has been corrupted by means unacceptable by Sanatana Dharma” is better destroyed. Viswnataha who is lauded as doing service to Sanatana Dharma in great deal, has saved marriage system through his counter on Maidanam. It is real pleasure to read this master piece which gives logical counter to all questions raised on marriage.