Lankapuri
by Krishna Kumar
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Translated from Hindi, this delicate short story is a revealing study of childhood friendship, curiosity and the sudden changes that adolescence brings. Narrated by a young boy who reflects on his close relationship with an older girl named Manno, it centres on a mysterious, empty island in a large lake at the edge of their town. Every evening the children play a traditional rooftop game called Nagin Tapu, and one day the narrator asks Manno about the island; she replies indifferently, 'Lankapuri', explaining that the townspeople burn the effigy of Ravan there on Dussehra and it stays deserted the rest of the year. Fascinated, the narrator persuades Manno to sneak out with him before sunrise to visit the island; inside the ruins he finds the name 'Sushila' and a drawing of a girl etched on the walls, realising older boys have been visiting in secret. As they leave, the bright morning sun glares in his eyes, and looking at Manno resting her head on her knees, he feels a sudden 'fissure' in his mind, becoming acutely conscious of people staring from the shore, representing his loss of childhood innocence and entry into the self-conscious world of adolescence.
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Krishna Kumar's short story, translated from Hindi, is a delicate and revealing study of childhood friendship, curiosity and the sudden psychological changes that adolescence brings. It is narrated by a young boy reflecting on his close bond with an older girl named Manno.
The mystery of Lankapuri
Every evening the children play a traditional game called Nagin Tapu on their rooftop, looking out at a large lake at the edge of their town. One day, when the narrator asks Manno about a mysterious, empty island in the middle of the lake, she replies indifferently, 'Lankapuri.'
She explains that the townspeople burn the effigy of Ravan there on Dussehra, and the island remains completely deserted for the rest of the year.
The journey to the island
Fascinated by this mysterious place, the narrator persuades Manno to sneak out with him before sunrise to visit Lankapuri. They make their way across fields and reach the deserted island.
Inside the ruins, the narrator finds the name 'Sushila' and a drawing of a girl etched on the walls. Suddenly, he realises that other older boys have been visiting this place in secret.
The transition of adolescence
As they leave, the bright morning sun glares in his eyes, and he looks at Manno, who is resting her head on her knees. He feels a sudden, strange confusion, a sharp 'fissure' in his mind.
He becomes acutely conscious of the people staring at them from the shore, representing his sudden loss of childhood innocence and his entry into the self-conscious world of adolescence.