Thanneer Desam

One of the greatest wonders of the earth is the sea. It never ceases to astound us. It has a fantastic history. The story of Thanneer Desam is all about a couple who get lost in the middle of an ocean. It is not a typical novel. This novel is unique because of the extraordinary vocabulary and grammar used by the author, Vairamuthu. It is a tale written entirely in Tamil and contains a wealth of information on the sea and water sciences.

Water is of utmost importance for sustaining life on Earth. It plays a vital role in various aspects of our existence, from supporting the functioning of our bodies to ensuring the health and productivity of ecosystems. Water is essential for human survival. Our bodies are made up of approximately 60% water, and we require an adequate intake of water to maintain bodily functions. We barely survive for three to four days without water.

In the book, Variamuthu introduces us to a young couple, Kalaivannan and Tamizh Roja, who are incredibly in love with one another. Social activist Kalaivannan is employed by a Newspaper publication. Unlike Tamizh Roja, who is the complete opposite, Kalaivannan is deeply in love with Sea. She has a terrible phobia of the sea because of her painful childhood experience. Kalaivannan wants to alter her mindset and give her a whole life experience. To demonstrate how vast and stunning the Sea is, he therefore made the decision to take her inside it.

Along with four other fishermen, Pandi, Baratha, Isakki, and Salim, he forced Tamizh Roja to board a boat. As soon as she saw the azure Sea encircling her, her face started to get pale. They made the decision to come back in the early evening, before the sun sets. But things didn't turn out the way they had hoped. While they were in the middle of the sea, the boat was repaired. Despite much troubleshooting, they were unable to bring the boat to life. Tamizh Roja was immensely worried by the situation.

The mystery of life is the taste of life. They have already traveled 45 kilometers into the sea and were unable to locate any boats or ships that might have been able to assist them. Water and food supplies began to run out. They had trouble getting access to drinking water while being surrounded by water. They distributed the water in the boat among themselves, giving each individual one glass every day. The situation got worse as time passed. How many days will they be able to withstand? Whether they survived the situation? Whether they succeeded in getting to the shore? What happened to Tamizh Roja? All of these questions heighten our interest in reading this book. 

 

In this book, Variamuthu demonstrates amazing language proficiency. The first printing of this book was in 1996. Even 27 years later, the book is still enlightening. To keep readers interested, he incorporated philosophy, physics, social causes, and other topics throughout the novel. He also demonstrates the art of the love letter. In the story, Kalaivannan sends a letter to Tamizh Roja about his love for her, his job, and the value of having a variety of experiences. It was truly epic.

The story also includes another segment that I find to be one of my favourites. One of the fishermen, Salim, would be safeguarding a small mouse that was on the boat. When there is a crisis for food in the boat, they will share the food among the six of them. But Salim will divide his share into two and give one of his portions to the mouse. When asked by others, he would simply say, "I am only there for the mouse". Others would try to feed the mouse. But the mouse will only come out of the hole and have food when Salim serves it. The bond between Salim and the mouse not only touches the hearts of other people in the boat but also touches the hearts of readers.

Every paragraph in this book amply demonstrates the author's meticulous observation of everything around him. We should be appreciative of his ability for observation and research. This tale also teaches us the value of water and the necessity of its wise use.

We would naturally gain a sense of self-assurance and strength once we had successfully climbed a mountain. That is why, even though it is incredibly challenging, people try to trek large mountains. The Sea is the same way. All our anxieties will go away once we understand the nature of the sea. This book will take us on a journey deep into the sea and teach us how to survive there with confidence.

Enjoy the Ride!