Alumniportal by Jahangeer Elayedath is composed of 12 fascinating short stories and was originally written in Malayalam. These stories give us a glimpse of modern life in the southern part of India. The theme of these stories explores magic realism, touching on social and political commentary, cultural identity, and the nature of time and memory. These characters experience human, albeit tragic, incidents that tug at the reader’s heartstrings.
Jahangeer’s book features stories about colorful characters from diverse social backgrounds as they navigate love and loss in unique ways. The social standings and cultural identity of these characters significantly influence their lives and experiences.
Events unfold in surprising ways, sometimes in ways the reader wouldn’t expect. This collection of short stories is fascinating and intriguing, as it gives us insight into a different world from the points of view of individuals who are often overlooked or dismissed, bringing them to the forefront.
Alumniportal follows a story of two friends and a silent game. This silent game continued until a painful misunderstanding shattered their connection. This story explores the nature of time and memory, and how deceptive the human mind can be. The title of this story truly deserved to be the title of the book, which was, interestingly enough, chosen before the book was finished.
The other two stories that stood out to me most were “The Content” and “Nila and Periyar”. The Content is about a series of old love letters that bring forth memories of heartbreak. Sent after the recipient marries someone else, these letters represent the painful struggle of unfulfilled love. As for Nila and Periyar, it is a heartbreaking story that explores the complexity of relationships that aren’t accepted by society, delving into the shared history of our heroines and their challenges.
Whenever I pick a translated book, a hint of sadness takes over me. This is due to the fact that I could never read it in its original language, and so much gets lost in translation. This stood to be true with Alumniportal by Jahangeer Elayedath.
If you decide to pick up Alumniportal, keep in mind that it is a translated work in which most of the beauty and depth of the original language is lost. Other than that, I personally enjoyed the read. It was fast-paced, and the flow of events didn’t fail to surprise me as the stories mostly end with a mind-blowing plot twist. I hope other readers enjoy it too.