version differs substantially from the Malayalam original in its sensibility. Most readers prefer to read this as an independent novel by Vijayan rather than seeing it as a translation. Authors like N. S. Madhavan have been openly critical of the 'freedoms Vijayan took with his own work' as well as his English style. The English version was published long after Vijayan experienced an 'epistemological break' after meeting the monk Swami Karunakara Guru. The early O. V. Vijayan was marked by 'deep philosophical doubt and skepticism', but the later O. V. Vijayan 'upheld certitudes'. The Legends of Khasak was written by 'the Vijayan of certitudes', which makes it a very different novel in its sensibility, in spite of being a 'translation'. One critic makes the following comparison between Khasakkinte Itihasam and The Legends of Khasak to prove this point. A literal translation of an important passage in Khasakkinte Itihasam reads: "What is his truth?" They asked one another.They recalled the curse that the mollakka had sought to cast on Nizam Ali. It had no effect on him."The khazi's truth," they said, "is the sheikh's truth.""What then of the mollakka's? Is he untrue?" They asked again."He too is the truth.""How can that be so?""Because truths are many." In The Legends of Khasak, O. V. Vijayan rendered this passage thus: "What is the Khazi's truth?" The troubled elders asked one another.They recalled the spell the mullah had tried to cast on Nizam Ali. They had seen the spell fail."The Khazi's truth," they told themselves, "is the Sheikh's truth.""If that be so," the troubled minds were in search of certitude, "is Mollakka the untruth?""He is the truth too.""How is it so?""Many truths make the big truth." References External links Publishers DC Books (Malayalam) DC Books (Malayalam) (Paper Back) Penguin India (The Legends Of Khasak) Fayard (Les légendes de Khasak) Analysis India Today (Tarun J. Tejpal) The Hindu (E. V. Ramakrishnan) Business Standard (Nilanjana S. Roy) The Pioneer (V. R. Jayaraj) Malayala Manoama (Baiju Govind) Mathrubhumi (Mammootty (actor) with K Unnikrishnan) The Indian Express (Amrith Lal) Mint (Prathap Nair) BusinessLine (Deepa Bhasthi) Malayalam novels 1969 novels Novels set in Kerala Culture of Palakkad district Novels by O. V. Vijayan 1969 Indian novels 1968 Indian novels 1968 novels Magic realism novels