in Palakkad. Vijayan took twelve years (begun in 1956) to complete Khasakkinte Itihasam. The character Appukkili was originally created by Vijayan for his short story "Appukkili" - a chapter in the finished book - which was published in October 1958 (Mathrubhumi Weekly). Synopsis The protagonist, Ravi, a Malayali final year under-graduate student in Madras, is haunted by the guilt of an affair he had with his stepmother. He thus abandons the prospects of a bright academic career, deserts his girlfriend Padma and leaves on a long journey, which finally brings him to the remote (fictional) village of Khasak near Palakkad (central Kerala). At Khasak, he works in a single-teacher government primary school as part of the Malabar District Board’s education initiative. The story commences with Ravi’s arrival at Khasak and the beginning of his encounters with its people and legends. He immerses himself in the 'bewitching sensuousness of the rustic, amoral world', only to emerge as an 'involved outsider'. He finds rational inquiry meaningless and begins a metaphorical journey inwards. The narrative strategy of the novel is characterized by the matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastic or mythical elements into seemingly realistic fiction. The narration also makes sense of multiple separate realities (see magic realism). At the end of a series of events, including the threat of suspension from the authorities, Ravi keeps his word to his ex-girlfriend Padma to leave Khasak. The novel ends with Ravi in the monsoon rain, waiting for his bus to leave the village, watching a snake that had struck him withdrawing into its hole. Magic realism Characters Ravi - the new school teacher in Khasak (Palakkad), originally from Pattambi. Ravi's father - a doctor in a coffee plantation in Ooty. Padma - Ravi's ex-girlfriend from Madras Christian College, Madras Suma and Rama - half-sisters of Ravi Bodhananda Swami - a holy man managing an ashrama Kelu Menon - the post-man to Khasak Khasak Madhavan Nair - a tailor by profession, Ravi's mate in the village. Allappicha Mollakka - the village primary madrasa teacher and the mosque mukri Nizam Ali "Khaliyar" - the young mystic/healer (khaliyar) in the village, lives in an abandoned mosque (the King's Mosque) Maimuna - daughter of Allappicha Mollakka, married to Chukra Rawthar. Thevarathu Shivaraman Nair - a landlord in Khasak Kuppu Achan - the toddy-tapper/pub owner in Khasak Kuttadan Pushari - the priest/oracle of goddess Nallamma Aliyar - the village restaurant owner