Silent Storm

About the Book

Silent Storm interweaves the stories of Nagamani, an illiterate and poor woman and Kumar, a well placed white collar employee of a bank. Nagamani is ostracised by the community when it discovers that she is afflicted with HIV virus. By sheer grit and determination she successfully educates herself through the efforts of Positive People’s Care and soon she lends support to many others around her, especially those from high-risk groups such as sex workers. At the other end of the spectrum is Kumar who is happily married but seduced by Sudhira, his one-time love. She represents high society’s promiscuous life. When Sudhira discovers that she has HIV and commits suicide, Kumar suffers pangs of remorse and fears that he too may have been infected by the virus. Kumar’s middle class morality and excessive concern for his status in society come in the way of his resolving the issue on hand. His fears drive him to attempt suicide till it is revealed that his blood sample had not been properly examined.

This book is a translation of the Telugu novel Kaalutunna Poolathota, which won the Sahitya Academy Award in 2010. The Hindi translation Nayee Imarat ke Khandaharwon the National Human Rights Commission of India award for its contribution to the cause of AIDS.

About the Author

P Jayalakshmi, the translator, retired as Associate Professor from the Department of English, Nizam College, Osmania University. Her translations include short stories, poems and novels of leading Telugu writers.