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continuation started exactly after 22 years of its blissful respite.
The origin of the repose is as queer as that of Rip Van Winkle's
fantastic slumber And demands a short narration. Please read.
Among
the tapals received on a certain day in Dec. 1969, one was that of a
Bombay publisher of International reputation. It commissioned me to
writing children's books and submit a few chapters as specimens in a
couple of weeks. It startled me; for, that renowned publisher was a
total stranger to me, nor did I expect such a lucrative offer in
such a short period couple of years of my starting the writing
career in English, though I had by then, to my credit some half a
dozen books and hundreds of write-ups in Telugu - my Mother tongue.
Elated, I began a monograph in right earnest, choosing Asoka, my
beloved monarch, stealing a few hours from my hard routine work. I
did complete 4 short chapters and sent him post-haste. The response:
Nil. Chilled anxiety raked up the whole affair after three months of
long expectation of reply, with baited breath. Alas! the reply was:
"The project is since dropped". Later, Captn. Murugiayan,
M.Sc., the reputed humanist Principal, GTN Arts College, Dindigul
had the occasion to peruse the manuscript by accident. Swept off by
the novelty of approach, nicety of presentation and oddity of
certain episodes, he tried his best to get it prescribed as one of
the Expensive Readers for Pre University/Degree students.
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