Review of Story of Tublu by Mr Tomichan Matheikal

Mr Tomichan Matheikal has been a teacher throughout his career that spans three decades.  He started working in a convent school in Shillong, moved to St Edmund's College as a lecturer in English and then he left for Delhi where he has been  teaching English in a Public School ever since.  Teaching, reading and writing has been his passions.  Tomichan Sir wrote two books: English Poetry (Literary Criticism) and Yearning (Short Stories). For a long time, his writing has been confined to blogging. His writes a blog named Matheikal's Blog.

Tomichan Sir is a very active and passionate blogger. He writes about various topics, but it seems his interest is more inclined towards politics and religion. There’s always a sense truth in his writing and sometimes I could even smell a little bit of Atheism in it. Well, I feel truth and Atheism are very closely interrelated. I also have a sense of feeling that Tomichan Sir wants to educate the world in his own small way, through his blogging. He tries to tell people to be rational and not to believe in something, just because the rest of the world is believing in it. I think his students are quite fortunate to have a teacher like him. 

Tomichan sir is the kind of teacher for whom respect just comes aromatically from the heart.  I feel blessed to be in contact with such a person. Tomichan Sir is a man of literature; I am grateful to him and also feel proud that he has read my debut novel Story of Tublu. He liked the story and found the narration very interesting written with ample simplicity. Even though it’s a fiction, but Tomichan Sir feels that Story of Tublu is a kind of story that could have happened really. 

"Every line reads as if it is taken from actual life.  Every character is like someone we may actually meet in real life.  The author does not take recourse to any literary embellishments or sophisticated techniques to narrate his story.  It’s a straightforward narrative that comes in the simplest language possible"

To read the complete review please click the link below:

Review of Story of Tublu by Mr Tomichan Matheikal

Story of Tublu is available at:

My First Print Media Experience

Few days back one lady named Kimaya Varude contacted me through Facebook. She said that she’s from Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore. They do news stories for their college publication, The Weekly Observer. I was ecstatic to hear from her that she read excerpts from my debut novel “Story of Tublu” and was thinking if she could do a profile on me? Kimaya wanted to focus on the struggles of becoming an author and how this book helped me with it. They wanted to do a story that highlights the struggles of becoming an author for starters with a focus on me and my book.

Well, I am really overjoyed with my first print media experience. A very heartfelt thanks to Kimaya for writing about me and my debut novel in the Weekly Observer. Sharing the link below; my story is on the last page.

http://issuu.com/theweeklyobserver/docs/main_file_issue_24

Story of Tublu is available at:

Story of Tublu, excerpt 1

Raja returned to the hostel at night and he looked disturbed to see a gang of guys in his room, drinking. Unlike his usual self, he was silent that night and Tublu felt there was something wrong with him. Raja was only physically present in the room and behaved in a rather absent-minded fashion. He was lost in his thoughts and was finishing his pegs fast. 'What's up dude? You didn’t write today’s paper well or what? Why are you so fucking serious?’ someone asked Raja. Raja had a fake smile on his face and tried to avoid the situation. The party continued and the guys mainly discussed their upcoming training. Everyone had a wonderful time, talking, boozing, and cracking jokes. At midnight, not finding Raja in the room, Tublu looked for him in the other rooms but he couldn’t find Raja anywhere. 

Tublu was worried and started looking for Raja around the hostel. He found Raja sitting alone in the staircase in the backyard of the hostel. It was dark there and Tublu sat next to him without saying anything. Raja took his last puff, exhaled a cloud of smoke and threw away the cigarette bud. ‘What happened, dude? What is disturbing you?’ Tublu asked.

'Nothing Tublu, just wanted to spend some time alone,’ replied Raja.

'It’s okay, if you don’t want to share; I’ll not bother you,’ Tublu said. Raja remained silent for a while and then he lit up another cigarette.

'I’m a little disturbed, dude. Don’t know what to say? Not sure how you would react.’

'Cut the crap, will you?’ Tublu was getting hyper.

'I met my mother today in my uncle's house,' said Raja.

'So, is she upset with you or something?’ 

'Actually, today I met her for the first time in my life,' Raja replied. 

There was an absolute silence. Raja was busy smoking and a few seconds later, Tublu asked Raja to pass on the cigarette to him. The effect of alcohol which Tublu was experiencing vanished instantly. He didn’t know what to say and had his drags silently. Even though they both had been sharing the same room for the last three years, yet they never spoke about their mothers.

An excerpt from my debut novel, Story of Tublu. It's a contemporary fiction book, published by LiFi Publications Pvt Ltd. The story has its share of drama, that entertains; humor, that makes one reminisce; love, friendship and emotions that defines the amazing journey that is, life.

You can order your copy from