Madhuram Ninte Jeevitham (So sweet is your life) by KP Appan is a book on Mary, who was mother of Jesus. The book won immediate acclaim among religious scholars and literary geniuses for it’s analytical style and in depth knowledge and faith. No wonder, this small book of 79 pages including drawings won the 2008 Kendra Sahitya Academy Award. The best plus and minus of the book is that it is written in good faith. I mean KP Appan is a strong believer and his belief in Mary and on church’s teaching about Mary is very strong which magnifies his thoughts and the writing. On the other hand, this prevents the logical reasoning of the reader, as faith is said to, believing in which we haven’t seen.
The initial chapters where the reader is been introduced to the subject on author’s personal experience is excellent and the observation skill by the author is unparallel. KP Appan is one book critic in Malayalam whom I watch closely. "When you read a book, the book is reading you as well", is one such observation which made me his fan immediately. This extra degree of precision in observation is evident in this book on faith as well. His interaction with Fr Gilbert is touching.
The highlight of Appan’s observation on Mary is the boldness with which Mary accepts the life challenge, to be the mother of the son of God. The awareness and determination becomes the base of Jesus’s interest in God and his identification with him. It also focus on the hardship she suffered silently being the mother of Jesus. She remains in the shadow but always aware of her son’s actions and intervene if needed. Neverthless, she had a huge faith in her son and his teachings. This intelligent, bold and determined motherhood gives a new image for Mary, which is best of achievement for the book. Mr Appan has researched very well for the book and it shows. From Quran to folk stories, the book makes as if this intelligent piece of writing is so easy to read and understand, which is stamp from a talented writer.
On the other side, Mr Appan fails to consider the logical side of raised questions. The essence of Jesus’s teaching been sidelined by institutionalised church and Mr Appan follows the same path without question. The church required a divine vision when it failed to save the human face Jesus tried to give to the entire god experience. For Jesus, who dreamed of teaching human race to see a God in him and in his neighbour and thereby a son of God for himself and for that matter every neighbour of him, the son of God status was more human in nature. However, Mr. Appan resort to the church way, which invented many ways to appraise a sincere effort, though the entire process got misguided. For this reason, the book will be better enjoyed reading in the light of faith, less otherwise.
An interesting and in depth reading material for one who wishes to mediate on Mary, mother of Jesus is KP Appan’s Madhuram Ninte Jeevitham. It is a unique book for particular reading.