Hosa Raga by Usha Navaratnaram is my first Kannada Novel, reading after almost a decade. I remember reading ತಾ.ರ.ಸು novels: the Chitradurga series in the 8th grade summer vacation.
It took about 4hrs to finish this small book. I am a slow reader in Kannada. It's a simple love story. Simple Kannada. A lot of details about daily life activities. Simple daily life conversations of grandparents and grandchildren who have visited them during the summer vacation.
You will feel you were part of the family and you witness a cute love story. The love story is not really the centre of the book but it is natural flow that builds in the simple conversations. It has many moments that brings a smile on your face.
What I didn't like:
It feels anti feminist. A woman's rights, feelings, opinions and choice of dress has no importance. Wearing western clothes is represented as immaturity. The main female character becomes acceptable, mature and beautiful only when she wears a saree. The Male character is the decision maker on who he marries and doesn't require the consent of the girl, her parents, his parents or anyone..... Infact he will kiss the girl multiple times without her consent. It is presented as heroic and romantic. He "permits" her to continue her studies, wear western clothes, play cricket with her cousins and proposes....no... declares that he will marry her ignoring the 10+ years age gap is presented as heroic and romantic.
Having said that, I think in those days (about 50 years ago) when this book was written, women also considered this character as heroic and romantic.
My rating
For story: 2/5
For style of writing: 4/5
For simple Kannada: 5/5
Hosa Raga review | Usha Navaratnaram novel | Kannada book reviews | Old Kannada romance novels
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