Publisher's Synopsis
CHINNAARI GAANA, MANGALA YAANA is a science fiction novel in Kannada for middle and high school children. Science fiction writing, in Indian languages, particularly in the esoteric subject domain is rather scanty. Aircraft and Aerospace sciences have and will always catch the imagination of young minds, perhaps to a much greater degree than many other disciplines. The quest for Extra-Terrestrial (ET) life in the COSMOS is indeed the most invigorating and enchanting compared to all other scientific pursuits. The space missions to several planets being launched by several countries could be considered as small steps in the search for ET life. Traditionally, Indian philosophy has preached deep respect for the COSMOS and has held it in great awe. Inspired by the Indian Mission to Mars, I am herewith presenting this science fiction novel in Kannada, which brings out the aspirations of a young school boy who has an extraordinary interest to study aerospace sciences. In my inner circle of friends and relatives, over the last few decades, I have been closely following the ordeals parents endure to get their wards admitted to English medium schools in Bengaluru. The impractical constraints imposed on children in such a school to strictly adhere to 'SPEAK IN ENGLISH ONLY' and the turmoils, the boy, whose mother tongue is Kannada has to confront is a prominent ingredient of this narrative. Although an exact translation of the title of the novel to English would be difficult, 'COSMIC LURINGS AT OUR LIPS' is the best I could think of. LIPS is an acronym for a fictitious school titled Lovely Indian Public School located in an imaginary extension 'Magadi Nagara' in Bengaluru. All characters in this novel are purely imaginary too.
