The character ‘Father’ in Prabanjan’s short story collection ‘Appavin Vesti’ (Father’s Dhoti)

பிரபஞ்சனின் 'அப்பாவின் வேஷ்டி" சிறுகதைத் தொகுதியில் 'அப்பா" கதாபாத்திரம்

Abstract

In the process of childbirth, while the mother gives life to the child, it is the father who provides support to the mother’s womb. The Tholkappiyam explains this in the context of Tamil ethics: “Fathers are the supporters of the people.” A father carries numerous responsibilities within the family: he is the head, a supporter, a good friend, and a virtuous protector. Prabanjan, in his short story collection Appa’s Veshti, portrays this commendable father figure from multiple perspectives. This article examines the depiction of the father in literature through Prabanjan’s lens, analyzing the father’s appearance, qualities, actions, opposing characters, and historical narrative embedded in the “Appa” character.