When Big Tree Falls
Encyclopedia
When Big Tree Falls is a short story by acclaimed Malayalam author N. S. Madhavan
, adapted into an award winning feature film Kaya Taran
by director Sashi Kumar.
Kaya Taran (or Chrysalis) is set in Meerut city during November 1984, about a Sikh
woman and her young son who have taken shelter in a nunnery during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
.
The title of the story refers to widely rebuked statement by Rajiv Gandhi
, then Prime Minister of India
, who is thought to have trivialised the murder of 2700 sikhs in Delhi
, allegedly by supporters of his ruling party Indian National Congress
, by remarking that when a big tree falls, the earth is bound to shake.
The phrase is from a statement he made in New Delhi
on November 19th 1984, at a Boat Club rally commemorating his late mother
's birthday: “Some riots took place in the country following the murder of Indiraji. We know the people were very angry and for a few days it seemed that India had been shaken. But, when a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it does shake a little.” http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071031/nation.htm#8
N. S. Madhavan
N. S. Madhavan is a leading writer of contemporary Malayalam literature, whose short stories, novels, football columns and travel articlea enjoy a wide readership in Malayalam speaking areas of India.-Early life:...
, adapted into an award winning feature film Kaya Taran
Kaya Taran
Kaya Taran is a highly-acclaimed film directed by Sashi Kumar based on Malayalam short story When Big Tree Falls by N.S...
by director Sashi Kumar.
Kaya Taran (or Chrysalis) is set in Meerut city during November 1984, about a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
woman and her young son who have taken shelter in a nunnery during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots
1984 anti-Sikh riots
The 1984 Anti-Sikh pogroms / riots or the 1984 Sikh Massacre was a sikh genocide there was four days of violence in northern India, particularly Delhi, during which armed mobs killed Sikhs, looted and set fire to Sikh homes, businesses and schools, and attacked gurdwaras, in response to the...
.
The title of the story refers to widely rebuked statement by Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Ratna Gandhi was the sixth Prime Minister of India . He took office after his mother's assassination on 31 October 1984; he himself was assassinated on 21 May 1991. He became the youngest Prime Minister of India when he took office at the age of 40.Rajiv Gandhi was the elder son of Indira...
, then Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
, who is thought to have trivialised the murder of 2700 sikhs in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, allegedly by supporters of his ruling party Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, by remarking that when a big tree falls, the earth is bound to shake.
The phrase is from a statement he made in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
on November 19th 1984, at a Boat Club rally commemorating his late mother
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
's birthday: “Some riots took place in the country following the murder of Indiraji. We know the people were very angry and for a few days it seemed that India had been shaken. But, when a mighty tree falls, it is only natural that the earth around it does shake a little.” http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071031/nation.htm#8