While there are plenty of events that influence the lives of human beings, it is their inherent characterizations and the actions they do that define their lives on the whole. In addition, these actions have a ripple effect on the lives of the people associated with and connected with them at different levels. Whether it is their friends or family, everyone goes through the effects of their actions and vice versa. This effect has been a part of Indian culture and has become a focal point of discussion in Indian households quite frequently. This is what also finds expression in “The Clown- the Rakshasa Gana” by Piyusha Pushp, which is also considered a sequel to Pankaj Lochan’s “Sigma, as life sums it all.” Taking a cue from the prequel, the sequel sets into another set of events that feature characters born from different parts of the world and going through circumstances influenced by their actions.
Pushp sets the tone of “The Clown” right from the beginning with her first story, which also defines the standards for the following 6 stories that eventually explore life at large. The featuring of different characters using their naturally vested powers for good or bad purposes is the central aspect of “The Clown.” As a title, while for once, “The Clown” will seem like a portrayal of the comic aspects of the things that form a significant part of human lives, it is only after deeper analysis and reading through the stories that the readers understand the large scale significance of the simple seeming title. Hence, while the stories baffle the readers, they also set a chain reaction of thoughts that set the imagination of the readers ablaze and shoot into a world of wonder at the defining natures of human beings.
Each story of the 7 stories defines a new standard and sets an environment that is ruled by people indulging in the pleasures of life at the expense of themselves or others. Their choices are defined by their characteristics and the way they see the world. The author presents the characters who have a dangerous combination of skills which they use to wreck havoc in the lives of naive and gullible folk because their different personalities. This is evident in stories like “The T-shirt,” “Tomatoes,” “A Compulsive Liar,” and others too. While the characters seem to contain destructive tendencies, sometimes thee author skillfully hides them and does not let them show up even till the end, which comes as an ultimate shock to the readers, and they may even find themselves dumbfounded.
While “Sigma” set the standard at a different level which distinguished it from its counterparts, “The Clown” not only meets the already defined standards, it also shares some stories that join the dots with the karmic theory as defined by the first book of the trilogy. At the same time, the two books also set the standards for the third book that is to follow as a part of the trilogy. These defining factors also set “The Clown” apart from any books written in the same line to express the darker aspects of people’s personalities which generally remain hidden or unspoken in the literary world.
Through “The Clown,” Pushp also brings out strong aspects of human life and personality that feature various vices ranging from internal tendencies like lying to taking every way possible to ensure justice to external factors like manipulating others for personal benefits. While this shows the darker side of people, it also shows the ways of the world, as the readers would surely not deny the truth in these stories. This pushes the book to the levels of universality as the readers not only connect with the stories they read but may also find characters similar to the ones that the book shares through the distinct plots. Most of the stories have no defined geographical location, which again is a defining factor for the stories being set in the heart of any city, town, or village. The absence of any geographical boundary further reinforces the universality of the stories in human lives.
The collection of short stories does not have any limited audience for the recommendation. Each story covers characters of different ages and even characters who have lived their lives, and the stories contain their journey on the whole. Hence, everyone will find some character or some situation relatable to them which eventually gives them stories that they would enjoy and recommend in their friend circles too. Hence, “The Clown” by Piyusha Pushp is recommended to people who like to read fiction and short stories and even those who read fiction due to the strong characters that express themselves through actions that are regular in the lives of human beings on the whole.
