This is the English Translation of NetturP’s first publication in Malayalam, “Narmadayude Nattil”
Translation has been done by Pradeep Nettur, the author’s eldest son. ‘In the land of Narmada’, originally published in Malayalam in 1973 as a travelogue, is a work wherein the author shares a mix of experiences and thought processes that he lived through during his extensive travels in the lands where River Narmada flows. It is a fine literary product from a mind conscientiously moulded in the crucible of freedom struggle. The free-flowing narration not only touches the places he visited but also holds a mirror on the beliefs, traditions, history, geography, culture and the emerging developments of the places and life of the people.
This book was prescribed by the University of Kerala as a text book for graduate studies for a number of years during the seventies. Late S. K. Pottekkat, an accomplished travelogue writer himself and a Jnanpith Awardee, had this to say, while initially introducing the book to the readers: “…this work amply proves that Nettur is a good travelogue writer. Keen observation, knowledge of history and propensity for deft narration are the essential attributes of a travelogue writer. All these attributes can be seen inwoven well in this book…”