When Big Tree Falls

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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 sought to trivialise murder of 2700 sikhs in National capital Delhi allegedly by supporters of his ruling party Indian National Congress by saying 'When a big tree falls, earth shakes a bit.

Then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, son of Indira Gandhi made a statement at Boat Club in New Delhi on November 19-th 1984, on the birthday of Indira Gandhi “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.”.[1]^[1][2]

[edit] References

1. ^ When the big tree fell
2. ^ Remembering 1984

[edit] External links

• The Tribune article on 1984 Riots