Koogai, the owla huddled in its hollow with the sun overhead, it flies free when darkness descends Bird of the nighta an abuse, a bad omen attacked and shunned by birds, by humans a Strong, but unaware of its immense power, Koogai, the owla foolish or wise? Set in post-Independence Tamil Naduas era of agrarian and industrial change, Koogai reflects the nuances of an authentic contemporary myth leavened with irony and fierce humour. Empowering themselves with the image of the owl, a totem of self-respect and hope, men and women break free of old caste taboos only to find themselves entangled in the doublespeak of an egalitarian rhetoric Cho Dharman Cho. Dharman is widely known as one of the leading writers of the karisal (black cotton soil) region of Tamil Nadu. A former textile mill worker, he has received state, national, and international awards for his novels, short stories, and non-fiction. VASANTHA SURYA writes poetry in English. She has translated novels, short stories, poems from and into Tamil, and has written a novel and an adaptation of the Ramayana for young readers.