Lure of the Vetal: Tracing Elements of Supernatural in Agarwal’s Retelling

Abstract

What draws us most to the genre of Children's Literature? I attribute this nostalgia to aspects of human affinity, such as the circular structure, the omission of arduous language, a reflection of an innocent time, and themes that can be internalised even by adults. What is clever in these tales is the eccentric characters employed to dispense values. Didacticism is often disguised under the guise of amusement, which aims to keep the target audience engaged; eccentric characters are employed to convey these values. This paper presents a deconstructive reading of Sivadasa’s "Listen, O King," as adapted and retold by Deepa Agarwal. It analyses Vetal, an icon among Indian children who grew up on the wisdom of his riddles, as the ultimate spectre. It reimagines the spirit as an embodiment of practical knowledge, a timeless symbol of sagacity. The entire story is a compilation of mini banters between Vikramaditya and the chatty demon, which are studied to see how Hauntology finds itself intertwined in the oral storytelling tradition. The writer paints a picture of the Terrors of cremation grounds, a blood sacrifice, prophecies, ghouls, ghosts, tricksters, and gods. This celebrated work serves as a potent vehicle for teaching children about the world. The life-death predicament, marriage, duty, as well as kinship, to name a few, form the basis of the archaic tales spewed one after the other, which then lead to a united climax. The past is treated respectfully as the origin of the present. Vikram’s Sisyphus-like struggle is often personalised by the children who absorb values through the solutions they provide. Each story conceals some Indian moral philosophy and engages the child in a quest of their own. How are the dead personified to teach the living? How is fantasy utilised to maintain the allure of the charming tales? How does the supernatural transform into agents of dispensing virtues that are of universal potential? What is haunting, and who is being haunted in the tales? How does the darkness of plot feed into the lure in Children's Literature?