Salil Jose's latest novel, The Last Layman (And His Last Sin), is set in a once-large hill parish
Philip Joseph, a sporadic church
attendee, returns to his hometown in the hills after over fifty years in the
city, reconnecting with fellow parishioners. He is an indifferent churchgoer,
lacking even the most fundamental prayers. He hosts gatherings for the village
youth who assist him.
During these celebrations, while
under the influence, this elderly man discloses the transgressions of his past.
As time progresses, all others depart the hills, leaving only Philip behind.
Now at the advanced age of 90, he feels compelled to confess his final sin. He
approaches the parish priest with a bottle of whiskey, imploring the vicar to
share a drink with him and hear his confession.
The priest declines his request.
The old man continues to reside alone in the hills, burdened by an unconfessed
sin that occupies his thoughts. Ultimately, the true nature of his final sin is
unveiled through various twists in the storyline. By the conclusion of the
book, the reader finds themselves to be a more discerning judge than the
priests, police officers, judges, and others portrayed in the narrative. The
reader becomes a creator.
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Readers are ultimately the multi-member Bench of the Supreme Court to pass a verdict on the final sin and in any controversial case like this there will be dissenting reader judges.One is left wondering what is the last layman's actual crime like the character K in a Franz Kafka novel.
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