Title: Bhaunri
Author: Anukrti Upadhyay
Publisher: Fourth State India
ISBN:
978-9353570033
Pages: 150
Source: Publisher
Genre: Literary Fiction
Sometimes when you read something so
delectable, you hesitate to put your thoughts on it. You don’t want to spoil
the magic, book contains itself.
Bhaunri is a mesmerizing character.
Anukrti Upadhyay painted contours of her journey of love and desire, Author
crafts the facets of her life with crystalline clarity. This is not some mushy
love story but it surely shows that love is difficult ride to follow. It has
upside and downside too. Sometimes love is messy but worth to put your heart
into it.
“There is more than one way for
hearts to meet; sometimes they are twisted together, hurting each other but
inseparable. You are a child, I pray your happiness thrives, but you must let
go of everything at once and become so immersed, I am afraid for you. You must
keep safe”
I really enjoyed meeting, Bhaunri, a
daughter of lohars- the ironsmiths, lived in a village of Rajasthan. Although,
story begins with her mother’s background. Author tried to depict the character
of those empowered women, like mother-like daughter. They are fearless; they
are brave, how they prioritize their freedom to love. Somewhere the boldness of
protagonist enthralled me.
“My mother said to me, before all
else, hearts must meet. Unless hearts meet everything else is a burden of sin
and must be thrown off”
Bhaunri got married at very tender age,
now she has to move to Sasural, her husband’s home. She found Bheema handsome
like some Greek god but ill-tempered too. She tried to interpret their
relationship eventually, and felt passionate love towards her husband. Soon,
the story is seeped into tension.
“No, my share is the same as his. He
and I are two parts joined together. How could his share be different from
mine? I shall not suffer, Mai. If I do, so shall he.’ Bhaunri throat filled
with sobs”
Along the way, we see Bhaunri’s
relationship with her loving mother-in-law. Author managed to capture the
shades of everyday vibrant life of Rajasthan, what stands out amount of
detailing.
There is something so empathetic
about her struggle. Some hidden stories also waited for readers as she got to
know about jeth-ji and his dismembered past.
I instantly fell in love with the
protagonist, who came to life in these pages. It touched a nerve in my heart
with its raw honesty and delicate simplicity. Story is so rich with colloquial
words and metaphors used in ways I have never felt as refreshing.
There is nothing over-the-top about
storyline, no heavy drama, no roller-coaster ride, but story thrives in its
effortless writing, clean sentences and hidden insights. Beautiful imagery of
Rajasthani culture resonates so deeply within your psyche that as though you
are at home.
Author has great command on inner
lives of rural women, turned this book into an engaging tale. Depth of women’s
unseen strength is the core of the story.
Also, I love how author has played
out the climax, Writing is fluid and natural. Narrative is so absorbing I found
it difficult to put it down. Anukrti Upadhyay created a character you can live
with.
I would certainly recommend. I adored
this book to eternity and beyond.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Anukrti Upadhyay has post-graduate
degrees in management and literature, and a graduate degree in law. She writes
in both English and Hindi; Daura and Bhaunri are her first publications in English.
She divides her time between Mumbai and Singapore.