Book Review: Hindu Refugee Camp, Lahore by Sachin Garg

 

Title: Hindu Refugee Camp, Lahore
Author: Sachin Garg
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Grapevine India
Pages: 225
Ratings: 3.5/5  
 

Have you read books about partition before? I got the chance to read Gulzar’s Two and it had shook me to the core. Even after many decades, it is painful to read about those cruel experiences faced by our countrymen. Some of them lost their lives, loved ones, homeland and identity as well. Its repercussions never fade away.  

‘I had to report to the police station every week to register my whereabouts. ‘You’re a free man now,’ he added, just before the police van left. I wanted to tell him that I’m not a free man. I’m a prisoner of an entire country.’    

Sachin Garg’s Hindu Refugee Camp, Lahore, is published by Grapevine India, 2021. This book is based on true incidents. It is written in epistolary form. These series of letters are exchanged between our two main protagonists, Ghulam Ali and Zahira Raza.  Through their conversation, reader gets the chance to peek inside the journey of both characters. Basically, story is set in 1958, Ghulam ali  who was a renowned Havaldar in British Indian Army, now dumped into Hindu Refugee Camp in Lahore, Pakistan.

‘I have crossed the border between India and Pakistan several times. And there is one thing that is common to each of these crossing: that I am received with hatred and scorn every time. India receives me with suspicion as I am a Muslim man wanting to come back to what I call my country. The Pakistanis call me Muhajir and are by now fed up with the mass inflow of people from across the border.’

On the other side, Zahira Raza was a dancer at the heart but due to some obstacles, her dreams couldn’t fly, but there is a hope and it lies in the hands of Ghulam Ali only. I liked that part, a sheer roller-coaster ride, first how they both met at a government office, amidst all the chaos their bond began to evolve and one day they got separated out of choice.  

‘I won’t forget the look on your face as you saw me leave and all I could do was just extended my hand in your direction as if the air between our hands could pass on a touch. You stood transfixed at your spot. Even though your heart must have been beating fast, the rational side of you knew that there was nothing you could do, we were fitted against the system that is much bigger than you and me.’

As far as, prose style of the book is concerned, it is simple yet captivating. Through this emotional ride and sub-plots, author tried to depict the state of both countries, how innocent lives were crushed by arrogant storm of politics.  

All in all, Sachin Garg’s Hindu Refugee Camp, Lahore, reflects on the pain of an ordinary man, during partition, more than that it is a story of survival of love and human courage. I would recommend this book to beginners, who are interested in simple and engaging story of loss.

About the Author 

Sachin Garg is a bestselling author, popular speaker and serial entrepreneur based out of Mumbai. He has written articles for Huffington Post and Scroll.in and has been featured in most leading newspapers and magazines. He has also spoken at numerous Indian and international forums like South Asia Media Summit (Islamabad), TEDx (Allahabad) and several IITs and IIMs.  

He can be reached at Twitter 

Buy the Book: Hindu Refugee Camp, Lahore (Amazon) 

 This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program.

 

 

Parinda Joshi's A House full of Men

 

Title: A House full of Men
Author: Parinda  Joshi
Publisher: Harpercollins India
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Pages: 360
Ratings: 4/5
 

A House full of Men by Parinda Joshi, begins with the scene, where our main protagonist, Kittu was flipping some travel magazines in her travel-themed office in the Hazratganj area of Lucknow and life changing quiz drew her in.

“A Church Mouse? What on earth is a Church Mouse?” This question stuck into her head. Although she resolved her query right then but it provoked her to put life into new frame. Actually, church mouse is an individual whose entire life is spent in one location.

In her late twenties, Kittu, short for Kritidhara Pant, has realized that she has left Lucknow only on two occasions, first trip for last rites of her maternal grandmother and the another trip to a wedding where she lost her mother, after her departure Kittu was left alone in the house full of men.

‘She had lost everything to that watched moment, the womb that had created and crafted her, the hand that had fed her soul, the heart that had comforted her with the warmth of a thousand blankets, All of a sudden life had become fleeting and vulnerable and meaningless.’  

This book takes you deep inside the character’s journey and leaves you there with resonated emotions. Parinda Joshi’s A House full of Men is a dysfunctional family drama, more than that it explores many facets of human behavior, as love and misunderstandings, equality among siblings, bit melancholy, familiar loss and importance of being understood. When it comes to language, it brings breathtakingly fresh possibilities, I belong to a small town, I got introduced to a different set of people, especially their witty dialogues left me giggling out loud. I thoroughly enjoyed the tender moments of romance between Kittu and Kartik.

The second character which I adored is Kartik. He is moved from LA to Lucknow, how they met, how this bond been developed in such a short period, it was quite fun to read. There was something about Kartik that was enticing Kittu. She couldn’t stop thinking about him, whereas she is already in a messy relationship. Yet she was curious about Kartik, ‘If it was a bait? She’d almost fallen for it. He didn’t seem like a bait setting sorts though; she dismissed the cynical thought as soon as it took shape. He was a nice guy, and seemingly honest, and into her and that’s all that mattered.’

On the other side, her boyfriend, Vicky was a natural conversationalist and had a knack for turning every dull, drab non-event into a tangy spicy story. But there is another side of him; you get to know while exploring their world. It warms your heart and soul to read about their ticklish bond.

Adding to that, it also holds a serious backdrop story.  Having had to share her mother with the twins so early on in her life had not been easy on Kittu. The boys were demanding and her mother had no quality time for Kittu for years. ‘Kittu had maintained her distance from the twins initially, the miserable feeling- misinterpretation as she realized much later- of being unwanted child leaving her resentful.’

I have not talked about other family members yet, her quirky twin brothers, Nishant and Shamik, High BP Dadaji, her Ravi-shing Dad, Four legged friend,  Wodehousian thing in her room and of course, the charming neighbor. There are so many soulful characters and hilarious situations as well. I wish I could write more about the plot thing, to be honest, that would kill the charm of reading this gripping novel.

Parinda Joshi has a great command on human’s inner world and their complexities. Not a single character seemed heroic yet I found them powerful with their vulnerabilities. It is worth to spend time with a book, if you find clean sentences, clear perspectives, and a gripping story.    

All in all, I loved comic timing in prose. I would gladly recommend it to anyone who, rooting for a delectable read. 

About the Author

Parinda Joshi is a best-selling author and screenwriter. Born and raised in Ahmedabad, she now lives in San Francisco where she works for a fashion start-up. A House Full of Men is her 4th novel. Her last novel, Made in China, was adapted into a feature film. Her new screenplay, a social thriller, recently got commissioned by a leading production house.

Her M.O. is best described by Maya Angelou’s quote: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Instagram: @parindajoshi

Website: www.parindajoshi.com

P.S. Thank You HarperCollins India  and Vivek Tejuja for sending this review copy across. 

 

Kala Krishnan's Mahasena: Part one of The Murugan Trilogy

 

Title: Mahasena: Part one of Murugan Trilogy
Author: Kala Krishnan
Publisher: Context India (Westland Books)
Genre: Mythological Fiction
ISBN: 978-9390679133
Pages: 264
Ratings: 4/5
 

‘Ganesha was happy. He was finally going to have a sibling, have the company of someone other than parents, relatives, collaborators, friends and devotees, his own baby brother.’

Mahasena by Kala Krishnan, begins with a scene where lord Ganesha waiting for the birth of his younger brother. This book maps the life journey of south Indian deity, Lord Murugan. Here, in the north we knew him as Karthikeya. Although, I have heard many stories about Ganesha but Karthikeya remained puzzle to me, until I found this mesmerizing book.

Before, stepping into details, I eagerly want to talk about the lyrical language of the book. I got immersed into its visual writing immediately. It transports me into that very era.

Kala Krishnan is truly a poetic writer. The detailing of characters is so expressive; you would not want to put down the book. Narration is simply powerful, touches your deep most senses. Frankly, it evoked love for more mythological fiction out there. I have not picked one since ‘Shivaji Sawant’s Mrityunjay’ that was masterpiece.

‘Mahasena, the first part of Lord Murugan trilogy’ is centered on compelling and moving theme that ‘explores the difficult path that the boy-god must walk before he can grow from a pampered and much-loved child to the battle-ready warrior.’

Kala says ‘Focusing on all the stories in one book was not possible, so I decided to divide it into a trilogy.’ She also added ‘They are mostly made-up stories. And, they may not be the same as they are in mainstream myths of Murugan.’

Entire book goes in a chronological order, and amount of short stories embedded into it as if beads on some rich fabric. In the beginning, reader gets to know the reason behind this name ‘Karthikeya, there was an interesting back story, how Ganesha promised six mothers, Krittikas that, in the future, they would be given charge of the child born of Parvathy and Shambhu. The boon Krittika sisters own, they could read Kartikeya’s stars, draw a chart of his life events, and read his fate as well just by touching him. And after a year why Krittikas would have to return the Kumaras to their parents?  

I fell in love with the magnanimous yet smooth writing, and deeply moved by this very incident ‘They were ready, the six Krittika women and six Kumaras, the six pairs of little boy eyes were bright, sometimes their gaze turned towards the sky, at other times they rested on the faces of the women or on the creatures crowding around. Each of the Krittikas held their Kumara tight and hugged him. They knew that they would not see him again for a very long time.’

Mahasena, is not only Karthikeya’s story, it is lot more than that, enriched with amalgamation of human emotions we live by. For instance, when Parvathy looked at the six boys, her six boys, their hands clasped in the hands of six women and a thought runs deep inside her, It should have been her hands the boys held on to when they stood up and tried to walk. And once he is back to her, she pronounced his new name ‘you are gathered from Shambhu’s and my strength and thus too you are Skanda.’

On the other note, Shambhu blessed the Krittika sisters, ‘Kumaras wil be known as Karthikeya, acknowledging that you are the foundation where his roots are held firm. Kumara will remember all his lessons, he had practiced and perfected them all, except one – how to control his impatience.’

Once Karthikeya returns to his parents’ home, all gods had gathered up in the sky to watch the miracle boy, he is the one who would go into the battle and stand against the Asura King, Surapadman.

In the next few chapters, reader gets an insight of his basic habits, that’s how author developed a character arc. His affection was effusive but if he didn’t like someone he would ignore them, one of these was sage Narada, a mind-born son of the creator Bramha.

There is a chapter called Kandhan’s language. Along with that, reader get to know about the twelve matris led by Dhumi, who had been Murugan’s mentors and bodyguards from the day he arrived in Kailasa, arrived soon after, followed by Veerabahu, who came with his eight siblings, warriors who were together known across the worlds as the Nine Brave Ones.

The story of their birth is both sad and amazing. How mother Parthvathy took nine gems from her anklet and created nine women as lovely as the gems, and Shambu turned nine tulsi leaves into nine men. How Veerbahu and her eight siblings were born and become companion of Karthikeya.

The story of ‘Mahasena’ echoed with motherhood, reverence, serenity of landscapes and nature, devotion, desire, faith and mythology.

All in all, I have said enough of its story. I don’t want to give you any more spoilers. It is an experience; it may lose the charm after more description. Read the book. If you are a reader of mythological fiction, this would be kind of treat.

 

 

About the Author

Kala Krishnan works in Bengaluru. She is the author of two books of poetry, He Is Honey, Salt and the Most Perfect Grammar and Offer Him All Things Charred, Burned and Cindered, in which the god Murugan appears in surprising versions.

P.S. Thank You Vivek Tejuja and Westland books for sending the review copy in exchange of an honest review.