Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas by Satyarth Nayak | HarperCollins India

 

Title: Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas
Author: Satyarth Nayak
Publisher: HarperCollins India (2022)
Genre: Mythology, Non-Fiction
Pages: 436
ISBN: 978-9356294493
Buy the Book: Amazon Link

In ‘Mahagatha: 100 Tales from the Puranas’ Nayak narrates the enthralling stories of devas and asuras with a fresh perspective and more personal touch. Basically, it is a compilation of 100 tales of our ancient lore. It begins with ‘Brahma begins creation’ and ends with ‘Janmejaya’s snake sacrifice. Author tried to chronicle these mythological stages of life in a very sequential order. The writing is simple yet captivating. The illustrated part is enticing and amplifies the storytelling.  

‘The Parabrahman now implanted its own seed in the water. Thus fertilised, the water nurtured the seed and, in due course, generated an egg. A golden egg that shone like an orb of light. Since this egg, or anda, had been spawned by the Parabrahman, it came to be known as Brahmanda. The cosmos.’

Author clearly stated that, creative liberties have been taken to enhance the bodies of some of these tales, but their souls remain untouched. He added, there is no simplified dichotomy of good and evil but a highly complex cosmos where even devas can act vile and ever asuras can act virtuous, where boons can often create chaos and curses can often lead to good.  

‘Something was emerging from Yamuna right behind him. Someone was looming so high that it was blocking the moon. Casting a shadow over father and son. Vasudeva turned and stared in awe. The mighty Vasuki had surfaced from the river. The serpent's ten hoods were spreading over them like a giant parasol. Gods and goddesses appeared now to see this divine spectacle. To see Vasudeva cradling the lord below and Vasuki shielding him from above. To see both man and animal celebrating the Preserver who had taken another avatar for their sake.’

This book provides an insightful ride of the lives of mortal and immortal gods. It touches the basis of various Vedic warfare. It is such an intriguing read. I’ll definitely go back to these pictorial alluring stories someday. Undoubtedly, an essential read for those, who feel inclined to Hindu mythology.

Some enlightening fragments:   

Shiva emerges
Vishnu gets the Sudarshana Chakra
Marisha takes ten husbands
Ganesha comes to life
The Vamana Avatar
Vishnu is beheaded
Sita lays four curses
Vishwamitra accepts meat.
Krishna Heals Kubja

"I have been working on it for five years and went through all the Puranas. 100 of the greatest mythological tales from these ancient texts have been handpicked and compiled into an epic illustrated edition," ¬ Satyarth Nayak on his book. 

Blurb

Do you know the story where Brahma and Vishnu race against each other or where Shiva battles Krishna? Where Indra attempts foeticide or where Rama punishes a Shudra? Do you know about Maya Sita or Narada's monkey face? Or why Surya falls from the sky or why Chandra commits adultery?

The Puranas of Hinduism are a universe of wisdom, embodying a fundamental quest for answers that makes them forever relevant. Now, for the first time, 100 of the greatest mythological tales from these ancient texts have been handpicked and compiled into an epic illustrated edition. Besides popular legends of devas, asuras, sages and kings, Satyarth Nayak has dug up lesser-known stories, like the one where Vishnu is beheaded or where Saraswati curses Lakshmi or where Harishchandra tricks Varuna. Nayak also recounts these 100 tales in a unique chronological format, beginning with Creation in Satya Yuga and ending with the advent of Kali Yuga. Using Puranic markers, he constructs a narrative that travels through the four yugas, offering continuous and organic action. In such a reading, it is revealed that these stories are not isolated events but linked to each other in the grand scheme of things. That every occurrence has a past and a future. A cause and effect. An interconnected cycle of karma and karma-phal.

Delving into the minds of gods, demons and humans alike, Mahagatha seeks a deeper understanding of their motivations. The timelessness of their impulses speaks across the aeons to readers of today. Written in lively prose with charming illustrations, these 100 tales will entertain and enlighten, and make you connect the dots of Hindu mythology like never before.

 

About The Author

 

Satyarth Nayak is an author and screenwriter based in Mumbai. A former SAARC Award winning Correspondent with CNN-IBN, Delhi, he holds a Masters in English Literature from St. Stephen's. Sridevi – The Eternal Screen Goddess (Penguin, 2019) is Satyarth's best-selling biography. His debut novel, The Emperor's Riddles, was released in 2014. He followed it up with his second thriller titled Venom in 2020. Satyarth has also scripted Sony's epic historical show, Porus, touted as India's most expensive television series that aired from 2017 to 2019. His short stories have won the British Council award and appeared in Sudha Murty's Penguin anthology, Something Happened On The Way To Heaven. 

Connect to author:  Twitter 

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Teja Lele's LIVE SMART:100 HACKS FOR A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIFE

Title: LIVE SMART:100 HACKS FOR A HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER LIFE
Author: Teja Lele
Publisher: Harpercollins India
Cover: Sayan and Amit Malhotra
Genre: Non-fiction
Paperback: 245 Pages
Amazon: Buy the Book

Live Smart: 100 hacks for a healthier and happier life by Teja Lele, is a great resource of lot of techniques I already aware of it, still It assisted me to gain refreshing theories about self-sufficiency.  It stimulated the memory, the old practices of organizing things I have seen at my maternal home. This book lends you a hand to adapt a better philosophy about art of living.

Why did I select this book to read? Because I have curiosity about DIY-art, for instance: Reuse citrus piles, home composting, Grow an herb garden, and Homemade pesticide. The author managed to finish this task brilliantly. She put her wisdom in a concise and straightforward way.

After setting the basic objective of writing this book, author categorized these millions of ideas into five sections: Home - Food and Kitchen – Beauty - Health and Well-being - Reuse and Recycle. These methods rejuvenated the urge to get things back in order. You can simply integrate these hacks into your daily routine.

The best thing about this book is everything is in details and that too systematic. One can actually enjoy while applying the practical tips in their daily life. Adding to that, I really liked how the book is designed especially its cover, that is done by Amit Malhotra and Sayan. Live Smart by Teja Lele is a quick read and you can keep it as your go-to-book. Informative!  

Here, I compiled a list of ideas I liked the most.

Bird Feeder from a plastic bottle.
Reduce Nausea
Deal with Insomnia
Screen cleaner
Revamp leftovers
Pasta from scratch
Reuse spare rotis
Miracle hair oil
Redo old furniture
Unsponge

Blurb

Are you trying to fix a leaky faucet? Wondering how to treat a bee sting? Looking to purify water without a fancy purifier? Making a chemical-free lotion bar? Wondering what to do with the pile of cardboard boxes left after online retail therapy?

If yes, then Live Smart: 100 Hacks for a Healthier and Happier Life is your go-to guide! Here you will find user-friendly DIY solutions for everyday problems and interesting tips accompanied by illustrations that will help you navigate the how-to-do-its in a step-by-step manner.

Live Smart is an invaluable manual for those looking for practical ways to organize and improve their daily life—and having a little fun while they’re at it!

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Life and Political Realities: Two Novellas by Shahidul Zahir | Translated by V. Ramaswamy, Shahroza Nahrin

 

Title: Life and Political Realities: Two Novellas
Author: Shahidul Zahir
Translated by: V. Ramaswamy, Shahroza Nahrin
Publisher: Harper Perennial India
Genre: Literature, Translated Fiction
Pages: 204

Amazon: Book to Buy

 

Life and Political Reality, is a collection of two gripping tales. These novellas are originally written into Bangla by Shahidul Zahir, and the collective efforts of our translators ¬ V. Ramaswamy & Shahroza Nahrin bring them up to the wide range of readers. Basically, the book unfolds the monstrosity of war and its consequences. It sets into Bangladesh, and covers the brutality of Liberation War of 1971. 

Long paragraphs, fascinating prose style, and pacy narration, can make you feel restless ¬ all in a right manner. There are multitudes of characters, yet the detailing of scenes, is another aspect which intrigued me the most. It is heartbreaking at places and one needs strength to experience the atrocities dealt by masses.

The original title of the first novella is ‘Jibon o Rajnoitik Bastobota’ – Life and Political Reality. It begins with the haunting visuals, how an abandoned sandal leads to the past memories, where resides the barbarity of war, brutalized – victimized kids, social injustice, religious hatred and dark side of politics. The story revolves around the journey of two pivotal characters, Moulana Bodu and Abdul Mojid. Meanwhile, I encountered to ‘Razakars’, the term I was totally unaware about. Basically, Razakars were an auxiliary force of the Pakistan army during the 1971 Bangladesh War. It is an Arabic word which literally means volunteer. On the other hand, in Bangladesh, they take it as a traitor. That’s what my bit of research says. Whereas, the first part was gut-wrenching, the second half of the book felt light-hearted read.  Abu Ibrahim’s Death reminisces the meaning of relocation. It explores many facets of human-psyche.    

If you would like to explore history of Bangladesh and their literature, it can definitely be your pick. Recommended!  

What Blurb Says

 Born in 1953 in Old Dhaka, Shahidul Zahir died young and published only six works in his lifetime — but these are some of the most unique and powerful works of fiction to have come out of the subcontinent. With his own particular blend of surrealism, folklore, oral storytelling traditions, magic realism, a searing understanding of social and political reality, and rare clarity of vision, he forged a truly extraordinary voice.

Life and Political Reality is the work that established his reputation and granted him cult status in Bangladesh. It examines the 1971 war and its aftermath — a treatise on liberation, and the destruction of the idealism and spirit of post-war Bangladesh, told in a single corrosive, stream-of-consciousness paragraph. Abu Ibrahim’s Death is a quieter companion novella, and one that is equally concerned with idealism and compromise, as it studies with deep empathy and nuance the fall of its titular protagonist.

 

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Pratinidhi Kahaniyan - Muktibodh and Ismat Chughtai

 

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‘पता नहीं क्यूँ मैं बहुत ईमानदारी की ज़िंदगी जीता हूँ, झूठ नहीं बोला करता, पर-स्त्री को नहीं देखता, रिश्वत नहीं लेता, भृष्टाचरी नहीं हूँ, दगा या फरेब नहीं करता, अलबत्ता कर्ज़ मुझपर जरूर है जिसे मैं चुका नहीं पाता। फिर भी कमाई की रकम कर्ज़ में जाती है। इस पर भी मैं यह सोचता हूँ कि मैं बुनियादी तौर से बेईमान हूँ। इसलिए, मैंने अपने को पुलिस की ज़बान में उठाईगिरा कहा। मैं लेखक हूँ। अब बताइए, आप क्या हैं?’

-    मुक्तिबोध, अपनी एक कहानी में

 

उनके देहान्त के बाद न जाने क्यों, मरने वाले की चीज़ें प्यारी हो गयीं। उनका एक-एक लफ़्ज़ चुभने लगा। और मैंने उम्र में पहली बार उनकी किताबें दिल लगाकर पढ़ीं। दिल लगा कर पढ़ने की भी खूब रही। गोया दिल लगाने की भी ज़रूरत थी। दिल आप-से-आप खिंचने लगा। ओफ़्फ़ोह! तो यह कुछ लिखा है इन मारी-मारी फिरने वाली किताबों में! एक-एक शब्द पर उनकी तस्वीर आँखों में खिंच जाती और पल भर में वो ग़म और दुख में डूबी हुई, मुस्कराने की कोशिश करती हुई आँखें, दुखभरी काली घटाओं की तरह मुरझाये हुए चेहरे पर पड़े हुए वो घने बाल, वो पीला नीलाहट लिये हुए ऊँचा माथा, उदास ऊदे होंठ, जिनके अन्दर समय से पहले तोड़े हुए असमतल दाँत और दुर्बल, सूखे-सूखे, औरतों-जैसे नाज़ुक, और दवाओं में बसी हुई लम्बी उँगलियों वाले हाथ। और फिर उन हाथों पर सूजन आ गयी थी। पतली-पतली खपच्ची-जैसी टाँगे, जिनके सिरे पर वरम से सूजे हुए भद्दे पैर, जिन्हें देखने से बचने के लिए हम लोग उनके सिरहाने की तरफ़ ही जाया करते थे और सूखे हुए पिंजर-जैसे सीने पर धौंकनी का सन्देह होता था। कलेजे पर हज़ारों कपड़ों, बनियानों की तहें और इस सीने में ऐसा फड़कता हुआ चुलबुला दिल! या अल्लाह, यह आदमी क्योंकर हँसता था। लगता था, कोई भूत है या जिन्न, जो हर ख़ुदाई ताक़त से कुश्ती लड़ रहा है। नहीं मानता, मुस्कराये जाता है। ज़ालिम और जाबिर ख़ुदा चढ़-चढ़ कर खाँसी और दमे की यन्त्रणा दे रहा है और यह दिल ठहाके लगाना नहीं छोड़ता। कौन सा दुनिया और दीन का दुख था, जो कुदरत ने बचा रखा था, फिर भी रुला न सकी। इस दुख में, जलन में हँसते ही नहीं, हँसाते रहना किसी इन्सान का काम नहीं। मामू कहते थे, ‘ज़िन्दा लाश।’ ख़ुदाया! अगर लाशें भी इस क़दर जानदार, बेचैन और फड़कने वाली होती हैं तो फिर दुनिया एक लाश क्यों नहीं बन जाती!

-    इस्मत चुगताई  

The Map and the Scissors by Amit Majmudar | Book Review

Title: The Map and the Scissors
Author: Amit Majmudar
Publisher: HarperCollins In
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN: ‎ 978-9354894640
Paperback: 344

‘Because nothing is purely Hindu or purely Muslim in India. Nothing is pure anywhere, least of all Gujarati, with its Sanskrit and Farsi and Arabic and English loan words – its own words – all tumbling into meaning. Gujarati is a merchant’s linguistic coin collection from around the world, a farmer’s language hardy with lexical weeds.’

The Maps and the Scissors by Amit Majmudar, is a historical fiction that portrays the life of two core pillars of Indian politics during the times of late British Raj. In his book, author captures the existence of Gandhi and Jinnah – two lawyers, dreams a same future for our country in discordant ways. The premise is not restricted to their political perceptions only, but leads to personal lives as well.  

Among many political movements, one can get a clear reflection of differences originated between Congress and Muslim League. A demand for separate country, and an enigmatic emotion on the thought of two-nation theory. I found some familiar characters as Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Pater, Liaquat Ali Khan, Kasturba, Fatima and many more.  

‘It is not the first time or the last that he will go to jail. At first, Kasturba was scared for him, but his letters came back curiously untroubled. The prison was not pleasant, but the South Africans whites, no matter how much they hated him, feared their subjugated dark races too much to torture to kill him. They did not dare find out what tens of thousands of non-violent Indians would do if the one man who preached non-violence died by violence.’

These characters strengthen the storyline that is woven from the balanced knowledge of historical incidents. Adding to this, the novel depicts how they deal with odds in their private lives. It is the most fascinated part of the book, ‘The name Gandhiji is a drug. They are already beyond any sense of their own vulnerability. When the rifles pop a few times, the reports are barely audible against so many voices. No one falls. They really are invulnerable. The name really is a talisman, protecting them against all threats, justifying all actions, cleansing all guilt.’

Then, there is a moment, when Jawahar Lal Nehru looks troubled, and shares the conflicted thoughts running in his heart, — ‘I’m ashamed that it bears my last name. its terms ensure us more sluggishness from the British. They’ll never leave, at this rate. And even worse, it wants Dominion’s status for India. Do we realize “Dominion” comes from the word for “Lordship”? why should the British be our lords, for even a second after we gain independence? Is that our goal?

Despite well-researched facts, at some places, one might not agree with author’s perception towards particular leaders, but it is writer's imagination and perspective that keeps evolving. There is a word called ‘Creative Freedom’ and reader needs to respect that.  

Above everything else, I loved the prose style – such visual writing. I read a book around political figures in well-crafted passages, it is more like a dream for a reader who is interested in literature regarding to partition and late colonial period.

 

Here, I’m sharing an excerpt from the book to get an idea about the book:

‘His lips are moving now. ‘Sare Jahan se achcha Hindostan hamara..’ Better than all the world, this Hindustan of ours...

What a lovely tune, thinks Gandhi. Someday they will ask me what our national anthem should be, and I may well choose this song. When was it written? 1904? Just a year before the British tried to divide us all by diving Bengal, that failed colonial experiment: riots in the street, everyone at each other’s throats.

Many will expect Tagore to compose something, or Sarojini, but they would do it in Bangla. This song is in Hindustani, and almost everyone in India understands a little Hindustani.’

 

Synopsis:

Two intense, inflexible personalities duel over a question that will decide the fate of millions: one nation-or two?

Jinnah, the consummate, ruthlessly analytical gentleman in a tailored suit, starts out skeptical of those who come to his door proposing a 'Land of the Pure', but ends up founding exactly such a country. Gandhi, the religious visionary in homespun khadi, experiments with Truth in his quest for one India-only to witness, in anguish, the bloody birth of two nations.

The Map and the Scissors is a novel about the epic origin story of modern South Asia, brought to life by two London-educated lawyers, mirror-image rivals who dreamt the same.

 

 About the Author

Amit Majmudar is of five critically acclaimed novels, four collections of award-winning , a translation of the Bhagavad Gita with , as well as a forthcoming memoir and a three-volume retelling of the Mahabharata. The former Poet Laureate of Ohio as well as a diagnostic and nuclear radiologist, he lives in Westerville, Ohio, with his wife and three.

Reach him at: Twitter | Amazon

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GULZAR's TERE BINA ZINDAGI SE...

 

गुलज़ार के लफ्ज़ खामोशी से बिंधे हैं, यही संगीत है।

तेरे बिना ज़िंदगी से। उनका अहम गीत। जब से समझ बढ़ी, याद नहीं कभी इसे शुरू से अंत तक सुन पाई हूँ। ये गीत जगह मांगता है अपनी पूरी जगह। जीवन लग जाता है अपने भीतर उस जगह को तराशने में जहां इस गीत को बैठाया जा सके, पोसा जा सके। एक अजीब चुप्पी घिर आती है, जब गुलज़ार लिखते हैं ‘काश ऐसा हो, तेरे दामन में, सर झुका के हम, रोते रहें.. रोते रहें।

गीत के दृश्य में संजीव और सुचित्रा जिस तरह एक दूसरे को ना देखते हुए भी देखते हैं, नज़रों में फ़ैली बेतरतीब उदासी, उनके अकेलेपन की गवाह है। जैसे एक कठिन समय में लिया गया निर्णय लम्बे विलाप की राह तय कर आया हो। उम्र भर की थकान भरी हो सीने में। दूसरे के हिस्से का प्यार ढोना अब मुमकिन नहीं। क्या सौंप दें दूसरे को बेहिचक? दूरियों के बावजूद रिश्ते की तपिश बाकी है? इस दफ़ा नेह या दुःख नहीं, अहम् को परे रख, पछतावा भी साझा कर सकें।

वे दोनों चाँद में अपने बिखरे रिश्ते की गहराई ढूंढते हैं, दीवारों पर अरबी आयात में अपनी उम्र, याकि ढूंढते हैं खुद को ही इनके बीच कहीं। एक सटीक शब्द, जो लौटा ले जाएं उन्हें, उसी जगह छोड़ आए.. जहां साथ मिल एक सपना देखा होगा, जो अधूरा है, अधूरा ही रहे शायद।

क्या अकेलेपन से कोई मन इस क़दर भी थका होगा जो मंजिल की जगह अपने साथी के कदमों संग अनजान रास्ते की चाहना रखता हो।

‘तुम ग़र साथ हो मंज़िलों की कमी तो नहीं’। इतना अरसा होने के बाद भी हम इस गीत की गिरफ़्त में है। यह गुलज़ार साब का जादू है, उनके होने का अर्थ भी। ♥️

The Curse of Kuldhara by Richa Mukherjee | Book Review

Title: The Curse of Kuldhara
Author: Richa Mukherjee
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Pages: 330

‘Prachand turned his placid gaze on the inquisitive Yatish, ‘can’t you see it? All this while, I was reluctant as I didn’t know of a problem. Whatever would I do on a film set? But now I have found a mystery to solve. It’s a curse of Kuldhara!’    

The Curse of Kuldhara by Richa Mukherjee, is a compelling crime-thriller. I am intrigued by its elements, an unspoken dread, a cursed village, and haunted atmosphere. All of these components transport you into mysterious world.

Basically, the story revolves around Prachand Tripathi, our protagonist who runs a detective agency with his wife. Amidst the underlying tension of work, this couple receives an unexpected assignment, a movie-offer presented by a high-profile politician. Prachand takes it as a - once in a lifetime opportunity - and accepts it immediately, not even being bothered by the quaint history of that place, the place where the movie being made, place that is abandoned and cursed. With all the twists and turns, the story leads to an unexpected killing. Is there some evil power behind this murder?

Author states ‘About two hundred years ago, Kuldhara in particular was inhabited by the Paliwal Brahmins, a devout and proud lot who believed in living simply and peacefully. Our ancestors are correct in saying that too much of a good thing attracts the evil eye. The same misfortune befell the poor Paliwal Brahmins. Their troubles came in the form of an evil diwan who laid his unchaste eyes on the daughter of the village chief. They bagged and pleaded with him to let her be. However, he unleashed his vengeance on them by pressurizing them financially and giving them an ultimatum to hand her over. As it was the matter of honour, they chose to abandon the village overnight.’

What I really like about the book is the vibes around the village. The author depicts the place in such an exquisite manner, it feels as you visited that place in real, as ‘Naveli Haveli, in its dilapidated state, was unlike the other better – preserved vestiges of Rajasthan’s history, but it shared a common feature with them – its walls. They were a medley of brick, sandstone, marble, wood, plaster and granite that insulated the interiors from the onslaught of the winds both during the summer and the winter.’   

No spoilers, but the character of an old lady is really absorbing. I loved how author added some colloquial words, Dash of wit and humorous dialogues, it truly enhances the palette of its narrative structure.

Although, at some places, I feel mixed-bag emotions for the characters, the struggle to connect to the core of the story was there. To wait to 14th chapter to come up to the place, the book actually based on. I really wish it could have been fleshed out well. But on the whole, I liked the book, a gripping crime-mystery. It definitely deserves more appreciation.

Despite being a part of Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt. Ltd. Series, this book stands alone. I have not read the previous part, but it worked for me. This page-turner thriller can be your weekend companion.  

 

Synopsis

What can possibly go wrong when fame and fortune come knocking? Plenty! We return to the charming and colourful lanes of Gwaltoli to revisit Prachand Tripathi, our favourite desi detective and owner of Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt Ltd. While he has progressed from locating lost pets and garments to problems of gravitas, their moderate fame doesn't impress wife and CFO Vidya Tripathi who still complains about wasted potential and the tepid life they lead. As if on cue, an unusual but promising proposal comes their way, one they simply cannot refuse. It's an invitation to oversee a film shoot based on their lives, whisking them away to the resplendent deserts of Rajasthan. What follows is an unbelievable and spine-chilling adventure that will drag them through a morass of inexplicable events, dangerous secrets and a cursed, abandoned village that wreaks havoc on the living and dead alike.

 

About the Author

Richa is an ex-journalist and advertising professional turned award winning writer, poet and blogger, contributing to several online platforms. Her first novel I Didn't Expect to be Expecting was a humorous take on the rollercoaster ride of pregnancy and her second, Kanpur Khoofiya Pvt Ltd, a comedic thriller was picked up for a screen adaptation. Excess Baggage is her third book and is also headed to the big screen. She has authored anthologies, e-singles and audiobooks.

Reach her at: Twitter | Amazon

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Chronicles of The Lost Daughters by Debarati Mukhopadhyay | Book Review

 

Title: Chronicles of The Lost Daughters
Author: Debarati Mukhopadhyay
Translator: Arunava Sinha
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 336
Buy Online: Amazon

 

‘...do you know what it will mean if we don’t get boys for our daughters? Do you realize the kind of trouble there will be if Awpala isn’t married before she’s twelve?’

Debarati Mukhopadhyay’s Chronicles of the Lost Daughters is an enthralling historical fiction, translated by Arunava Sinha, Centered around the state of women of nineteenth-century Bengal. It is originally published in the Bengali, title is ‘Naraach’ that simply means – Weapon.

The story begins with Krishnoshundor Chattopadhyay, a penniless brahmin, is trapped into an offer of decent job. He grabs this as an only escape for his sister, Bhubonmani – who has been faced a hellish journey. She endured a child marriage, widowhood and sexual assault – that too, at the age of sixteen. The so-called learned man of society grabbed this opportunity to fulfil their malicious desires, and they declared shamelessly ‘A raped woman must of course perform strict penance. In this case the rapists are from another religion, which means that even if she herself is a brahmoni, the act has made a mleccha out of her. She will be restored to her own people if a high-born brahmon is willing to accept her services for two fortnights.’

Her brother, Krishnoshundor was too innocent to decipher these words at first, and when things got cleared to him, he put questions at the religious texts, ‘How very unfair! So Bhubonmoni would have to be raped for a month because some criminals had raped her once? This was utterly unjust, which shastras asked for this? Krishnoshundor could sign an oath it was impossible for such a thing to be written in any of the shastras. It was impossible.’

Besides the deep level of research, Debarati Mukhopadhyay took a creative freedom and presented many historical figures, Dr. Kamdambini Ganguly, Tagore and Nawab of Oudh – Wajid Ali Shah to us. Apart from this, there are many subplots running around the core theme, such as women education, widow remarriage, caste-disabled society, child marriage is one of them, basically that was times of Bengal renaissance.

‘That was the age of shruti. Women enjoyed high social standing, they used to study the Vedas, they used to teach. They were not yet considered anyone’s property. A wife was her husband’s partner in every sense, not just his companion in bed as she is now. But those days are gone. The diagnoses of the learned men, Muslim rule and patriarchy in society have gradually pushed women back into their homes and turned them into puppets. It is the age of the Manusamhita. The woman will be subservient to her father in childhood, to her husband after marriage, and to her son when she is a widow. She will never have an independent life. How can you speak of your own daughters remaining unmarried in such circumstances?’

What is the role of Brahma Samaaj movement? How did Bhubonmoni’s life turn out, once she joins the movement?
Why did Wajid Ali Shah created a mini-Lucknow in Calcutta?

The life story of Kadombini is so inspiring that adds the value to the story. I quite liked the determinate character of Bhubonmoni’s sister-in-law, who she seeks her as a mother. 

With crisp, and clear writing, this book feels like an exhilarating journey. And the translation of Arunava Sinha uplifts the reading experience. Chronicals of the Lost Daughters is a heart-wrenching historical saga. Regardless, interlinked stories, interlaced characters, this book is such a page-turner. Recommended!

 

Synopsis:

When unspeakable tragedy befalls Bhubonmoni, a young widow, she must leave her village along with her brother, Krishnoshundor, and his family. Ensnared by the wily entrepreneur Nobokishore Dutta, they end up in an overcrowded depot near a port, soon to be packed into a ship sailing to Surinam, where they will be sold as sugarcane plantation slaves. But Fate has other plans. Bhubonmoni finds herself being led away from the port and her family to be stowed away in a secret location in Calcutta. Not too far away, a young rebel Shourendro is swept up by the ideas of the Brahmo Samaj. Meanwhile in Metiabruz, a shy musician Chondronath impresses the exiled Nawab of Lucknow with his art. None of them know it yet, but the stars are aligning despite overwhelming odds for them to meet under curious circumstances…Set against the vibrant background of late nineteenth-century Bengal, Debarati Mukhopadhyay’s beautifully woven novel brings together the glory and the decadence of colonial times. Fast-paced and thrilling, with a lively cast of characters including historical figures such as Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, Rabindranath Tagore, and Dr Kadambini Ganguly, Chronicles of the Lost Daughters is an unforgettable saga

 

About The Author

Debarati Mukhopadhyay is one of the most popular authors of contemporary Bengali literature. A young Government officer by profession, she has written more than 20 bestselling novels including Narach, Dakat Raja, Glanirbhabati Bharat, Shikhandi, Ishwar Jakhan Bandi and Aghore Ghimiye Shiva. Her corporate world novel Dasgupta Travels was shortlisted for the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2021. Many of her novels, such as Narak Sanket, Ranrkahini, and Shikhandi have been adapted for the silver screen. Debarati is a prolific writer and contributes regularly to Bengal’s prominent literary magazines and journals. As an officer, bestselling author, travel-enthusiast, an amateur violinist and mother to an infant, Debarati is considered a youth icon in Bengal who volunteers her time to guide government-job aspirants. A widely recognized public speaker, Debarati can be often found delivering motivational talks at educational seminars, conferences, and at the halls of Ramakrishna Mission.  

 

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Leila Mottley’s Nightcrawling

‘Mama used to tell me that blood is everything, but I think we're all out here unlearning that sentiment, scraping our knees, and asking strangers to patch us back up.’

Leila Mottley’s Nightcrawling is a brutal, yet compelling read. It’s an honest documentation of survival and law system in human-society, more than that It provides you a lens to introspect. 

The story based on a true event, Oakland scandal of 2015. Mottley has a fearless voice, compassionate heart and a clear vision. Although, it is a horrifying account of one’s life, still I am amazed by its breathing prose.

Nightcrawling is a dark novel, which casts light on the hidden life of our seventeen years old protagonist. Her name is Kia. She lives with her brother, Marcus, in a slum apartment. Brother makes her believe that he loves her. He has delusional dreams. He doesn’t make any efforts to provide basic facilities to Kia. When the apartment owner threatens to rent hike, she is left with no-choice but ‘Nightcrawling’. She is just a teen - deprived of parents - who is eager to make a living, to survive, to endure. Then, there is another character, named Trevor, who is only sunshine in her life, though they are not connected by blood, but the way she cares for a nine-years old motherless kid, I could explore empathetic side of her. The chaos is temporary, that’s what she thinks. The entry of local police coloured this survival story into the most devastated account of injustice.

Leila Mottley approached essential themes in her debut, for instance: gender injustice, police misconduct, prostitution, human rights abuses, race discrimination and dearth.

Mottley’s writing enthrals you with the opening line itself, ‘The swimming pool is filled with dog shit and Dee’s laughter mocks us at dawn.”

Are there any cons? It’s just the length, I wish it were crisp, and well edited at places, so that I could visualize this powerful story in an intimate manner.

Apart from the captivating story and rich prose style, I have been pondering over the age of writer. she was not even 18 when she actually started working on this project. It’s a powerful story, undoubtedly a well-deserved entry into Oprah book club. 

 ‘...and I don’t really got nothing to fear about dying in the first place. I just think that the stars might line up and trail into an otherworld. Doesn’t have to be a better world because that probably doesn’t exist, but I think it is something else. Somewhere where the people walk a little different. Maybe they speak in hums. Maybe they all got the same face or maybe they don’t have faces at all. When I have enough time to stare at the sky, I imagine I might be lucky enough to catch glimpses of the something.’