Thursday 27 February 2020
Wednesday 26 February 2020
Book Review: 'Clear Light of Day' by Anita Desai
Introduction
This is the fourth novel that I've read, based on the partition of India. However, the treatment and story line is different from Bapsi Sidhwa's 'Ice Candy Man' and Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children'. 'Tamas' by Bhisham Sahni was different too, as it dealt with the violent aftermath in the country owing to the division.
I have been curious about Anita Desai's work, ever since I read her daughter Kiran Desai's 'Inheritance of Loss' many years ago, when it won the Man Booker prize in 2006. 'Clear Light of Day' was of course, published decades earlier, in 1980 to be precise, and I was glad to have finally purchased it, earlier this year.
This book is different from the earlier ones because, rather than dealing with the country as a whole, Desai focuses on delving deep into the psychological nuances of individual characters and the situations that shape the course of their lives. These in turn, serve as symbolic representations of the political upheaval of the country during the 1940s.
The handling of the story narrative is different, because it is on a more personal and familial level, rather than a national one. The key theme is woman-centric, blended seamlessly into haunting ghosts of the past that wield their powerful influence over every key character, in different ways.
The handling of the story narrative is different, because it is on a more personal and familial level, rather than a national one. The key theme is woman-centric, blended seamlessly into haunting ghosts of the past that wield their powerful influence over every key character, in different ways.
Set in the scorching summer of 1947, in Old Delhi, the trials and tribulations of the Das family mirror those of a new country that struggled to tackle the changes, thrust upon its infant shoulders, owing to the end of colonial rule and the battering of partition.
Characters and Storyline
The Das family of four siblings, faces an upheaval of sorts, when the younger sister Tara visits Bimla. Raja, the estranged younger sibling, is in Hyderabad with his wife & daughters, while the youngest one, the autistic Baba is nursed at home, by Bim.
Tara's visit to her ancestral home after her perceived escape to America, post her wedding to an IFO officer Bakul, causes a flood of past memories to assault both the sisters.
Although the tale seems to commence with Tara, it is soon apparent that the industrious Bim is the key protagonist of the novel. Layer by layer, the past intrudes into their reminiscent interactions. Readers are privy to the contrasting characteristics of the siblings and the consequences of the situations they have encountered. The role of their bridge-addicted parents who scar the psyche of their children with their perpetual absences, highlights the crucial role played by Mira masi, who is their pseudo-mother figure in the story.
Tara is the unambitious escapist who uses marriage as an excuse to leave home and find greener pastures in Washington. Bim is the ambitious history professor who ends up sacrificing her dreams of achievements, to stay behind and nurse her family: Raja's TB, then their aunt Mira masi's alcoholic illness and Baba's incoherent challenges, as well. Raja not only escapes from his dual responsibilities towards their father's insurance business but also Baba's care. He moves to Hyderabad and settles down after marrying their Muslim landlord's daughter, Benazir. His letter to Bim absolving her of having to pay rent for their home, which incidentally he has inherited from his father-in-law, Hyder Ali, enrages her and makes her cut ties with him. So much so, that Bim refuses to accompany Tara's family to Hyderabad for the wedding of his daughter, Moyna. This is the familial backdrop that is revealed to us through the reminiscences of the siblings.
However, the more subtle but significant juxtaposition is that of the aftermath of the partition. The tensions between the Hindu-Muslim communities in New Delhi spills over to old Delhi too. The hordes of misplaced refugees on either countries are symbolised by the disappearance of the Hyder Ali family. Raja being forced to study English literature in a Hindu college by his father, as opposed to his dream of Islamic studies at Jamia Millia, showcases the unsafe environment for both the communities, doing the period.
Narrative
Ample symbolism enriches the narrative. Desai's poetic prowess in language is a delight to absorb. Rich imagery of nature and its elements add the flavour of multiple senses of sight, smell, hearing and feelings of the characters. This, juxtaposed with the backdrop of partition, makes the narrative throb with myriad speculative undercurrents.
Many scenes are heart rending in the story. Important lessons may be gleaned from the depth of angst felt by the characters, owing to their skewed childhood, that manifests itself in all of them in various powerful ways. The sheer neglect of bridge-addicted parents makes one wonder why some people even have children in the first place. Desai's narrative highlights the tortured lives of its characters, who remain caged to the ghosts of their past.
Many scenes are heart rending in the story. Important lessons may be gleaned from the depth of angst felt by the characters, owing to their skewed childhood, that manifests itself in all of them in various powerful ways. The sheer neglect of bridge-addicted parents makes one wonder why some people even have children in the first place. Desai's narrative highlights the tortured lives of its characters, who remain caged to the ghosts of their past.
Symbolism
Music is used as a defining attribute throughout the novel. A number of birds add to the musical elements that are already predominant in the story such as Baba's gramaphone or the neighboring Mishra family's strong ties to music. Bees form a crucial factor that tortures Tara with guilt. The river Jamna plays her role throughout the novel, by being a past-time for the Das children as well as showering sand through the wind, across their home doing the Summers.
The neglected house in itself is a powerful symbolic element that signifies the turmoil of the country during the time. The constant struggle between choices of the old and the new is a repeatedly occurring motif. The well adds sinister irony and fearful apprehension to the atmosphere, with its green slime and rotten body of the family cow. The repeated motif highlights the irony of the Hindu symbolism of cows, drowning in green water.(perhaps a subtle reference to the flag colour of Pakistan).
Guilt is a predominant entity, shared by Tara and Mira masi, albeit for different reasons. Tara regrets her escapism, while masi rues her role in the cow episode.
But perhaps the most crucial element is the woman angle. The position of women during the time is showcased with intense clarity through each of the female characters. Irony plays a viral role as well. For instance, Bim the ambitious one, who wanted to be a heroine and do things independently, ends up staying behind to perform the roles of a provider and nurse. Tara, ironically fulfills her unambitious dream of becoming a mother. Masi is ill-treated as the young widow and her constant sacrifices backfire into severe alcoholism and get subsequent death. Raja, despite being the male of the family, chooses to leave to follow his dreams. He does not become a great hero, instead marries and settles down into familial life after scoffing his father's business.
The Mishra sisters are providers of their family, including the men, after being abandoned by their husbands.
Time plays a vital role in the narrative that moves forwards and backwards, between the past and the present, to complete the picture for the readers. Time also acts an element that allows the characters to decipher their feelings and heal themselves of the repercussions of the past, through self realisation, and also by seeking and offering forgiveness. Tara seeks to be forgiven by Bim, while Bim endevours and succeeds in forgiving Raja's betrayal.
Conclusion
Resplendent with multiple facets, penned in rich, poetic, impeccable prose, Anita Desai's work is a masterpiece that ought not be missed.
I rate the book a 4.8/5.
Hope this review was useful. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments section. Share the review with literature lovers, who enjoy deep and enriching works, that stay with them long after the book is put down.
Happy reading!
***
Book Photography: Chethana Ramesh
Last Chance of Bliss: A Poem.
Watching my dreams
in flows &
ebbs
full moon sighs
in mist
tapers rooted
in love, thus.
I succumb to
screams
of silence;
silken webs,
promises of you
exist
in memories of
us
Beloved
crossroads sear
& burn like
cubebs,
as gnarled
twists
of aching
abyss.
In drifting
twilight, I disappear
into clouding
cobwebs
my soul pleads,
& persists
one last chance
of bliss.
***
Image 1: Rosie Hardy
Image 2: My Modern Met.
Just Another Goodbye: A Poem.
A stolen kiss
lingering &
languid,
torment of
bliss
delicious &
fluid;
Gossamer
stillness hovers
above fervent
thirst
of star-crossed
lovers
covered in
cloudburst;
Yearning eyes betray
longing for
violent delights
Quiescent
touches play
to unravel the
nights;
in
passion-soaked embrace
drowning in
sleepless slumber
starved souls
need solace.
Mute waves of
heat condense
invisible signs
conspire;
Amber hues,
passion intense
like a jungle
on fire...
Bowed lips
murmur
& release a
sated sigh;
Forest floors
are warmer
with just
another goodbye
***
Images: Pinterest
Monday 24 February 2020
The Book of your life...
What did you pen
in the book
of your life?
in the book
of your life?
More love, smiles,
& joyful memories?
Or pain, guiles
grief & miseries?
Let gifts sink
from the former
into the stories
of another's life.
from the former
into the stories
of another's life.
Remove cursed ink
of the latter,
& rescue histories
from strife.
***
Tuesday 18 February 2020
Book Review: Ice Candy Man by Bapsi Sidhwa.
This is the third book I’ve read, based on the theme of the
partition of India, in addition to 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie and 'Tamas' by Bisham Sahni. This novel is
entirely different in all aspects, except for the religious divide the partition brought
about and the consequent violence it resulted in.
Bapsi Sidhwa’s story is interspersed with multiple themes.
The key ones have been summarized in my review below.
Introduction
It is achingly easy for a child to lose the quality of
innocence. Sidhwa’s protagonist slashes into the mind of an adult reader with a
compelling mix of inevitable horrors: the erosion of the child’s naiveté and
the unveiling of a juggernaut of events, that leave readers gasping to cope
with the monstrosities of mankind.
The first thing that one notices in the book is that the
child narrator is too smart for her own good. Lenny is not childlike in her
eloquent, elevated language or keen observation, comprehension and conclusions
she draws about adult behaviour. Adults can be really stupid when it comes to
children. It is stunning how they underestimate the intellectual capacity of
children, when they speak or behave in ways that are typical of them. It is
only towards the fag end of the novel that Lenny is spared the gross details of
a few horrors that are too perturbing for a child’s psyche to be thrust with.
Some parts of the story do not ring true at all. Lenny’s
grandmom assumes a high power, with powerful strings in Lahore’s society. She
pulls off bureaucratic wonders that perhaps seasoned politicians may find hard
to achieve and is able to locate kidnapped women, as well as pack them off to India.
The Title: Ice Candy Man
Why did Bapsi Sidhwa
name the book ‘Ice Candy Man’? The key story is about Lenny, the Parsee child.
It is about the consequent aftermath of the partition of India in the last
century. It is also about Lenny’s 18-year old Punjabi Ayah who becomes a pawn
in the ego games of a deranged man and a victim of religious fanaticism that
leads to her disgraceful kidnapping and subsequent ruin. The ice candy man is
only one of her many suitors, who vies for her attention. In fact, it is the
masseur who assumes more importance as Ayah’s lover. The gardener Hari, the Sethi
cook Imam Din, or the low-caste sweepers Muccho and her daughter Papoo are also
given ample importance in the first half of the book. Further, Lenny’s friend
Ranna’s story takes considerable precedence in the middle portions too.
Hence the reader waits for the Ice-candy man to assume more
importance, given the title. It is only towards the kidnap and the end, where
he repents his actions that he takes centre-stage. The tilte therefore may be a
little misleading for readers who assume that he is the key character
throughout the novel.
I was surprised because of the obvious twist wherein the Ice
candy man is depicted in shades of grey (or even black) in the story. He is a
stalker of dangerous proportions and suffers an obsession of manic magnitude for Ayah. His demonic treatment of Ayah during and after her kidnapping, where
he pimps her for money is disgusting to the core. Although some readers may
want to term his behaviour as stemming from ‘love’, he is an obvious case of a
person who is psychologically deranged. It is only in the end when Lenny’s
grandmother accosts him severely that he breaks down and appears to repent. How
then, does such a character deserve the titular honour, in a story narrated by
a child? It leaves a distinct bitter feeling in the mind.
Theme of Human Psychology
Disturbing, heart-wrenching scenes complement irksome incidents
to the core.
The disturbing scenes are those which remind us that human
beings have latent demons buried within their psyches. It only takes the right
trigger, opportunity and endorsement from fellow demonic humans to let the
demon loose on their victims. Religion, politics and gender serve only as mere
excuses that alleviate the allowing of such humans to wreak havoc on society.
Ice candy man who claims to love Ayah causes her devastation.
He is deranged with hatred for Hindus after he witnesses the train from India, with
mutilated Muslim bodies. He pimps her to other men to make money, despite claiming to love her. The warped sense in which his so-called love is portrayed towards the end does not match up to his earlier behaviour.
Theme of Religion
The partition of India unleashed horrors on both sides of
the border. Sidhwa’s story revolves and culminates in Lahore. In showcasing the
leading up and aftermath of the partition on the Hindus and Muslims alike,
Sidhwa brings out the fear, uncertainty and grave dangers that Lenny’s
family. In doing so, the readers are
aware of what Hindu and Muslim families in the region, alike would have
suffered during the time of the partition.
The keen observation of the protagonist offers us the chance
to comprehend the changes and effects of the partition at the ground level,
amidst the common man. How families and livelihoods get disrupted, along with
the loss of life, property and peace is showcased with the perceptive clarity
of a child.
The most irksome scenes are the ones where Lenny’s cousin
repeatedly takes undue sexual advantage of her innocence although Lenny is
smart enough to avoid too much damage.
Theme of Innocence
As mentioned in the introduction, Lenny’s aching innocence
is slowly, but surely corroded with the horrors that she is forced to witness.
Her keen observation does not miss the changes that happen around her during
the time when the political situation of the country undergoes massive change. Lenny
sees, records, learns and continues to learn. Each revelation is another slice
chopped off her childlike innocent mind. The first time she hears of the brutal
murder of someone she knows, (a British policeman, a family friend who visits
and interacts with her parents over dinner) causes in her the realization that the horror
of violence is more powerful when it hits closer to home, on a personal level.
The most perturbing scenes are the ones when she watches the
massive fire that destroys the Hindu settlements at Lahore. The worst one is
when she comes upon the mutilated body of the masseur on the pavement near her
house.
Theme of Betrayal
Lenny first tastes betrayal as a child after her painful
operation to rectfy her polio. Her parents fool her into the belief that her
father goes to fetch her doctor to alleviate her pain, while all he does is
sleep in the adjacent room.
The bigger betrayal, that is a major turning point in the
whole novel, is when Ice candy man betrays Lenny’s friendship when he shrewdly
wins her trust and weans the Ayah’s hiding place from her.
Theme of Guilt
Lenny’s guilt after she inadvertently betrays Ayah’s
whereabouts to Ice Candy man are heart-racking. The irony, where she punishes
her own tongue for being truthful, burns into the mind of the reader.
Theme of Politics
The common man is a mere puppet at the hands of those who
wield the strings of political power.
The so-called leaders of the country, together with the
British deal out cities like a pack of cards and divide the country based
solely on populace and boundaries, with no regard to the sentiments or
livelihood of the people. How different is the situation today? Do the leaders
of either country truly care about the sentiments of its countrymen while
taking crucial decisions that affect their daily lives? Food for thought, indeed.
Theme of Death and Danger
The scenes where Lenny’s friend is grievously injured and
left to die, and his subsequent escapades from the bloodthirsty Sikhs to return
to his aunt keep readers on the edge of tension. The dangers are not limited to
a particular community. The underlying irony that all humans behave the same
way when it concerns love, religion, or violence is not lost on readers. The
danger does not lie in politics or religion. It lies amidst us, in the psyche of the common
man who is inflamed by people, dialogues, visions and events around him, that
causes him to behave in unnaturally violent ways.
Theme of Sex, Assault and Violence
A recurring theme throughout the novel, the assaults are
both physical and sexual, and not limited to a single gender or even age. Ayah
is groped by her friend and sexually assaulted multiple times after her kidnap.
Thankfully, the reader is spared of the gross details owing to the age of the
narrator. The ice candy man’s toes and their twitching is hilarious and
annoying at the same time.
Lenny’s cousin may qualify as a sexual predator too, despite
his young age, with his highly questionable actions with the five year old
Lenny that extends to his shameless groping of her, as an eight year old girl. His
shrewdness in milking every opportunity to take undue advantage of her
innocence is infuriating in its objectionable recurrence. It is perhaps prudent
to acknowledge that children may satiate curiosities and discover the word of
sexual joy through experimentation such as this, however, adult readers
generally tend to find the articulation of such actions by children loathsome
and unsavoury.
The attack on Ranna is described in the context of extreme
violence that is punctuated by mass murder of menfolk and rapes of the captured
women. Scenes that describe the outcome of the mob attacks are gory. So does
Muccho’s violent ill-treatment of her own daughter Papoo. The abusive language
leaves a gash in our minds, as does the description of the episodes.
Another scene that stays in the mind is the one where the
‘firefighters’ arrive to contain the fire at Shalmi, douse the neighbouring Hindu homes with petrol instead of water and cause
an inferno that destroys their settlement of Lahore.
Theme of Wry Humour
Last, but not the least, Sidhwa infuses humorous interludes
in the form of Lenny’s dialogues. Names like Slavesister and Oldhusband put
smiles on our faces, even as Lenny proceeds to dissect the background of their
titles, in her narrative. Lenny makes life simple for herself and refers to the
characters as cousin, masseur, gardener , ice candy man, etc. Also, the sheer
stupidity of adults who go about gossiping, ogling, groping and lovemaking in
the presence of an eight year old is not lost on the readers.
Conclusion
While there have been quite a few books about the partition,
this one stands out in its presentation and treatment. The combo of a child
protagonist narrator and the theme of partition, juxtaposed with familial,
psychological and religious brouhaha make the novel a compelling read.
I rate the novel 3.8 out of 5.
Do you agree with my review? Let me know in the comments. Do
like and share it with readers and book-lovers too.
Until my next review, happy reading!
***
Book Photography: Chethana
Thursday 13 February 2020
Poison of Love : A Poem.
Kiss me, kill
me
once more
before
it's time
to walk out the
door.
I picked my
poison
they call it
love
sinking seconds
close in
shrill voices
from above.
Struggle &
strife
mock &
threaten
Dusk of life
begins to
beckon.
Wasted
endevours
paid a price
searching
forevers
in your eyes.
***
Image: 'The Kiss', Gustav Klimt
'The Kiss', Gustav Klimt
Book Review: 'The Catcher in the Rye', by J.D.Salinger.
I love reading Bildungsromane. But this one is
beyond one's expectations of a 'clean' Bildungsroman.
Salinger meant this book for adults. Small wonder
then, that it was a super-hit with teenagers.
Holden Caulfield is not your average teenager. He's
beyond average in intelligence, highly disinterested in studies and endears
himself to readers, despite his rather disgusting behavior. The heart of gold
is firmly in its place, though and it is more apparent as the story unravels.
One feels sorry for the poor little rich kid, desperately lost in his intense
loneliness, in his pathetic attempts to find his place in the 'phony' universe.
One also finds rings of truth in his intense
musings about life in general & people in particular. Holden's unbiased
critique of the large cross-section of society strikes a chord, while his angst
tugs at heartstrings. The lack of moral or emotional support for the teenager
who is obviously in need of help. Holden's friendless isolation in a world full
of people is palpable.
The story begins with frustrating the reader, and
goes on to leave the reader more frustrated at the end.
This classic sold a million copies a year and for
good reason. Unapologetic in it's language and demeanor, this is one mean story
that let's you in on the workings of the male teenaged mind. .
Quotes:
I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.
What really knocks me out is a book that,
when you're all done reading it, you wish the
author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up
on the phone whenever you felt like it.
I am always saying "Glad to've met you"
to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to
say that stuff, though.
It's funny. All you have to do is say something
nobody understands & they'll do practically anything you want them to.
People always clap for the wrong reasons.
People never notice anything.
People are always ruining things for you.
Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it
ends up making me sad.
When you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up &
write "Fuck you" right under your nose.
If you had a million years to do it in, you
couldn't rub out even half the "Fuck you" signs in the world.
***
#JDSalinger #TheCatcherInTheRye
#bookgasm #books #bookstagram #classics #bookobsessed #bookworm #reading #toread #novels #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookphotography #creativebookphotography
#bookgasm #books #bookstagram #classics #bookobsessed #bookworm #reading #toread #novels #booksbooksbooks #booksofinstagram #bookphotography #creativebookphotography
Surrender : A Poem
Warm lips, tender
upon my flesh,
I crave his plunder
in my dreams afresh.
My strength of wills freeze
& dissipate asunder,
in wild flower breeze
of lethal lavender.
One last chance of reason,
to potion of sky splendor
& an orb below the horizon,
my heart & soul, I surrender.
***
Image: Wallpaper Flare
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