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Literary Review
First Impressions
SHE was called Jewel of the World. In an astonishingly well-written account of her life and times, the eldest daughter of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal traces her roots, her growing up years, her siblings, their affairs and most of all the calamities that befall her. Alongside we get rich details of the Mughal empire and what finally led to its downfall.
This slim volume, translated from French, is based on the diaries of Jahanara where she, in her old age, relives every minute of her life including some of its darkest secrets and most personal hours. Her writings reveal the multitude factions of the royal court, their machinations and the games that are constantly played to win favour. She traces the fall of the great Mughal Empire in detail as she recounts the debauchery and treachery that sets in when Aurangzeb finally imprisons his own father and Jahanara.
Though this is a work of fiction, it is recreated in detail from the diaries of the Mughal princesses. Meticulous to the last detail, it is written with a brutal frankness that spares no one, not even herself. Even for those who are not students of history, this is a jewel of a book.
Jahanara, Lyane Guillaume, translated by Uma Narayan and Prema Seetharam, East West Books, Rs. 295.
DYING somehow seems the most ordinary thing to hit even the most extraordinary lives. And what happens when ordinary mortals pass away? And what about those left behind? Dying. Eventually it's all about living. These are esoteric questions with no real answers and this slim little book corners the concerns of an aged couple, one of whom has just passed away. In his wake is a clutch of friends, a wife — is she loving? Or is she just about coming to terms with the passing away of someone who had become a habit? This could have been an unusual way to examine an age-old occurrence. Instead the plot ties itself up with dilemmas and multi-dimensional characters, all of which could have been dumped to make this a much more profound and meaningful book.
Dev and Simran, Eunice de Souza, Penguin, Rs. 195.
AS love stories go, this one is a perfect triangle. There is a beautiful young woman married to a dashing young army officer. Life is a round of parties. But something happens, they divorce and she is married again. To another man, gentle and caring. There is also a sick child and then, one day, life is thrown off track when she bumps into her ex-husband and his new wife. Even though the elements are diverse, there is suddenly a thread of reality that tugs at your heartstrings. Bhopal, December 3, 1984 should have been just another day in the lives of many, including Anjali, the heroine of this book. But like many she suffered and fled. Not just a ghost city but also her adulterous husband. But the events of that fateful night recreate themselves through the birth of her child who suffers from a series of maladies. As the child lives each day in excruciating pain, waiting to die, Anjali finally comes to terms with the events of that night. This book is a brave attempt to knit fiction and reality and rekindle an issue that lies dormant.
A Breath of Fresh Air, Amulya Malladi, Penguin, Rs. 225.
SHORT STORY writing, it is said, is the most demanding form of writing. The Katha Short Stories are a typical example of this craft. Adroit editing and an almost fanatical zeal for quality has made some of the earlier editions landmarks in publishing. Through a careful selection, these short stories portray diverse cultures in our country.
In "The Dance", M. Mukundan displays formidable talent as he knits together the elements of time, modernisation and age-old cultural values. Here is an almost sinister gripping story of a male dancer. The story is revealed almost like a thriller and you're hooked. Or take the case of "The Smell". It is particularly outstanding because it picks on an old social custom. One that banned scavengers and night soil men from being treated as human beings. What of those who toil in the muck? Just a single strand of jasmine blows away the ill smells for them. There is "Shadows" that traces gender conflicts and power play within a relationship. The Katha bag may have a multiplicity of viewpoints, but in the end, most of it is fine story telling.
Katha Prize Stories 12, edited by Geeta Dharmarajan, Rs. 250.
S.B.
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