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Exploring an era of Indian history largely left behind by time, Das weaves a tale of heartbreak, division, and the underlying hope that emerges like a phoenix from the ashes of nonsensical bloodshed. The work is a compilation of short stories that range on various topics, but the tales predominantly reflect upon a pre-independence India that featured unimaginable rifts between the Hindu and Muslim communities, one where seemingly overnight, neighbors and friends thirsted for the blood of those living around them. Well written and with engaging characters, the narrative develops a storyline and examines this time from a variety of angles, including but not limited to the role that Mahatma Gandhi (also known as Bapujee) plays in creating peace, the tragic devastation of broken families, and the aftermath of it all as a nation picks up the pieces.
Perhaps the most intriguing element of Das' stories is how she puts readers at ease with luscious and tranquil descriptions of trees and sunsets, among many of nature's gems, only to jolt them with strong imagery of destruction. From the opening story, "Manjari and the Ballad of Peace," history teacher Manjari reminisces on her childhood days, the sweet embrace of family, and trying to grasp the concept of both losing her friends and "people killing people from the same country." In many of her stories, Das adeptly shares her stories through the lens of a child to further emphasize the sheer senselessness of the Hindu-Muslim riots at a time when they were near their revolution or "inquilab" to push out the British empire. While there are many scholarly articles on this topic, and the surface level analysis would deem that the British empire drove a wedge between the two communities, there are countless examples of war, often on a religious platform, between the two.
For every Manjari, whose harrowing journey to the Peace Camp to reclaim her freedom is undoubtedly compelling, there is a Noyakhali, the site of Mahatma Gandhi's resolve to reunify the nation in peace. Though stories of 1946 permeate throughout the piece, the collection's soul is the innocence and the exuberance, a quest for peace and knowledge, and love through the generations. For instance, a more lighthearted story, "Grandpa and the Sunday Shakespeare Scholars," features a young Amrita's love of classical literature, especially the works of Shakespeare and Rabindranath Tagore, that is fostered by the deep well of passion present in her grandfather, who exposes her to iconic works like The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Even amidst the chaos, a sense of serenity is imbued within Das' stories. In one of them, a character named Pushpita is guided to the Manas Sarovar, the holiest freshwater lake in Kailash in the Himalayan mountain region. The entire exchange is incredibly surreal, exuding a strong aura of Salvador Dali and his famous artwork The Persistence of Memory. As the work progresses, talking trees lament the demise of their brethren for humanity's insatiable wants. This portion can be translated directly to the twenty-first century and the gradual erosion of the environment. Above all else, Das examines a difficult chapter in India's history with poetic grace while simultaneously delivering stories that speak to a love of nature and the beautiful bond between grandparents and grandchildren, two elements that are tied inherently to the essence of the indomitable human spirit.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review