The Twentieth Wife

The Twentieth Wife

  - Indu Sunderasan

 

This was my first experience with historical fiction (other than 'Memoirs of a Geisha', which I had thought to be an auto/biography earlier), and I think that this was an excellent introduction to the genre.

It is a great saga that wonderfully  weaves the historical facts from the Mughal reign in India in 16th/17th century, into the story of Mehrunnisa - from her birth in tragic conditions in Afghanistan until her marriage to the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and receiving the title of Nur-Jahan.

Nur-Jahan was known for her beauty, intelligence and ambition, and the author has built up the picture gradually and beautifully. She became Jahangir's twentieth and the last wife, and the only one he married for love. After reading this book , I felt that history books have been rather unkind to her, projecting her as a scheming and power-hungry woman. I wonder if this depiction is rooted in gender bias - it is quite evident that she was a force to reckon with; it was, and still is, difficult in our culture to find acceptance for such power being wielded by a woman. However, here the author portrays her in a different shade - she has to struggle against her personal tragedies, she is dejected at times but her inner spirit never dies, she is vulnerable at times, and determined to achieve what she desires, at others.

The book confirms to the facts to a large extent, though it has been quite dramatized and romanticized - but I am not complaining in the least, since that is what makes it so very compelling. I was aware of at least the "highlights" of the story, having read about it in history in school, and a few story books. So it was not the anticipation of what happened next that kept me hooked on to it. Instead it was the way the events unfold in the book, the intrigues and subterfuges, an insight into the thoughts and motivation of numerous characters, and complex maze of relationships between them.

Throughout the history, any contention for a throne has been fraught with greed, hate and blood, and I think that the battles for Mughal throne have been bloodier than most. In this aspect, a story about these times has enough of background "masala" to generate an interest. The author has enriched it by focusing on a parallel politics that goes on in the "zenana", detailing the conventions, customs and culture of the time, and bringing forth the picture of the grandeur, opulence and power that the Mughal royalty lived in.

What I couldn't digest was Mehrunnisa's single-minded determination to marry Prince Salim, right from the age of eight! Seriously, how many eight year olds would dream of marriage to a prince charming (literally!), even in those times, and how many of them will sustain this juvenile fantasy till the ripe old (old as per the times, that is) age of 34! Further, she is said to be attracted to Salim because of his good looks, and later, also because of his sophisticated tastes. But is that enough for an intelligent and mature woman, when there is little that is redeemable in him - he is weak in character, easily influenced, unstable and inconsistent (he even forgets about her for years, and not just once, after professing his unending love), and is addicted to alcohol and opium.
The story is essentially a romance, but the romantic scenes were rather sloppy - in fact they were the only cringe-worthy parts in an otherwise gripping and fast-paced narrative.

Chowringhee

Chowringhee
  - Sankar

Chowringhee was a very interesting read, and quite a different fare from what I usually go for.

It captures the romance of a bygone era, when grand hotels and travel was the privilege of select few. It gives a glimpse of what Calcutta would have been like at that time, though it could have taken place anywhere else. It is as much about the life and workings of a large, popular hotel, as it is about the human nature in general. On one hand is the picture of sophistication and the luxury that the world sees, while on the other is the pain and misery of those who create the facade of this glitz for others, and the shallowness of many of those who live this life of glamor. There is compassion and cruelty, kindness and petty jealousies there are desires that defy all convention and even rational thought, triumph and loss of spirit, rise and decline of fortunes; while the world outside, oblivious and insensitive, goes on.

The story starts slow and sad, and then picks up pace and interest, before coming to a relatively quick, bitter end. It is sensitive, with subtle changes of mood. At the same time, it has a lot of drama - it is like a stage where characters come, and leave after fulfilling their small role in the larger scheme of things. But the end is a little too tragic, and perhaps avoidable.

The Better Man

The Better Man
  - Anita Nair

Overall a nice book, with beautiful descriptions of village life and people. But I was not as captivated by it as I was with other books by her. It was a little slow, and I didn't feel strongly for any of the characters (contrasting against Mistress, where I could empathize with all of the four main characters).

The story is skillfully woven around psychology of Mukundan, a man who is both in awe and terror of his father - a tyrannical man who bullied him throughout his childhood, trying to make him strong as himself, but only succeeding in driving him further and further away from it. While his father holds him in contempt, Mukundan hates his father for the treatment he gave himself and his mother, but at the same time, cannot help being in awe of him seeing how he is both feared and respected by the entire village. When Mukundan is forced to return to his paternal village after retirement, he only has one objective - to prove that he is a better man than his father. But he has to contend with the ghosts of his past, as well as his father, who still seems to hold a power over him. He befriends a painter called Bhasi, who has the gift of healing minds, however he is reluctant to commit himself to this friendship completely. It takes a trap that he easily falls into, one that robs him of the happiness that has come quite late in his life, to make him actually realize his own failings, and the real strength of his father - one that comes from within. The author does not provide a quick and easy solution to his wretched feelings, but leaves him with a realization of his mistakes and attempts to redeem himself.

The character of Bhasi was rather puzzling - it is difficult to understand his devotion to the village he has adopted, and even more so to Mukundan, despite the rebuffs. Although he is a main character, his story felt incomplete.

Long Pending (mini) reviews - III

Ruskin Bond - Room on the Roof/Vagrants in the Valley
It is a beautiful novel of adoloscence and coming-of-age, of youthful innocence and friendship. The story is warm and endearing, and flows at an easy, constant pace. It is tinged with a subtle sadness, borne out of loneliness and hardships of living in small villages in the hills.  I was almost sorry when Rusty has to end his carefree adventures and move towards adulthood, realizing the inevitable business of growing-up.

This is also written in Ruskin Bond's own special style - in first person narrative, simple yet charming language, and with vivid descriptions of people and places. In fact, it is difficult to believe that it was his first novel written at the age of 17!

Alistair Maclean - Golden Rendezvous

Maclean was the one who made suspense thrillers the first of my favorite genres (and it is only in last few years that I started enjoying other genres more). However, in this one, he wasn't at his best. His protagonists are typically highly intelligent and resourceful, and the story line usually borders on believable. But the protagonist in this one is too super-human, and quite a few turns are either predictable or completely defy logic, to make the story quite unbelievable. But it is still edgy, and action-packed, and has dialogs with that sharp wit which I so love about Maclean. Despite its shortcomings, an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

Jeffery Archer - And Thereby Hangs A Tale
 

I have read quite a few of short story collections by Archer, and found some of them quite wonderful. But I remember that the last one I read wasn't that great, and this one felt like a total waste of my money (bought it at a railway station stall at the MRP). Some of the stories were good, but perhaps only one or two that were really amusing. Most of them were quite a drag, and I trudged through them, only because I kept hoping to come across another good one. Most of the stories were inspired by real-life incidents, so all I can say is - reality is not always stranger (or interesting) than fiction. 

James Herriot - All things wise and wonderful

I bought a copy from a second-hand stall, and what a gem it was! (as opposed to the brand new copy of the Archer's story collection).

I had read a few of Herriot's stories in Reader's Digest magazine editions long time back, and remember loving them - they were warm, amusing and brought forth some wonderful lessons of life. I remember craving to read more, but for many years, I didn't really have much hope. In last few years, I found about his books. But I never saw them at a bookstore, and was reluctant to order online, since I wasn't sure of the format of the book. So, the used copy I found seemed a pretty good deal - it was an original print, and was in quite a good shape even though it was old (and I love old books, as long as the pages are not brittle.)

This is the third book in the series, and covers his training days as a RAF pilot during the WW-II. The general mood is a little dark, quite naturally, due to the context of the war, but it is brightened by the stories from his vet days that are interspersed with those of the training. It frequently happens that a thought or an event will trigger a memory - that is the manner that he has adopted in this book. He is a gifted story-teller, and kept me enchanted through the nearly 400 pages. I love his sense of humor - most of the stories make you smile, and some even leave you laughing silently (though there are some sad ones too). As I read on, I found some stories that I could recall reading all those years ago! And it made me want to read the earlier two books, which I hope would be more cheerful, even more.

Conversations with Sid

I have missed posting the "conversations" series for a while. Perhaps as he is growing up, those innocent gems are not so frequent. Or perhaps I am not so faithful in recording them :( But here are some of them, collected in a long while (thankfully I did record them on FB, and was able to retrieve...)

June 17, 2013
Sid was fussing over his food. To instill a respect for food, I told him, "Agar aap khane mein aise pareshan karoge to Bhagwanji aapko khana nahin denge".
Very innocently, he asks me, "Mumma par aap to mere ko doge na!"

April 7, 2014
To keep Sid engaged, N had been playing cards with him. At this age the only game Sid can play is patte-pe-patta, so (for obvious reasons) N got tired after some time.
N: okay go and play with dadi nowSid: why don't you want to play more?
N: because I am bored
Sid: then what are you going to do?
N: nothing
Sid: nothing? But then you will get even more bored!

***

Few days back, one night Sid was driving me crazy (as usual), "what shall I do?" .... with not much else that could be done, I taught him a "new" (new to him that is) game - 'antakshari' of english words. He was having fun, but after a while he was stuck at "e". He thought for sometime, then brightened up, and said "economic". For a moment we were stunned, but then realization dawned, and we had a good laugh.
Any guesses where he picked it up from?

The newspaper - The Economic Times - N faithfully read each morning!

May 30, 2014
I reached home to find Sid having chips (a treat usually reserved for weekend trips to market).
Me: aaj is time chips kyun kha rahe ho?
Sid: (with a radiant smile): kyunki maine chips bahut Dino se nahin khaye
Me: (in an equally sweet tone): aapne maar bhi bahut dinon se nahin khayee ...
Sid: par maar itni bhi important nahin hai!

Nov 3, 2014
I had been reading a book titled "The Twentieth Wife". Sid sees the title, and asks me, "Mama, did you also read 'The First Wife'?

Nov 9, 2014
As I handed over a juice bottle to N, who was driving the car, Sid promptly reproduced this sage advice: "Papa, Do not drink and drive!"

Jan 30, 2015
And the latest person to be bitten by the poetry bug is none other than - Sid!!
He has been regaling (tormenting?) us with verse with rhyme (and no reason). Here's a latest sample:
Tenali Rama
Went to a drama
He forgot his pajama
Aiyyo Rama!
Bad genes? ;)

Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love
    - Elizabeth Gilbert

The author's journey from an abysmal state of mind, to discovery of happiness and love, is not as inspiring or enriching as I expected to be. But it makes for an engaging read, and did give me something to ponder on. I alternately appreciated and abhorred her.

At first, her decision to divorce her husband, and step out of her seemingly well-settled life, appalled me - how can someone just run out on their responsibility? But after a while, it made me think why should any person be forced to seek their contentment and happiness in the norms approved by the other people, even if these others constitute the majority of the society? And could it have been a really happy relationship, if the husband was unaware or unwilling to help her overcome her consuming depression (and that he could fall low enough to extract a settlement wiping out her savings).

I appreciated her courage in admitting to her problem of depression, and stepping out of a relationship in which she felt suffocated. I'm not commenting on whether she was right or wrong in feeling so, but the fact that she did try to take charge of her happiness.

Her writing style is charming and witty. I specially liked the way she has related her experiences in Italy, and to some extent, those in Bali. However, one glaring shortcoming is that in her explorations of these three different cultures, she is just the privileged, protected tourist, who experiences them in a superficial manner, with no attempt to understand or connect to it. This is particularly true of India, where she stays the entire time in the ashram, living a privileged life, isolated and sheltered from the realities that lied beyond the walls of the ashram. She also comes across as a self-indulgent individual, glorifying her own "special" self through out the book. And I'm sure the readers could have done without the extensive details of her intimate life.

A sense of reality is missing from her travel memoirs, and I think that is easily explained when you remember that she is being paid (a handsome amount) to visit these places and recount the story. She is not a real traveler, who would want to truly experience the place. This is no journey of "enlightenment", as it is projected out to be. If it was undertaken with the aim of self-discovery it fails miserably, it is more of a study in self-gratification. But, as a collection of adventures and misadventures, related in an engaging manner, it is an entertaining book.

An interesting book indeed, but I didn't quite get what all the fuss was about. Definitely not what I will put in my must-read list.

Random rant on everyday things

For last few years, whenever I happen to scan through the traditional hindi women's magazines, they leave me appalled/frustrated/infuriated - I am at a loss to find the right word.

One thing that really gets me is the language - half of the words in any so-called article are english, merely written in Devanagri script - when most of them have perfectly equivalent, easily understood hindi words. Why on earth?! If anyone wanted to read english, wouldn't they just read the english edition?

And much as they try to project themselves to be moving with the times, by using such language, and carrying a large number of articles on makeup and beauty, the mindset remains regressive. They continue to perpetuate the stereotypes in the stories and features they carry - the working, ambitious woman is vilified as one who rejects everything else including the family, while they eulogize the educated woman the height of whose ambition is to teach in a government school/college, and that too only when pushed by a "benevolent" husband. Makes me want to tear it up and throw in the face of the editor!

There was a time, when they used to carry some interesting creative ideas related to different kinds of hobbies, apparently not any more. These days all they seem to have are make-up and make-over tips, and some silly fusion recipes. Though I sadly admit that the reason for no articles on things like crochet, embroidery, knitting, sewing etc is perhaps that hardly anyone pursues those any more.