Kolkatta or Calcutta or the City of Palaces never fails to mesmerize me. The stories hidden in every part, the people with fascinating personalities and joy in every bit - the city always surprises me. For the same reason, I picked up the book by Sujata Massey.
The book is a tale of a girl named Pom who starts her life on the sea side of Bengal. Tragedy after tragedy hit her like the waves of the ocean, and Pom dives right into these tragic waves. In the beginning, she struggles to breathe. However, soon she swims in these waves like the master of the ocean. She takes on various avatars while swimming across these powerful waves - Sarah, a christian, Camilla, a charmer, Kamala a librarian, mother and a lover.
The tale also takes the reader along the story of India's independence. It shows the freedom struggle from the eyes of Pom and her acquaintances. Pom is sometimes standing outside this story of independence, by being a mere observer, and sometimes she dives right into these waves as well. Somewhere the story is about the confusion that Pom faces to decide on which side to take on - violence or non-violence, to support India's freedom fighters like Pankaj and many others who were still reeling under the caste systems or help the open minded and kinder westerners, earn livelihood by selling herself or by faking her identity, live respectfully by stealing from those who loved her or live in shame by following whom she loved.
The narration of this amazing tale of juxtapositions is in the most simple form. I think that is the magic of Sujata Massey that will remain with me for the rest of my life. It is indeed one of best India-based fiction I have read in a long time. A must read for everyone!
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