A review of the book 'Independence' written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's powerful new novel 'Independence' is a moving story of loyalty and love, nationhood and sisterhood, set against India's independence movement, at once exhilarating and devastating.
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Coming up: A review of the book 'Independence' written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.
Namaste Friends. My name is 'Shinil Subramanian Payamal' and you are listening to the Historylogy podcast.
Before I proceed, a full disclosure: This book was bought with my own money and not been provided to me by the author or publisher.
Another little disclaimer: This book is actually historical fiction. I picked up this book by mistake. I normally don’t read (and review) fiction and this is probably the first and last time I will be reviewing a fiction book on this podcast. So, if you are not into reading fiction, you are excused. Thanks!
Little bit about the author:
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning and bestselling author, poet, activist and teacher of writing. Her work has been published widely in magazines and anthologies, and her books have been translated into twenty-nine languages.
Several of her works have been made into films and plays. Her most recent novels are The Forest of Enchantments and The Last Queen, soon to be a major motion picture. She teaches in the internationally acclaimed Creative Writing programme at the University of Houston. She lives in Houston with her husband, Murthy, and has two sons, Anand and Abhay.
Let me read a brief description of the book:
QUOTE
THREE SISTERS. THEIR UNBREAKABLE BOND. AND A NATION ABOUT TO BE BORN.
Here is a river...
Here is a village...
Here is a grand old mansion...
Here is the country that contains them all...
India. August, 1946. Everything is about to change.
Priya, Jamini and Deepa, Dr Nabakumar Ganguly's daughters, live in Ranipur, Bengal, safe from the rising turbulence in the country. When their father is killed on Direct Action Day, their world turns upside-down.
Priya, the youngest, intelligent and idealistic, is determined to follow in her father's footsteps and become a doctor, no matter how difficult. She is fortunate to have the support of zamindar Somnath Chowdhury, her father's best friend.
Jamini, devout, dutiful and talented, helps her mother stitch kanthas to make ends meet. Hungering for affection even as she is resentful of her sisters, she nurses a secret desire.
Beautiful Deepa, the eldest, all set to marry well, falls in love with Raza, Youth Leader at the Muslim League, and must face the consequences.
When India is partitioned, the sisters find themselves separated from one another, afraid of what will happen to not only themselves, but also each other. It is only then that they understand what it means to be independent, and the price one has to pay for it.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's powerful new novel is a moving story of loyalty and love, nationhood and sisterhood, set against India's independence movement, at once exhilarating and devastating.
UNQUOTE
As mentioned in the disclaimer earlier, this is a work of fiction and had I not noticed it on the back cover right below the barcode, I would have thought that this is a historical set against the backdrop of the Indian Freedom Struggle around the time of Independence and the eventual partition in 1947. That is how well written the book is.
Yes, there is Nehru, Gandhi, Suhrawardy, Saroiji Naidu and even Mujib. Divakaruni masterfully combines historical events with the intimate struggles of her characters, making the history feel personal and immediate. The prose is lush and evocative, drawing the reader into the vivid, sensory world of the characters.
While the historical context is well-researched and thoughtfully integrated into the narrative, those unfamiliar with the Partition might find some of the political details a bit dense. And I must add that the ‘balancing’ act is obvious, especially when writing about the Direct Action Day and the aftermath.
Conclusion:
The book is a testament to Divakaruni’s skill that she can take a well-trodden period of history and make it feel intensely personal.
If you’re drawn to historical fiction that explores complex human emotions and the turbulence of history, Independence is a book worth reading.
I give this book 4.25/5.
The book is available in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle and Audible formats. I have given the respective buy links in the show notes. Please check them out for the latest prices.
Last but not the least, thank you for spending your valuable time listening to this book review. Really grateful. Please don't forget to subscribe to the Historylogy podcast on your favourite podcasting app and also feel free to leave a review. Also, please check historylogy.com for all previous episodes. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you. Take care and bye!