The Sari shop by Rupa Bajwa- Part two
Part two is shorter than part one, thankfully, as you have a lump in your throat almost throughout the second part of the book. The author wastes no time in plunging head forth into the much intriguing and heartbreaking story of Kamla, the wife of one of Ramchand’s co-workers. An account of the helpless woman, who is in a situation that, even we readers are not able to find a way out of, cannot be written better- tightly sketched and immensely spellbinding; something that the first-time novelist can take pride out of, and most likely, something that caught the attention of the Orange prize jury.
Even the distraction in the form of Shilpa’s aristocratic marital life [obviously inserted to strike a difference between the life of married women in the sari-buying and sari-selling class] is justifiable up to a certain extent. But what I could not come to terms with was the English professor Mrs. Sachdeva’s abrupt and largely inconsistent character sketch. The author drafts a respectable personality development of this particular character as the story unfolds, makes her sound intelligent during her rendezvous with Mrs. Bhandari and Rina Kapoor, and in the end, suddenly makes her scream at Ramchand quite unexplainably. If the idea was to show how volatile even the so-called social reformists are, it was not delivered across. Also, why Ramchand chose Mrs. Sachdeva over Rina Kapoor, who had warmed up to him so well, is confusing.
I am not sure if the author consciously made a subtle point where Ramchand buys books by both Indian and foreign authors, and instinctively chooses the former over the latter, as the unfamiliar names, places and situations make no sense to him; but it amused me no end. As the sari-buying class, we are almost made to feel guilty over Ramchand’s mayhem, and for his inability to “look-over” and “move-on” with social injustice, something we, as Indians, have so easily learnt to do over years. The story reaches the peak when he breaks down after reading an essay, from one of his books, about policemen, their importance to the society and the sacrifices they make to do their duties- truly moving.
It is with considerable regret that and Every coin has two sides, are Ramchand’s favourite lines of all the English he had managed to study in five months. When in his most traumatized moment he comes up with, It is with considerable regret that I say Kamla’s fate was sealed at that very moment, you know there is an author around the corner who seems to be very promising. As Ramchand clings on strongly to the two-sided coin, I will keep wondering about the unique styles adapted in the two parts of the book, especially the darker second part.
Even the distraction in the form of Shilpa’s aristocratic marital life [obviously inserted to strike a difference between the life of married women in the sari-buying and sari-selling class] is justifiable up to a certain extent. But what I could not come to terms with was the English professor Mrs. Sachdeva’s abrupt and largely inconsistent character sketch. The author drafts a respectable personality development of this particular character as the story unfolds, makes her sound intelligent during her rendezvous with Mrs. Bhandari and Rina Kapoor, and in the end, suddenly makes her scream at Ramchand quite unexplainably. If the idea was to show how volatile even the so-called social reformists are, it was not delivered across. Also, why Ramchand chose Mrs. Sachdeva over Rina Kapoor, who had warmed up to him so well, is confusing.
I am not sure if the author consciously made a subtle point where Ramchand buys books by both Indian and foreign authors, and instinctively chooses the former over the latter, as the unfamiliar names, places and situations make no sense to him; but it amused me no end. As the sari-buying class, we are almost made to feel guilty over Ramchand’s mayhem, and for his inability to “look-over” and “move-on” with social injustice, something we, as Indians, have so easily learnt to do over years. The story reaches the peak when he breaks down after reading an essay, from one of his books, about policemen, their importance to the society and the sacrifices they make to do their duties- truly moving.
It is with considerable regret that and Every coin has two sides, are Ramchand’s favourite lines of all the English he had managed to study in five months. When in his most traumatized moment he comes up with, It is with considerable regret that I say Kamla’s fate was sealed at that very moment, you know there is an author around the corner who seems to be very promising. As Ramchand clings on strongly to the two-sided coin, I will keep wondering about the unique styles adapted in the two parts of the book, especially the darker second part.
Rupa, your next book will not be a die-for but I will still have an eye open for it.
P.S: The author has a strong sensitivity to various kinds of smell; each scene is not complete for her without the mention of the odour attached to it. Eventually, the novel has left me sniffing and smelling pretty badly for the past two days!
P.S: The author has a strong sensitivity to various kinds of smell; each scene is not complete for her without the mention of the odour attached to it. Eventually, the novel has left me sniffing and smelling pretty badly for the past two days!
1 comments:
no probs, keep spamming...
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