I continue my thoughts on the subject of women writers from developing countries and in this post, I cover novels by Sumedha Ojha and Leila Aboulela.

I’ve not read many books on historical fiction and I’m not a big fan of the spy theme, but this book, Urnabhih – A Mauryan Tale of Espionage, Adventure and Seduction by Sumedha Ojha had me hooked. While most novels with such a theme focus on the challenges of the ruling clan of such empires, or purely on court intrigue, this book makes a case for the ordinary people who lead extraordinary lives to ensure such empires flourish. The book is incredibly well researched and brings alive the era with such clarity that as a reader, I see the characters in their geography, gain insights into their hopes and fears, and even feel the buzz and excitement of their festivals.

A dancer of incredible beauty and grace, Misrakesi wants to avenge her sister’s killing. Her resolve quickly fades and she agrees to become a spy in the defense of the empire. From then on, she moves from one intrigue to the other. The challenges of empires at that time – from military threat and war to counterfeit coins, from power struggles and intrigue in the courts to the workings of the spy organization, and from the role the sabha grihas (dance houses) play in the gathering and disbursing of information to larger dynamics of the empire are all skillfully woven into the tale.

The mysterious and powerful figure of Chanakya flashes through the story now and then inspiring awe and at times fear, and the ruthless Pushyamitra – the head of the spy organization are the other characters who make up the story. But more than these details, what was heartening was the brand of feminism that came to the fore – at once fragile and strong willed.

The Translator is a book that moves between contrasting landscapes, worlds, and beliefs of Aberdeen, Scotland and Khartoum, Sudan. In the hands of the author, everyday, mundane moments suddenly become evocative and even emotional. These images stay on with the reader. For instance, sample these moments in Khartoum. The sound of the call for prayers, the sudden power cuts and the acceptance of such inconveniences, the mixing of ice cubes in a cool drink on a hot dry summer day – one can relate to these moments so well.

To me, what was most captivating was the main character, Sammar, an Arabic translator working for a Scottish secular scholar, who is trying to make sense of her life in a foreign country after a personal loss. The struggle while coping with grief, the burden of expectations of family, the sense of responsibility and guilt towards ones children, hesitancy in a budding relationship, battling questions of differing faiths – and yet, keeping ones faith in the possibility of a better tomorrow in the backdrop of present day world politics and the troubled Middle East all makes for an engaging read. There’s a brand of quiet feminism at play that is endearing and uplifting at the same time. Incidentally, the name Sammar in Arabic means the night-time conversations in the desert. How beautiful is that for a thought?

My next post will focus entirely on the book In The Time of The Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.

A few days back, I sat in a contemplative mood recounting the books I’ve read in the past few months. The books include -- Idris – The Keeper of the Light by Anita Nair, Map of Love by Ahdaf Soueif, Urnabhih – A Mauryan Tale of Espionage, Adventure and Seduction by Sumedha Ojha, The Translator by Leila Aboulela, and In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez.

Only when I put down this list in this fashion, did it occur to me that I’ve been reading women writers that too from developing countries. There is something in these stories that attracts me – for one, they are not the standard stories that emerge from the West. I think I’ve had enough of those. There is just so much one can explore and experience (so what if it is in the form of books?) It’s like taking a journey to these places, getting glimpses of the subtle nuances of their cultures, gaining insights into their languages, noting the place of women in these societies, and even exploring the question of their identity and how they seek a place for themselves in the world.

One novel moves from Somalia to the Malabar coast and thence to Ceylon and then finds its way back to the mainland in Toothukudi (Tuticorin) and on to the diamond mines of Golkonda. Set in the 1600’s, this enriching novel recreates the time and the places with such authenticity, one feels history textbooks and classrooms could be transformed. The level of detail and the recounting of ordinary moments are extraordinary. The book leaves you with lasting impressions. This is Anita Nair’s Idris – The Keeper of the Light.

Another novel moves from Britain to Egypt – set in the past and the present, it weaves a story of overcoming loss and finding love. The story is revealed through a series of letters discovered by a close family member of the main characters – a grieving English lady trying to overcome a personal loss and a staunch Egyptian nationalist. The underlying themes of British imperialism, the fierce nationalism of the Egyptians, and the continuing turmoil of the Middle East are skillfully interwoven in the story and perhaps, what stands out is the grace one is capable of in the face of adversity. This is Ahdaf Soueif’s The Map of Love. Ahdaf Soueif is Egyptian, as you may have guessed.

In my next post, I will cover the books Urnabhih – A Mauryan Tale of Espionage, Adventure and Seduction by Sumedha Ojha and The Translator by Leila Aboulela. The book, In the Time of the Butterflies deserves an exclusive post – you will see why when you come to it. And I hope to do justice in my review of this truly inspirational book that is based on a true story.

The past holiday season had me caught up in costume dramas. I’ve always had a weakness for watching films and TV series set in the 19th century. This time, it was frenzy. It all started with a chance viewing of the miniseries, North and South based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s social novel set in Milton, England of the 1850s.

The setting of the industrial northern city of Milton with its cotton mills, the work ethic of the people in this smoky town, the way people trade, the ups and downs of business and fortunes, social mores and customs, the viewpoints and struggles of the workers (hands) and the masters (mill owners), the unlikely friendship of two young women, and the coming together of an improbable couple make for riveting viewing.

​The costumes, the settings, and the language – so different from what we read and speak today – endear you to the characters even more. I got so much into the mood that I downloaded a copy of the novel on my recently acquired Kindle. There are quite a few differences in the TV adaptation from the original novel – especially in keeping with gender sensitivity and other such subtleties of today. But I daresay the book was extremely slow reading. For the first time perhaps, I found the TV adaptation better!

I then went on to watch this series called The Paradise. The series is an adaptation of Émile Zola's novel Au Bonheur des Dames (The Ladies' Delight or The Ladies' Paradise), published in 1883. The plot revolves around a departmental store and in particular the goings on in the ladies section of the store. The story explores the beginnings of marketing, the first tentative steps toward advertising, the idea of credit, the consolidation of many businesses under one roof, the incentive system for employees, and underlying all this, the social customs during that time. For instance, if a lady member of the staff married, she had to give up her position in the store – the same did not apply to the men in the staff.

This too was a gripping series and made me think about the times gone by and how these concepts have evolved over time. The series looks at ideas such as dedication to one’s work, friendship, honesty, and ethical practices in business realistically and portrays the fact that all these are not always as black and white as they may appear. The language in this series is more contemporary – I have not yet compared it to the original work.

I then watched the all-time favorites – the Pride and Prejudice series made by the BBC in 1995 and Jane Eyre. The language and the settings were uplifting to say the least. Sometimes, watching series or movies like these can be a great introduction to the classical novels.
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All in all, wholesome entertainment to ring in the new year. Happy new year, dear reader. Here’s wishing you a great ride in 2016.