Thursday, June 30, 2011

A MARRIED WOMAN by Manju Kapur- a Book Review


Synopsis: "Astha was brought up properly, as befits a woman, with large supplements of fear." So begins Manju Kapur's second novel, A Married Woman

My Take:  'A married woman' was perhaps a very disturbing book to start with. It did not have all the causalities of a dreamy marriage but harsh truth about how life after marriage deteriorates and there is not a damn thing one can do about it. Divorce is not a solution when you have a society keeping an eye on you like a hawk. So a world of pretend outside and the bedroom becomes the world of arguments and disappointments. 
Several characters highlights the little parts and Ms Kapur makes sure that its all very pulled together. A flawless narration of characters especially Astha and Pipleeka who in turn break the bonds of marriage wanting to find something more than just love. Someone whom they can talk to, share their fears, anxieties and happiness. Perhaps the character that most gets my sympathy is Hemant, not because I am being prejudiced but because at the times mentioned in the novel, men were busy making money, wanting to leave a secure future for their families. He also has this childish tempers that perhaps makes him a little crass despite his studying abroad for a while. According to him, he has been doing all he can for the family and there is a whole lot of communication gap between the husband and wife. Or Hemant is just dumb that he couldn't make out his wife is unhappy. A teacher's job which according to everyone is the perfect job for every woman, she is rather told than asked most of the times. Astha seems to love everything he did in the earlier part of the novel but slowly starts to resent it because as a creative artist she lives in the world of fantasy where love conquers all. Suffocated and frustrated with a life that she feels that has been forced upon her Astha becomes a spectator rather than a participant in her own home.

Also the novel is based at the times when the Babri Masjid vs Ayodhya was taking place. The setting makes a amazing background with Astha making use of her rebellious side and participating in the Maunch after the death of  a colleague who was brutally murdered in a van with eight other people just because he staged plays based on controversial issues. Also he was a Muslim. The terrorism, the protests, the marches but all it ends with the Babri Masjid being destroyed thus destroying any hope of optimism despite the efforts. Does it mean Hindus rule over Muslims? Will the Muslims ever be able to call India their home? The retaliation from other countries makes it very clear that it was going to be a tit-for-tat business. At last no one actually wins. The politicians playing a huge role yet hiding behind their kutri pyjama, making a mockery of a country.

Admist all this is the delicate but powerful physical relationship that Astha threads on with Pipeelika, a widow of the colleague. Astha has been shown to be a very sexual person from the very beginning. Maybe not overtly but underlying her very affair with Pipeelika was her outburst of sexual attention in the gentle hands of her lover. Slowly the fascination dims into reality and they have to face the future and what lay ahead.

Does Astha leaves her family of the love of her life? Being a married woman with two children, does she take the risk of pursuing her dreams, her passion for something more than just being a wife, a mother, a daughter?

Rating: 4.5/5 (just because I wanted a happy ending)

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

To see greater things in life, you have to become someone whom does not exist out there for others and for that you become a recluse and an outsider.

For a happier you, why not just be you?


Friday, June 3, 2011

Jalandhar and its little crazy things

What is Jalandhar about?

A six hour drive from delhi or a Amritsar Shatabi train from New Delhi station would bring you to this little city where food, posh cars, salwar kameez epitomizes the way of life here. The main attraction unlike other cities are the long chain of restaurants that offer you great cuisines specializing from Indian to Chinese. Some of the ones that are tried and tested by me are:

  • Headquarters
  • Haveli
  • Park Balluchi
  • Heat 7
  • Yo China!
  • Radisson (the kebab factory)
  • Barbeque nation 
  • Chik Chik
What is hard to miss is the road side stalls that offers you so much more for little money spent. Model town is famous for its momos and its spicy chutney (there are a number of stalls to choose from) and Urban estate (near gada road) is famous for its pani puris. For dessert you can choose the Creamica where you see cars parked in disarray for one bite of that tuty-fruity and faluda kulfi.  

Each have their own specialty and people there have a huge appetite for it. 

If you have had enough of its food then you can find the little places you can hangout with friends and family. Wonderland is one such theme park and the best part about it being the size of it. Its small, compact and easy to try all the rides. Bhakra Dam at Nangal district provides a great view of the beautiful landscape around. Its a restricted area for all and you can see a huge statue of Pandit Nehruji watching over it. Naina Devi, one of the important pilgrimage after Vaishav Devi temple is on the top and its just breathtaking just going through the cable car. You can soak in the view around. Amritsar being an hour and a half drive away you can visit the Golden Temple, Jaliawala Baag and Wagha border.

Jalandhar is soon spreading around and unfortunately loosing its agricultural importance concentrating more on building marriage halls, malls and restaurants. But its surrounded by warm people with big hearts and a city not to be missed if you are in Punjab. 


Guess where it is?


On my way to Amritsar

Does not need an introduction


The spirit of Punjab 

A hot summer day


Wagha Border
Inside Golden Temple