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Simsim
Old Basar Mal remembers his love and homeland that he lost in Sindh, Pakistan during the Partition. A young graduate gets into an imaginary relationship with a girl at a yellow window. The Mumbai land mafia is after Basar Mal and his library. A chatty book cover relates the plight of books. A silent Mangan's ma washes and feeds a plastic doll she thinks is her son.
Poignantly written by Geet Chaturvedi, a major Hindi writer, and beautifully translated by Anita Gopalan, Simsim is a struggle between memory, imagination, and reality- an exquisitely crafted book that fuses the voices of remarkable yet relatable characters to weave a tale of seeking happiness, fulfilling passion, and reconciling with loss. Simsim is charming, and wonderfully original.
Poignantly written by Geet Chaturvedi, a major Hindi writer, and beautifully translated by Anita Gopalan, Simsim is a struggle between memory, imagination, and reality- an exquisitely crafted book that fuses the voices of remarkable yet relatable characters to weave a tale of seeking happiness, fulfilling passion, and reconciling with loss. Simsim is charming, and wonderfully original.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2023
7 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Geet Chaturvedi
15 books38 followersBorn on 27 th November 1977 in Mumbai, Geet Chaturvedi is one of the most widely read contemporary literary authors in Hindi. He has published eleven books including two collections of novellas and three collections of poems. His books 'Nyoonatam Main' and 'Khushiyon Ke Guptchar' are included in the bestselling lists even though they are hardcore literary poems. His celebrated essays on literature, cinema and music are collected in 'Table Lamp' and 'Adhuri Cheezon Ka Devta'.
For poetry, Geet is the recipient of Bharat Bhushan Agrawal Award, Spandan Kriti Samman and Vaagdhara Navratna Samman. For fiction, he has received Krishna Pratap Katha Award, Shailesh Matiyani Award, Krishna Baldev Vaid Fellowship and Syed Haider Raza Fellowship. He is considered one of the best Indian authors by many literary forums and publications including the Indian Express.
Geet Chaturvedi’s works have been translated into 22 languages. In 2019, his book of poems in English translation ‘The Memory of Now’ was published in the USA. The English translation of his novella Simsim, translated by Anita Gopalan, was awarded ‘PEN-Heim Translation Grant’ by PEN America. Geet lives in Bhopal, India.
गीत चतुर्वेदी का जन्म २७ नवम्बर १९७७ को मुम्बई में हुआ। उनके दो कविता-संग्रह न्यूनतम मैं (२०१७) और आलाप में गिरह (२०१०) प्रकाशित हैं। उसी वर्ष लम्बी कहानियों की दो किताबें सावंत आंटी की लड़कियाँ व पिंक स्लिप डैडी आयी। उन्हें कविता के लिए भारत भूषण अग्रवाल पुरस्कार, गल्प के लिए कृष्ण प्रताप कथा सम्मान मिल चुके हैं। ‘इण्डियन एक्सप्रेस’ सहित कई प्रकाशन संस्थानों ने उन्हें भारत के सर्वश्रेष्ठ लेखकों में शुमार किया है। उनकी रचनाएँ देश-दुनिया की सत्रह भाषाओं में अनूदित हो चुकी हैं। उनके नॉवेल सिमसिम के अँग्रेज़ी अनुवाद (अनुवादक : अनिता गोपालन) को ‘पेन अमेरिका’ ने अन्तरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर प्रतिष्ठित ‘पेन-हैम ट्रांसलेशन ग्रांट २०१६’ अवार्ड किया है।
गीत इन दिनों भोपाल रहते हैं। उनका ईमेल पता है : geetchaturvediofficial@gmail.com
For poetry, Geet is the recipient of Bharat Bhushan Agrawal Award, Spandan Kriti Samman and Vaagdhara Navratna Samman. For fiction, he has received Krishna Pratap Katha Award, Shailesh Matiyani Award, Krishna Baldev Vaid Fellowship and Syed Haider Raza Fellowship. He is considered one of the best Indian authors by many literary forums and publications including the Indian Express.
Geet Chaturvedi’s works have been translated into 22 languages. In 2019, his book of poems in English translation ‘The Memory of Now’ was published in the USA. The English translation of his novella Simsim, translated by Anita Gopalan, was awarded ‘PEN-Heim Translation Grant’ by PEN America. Geet lives in Bhopal, India.
गीत चतुर्वेदी का जन्म २७ नवम्बर १९७७ को मुम्बई में हुआ। उनके दो कविता-संग्रह न्यूनतम मैं (२०१७) और आलाप में गिरह (२०१०) प्रकाशित हैं। उसी वर्ष लम्बी कहानियों की दो किताबें सावंत आंटी की लड़कियाँ व पिंक स्लिप डैडी आयी। उन्हें कविता के लिए भारत भूषण अग्रवाल पुरस्कार, गल्प के लिए कृष्ण प्रताप कथा सम्मान मिल चुके हैं। ‘इण्डियन एक्सप्रेस’ सहित कई प्रकाशन संस्थानों ने उन्हें भारत के सर्वश्रेष्ठ लेखकों में शुमार किया है। उनकी रचनाएँ देश-दुनिया की सत्रह भाषाओं में अनूदित हो चुकी हैं। उनके नॉवेल सिमसिम के अँग्रेज़ी अनुवाद (अनुवादक : अनिता गोपालन) को ‘पेन अमेरिका’ ने अन्तरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर प्रतिष्ठित ‘पेन-हैम ट्रांसलेशन ग्रांट २०१६’ अवार्ड किया है।
गीत इन दिनों भोपाल रहते हैं। उनका ईमेल पता है : geetchaturvediofficial@gmail.com
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January 22, 2024
सराहनीय !
पिछली कईं शाम इस किताब के चंद पन्नों के साथ गुज़ारी,और प्रतिदिन चेहरे को भीनी भीनी मुस्कान और मन को सुकून मिला।
सच बताऊँ तो मैं चाहता ही नहीं था कि ये कहानी कभी ख़त्म भी हो।
बसरमल और उसकी library, मँगण माँ, दिलखुश सम्बोसेवाला, पीली खिड़की वाली लड़की, और "मैं" - हर एक किरदार इतना बखूबी लिखा गया है।
जिंदादिली से भरा विवरण, वो किताब की जिल्द, वो अमरूद की खुशबू, वो चंद सिंधी के अल्फ़ाज़ और लोक-साहित्यिक गीत, पापा के कन्धों पर घूमने से भरी वो बचपन की यादें, या फिर पहली बार घर की चौखट पार कर नौकरी की तलाश में जाना।
Nostalgia, pain of partition, memories, identity, homeland and mother-tongue, parallel stories of an old man and a coming of age youth, old school business and establishments giving way to modern world - this book has everything you need to have that delightful connect with your next book!
किरदार, विवरण, कहानी - इन सबको परे भी रखें, तो जिस संजीदगी के साथ लिखा गया है वह अति मनमोहक है।
ज़रूर पढ़ियेगा !
पिछली कईं शाम इस किताब के चंद पन्नों के साथ गुज़ारी,और प्रतिदिन चेहरे को भीनी भीनी मुस्कान और मन को सुकून मिला।
सच बताऊँ तो मैं चाहता ही नहीं था कि ये कहानी कभी ख़त्म भी हो।
बसरमल और उसकी library, मँगण माँ, दिलखुश सम्बोसेवाला, पीली खिड़की वाली लड़की, और "मैं" - हर एक किरदार इतना बखूबी लिखा गया है।
जिंदादिली से भरा विवरण, वो किताब की जिल्द, वो अमरूद की खुशबू, वो चंद सिंधी के अल्फ़ाज़ और लोक-साहित्यिक गीत, पापा के कन्धों पर घूमने से भरी वो बचपन की यादें, या फिर पहली बार घर की चौखट पार कर नौकरी की तलाश में जाना।
Nostalgia, pain of partition, memories, identity, homeland and mother-tongue, parallel stories of an old man and a coming of age youth, old school business and establishments giving way to modern world - this book has everything you need to have that delightful connect with your next book!
किरदार, विवरण, कहानी - इन सबको परे भी रखें, तो जिस संजीदगी के साथ लिखा गया है वह अति मनमोहक है।
ज़रूर पढ़ियेगा !
July 31, 2025
Simsim was a trip down memory lane. Reminding me my smallest of school, where my mom took me since I was 4 months old. She would teach the underprivileged kids while I snored in the open almirahs
A school which was more of home then my actual home & a Principal who was more of a grandmother then my actual grandmother
I grew up on umpton stories of her Sindh, Sindh that she had to run away from as a teenager, during Partition. And I unaware of the atrocities just kept absorbing all that she poured into me
Hence stories about Partition are reminiscent of my childhood, where my school transforms into the border, where I visualize people running, crying, weeping, being scared, angry and all other emotions except being happy
Never heard anyone sharing a happy story of Partition, yet it was propagated as means to one
Simsim, yet another story that tries to bring partition to the forefront. Sindh's Basar Mal's life was hammered, dented with partition, separation from his lover Jaam ( so poetic), Communalism & his taciturn wife, ultimately finding solace in books
His library becomes his Mecca where he gets old & detangles questions of love & life. While for our young narrator this library becomes his refuge from strained familial bonds. A place where their unconventional bond is formed & their silence share stories
Geet Chaturvedi's writing has to beautifully poetic & lyrical ( has to be coz i haven't read original). Translation worked well
Read it to experience slice of life
A school which was more of home then my actual home & a Principal who was more of a grandmother then my actual grandmother
I grew up on umpton stories of her Sindh, Sindh that she had to run away from as a teenager, during Partition. And I unaware of the atrocities just kept absorbing all that she poured into me
Hence stories about Partition are reminiscent of my childhood, where my school transforms into the border, where I visualize people running, crying, weeping, being scared, angry and all other emotions except being happy
Never heard anyone sharing a happy story of Partition, yet it was propagated as means to one
Simsim, yet another story that tries to bring partition to the forefront. Sindh's Basar Mal's life was hammered, dented with partition, separation from his lover Jaam ( so poetic), Communalism & his taciturn wife, ultimately finding solace in books
His library becomes his Mecca where he gets old & detangles questions of love & life. While for our young narrator this library becomes his refuge from strained familial bonds. A place where their unconventional bond is formed & their silence share stories
Geet Chaturvedi's writing has to beautifully poetic & lyrical ( has to be coz i haven't read original). Translation worked well
Read it to experience slice of life
October 19, 2023
In this novel, two stories are going on simultaneously and the characters of both are close to each other. Each character has their own journey based around the Sindh Library whose owner “Basarmal” came to India from Sindh during the partition of India and Pakistan and started his library in Mumbai. He had left his memories,love and family in sindh. In between, the reader will also get to read the story of his loss of family and love, which is a part of the writer's craft. The second story which is setup in 2007 in which the character has his own journey going on.
In both the stories the characters are fighting with their innerself . The author has dedicated this entire novel to the books layed in the library, which has been linked wonderfully with Neelsar. This novel also seems to be dedicated to the cruelty that has been done towards books in the society.
The words are visually appears very strong that the reader will be able to comprehend their journey very closely.Many visual words have been poignant. There is also a good description of how much modernity has changed from society to humans, which you will get to know from the breakdown of shops or libraries. And when all this is falling apart, it is not just the old bricks that are falling, it seems as if someone has picked up the bag of memories and put it under a bulldozer.
The conflict within each characters, be it Mangan's mother, Basarmal, Jam, Dilkhush, the young boy or his parents, is shocking. The most compassion is felt when Basarmal leaves Sindh during the partition and searches for his love Jam. During that time peoples were getting killed and blood were oozing all around. Thats why Basaramal became cloistral.
In a monologue, Basarmal says – “I am a Sindhi. I live in India. Whereas Sindh is in Pakistan. How many Sindhis are there in India? Millions. How much of Sindh is there in India? As much as one word in the national anthem. The place which is not in India is mentioned in the national anthem of India. This is called ‘memory’. Memory is my motherland. No one can take it away from me. “Those who lose their motherland, memory becomes their motherland.”
In both the stories the characters are fighting with their innerself . The author has dedicated this entire novel to the books layed in the library, which has been linked wonderfully with Neelsar. This novel also seems to be dedicated to the cruelty that has been done towards books in the society.
The words are visually appears very strong that the reader will be able to comprehend their journey very closely.Many visual words have been poignant. There is also a good description of how much modernity has changed from society to humans, which you will get to know from the breakdown of shops or libraries. And when all this is falling apart, it is not just the old bricks that are falling, it seems as if someone has picked up the bag of memories and put it under a bulldozer.
The conflict within each characters, be it Mangan's mother, Basarmal, Jam, Dilkhush, the young boy or his parents, is shocking. The most compassion is felt when Basarmal leaves Sindh during the partition and searches for his love Jam. During that time peoples were getting killed and blood were oozing all around. Thats why Basaramal became cloistral.
In a monologue, Basarmal says – “I am a Sindhi. I live in India. Whereas Sindh is in Pakistan. How many Sindhis are there in India? Millions. How much of Sindh is there in India? As much as one word in the national anthem. The place which is not in India is mentioned in the national anthem of India. This is called ‘memory’. Memory is my motherland. No one can take it away from me. “Those who lose their motherland, memory becomes their motherland.”
July 25, 2024
SIMSIM, GEET CHATURVEDI, Tr. ANITA GOPALAN, LONGLISTED FOR THE JCB PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2023
A poignant tale of lost love, lost space, and lost time, Geet Chaturvedi weaves a beautiful narrative primarily about the Sindhi refugees after the partition. There is a tattered old book, Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, Dil Khush Sambose wallah, and ‘I’ (the unnamed narrator).
Every chapter has an epigraph, an interesting quote from famous books.
‘EACH OF US IS INCOMPLETE IN SOME CORNER OF THE WORLD: AN INFINITE LIMITLESS WORLD THAT IS ITSELF INCIMPLETE, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END.’
The highlight of the book was Basar Mal, his life being a constant struggle. Basar Mal, an old Sindhi in Bombay now, has left everything behind due to partition, his land, family, and love. He owns a dilapidated library visited by very few people.
Dil Khush, who sells tea and snacks, has a shop close to the library, and it's often crowded.
Basar Mal’s wife, Mangan’s Ma, whom he fondly calls Jalo, is obsessed with cleanliness and washing. ‘
I,’ the unnamed narrator, is a young graduate with an imaginative girlfriend. He frequently argues with his father.
The tattered book has its own voice, feeling almost magical like the Simsim. Its stories, whether about death or the Chakwa-Chakwi tale, add colour to the book. One story that made a place in my heart was about a beautiful girl named Neel Sar, drawing parallels between her life and books. The book speaks of its highs and lows, history and politics, life, and death.
‘I AM FOND OF BASAR MAL. I AM FOND OF EVERY PERSON THAT READS BOOKS, KEEPS BOOKS, LOVES BOOKS.’- the book.
Dreams unfulfilled, songs unsung, minds with innumerable thoughts and memories, a broken heart, the story is about impermanence, inconsistency, and vagueness of life. With innumerable quotable quotes, the book is a slow read, but it is worth mulling over and rereading to understand the nuances hidden between the lines.
The translator has done a wonderful job, making it seamless for the reader, as if it were originally written in English.
'WHEN PEOPLE WE LOVE CEASE TO BE, WE TRY TO SEEK THEM IN OBJECTS. THAT'S THE REASON WE FALL IN LOVE WITH OBJECTS THE SAME AS WITH PEOPLE. '
A poignant tale of lost love, lost space, and lost time, Geet Chaturvedi weaves a beautiful narrative primarily about the Sindhi refugees after the partition. There is a tattered old book, Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, Dil Khush Sambose wallah, and ‘I’ (the unnamed narrator).
Every chapter has an epigraph, an interesting quote from famous books.
‘EACH OF US IS INCOMPLETE IN SOME CORNER OF THE WORLD: AN INFINITE LIMITLESS WORLD THAT IS ITSELF INCIMPLETE, WITHOUT BEGINNING OR END.’
The highlight of the book was Basar Mal, his life being a constant struggle. Basar Mal, an old Sindhi in Bombay now, has left everything behind due to partition, his land, family, and love. He owns a dilapidated library visited by very few people.
Dil Khush, who sells tea and snacks, has a shop close to the library, and it's often crowded.
Basar Mal’s wife, Mangan’s Ma, whom he fondly calls Jalo, is obsessed with cleanliness and washing. ‘
I,’ the unnamed narrator, is a young graduate with an imaginative girlfriend. He frequently argues with his father.
The tattered book has its own voice, feeling almost magical like the Simsim. Its stories, whether about death or the Chakwa-Chakwi tale, add colour to the book. One story that made a place in my heart was about a beautiful girl named Neel Sar, drawing parallels between her life and books. The book speaks of its highs and lows, history and politics, life, and death.
‘I AM FOND OF BASAR MAL. I AM FOND OF EVERY PERSON THAT READS BOOKS, KEEPS BOOKS, LOVES BOOKS.’- the book.
Dreams unfulfilled, songs unsung, minds with innumerable thoughts and memories, a broken heart, the story is about impermanence, inconsistency, and vagueness of life. With innumerable quotable quotes, the book is a slow read, but it is worth mulling over and rereading to understand the nuances hidden between the lines.
The translator has done a wonderful job, making it seamless for the reader, as if it were originally written in English.
'WHEN PEOPLE WE LOVE CEASE TO BE, WE TRY TO SEEK THEM IN OBJECTS. THAT'S THE REASON WE FALL IN LOVE WITH OBJECTS THE SAME AS WITH PEOPLE. '
September 5, 2024
क़िताबों की दुनिया अमूल्य है, जो मेरी समझ में लेखक और पाठक ही महसूस कर सकता है। कैसे एक कहानी विभाजन के समय की त्रासदी से वर्तमान समय के संघर्ष को बख़ूबी बयाँ कर देती है यह बहुत रोचक है।
गीत चतुर्वेदी की सिमसिम विभाजन के समय सिंधी हिंदुओं की उपेक्षा, उनके अपने घरों से निर्वासन जैसे पहलू पर केंद्रित है वंही दूसरी ओर मनुष्य की प्रतीक्षा, उम्मीद, स्मृति और विध्वंश की मानवीय इच्छा को बयाँ करता है।
काश सिमसिम बोल कर हम सब कुछ दोबारा पहले जैसा कर पाते!!!
गीत चतुर्वेदी की सिमसिम विभाजन के समय सिंधी हिंदुओं की उपेक्षा, उनके अपने घरों से निर्वासन जैसे पहलू पर केंद्रित है वंही दूसरी ओर मनुष्य की प्रतीक्षा, उम्मीद, स्मृति और विध्वंश की मानवीय इच्छा को बयाँ करता है।
काश सिमसिम बोल कर हम सब कुछ दोबारा पहले जैसा कर पाते!!!
February 23, 2024
रेशा रेशा उधेड़कर देखो रोशनी किस जगह से काली है।।
हम उस गजल के शेर हैं
जिनका काफिया टूटकर
कहीं छूट गया...
हम उस गजल के शेर हैं
जिनका काफिया टूटकर
कहीं छूट गया...
January 20, 2024
Old Basar Mal nostalgically reminisces about his love and the homeland he lost in Sindh, Pakistan, during the tumultuous Partition of India in 1947. This groundbreaking narrative delves into the tragedy faced by the Sindhi Hindus, exploring their migration and the poignant refugee experience. In a parallel storyline, a young graduate finds solace in an imaginary relationship with a girl behind a yellow window.
However, the tranquility of their worlds is disrupted as the Mumbai land mafia relentlessly pursues Basar Mal and his cherished library. The silent struggles of Mangan's ma, who diligently washes and feeds a plastic doll she believes is her son, add a layer of emotional depth to the story.
Geet Chaturvedi, a prominent Hindi writer, skillfully crafts this narrative, and Anita Gopalan's beautiful translation captures the essence of Simsim. The novel unfolds as a compelling struggle between memory, imagination, and reality. It delicately weaves together the voices of remarkable yet relatable characters, creating a tapestry of seeking happiness, pursuing passion, and coming to terms with profound loss.
Chaturvedi's insights and poetic language elevate Simsim into a literary gem. The author navigates the complexities of the human experience with grace, offering readers a profound exploration of the human psyche. The characters, each uniquely drawn, come to life through the vivid prose, making the novel a captivating and immersive read.
Simsim stands out not only for its thematic depth but also for its charming and wonderfully original narrative. Chaturvedi's ability to blend the universal themes of love, loss, and resilience with the specific cultural context of Sindh and Mumbai adds a layer of richness to the storytelling. Simsim is a testament to the power of literature to bridge cultures and connect readers through shared emotions and experiences, providing a powerful commentary on the enduring impact of historical events like the Partition of India.
However, the tranquility of their worlds is disrupted as the Mumbai land mafia relentlessly pursues Basar Mal and his cherished library. The silent struggles of Mangan's ma, who diligently washes and feeds a plastic doll she believes is her son, add a layer of emotional depth to the story.
Geet Chaturvedi, a prominent Hindi writer, skillfully crafts this narrative, and Anita Gopalan's beautiful translation captures the essence of Simsim. The novel unfolds as a compelling struggle between memory, imagination, and reality. It delicately weaves together the voices of remarkable yet relatable characters, creating a tapestry of seeking happiness, pursuing passion, and coming to terms with profound loss.
Chaturvedi's insights and poetic language elevate Simsim into a literary gem. The author navigates the complexities of the human experience with grace, offering readers a profound exploration of the human psyche. The characters, each uniquely drawn, come to life through the vivid prose, making the novel a captivating and immersive read.
Simsim stands out not only for its thematic depth but also for its charming and wonderfully original narrative. Chaturvedi's ability to blend the universal themes of love, loss, and resilience with the specific cultural context of Sindh and Mumbai adds a layer of richness to the storytelling. Simsim is a testament to the power of literature to bridge cultures and connect readers through shared emotions and experiences, providing a powerful commentary on the enduring impact of historical events like the Partition of India.
November 11, 2023
So Simsim is the Journey of memories, loss, expectations, hope, a struggle to survive. You can feel the pain when someone snatches your love, your home, your family, your own land. Yes, the story revolves around the refugees who came from Sindh during partition.
Basarmal has already lost his family, his love and his own land in the past and now his only solace is in Sindhi Library which he has built after coming to Mumbai, India from Sindh. But the land Mafia has an eye on his property after 60 years. This time again he is afraid of losing his land. The book also talks about Dilkhush Sambosewala who is also a refugee and trying to get adjust into other land, a man (whose name is not mentioned) is struggling to proof his ability to achieve success to his father, Mangan Maa who lost her husband during partition and now imagines a doll as her son, this story is also about the pages of books (जिल्द) kept in a library. These pages are waiting for the reader for so many years. They feels the pain of their father (Basarmal).
This heart wrenching book keeps you involved in the Basarmal's memory of his love. To get back his love, Basarmal tries all the dangerous paths. But alas!! He fails. During partition, all the wars were for a piece of land, and now in the present, the same is the case. Our greed will never satisfy. A boy always has an issue with his father. The generation gap between them keeps on increasing so much that he finds solace in an imaginary girl.
In reality nobody knows how to open the doors of love. It's not easy to open it just by chanting 'Simsim'. But to comprehend the meaning of love, read this book, which is a pain for a refugee who is unable to find their own land even to be buried after their death.
Basarmal has already lost his family, his love and his own land in the past and now his only solace is in Sindhi Library which he has built after coming to Mumbai, India from Sindh. But the land Mafia has an eye on his property after 60 years. This time again he is afraid of losing his land. The book also talks about Dilkhush Sambosewala who is also a refugee and trying to get adjust into other land, a man (whose name is not mentioned) is struggling to proof his ability to achieve success to his father, Mangan Maa who lost her husband during partition and now imagines a doll as her son, this story is also about the pages of books (जिल्द) kept in a library. These pages are waiting for the reader for so many years. They feels the pain of their father (Basarmal).
This heart wrenching book keeps you involved in the Basarmal's memory of his love. To get back his love, Basarmal tries all the dangerous paths. But alas!! He fails. During partition, all the wars were for a piece of land, and now in the present, the same is the case. Our greed will never satisfy. A boy always has an issue with his father. The generation gap between them keeps on increasing so much that he finds solace in an imaginary girl.
In reality nobody knows how to open the doors of love. It's not easy to open it just by chanting 'Simsim'. But to comprehend the meaning of love, read this book, which is a pain for a refugee who is unable to find their own land even to be buried after their death.
April 27, 2023
A beauty of a book, this SIMSIM! I so enjoyed reading this great literary fiction. The power and originality of the story, the chapters, the paragraphs, the sentences, and the words—sublime! The master storyteller Geet Chaturvedi has woven an engrossing story that shines in English translation by Anita Gopalan. Gopalan won the PEN/Heim award for this book. I have read her translations of Chaturvedi’s poetry in US magazines, and I can say she is one of the finest translators. There is an added bonus of a superb translator’s note. My enthrallment with the book is understandable when you see a handful I am producing here.
*
When a river becomes a road, it first loses its current. Then its waters. Then it loses itself. To become a road is the biggest cruelty that can befall a river.
Where together should be, is opposite. Where for you should be, is against you. Where healing should be, is suppurate.
From the flows of wind and flapping pages comes a rhythmic lull that brings comfort just like that mother who, with her weight of poverty, old clothes and cooking pots, lulled me in her womb as she struggled between nine long platforms to find the right train, dumbstruck by the sounds of an alien language and an alien city, meeting words curses swears with her thin brave silence.
Like pebbles in a tin canister, pieces of my broken spirit clanged inside my body to the beat of my footfalls, playing over the monstrosity encore after encore.
The streets of Larkana are witness to the fact that Basar Mal Jetharam Purswani had tried, really tried, even risking his life, but he was helpless. He was helpless because before writing the story of his fate, God had dipped the tip of His pen in poo.
A rising sun is a symbol of hope in the art of different world cultures. But there is nothing more indifferent and pitiless than the art of nature. I was stricken by grief and despair, but across the mud wall of the madrasa, the sunrise was glorious—so glorious—that anyone’s mouth would open, as if by pure reflex, shaped to a clichéd praise, for the artistry of creation.
*
Highly recommend this novel which is highly literary. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
*
When a river becomes a road, it first loses its current. Then its waters. Then it loses itself. To become a road is the biggest cruelty that can befall a river.
Where together should be, is opposite. Where for you should be, is against you. Where healing should be, is suppurate.
From the flows of wind and flapping pages comes a rhythmic lull that brings comfort just like that mother who, with her weight of poverty, old clothes and cooking pots, lulled me in her womb as she struggled between nine long platforms to find the right train, dumbstruck by the sounds of an alien language and an alien city, meeting words curses swears with her thin brave silence.
Like pebbles in a tin canister, pieces of my broken spirit clanged inside my body to the beat of my footfalls, playing over the monstrosity encore after encore.
The streets of Larkana are witness to the fact that Basar Mal Jetharam Purswani had tried, really tried, even risking his life, but he was helpless. He was helpless because before writing the story of his fate, God had dipped the tip of His pen in poo.
A rising sun is a symbol of hope in the art of different world cultures. But there is nothing more indifferent and pitiless than the art of nature. I was stricken by grief and despair, but across the mud wall of the madrasa, the sunrise was glorious—so glorious—that anyone’s mouth would open, as if by pure reflex, shaped to a clichéd praise, for the artistry of creation.
*
Highly recommend this novel which is highly literary. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
December 19, 2024
Sim Sim - Book review
The story of people who were forced to leave their home and accept India as their motherland during partition is an oft repeated tale of poignancy. Sim Sim is one such book of old Baser Mal, who had to leave Sindh, Pakistan as a teenager and has grown to be an old 70 plus man in Mumbai. He owns a library and of course the land mafia is after that place. He dreams on and off about his long last lady love in Sindh, whose presence is associated with the fragrance of guava. The library is frequented by a young graduate, whose relationship with his Pau(dad) and the story of generation gap is another thread, a small time shopkeeper sells "vadapav" near the library, there's also Mangan's Ma, but there's no Mangan, only Ma, so you might understand that she's a disturbed soul, also from Sindh who finds solace in Basar Mal and another important character, that's the book cover, which is also the narrator of few chapters and mostly deals with the sorry state of books today. Now, these are the different characters and they move in and out of the books, sometimes it's practical, sometimes very fictional and mostly poignant. The writer shows the contrast among the different characters that he has created, am sure you would observe in the day to day people whom you meet on a regular basis. The translation is thorough but am sure like I always do, the original would definitely have been more soulful. Read Sim Sim, to evoke memories of partition, reiterate the generation gap, know the sorry state of printed books. The book was longlisted for JCB literature prize but didn't make it to the short list.
The story of people who were forced to leave their home and accept India as their motherland during partition is an oft repeated tale of poignancy. Sim Sim is one such book of old Baser Mal, who had to leave Sindh, Pakistan as a teenager and has grown to be an old 70 plus man in Mumbai. He owns a library and of course the land mafia is after that place. He dreams on and off about his long last lady love in Sindh, whose presence is associated with the fragrance of guava. The library is frequented by a young graduate, whose relationship with his Pau(dad) and the story of generation gap is another thread, a small time shopkeeper sells "vadapav" near the library, there's also Mangan's Ma, but there's no Mangan, only Ma, so you might understand that she's a disturbed soul, also from Sindh who finds solace in Basar Mal and another important character, that's the book cover, which is also the narrator of few chapters and mostly deals with the sorry state of books today. Now, these are the different characters and they move in and out of the books, sometimes it's practical, sometimes very fictional and mostly poignant. The writer shows the contrast among the different characters that he has created, am sure you would observe in the day to day people whom you meet on a regular basis. The translation is thorough but am sure like I always do, the original would definitely have been more soulful. Read Sim Sim, to evoke memories of partition, reiterate the generation gap, know the sorry state of printed books. The book was longlisted for JCB literature prize but didn't make it to the short list.
September 7, 2025
I picked up Simsim after reading the English translation of Geet Chaturvedi’s The Master of Unfinished Things, and I was drawn in once again by his lyrical storytelling and layered characters.
At the heart of Simsim are two protagonists whose lives revolve around a window. The mystery of the girl behind the window captivates one, while the other falls in love with the window itself, as if it were a portal to something deeper. Poetic motifs like this and smell and colours become lenses through which the novel explores longing, memory, and perception.
The narrative elegantly weaves together timelines spanning pre-Partition India and the decades that follow independence. Through its fragmented yet resonant threads, the novel poses a haunting question: Are human struggles truly different across eras and political landscapes, or do they echo one another in unexpected ways?
As a non-Hindi speaker who hasn’t read a Hindi book in decades, I approached Simsim slowly and with care. Despite the challenge, I found myself immersed in the language's beauty, its rhythm, its texture, its quiet power. I had to rush through the final fifty pages because of time constraints, but the experience stayed with me.
At the heart of Simsim are two protagonists whose lives revolve around a window. The mystery of the girl behind the window captivates one, while the other falls in love with the window itself, as if it were a portal to something deeper. Poetic motifs like this and smell and colours become lenses through which the novel explores longing, memory, and perception.
The narrative elegantly weaves together timelines spanning pre-Partition India and the decades that follow independence. Through its fragmented yet resonant threads, the novel poses a haunting question: Are human struggles truly different across eras and political landscapes, or do they echo one another in unexpected ways?
As a non-Hindi speaker who hasn’t read a Hindi book in decades, I approached Simsim slowly and with care. Despite the challenge, I found myself immersed in the language's beauty, its rhythm, its texture, its quiet power. I had to rush through the final fifty pages because of time constraints, but the experience stayed with me.
April 28, 2023
First things first, Geet Chaturvedi’s novel in English is so much more beautiful! This is his first novel in English and it is great! Kudos to Anita Gopalan for her exquisite translation! She makes music. My jaw drops every time I read the fine sensitive portrayals of Mangan’s Ma and I’s mother. No wonder she won a PEN/Heim award.
Yes, the book is a serious read. It pulls at your heartstrings. It grows on you. I loved narrative-voice shift from humans to objects. Look at the old philosophising book cover lines- how insightful! We all can identify with this-
That outline had been of a desire, not the desired: a beguiling illusion he was drawn to, which he had drawn himself. It was like imagining a story based on a portrait—the analytical picture game that we play as children—a charming image not enough to be reduced to merely one story but many different ones as his imagination pleased.
The poems merging in the prose are outstanding. Look at this-
Hot with deceit, foreheads
that furl on my name,
swathe them cool, dear Jhulelal!
My book is heavily underlined. The content, the language, the music, everything is outstanding.
A story that needs to be read, talked about and celebrated.
Yes, the book is a serious read. It pulls at your heartstrings. It grows on you. I loved narrative-voice shift from humans to objects. Look at the old philosophising book cover lines- how insightful! We all can identify with this-
That outline had been of a desire, not the desired: a beguiling illusion he was drawn to, which he had drawn himself. It was like imagining a story based on a portrait—the analytical picture game that we play as children—a charming image not enough to be reduced to merely one story but many different ones as his imagination pleased.
The poems merging in the prose are outstanding. Look at this-
Hot with deceit, foreheads
that furl on my name,
swathe them cool, dear Jhulelal!
My book is heavily underlined. The content, the language, the music, everything is outstanding.
A story that needs to be read, talked about and celebrated.
October 1, 2023
'Simsim' by Geet Chaturvedi embarks on a profound journey through the lives of its characters, revealing a tapestry of emotions, familial bonds, and the historical reverberations of the Partition. Through the character’s recollections from the India-Pakistan partition, Chaturvedi invites readers to explore the rich diversity of human experiences, their journey from Pakistan to India, and the transition in their lives.
Chaturvedi's novel opens with an unnamed narrator, 'I,' who takes readers on a poignant reminiscence of his relationship with his father, setting the stage for the multifaceted narratives that follow. The story unfolds along Flower Street and Nehru Chowk, where the Sindhu Library stands in quiet obscurity amidst the bustling new shops. It is within this hidden sanctuary that the enigmatic Basar Mal Jetharam Purswani, a custodian of stories and memories, had safeguarded his daughters (books) for years. Basar Mal's tale forms the heart of the collection—a melancholic reflection of an elderly man's unwavering memories of his homeland, lost amid the tumultuous events of the Partition in Sindh, Pakistan.
Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...
Chaturvedi's novel opens with an unnamed narrator, 'I,' who takes readers on a poignant reminiscence of his relationship with his father, setting the stage for the multifaceted narratives that follow. The story unfolds along Flower Street and Nehru Chowk, where the Sindhu Library stands in quiet obscurity amidst the bustling new shops. It is within this hidden sanctuary that the enigmatic Basar Mal Jetharam Purswani, a custodian of stories and memories, had safeguarded his daughters (books) for years. Basar Mal's tale forms the heart of the collection—a melancholic reflection of an elderly man's unwavering memories of his homeland, lost amid the tumultuous events of the Partition in Sindh, Pakistan.
Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...
July 11, 2024
“We keep making, we keep breaking, we keep drawing, we keep erasing, that we are own lamps, we keep lighting, we keep annihilating.”
If I’d to describe Simsim briefly I’d say these lines quoted from the book describe it to perfection. Simsim by Geet Chaturvedi is a book of pain and reminiscence. It’s characters delve in a reality that differs from what the world currently offers to them. Reliving a melancholic and painful past that leaves no hope but simply memories. A life of waiting.
Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, the young lad fascinated by the girl waiting at the yellow window or the books in Basar Mal’s library each have lived a life in waiting and longing for lost love and home. The book plays on memory and imagination that create an addiction to this grief.
Explicit yet subtly, the reader discovers the trauma of the Sindhi Hindus who were left homeless with no inch of land to claim as their own, to begin life as refugees and migrants. I’ve never come across such spectacular penmanship where pain demands it’s rightful presence so compulsively by adjusting to the mundane and unfortunate reality. This book is so much more than one can think of, a beauty to be savoured slow.
Verdict: Don’t miss this elegant writing!
If I’d to describe Simsim briefly I’d say these lines quoted from the book describe it to perfection. Simsim by Geet Chaturvedi is a book of pain and reminiscence. It’s characters delve in a reality that differs from what the world currently offers to them. Reliving a melancholic and painful past that leaves no hope but simply memories. A life of waiting.
Basar Mal, Mangan’s Ma, the young lad fascinated by the girl waiting at the yellow window or the books in Basar Mal’s library each have lived a life in waiting and longing for lost love and home. The book plays on memory and imagination that create an addiction to this grief.
Explicit yet subtly, the reader discovers the trauma of the Sindhi Hindus who were left homeless with no inch of land to claim as their own, to begin life as refugees and migrants. I’ve never come across such spectacular penmanship where pain demands it’s rightful presence so compulsively by adjusting to the mundane and unfortunate reality. This book is so much more than one can think of, a beauty to be savoured slow.
Verdict: Don’t miss this elegant writing!
August 13, 2023
A FINE COMMENTARY ON THE PATHOS, QUANDARIES, AND TINY HAPPINESSES OF LIFE.
A deeply stirring book by Geet Chaturvedi, unique in its own ways, rich, honest and complete in its so-called incompleteness. Geet approaches the realms of writing, language, history, and identity with impassioned fervor, the result is a brilliant, digressive, and yet cohesive narrative, where each sentence brims with subtly beautiful wisdom.
Anita Gopalan’s superior translation is seamless and electric and deserves tremendous accolades for the success of the work in English.
A deeply stirring book by Geet Chaturvedi, unique in its own ways, rich, honest and complete in its so-called incompleteness. Geet approaches the realms of writing, language, history, and identity with impassioned fervor, the result is a brilliant, digressive, and yet cohesive narrative, where each sentence brims with subtly beautiful wisdom.
Anita Gopalan’s superior translation is seamless and electric and deserves tremendous accolades for the success of the work in English.
June 28, 2023
'Old love is like the veil, part sunk in the ground, part swaying in the air. One can neither wrap it around oneself nor carry it along. Its shadow wavers on the sands of time.'
Story of love and loss; of memories and dreams and a world of imagination. And books! Lots of books
'What you've lost, you will find again in books.'
This book is exquisite, lyrical...and poignant. Beautifully written and equally beautifully translated. One of my favourites this year!
Full review soon.
Story of love and loss; of memories and dreams and a world of imagination. And books! Lots of books
'What you've lost, you will find again in books.'
This book is exquisite, lyrical...and poignant. Beautifully written and equally beautifully translated. One of my favourites this year!
Full review soon.
November 10, 2024
"This book is a poem in itself. While reading, it feels like we've witnessed these stories unfold before our eyes. Barasmal, the girl by the window, her curtain, the 100-page letter, the old librarian, the lover's name being Jam - indeed, this story exudes the fragrance of Jam.
The book speaks about its own emotions, making everything feel genuine and real, like a gentle dance."
Your words beautifully convey the book's emotional resonance!
The book speaks about its own emotions, making everything feel genuine and real, like a gentle dance."
Your words beautifully convey the book's emotional resonance!
January 16, 2025
बीती उम्र के अनुभवों और आने वाली उर्म की जोशीली कल्पनाओं के बीच का रास्ता तय करती है गीत जी की ये रचना। स्मृति कभी फूल की छुअन का एहसास देती है तो कभी काँटों की तरह चुभती है। स्मृति का अपना कोई चरित्र नही होता। वह बस होती है। लेकिन कल्पना का चरित्र आपके हाथों में होता है। विकास की कल्पना, स्मृतियों को अ��्सर दफन कर देती है।
बहुत ही अद्भुत, सोचने पर मजबूर कर देने वाली रचना। इस रचना के लिए धन्यवाद गीत जी।
बहुत ही अद्भुत, सोचने पर मजबूर कर देने वाली रचना। इस रचना के लिए धन्यवाद गीत जी।
March 12, 2025
Idk why but its smiller to 84.
December 3, 2025
Heartbreaking is the only word for this book
If you can read it in its original language.
If you can read it in its original language.
September 17, 2023
I read this breathtaking novel because of its JCB Prize for Fiction Longlist– it rightly deserves all the accolades and more. Basar Mal, I, Book Cover. Mangan’s Ma, all of them entice us, entrenching us deep into the story. And only one thing struck me as I finished reading- What a masterpiece this is! Written by Geet Chaturvedi, it is the most unique, captivating, superb, sublime creation by the author. One of his very best. And the translator Anita Gopalan should get the award for producing one of the finest translations. So lofty is the translation, an absolutely magnificent rendition that ‘makes’ this book.
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