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चौदह फेरे
तब केबल टी.वी. के धारावाहिक शुरू नहीं हुए थे और हिन्दी पत्रिकाओं में छपनेवाले लोकप्रिय धारावाहिक साहित्य-प्रेमियों के लिए आकर्षण और चर्चा का वैसे ही विषय थे, जैसे आज के सीरियल। चौदह फेरे जब ‘धर्मयुग’ में धारावाहिक रूप में छपने लगा तो इसकी लोकप्रियता हर किस्त के साथ बढ़ती गई। कूर्मांचल समाज में तो शिवानी को कई लोग चौदह फेरे ही कहने लगे थे। उपन्यास के रूप में इसका अन्त होने से पहले अहिल्या की फैन बन चुकी प्रयाग विश्वविद्यालय की छात्राओं के सैकड़ों पत्र उनके पास चले आए थे, ‘प्लीज, प्लीज शिवाजी जी, अहिल्या के जीवन को दुःखान्त में विसर्जित मत कीजिएगा।’ कैम्पसों में, घरों में शर्तें बदी जाती थीं कि अगली किस्त में किस पात्र का भविष्य क्या करवट लेगा। स्वयं शिवानी के शब्दों में...‘‘मेरे पास इतने पत्र आए कि उत्तर ही नहीं दे पाई। परिचित, अपरिचित सब विचित्र प्रश्न पूछते हैं - ’’ ‘क्या अहिल्या फलाँ समझा गया...इसी भय से गर्मी में पहाड़ जाने का विचार त्यागना पड़ा। क्या पता किसी अरण्य से निकलकर कर्नल साहब छाती पर दुनाली तान बैठें?’’ कूर्मांचल से कलकत्ता आ बसे एक सम्पन्न-कुटिल व्यवसायी और उसकी उपेक्षिता परम्पराप्रिय पत्नी की रूपसी बेटी अहिल्या, परस्पर विरोधी मूल्यों और संस्कृतियों के बीच पली है। उसका राग-विराग और उसकी छटपटाती भटकती जड़ों की खोज आज भी इस उपन्यास को सामयिक और रोचक बनाती है। जाने-माने लेखक ठाकुरप्रसाद सिंह के अनुसार, इस उपन्यास की कथा धारा का सहज प्रवाह और आँचलिक चित्रकला के से चटख बेबाक रंग इस उपन्यासकी मूल शक्ति हैं।
- GenresIndian Literature
239 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
80 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Shivani
120 books116 followersThere is more then one author who writes using the name Shivani. See Shivani ., Shivani . and Shivani ..
(1923– 2003) was one of the popular Hindi magazine story writers of the 20th century and a pioneer in writing Indian women based fiction. She was awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to Hindi literature in 1982. Almost all of her works are in print today and widely available across India.
She garnered a massive following in the pre-television 60s and 70s, as her literary works were serialised in Hindi magazines like Dharmayug and Saptahik Hindustan, and in TV serials n films.
Upon her death in 2003, Government of India described her contributions to Hindi literature as, “…in the death of Shivani the Hindi literature world has lost a popular and eminent novelist and the void is difficult to fill”
(1923– 2003) was one of the popular Hindi magazine story writers of the 20th century and a pioneer in writing Indian women based fiction. She was awarded the Padma Shri for her contribution to Hindi literature in 1982. Almost all of her works are in print today and widely available across India.
She garnered a massive following in the pre-television 60s and 70s, as her literary works were serialised in Hindi magazines like Dharmayug and Saptahik Hindustan, and in TV serials n films.
Upon her death in 2003, Government of India described her contributions to Hindi literature as, “…in the death of Shivani the Hindi literature world has lost a popular and eminent novelist and the void is difficult to fill”
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 29, 2016
3.5
A pleasant dip into the Kumaoni rural culture blending in contrast to a coming of age life in Kolkata.
This is one of the books picked because of an interesting cover and title. Even the blurb was not available on Amazon and Goodreads!
The plot revolves around Ahalya, daughter of an elite class educated businessman Colonel Shivdutt and an illiterate rustic ascetic mother Nandi, devoid of any form of respect from her husband.
Through Ahalya's journey, you get to meet her variety of ethnic friends, relatives and students, prospective grooms, and most importantly soaking in all of their life style and thought process.
A good read for Hindi literature fans.
A pleasant dip into the Kumaoni rural culture blending in contrast to a coming of age life in Kolkata.
This is one of the books picked because of an interesting cover and title. Even the blurb was not available on Amazon and Goodreads!
The plot revolves around Ahalya, daughter of an elite class educated businessman Colonel Shivdutt and an illiterate rustic ascetic mother Nandi, devoid of any form of respect from her husband.
Through Ahalya's journey, you get to meet her variety of ethnic friends, relatives and students, prospective grooms, and most importantly soaking in all of their life style and thought process.
A good read for Hindi literature fans.
February 28, 2021
चौदह फेरे शिवानी जी की पहली उपन्यास है l उनकी लेखन शैली जो हम यहाँ देखते हैं वही उनकी दूसरी रचनाओं में भी मिलेगी l कुमाऊँ की पहाड़ियों में छोटे छोटे गाँव की सुन्दरता, उनके रोजमर्रा का जीवन, उनकी रीति रिवाज इन सबको बाँधते हुए एक लड़की की कहानी I कुमाऊँ की असीम सुन्दरता के बीच रहती नारी का अपने समाज और परिवार में स्तर l एक छोटे से गांव में एक समाज का दायरा कितना सिकुड़ा हुआ होता है और इसमें रहने वाली नारी का जीवन और भी कितना सीमित हो जाता है, ये शोचनीय विषय है l
ये कहानी है अहिल्या की जो कलकत्ता, अल्मोड़ा और बैंगलोर के बीच चलता है l एक धनवान पिता की लाडली जिसको पिता ने सब प्रकार की स्वतंत्रता दी है परन्तु जब उसी स्वतंत्रता को परखने का समय आता है तो क्या वो सही में अपने जीवन के विषय में कोई भी निर्णय लेने के लिए स्वतंत्र है? या फिर एक लड़की होने के कारण अपने समाज और परिवार के द्वारा उसका भी एक दायरा निर्धारित है जिसके बाहर जाने का अर्थ सिर्फ विद्रोह माना जाता है और अपकीर्ति ही मिलती है?
शिवानी जी ने बड़ी ही कुशलता से कलकत्ते और कुमाऊँ की सुंदरता, वहाँ के जीवन पद्धति में जो भिन्नता है उसको कहानी में दर्शाया है l अहिल्या, उसकी माँ नंदी, और मल्लिका इन तीन पात्रों का जीवन बड़ी ही सहजता से एक साथ गुंथा गया है और अहिल्या की कहानी को अर्थपूर्ण किया गया है l पर सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान बाँधता है राजू का पात्र जो कहानी के मध्य में आता है और अहिल्या पर एक अमीट छाप छोड़ जाता है I राजू सिर्फ एक परछाईं ही बनकर कहानी के पट पर होता है पर उसका प्रभाव बड़ा गहरा होता है, नकी सिर्फ अहिल्या पर पाठकों पर भी I
ये कहानी है अहिल्या की जो कलकत्ता, अल्मोड़ा और बैंगलोर के बीच चलता है l एक धनवान पिता की लाडली जिसको पिता ने सब प्रकार की स्वतंत्रता दी है परन्तु जब उसी स्वतंत्रता को परखने का समय आता है तो क्या वो सही में अपने जीवन के विषय में कोई भी निर्णय लेने के लिए स्वतंत्र है? या फिर एक लड़की होने के कारण अपने समाज और परिवार के द्वारा उसका भी एक दायरा निर्धारित है जिसके बाहर जाने का अर्थ सिर्फ विद्रोह माना जाता है और अपकीर्ति ही मिलती है?
शिवानी जी ने बड़ी ही कुशलता से कलकत्ते और कुमाऊँ की सुंदरता, वहाँ के जीवन पद्धति में जो भिन्नता है उसको कहानी में दर्शाया है l अहिल्या, उसकी माँ नंदी, और मल्लिका इन तीन पात्रों का जीवन बड़ी ही सहजता से एक साथ गुंथा गया है और अहिल्या की कहानी को अर्थपूर्ण किया गया है l पर सबसे ज्यादा ध्यान बाँधता है राजू का पात्र जो कहानी के मध्य में आता है और अहिल्या पर एक अमीट छाप छोड़ जाता है I राजू सिर्फ एक परछाईं ही बनकर कहानी के पट पर होता है पर उसका प्रभाव बड़ा गहरा होता है, नकी सिर्फ अहिल्या पर पाठकों पर भी I
December 5, 2019
पूरा लेख यहाँ पढा जा सकता है - https://soundingwords.blogspot.com/20...
“ऐसी ही भारत की रहस्यमयी रोप ट्रिक-सी है तुम्हारी सखी अहल्या । उसके स्वभाव का कौन-सा भाग सत्य है और कौन मिथ्या, यह मेरे लिए एक अबूझ पहेली ही रही है। कभी वह अनोखी आत्मीयता से निकट खिंच आती है और दूसरे ही क्षण कटी पतंग की तरह हवा में दूर उड़ जाती है”
शिवानी जी को ख्याति इसी उपन्यास से मिली, चौदह फेरे एपिसोड्स के रूप में सबसे पहले धर्मयुग पत्रिका में छपना शुरू हुआ था, किताब का शीर्षक पाठक के मन में जिज्ञासा पैदा करता है जिसका मर्म किताब के आखिर में पता चलता है, ‘चौदह फेरे’ की मुख्य पात्र अहिल्या का जन्म अलमोड़े में होता है लेकिन परिस्थितियों के चलते उसके पिता उसे बोर्डिंग स्कूल, ऊंटी भेज देते है।
माँ से बचपन में ही अलग हो जाने वाली अहिल्या अपने पिता की एक महिला दोस्त, मल्लिका की संगत में रहकर बड़ी होती है, मॉडर्न परिवेश में पाली अहिल्या का रिश्ता उसके पिता अपने ही समाज में करना चाहते हैं, वो बिटिया को किसी बेशकीमती हीरे सा छुपाए, अपने कुमाऊँ अंचल में लौटते हैं, वहीं से अहिल्या की जिंदगी में नया मोड़ आता है, नए पात्रों का जिंदगी में आना, अनछुए एहसासों का मन में जगह बनाना, हिमालय जाकर एक आश्रम में वासित अपनी माँ से मिलना, प्यार के कहे-अनकहे के बीच अपने मन को समझाना, प्यार में पड़े दिल की उलझनें, और उन्हे सुलझाने की कोशिश, शिवानी जी ने अल्हड़ खूबसूरती से रचा है ये उपन्यास “चौदह फेरे”
“ऐसी ही भारत की रहस्यमयी रोप ट्रिक-सी है तुम्हारी सखी अहल्या । उसके स्वभाव का कौन-सा भाग सत्य है और कौन मिथ्या, यह मेरे लिए एक अबूझ पहेली ही रही है। कभी वह अनोखी आत्मीयता से निकट खिंच आती है और दूसरे ही क्षण कटी पतंग की तरह हवा में दूर उड़ जाती है”
शिवानी जी को ख्याति इसी उपन्यास से मिली, चौदह फेरे एपिसोड्स के रूप में सबसे पहले धर्मयुग पत्रिका में छपना शुरू हुआ था, किताब का शीर्षक पाठक के मन में जिज्ञासा पैदा करता है जिसका मर्म किताब के आखिर में पता चलता है, ‘चौदह फेरे’ की मुख्य पात्र अहिल्या का जन्म अलमोड़े में होता है लेकिन परिस्थितियों के चलते उसके पिता उसे बोर्डिंग स्कूल, ऊंटी भेज देते है।
माँ से बचपन में ही अलग हो जाने वाली अहिल्या अपने पिता की एक महिला दोस्त, मल्लिका की संगत में रहकर बड़ी होती है, मॉडर्न परिवेश में पाली अहिल्या का रिश्ता उसके पिता अपने ही समाज में करना चाहते हैं, वो बिटिया को किसी बेशकीमती हीरे सा छुपाए, अपने कुमाऊँ अंचल में लौटते हैं, वहीं से अहिल्या की जिंदगी में नया मोड़ आता है, नए पात्रों का जिंदगी में आना, अनछुए एहसासों का मन में जगह बनाना, हिमालय जाकर एक आश्रम में वासित अपनी माँ से मिलना, प्यार के कहे-अनकहे के बीच अपने मन को समझाना, प्यार में पड़े दिल की उलझनें, और उन्हे सुलझाने की कोशिश, शिवानी जी ने अल्हड़ खूबसूरती से रचा है ये उपन्यास “चौदह फेरे”
April 10, 2019
5-6 दिन लगे किताब को ख़त्म करने में। तेज नींद आने पर जब किताब बंद करती थी तो सपने में किताब के किरदार घूमते थे। किताब नहीं एक ख़ुमारी की तरह सर चढ़ी ये मेरे। मुझे भी अहल्या की तरह राजू से अनकहा-अनजाना लगाव हो गया। मैं भी चाहती थी कि राजू वापस आए और अहल्या का ब्याह उसी से हो। मुझे भी कर्नल पर बहुत गुस्सा आया जब मैंने मल्लिका की असलियत जानी और अहल्या की माँ के घर छोड़ने का कारण जाना। धरणीधर की ठिठोली में मुझे भी रस आता था और नोनिबाला की तरह मैं भी अहल्या के रूप पर मन ही मन मोहित थी।
किरदार कोई भी था मैं उसे जी रही थी। सिर्फ किरदार नहीं किताब में दर्शाए गए दृश्य मेरी आँखों के सामने चलते थे। ये वाक़ई एक सीरियल की भाँति मेरी आँखों के सामने चल रहा था। हालाँकि अंत से मुझे कुछ और उम्मीदें थीं और थोड़ा और जानने की इच्छा थी। पर, वाक़ई किताब ऐसे ही लिखी जानी चाहिए जो उसके किरदारों को आपमे जीवंत कर दे। एक बेहतरीन किताब।
किरदार कोई भी था मैं उसे जी रही थी। सिर्फ किरदार नहीं किताब में दर्शाए गए दृश्य मेरी आँखों के सामने चलते थे। ये वाक़ई एक सीरियल की भाँति मेरी आँखों के सामने चल रहा था। हालाँकि अंत से मुझे कुछ और उम्मीदें थीं और थोड़ा और जानने की इच्छा थी। पर, वाक़ई किताब ऐसे ही लिखी जानी चाहिए जो उसके किरदारों को आपमे जीवंत कर दे। एक बेहतरीन किताब।
May 6, 2020
Before starting this book, I was somewhat apprehensive that it may be a difficult read because my Hindi is not that good. But surprisingly, I quickly got used to the language and writing style and pretty much flew through the second half of the book.
The story is very engaging and despite being decades old, still felt relatable and relevant. Since the book was published, many things for have changed for women in Indian society but in a way many things still have not.
I am definitely going to read more from this author and would reccomend her to anyone looking for a readable but good Hindi novel.
The story is very engaging and despite being decades old, still felt relatable and relevant. Since the book was published, many things for have changed for women in Indian society but in a way many things still have not.
I am definitely going to read more from this author and would reccomend her to anyone looking for a readable but good Hindi novel.
February 1, 2025
3.75⭐
June 15, 2017
Shivani developed a massive following after "Chaudah Phere " and after reading the book you can easily tell why ??....In a world where novels about teen crushes and sex and drugs and stuff like "I can't live without that hot girl and all" sell like hotcakes,the real literature of India is sinking below these bullshits..For all those young girls crying after today's bestsellers--read Chaudah Phere to learn what really teen infatuation and heartbreak and female psychology is all about.
A portrayal of rich aristocratic families and their not so rich family roots-Chaudah Phere is an episodic novel.In these 32 chapters you get to know a wide range of characters and wide ranges of small plots within while a major plot runs like a loose thread tying all strands.The story revolves around our female protagonist Ahalya and her insanely rich father called as "Colonel" by the masses.The novel revolves around Ahalya's journey from Calcutta to her hometown in Almora-meeting the people of her kind,falling in love and learning of her roots as the Sino-Indian War leaves the fate of several characters hanging..
What the book really succeeds at is in depicting the accuracy of the Kumaoni culture and the people living there.Being a Kumaoni myself,I was deeply influenced by it -the food,the way of living,the markets ---all were upto the point .Also it adressed several issues although not each is treated with as force as you would expect it to be --domestic violence to extra martial affairs,the position of women in India ,love and guilt,teenage suicide,prostitution,greed,lust and redemption.Laded with spicy humour which mocks at some cruel customs and the flaws of a patriarchal society,this is a book that will leave you laughing at one point and completely shocked at the other.The other part of this masterpiece is that Shivaniji never forgets about her plots-everything is well woven and all the loose strands do tie in the finale making it a satisfying experience.
Where it does feel a little bland is in its failure to move to one strong plot and which is also the characteristic of many Hindi novels.The twist towards the end does full justice to the title despite being over the top corny and super cheesy.:)......
Despite this ,Shivanij's portrait of rich aristocratic life and her breathtaking style of painting her characters like a painter carefully paints his pictures is what makes this novel still so relevant in today's times...
A portrayal of rich aristocratic families and their not so rich family roots-Chaudah Phere is an episodic novel.In these 32 chapters you get to know a wide range of characters and wide ranges of small plots within while a major plot runs like a loose thread tying all strands.The story revolves around our female protagonist Ahalya and her insanely rich father called as "Colonel" by the masses.The novel revolves around Ahalya's journey from Calcutta to her hometown in Almora-meeting the people of her kind,falling in love and learning of her roots as the Sino-Indian War leaves the fate of several characters hanging..
What the book really succeeds at is in depicting the accuracy of the Kumaoni culture and the people living there.Being a Kumaoni myself,I was deeply influenced by it -the food,the way of living,the markets ---all were upto the point .Also it adressed several issues although not each is treated with as force as you would expect it to be --domestic violence to extra martial affairs,the position of women in India ,love and guilt,teenage suicide,prostitution,greed,lust and redemption.Laded with spicy humour which mocks at some cruel customs and the flaws of a patriarchal society,this is a book that will leave you laughing at one point and completely shocked at the other.The other part of this masterpiece is that Shivaniji never forgets about her plots-everything is well woven and all the loose strands do tie in the finale making it a satisfying experience.
Where it does feel a little bland is in its failure to move to one strong plot and which is also the characteristic of many Hindi novels.The twist towards the end does full justice to the title despite being over the top corny and super cheesy.:)......
Despite this ,Shivanij's portrait of rich aristocratic life and her breathtaking style of painting her characters like a painter carefully paints his pictures is what makes this novel still so relevant in today's times...
April 2, 2020
Chaudah Phere (Hardcover) Shivani- novel- 1982- Shivani was educated at Vishwabharti Vishwavidyalaya, Calcutta where all students were encouraged to write their observations as literature - story, novel, drama, poems, etc in their mother tongue. This has been mentioned in her autobiographical book- Amader Shantiniketan. This book encouraged me read her books. The cover of the book is by Aditya Pandey, Graphics Designer, National Institute of Design, New Delhi. The cover shows what story may be in the coming pages of the book. The novel was published in popular Hindi weekly Saptahik Hindustan.
The story is of Ahalya, daughter of a Kumaooni businessman, settled in Calcutta. Her father was married to a girl from his own village situated in the northern hilly region of Kumaun. As his wife is illiterate, he does not respected her. After the birth of her daughter Ahalya, she still facing indifference from him, she leaves him and moves to an Aashram in Kumaoon area. A smart and well-educated Bengali woman, Mallika takes her place in her father's life. Ahalya is sent to boarding school and gradually she forgets her mother. When she grows up, her father takes her to the native village to attend her cousin's marriage. Here she is able to be aware her roots, the status of women in the family and the sanctity of the ceremony of marriage . She comes across a young man named Raju and falls in love for him but Raju does not pay much attention to her and her feelings. He turns down the matrimonial proposals brought for him because he is a soldier. The year is 1962 and war with China is imminent. She tries to collect the news about Raju from her relatives in Kumaun Village. She is informed about a rumour that Raja has not returned form the war and might be that he has martyred. On hearing the news, Ahalya breaks down. There are so many twists in the story. First fact is that Raju was missing untraceable at that time. Suffocating within herself, she is not able to share her sentiments towards him with anyone her cousin Basanti (in whose marriage she had met Raju) and her husband had already seen the smoke arising out of the fire in her heart. Ahalya's trouble starts when her father wishes to marry her to Government officer who belongs to Kumaun region. She is unwilling to marry him. Her father is not much bothered that Ahalya does approve of the groom. The would-be groom is a highly egoistic and chauvinistic person and by no means, the prince of Ahalya's dreams. Ahalya starts teaching in the same boarding school in which she had studied. She wins the hearts of her students which include a difficult student, Lalita. However she can't help regarding the matrimonial developments related to herself and mentally surrenders to her destiny. Just three days prior to her marriage, she comes to know that Raju is alive and he has come back to his home. Ahalya finds herself tied in the shackles of her father's social prestige and mentally prepares herself for the life-long sacrifice but her Taai Ji (her father's bhabhi and Basanti's mother) stops her from making this foolish sacrifice and provokes her to run away to Raju's place. Finally she gets married to Raju. The narrative flows quite smoothly and there are several twists and turns in the storyline alongwith many interesting incidents not related to the main plot. It's a very interesting reading for any lover of Hindi literature. The teasing of Basanti's husband and the talks of the very old grand mother of Ahalya who understands that Raju and Ahalya are married, are able to create tickle in the hearts. Ahalya's suffocation within her heart, her loneliness, her emotions coming to surface upon seeing her mother in the Ashram, the plight of Ahalya's mother in both her parental house as well as her husband's house etc. are among the several things able to move the reader. Description of traditional Kumaooni life and the social customs attracts the attention of the reader. The novel presents a realistic portrait of the family and social life in that region including the cuisine, the dress-up, the living in the households, the matrimonial proceedings and the social values prevailing there and finally the status of women in the hilly communities in 1962. The language used is lively and impressive. Though the writer has used regular literary Hindi for her general narrative, she has resorted to the use of Kumaooni, Bangla, Nepali and English languages for the dialogues of the respective characters (with the Hindi versions given for the convenience of the readers). And it's a pleasure to read such a mixed language in the novel which can be compared to the spices adding to the taste of an already delicious dish. The characterization of Ahalya, her father, her would-be groom, her student Lalita, her cousin Basanti and Basanti's husband is quite good. However justice has not been done to certain characters. The characters of Ahalya's mother, Raju, Ahalya's Taai Ji, her sympathetic uncle etc. seem to be underdeveloped. The lady writer has toyed with the character of Mallika, the other woman in Ahalya's father's life by showing her has running away to Delhi, running a brothel under the cover of a girls' hostel and finally succumbing to a incurable disease. The novel is studded with several characters and covering several events in several cities. Fast events in the tale makes the novel interesting reading This book should be translated in other Indian languages so that readers may be able to read the rich prose in Hindi. It is a class book and a must read for all.
The story is of Ahalya, daughter of a Kumaooni businessman, settled in Calcutta. Her father was married to a girl from his own village situated in the northern hilly region of Kumaun. As his wife is illiterate, he does not respected her. After the birth of her daughter Ahalya, she still facing indifference from him, she leaves him and moves to an Aashram in Kumaoon area. A smart and well-educated Bengali woman, Mallika takes her place in her father's life. Ahalya is sent to boarding school and gradually she forgets her mother. When she grows up, her father takes her to the native village to attend her cousin's marriage. Here she is able to be aware her roots, the status of women in the family and the sanctity of the ceremony of marriage . She comes across a young man named Raju and falls in love for him but Raju does not pay much attention to her and her feelings. He turns down the matrimonial proposals brought for him because he is a soldier. The year is 1962 and war with China is imminent. She tries to collect the news about Raju from her relatives in Kumaun Village. She is informed about a rumour that Raja has not returned form the war and might be that he has martyred. On hearing the news, Ahalya breaks down. There are so many twists in the story. First fact is that Raju was missing untraceable at that time. Suffocating within herself, she is not able to share her sentiments towards him with anyone her cousin Basanti (in whose marriage she had met Raju) and her husband had already seen the smoke arising out of the fire in her heart. Ahalya's trouble starts when her father wishes to marry her to Government officer who belongs to Kumaun region. She is unwilling to marry him. Her father is not much bothered that Ahalya does approve of the groom. The would-be groom is a highly egoistic and chauvinistic person and by no means, the prince of Ahalya's dreams. Ahalya starts teaching in the same boarding school in which she had studied. She wins the hearts of her students which include a difficult student, Lalita. However she can't help regarding the matrimonial developments related to herself and mentally surrenders to her destiny. Just three days prior to her marriage, she comes to know that Raju is alive and he has come back to his home. Ahalya finds herself tied in the shackles of her father's social prestige and mentally prepares herself for the life-long sacrifice but her Taai Ji (her father's bhabhi and Basanti's mother) stops her from making this foolish sacrifice and provokes her to run away to Raju's place. Finally she gets married to Raju. The narrative flows quite smoothly and there are several twists and turns in the storyline alongwith many interesting incidents not related to the main plot. It's a very interesting reading for any lover of Hindi literature. The teasing of Basanti's husband and the talks of the very old grand mother of Ahalya who understands that Raju and Ahalya are married, are able to create tickle in the hearts. Ahalya's suffocation within her heart, her loneliness, her emotions coming to surface upon seeing her mother in the Ashram, the plight of Ahalya's mother in both her parental house as well as her husband's house etc. are among the several things able to move the reader. Description of traditional Kumaooni life and the social customs attracts the attention of the reader. The novel presents a realistic portrait of the family and social life in that region including the cuisine, the dress-up, the living in the households, the matrimonial proceedings and the social values prevailing there and finally the status of women in the hilly communities in 1962. The language used is lively and impressive. Though the writer has used regular literary Hindi for her general narrative, she has resorted to the use of Kumaooni, Bangla, Nepali and English languages for the dialogues of the respective characters (with the Hindi versions given for the convenience of the readers). And it's a pleasure to read such a mixed language in the novel which can be compared to the spices adding to the taste of an already delicious dish. The characterization of Ahalya, her father, her would-be groom, her student Lalita, her cousin Basanti and Basanti's husband is quite good. However justice has not been done to certain characters. The characters of Ahalya's mother, Raju, Ahalya's Taai Ji, her sympathetic uncle etc. seem to be underdeveloped. The lady writer has toyed with the character of Mallika, the other woman in Ahalya's father's life by showing her has running away to Delhi, running a brothel under the cover of a girls' hostel and finally succumbing to a incurable disease. The novel is studded with several characters and covering several events in several cities. Fast events in the tale makes the novel interesting reading This book should be translated in other Indian languages so that readers may be able to read the rich prose in Hindi. It is a class book and a must read for all.
July 19, 2012
loved reading this book... an unforgettable experience going through it.
June 15, 2017
Shivani developed a massive following after "Chaudah Phere " and after reading the book you can easily tell why ??....In a world where novels about teen crushes and sex and drugs and stuff like "I can't live without that hot girl and all" sell like hotcakes,the real literature of India is sinking below these bullshits..For all those young girls crying after today's bestsellers--read Chaudah Phere to learn what really teen infatuation and heartbreak and female psychology is all about.
A portrayal of rich aristocratic families and their not so rich family roots-Chaudah Phere is an episodic novel.In these 32 chapters you get to know a wide range of characters and wide ranges of small plots within while a major plot runs like a loose thread tying all strands.The story revolves around our female protagonist Ahalya and her insanely rich father called as "Colonel" by the masses.The novel revolves around Ahalya's journey from Calcutta to her hometown in Almora-meeting the people of her kind,falling in love and learning of her roots as the Sino-Indian War leaves the fate of several characters hanging..
What the book really succeeds at is in depicting the accuracy of the Kumaoni culture and the people living there.Being a Kumaoni myself,I was deeply influenced by it -the food,the way of living,the markets ---all were upto the point .Also it adressed several issues although not each is treated with as force as you would expect it to be --domestic violence to extra martial affairs,the position of women in India ,love and guilt,teenage suicide,prostitution,greed,lust and redemption.Laded with spicy humour which mocks at some cruel customs and the flaws of a patriarchal society,this is a book that will leave you laughing at one point and completely shocked at the other.The other part of this masterpiece is that Shivaniji never forgets about her plots-everything is well woven and all the loose strands do tie in the finale making it a satisfying experience.
Where it does feel a little bland is in its failure to move to one strong plot and which is also the characteristic of many Hindi novels.The twist towards the end does full justice to the title despite being over the top corny and super cheesy.:)......
Despite this ,Shivanij's portrait of rich aristocratic life and her breathtaking style of painting her characters like a painter carefully paints his pictures is what makes this novel still so relevant in today's times..
A portrayal of rich aristocratic families and their not so rich family roots-Chaudah Phere is an episodic novel.In these 32 chapters you get to know a wide range of characters and wide ranges of small plots within while a major plot runs like a loose thread tying all strands.The story revolves around our female protagonist Ahalya and her insanely rich father called as "Colonel" by the masses.The novel revolves around Ahalya's journey from Calcutta to her hometown in Almora-meeting the people of her kind,falling in love and learning of her roots as the Sino-Indian War leaves the fate of several characters hanging..
What the book really succeeds at is in depicting the accuracy of the Kumaoni culture and the people living there.Being a Kumaoni myself,I was deeply influenced by it -the food,the way of living,the markets ---all were upto the point .Also it adressed several issues although not each is treated with as force as you would expect it to be --domestic violence to extra martial affairs,the position of women in India ,love and guilt,teenage suicide,prostitution,greed,lust and redemption.Laded with spicy humour which mocks at some cruel customs and the flaws of a patriarchal society,this is a book that will leave you laughing at one point and completely shocked at the other.The other part of this masterpiece is that Shivaniji never forgets about her plots-everything is well woven and all the loose strands do tie in the finale making it a satisfying experience.
Where it does feel a little bland is in its failure to move to one strong plot and which is also the characteristic of many Hindi novels.The twist towards the end does full justice to the title despite being over the top corny and super cheesy.:)......
Despite this ,Shivanij's portrait of rich aristocratic life and her breathtaking style of painting her characters like a painter carefully paints his pictures is what makes this novel still so relevant in today's times..
September 7, 2021
My first successful hindi read. I have previously attempted to read/listen stories in hindi, but required a big effort and was unsuccessful. I was successful with Choudah Phere, primarily because it was a breezy, simple read.
Set mostly in Calcutta and Kumaon, this work is a coming-of-age story of a teen girl Ahalya. She is of the Kumaon heritage, but had spent most of her life in Calcutta, with an absent mother who had gone to live in an ashram . Her father takes her to Kumaon to attend her cousins marriage and in the process also wanted to find a groom for her. Ahalya's exposure to the hillside culture, her camaraderie with her cousin Basanthi, her liking of Raju are some of the events that make her stay pleasant.
Ahalya also starts working as a teacher, visits her mother in the Ashram and meets her fiance who despite her lack of interest tries to impress her, while her adamant father insists she marry him. There is also a backdrop of the China war with India, in which Raju is presumed missing, but when he comes back, will Ahalya be able to reveal her affection for him and escape the marriage that she doesn't want to be part of? This forms the rest of the plot.
Simple, yet pleasant and rooted prose with detailed characterizations, make this a breezy read.
Set mostly in Calcutta and Kumaon, this work is a coming-of-age story of a teen girl Ahalya. She is of the Kumaon heritage, but had spent most of her life in Calcutta, with an absent mother who had gone to live in an ashram . Her father takes her to Kumaon to attend her cousins marriage and in the process also wanted to find a groom for her. Ahalya's exposure to the hillside culture, her camaraderie with her cousin Basanthi, her liking of Raju are some of the events that make her stay pleasant.
Ahalya also starts working as a teacher, visits her mother in the Ashram and meets her fiance who despite her lack of interest tries to impress her, while her adamant father insists she marry him. There is also a backdrop of the China war with India, in which Raju is presumed missing, but when he comes back, will Ahalya be able to reveal her affection for him and escape the marriage that she doesn't want to be part of? This forms the rest of the plot.
Simple, yet pleasant and rooted prose with detailed characterizations, make this a breezy read.
Read
March 3, 2021 Read and reviewed in January 2007
Although it was written almost 50 years ago, many things are still true in the context of Indian society - the unprogressive thought process of the people in small towns, the helplessness of financially and emotionally dependent women, the compulsion to continue a meaningless marriage, the stigma associated with extra-marital relationships, parent's desire to get their children married at "suitable age" preferably according to their choice and almost definitely within their community, and so on. There are incidents and thoughts that seem to be outdated, but that may be acceptable because of its setting in villages and towns in hills of Uttaranchal, and because it was written so long back.
It is a good story altogether, with bits of humor, and has a happy ending, unlike most of the stories of the same genre and era. I like haapy endings :-))
Although it was written almost 50 years ago, many things are still true in the context of Indian society - the unprogressive thought process of the people in small towns, the helplessness of financially and emotionally dependent women, the compulsion to continue a meaningless marriage, the stigma associated with extra-marital relationships, parent's desire to get their children married at "suitable age" preferably according to their choice and almost definitely within their community, and so on. There are incidents and thoughts that seem to be outdated, but that may be acceptable because of its setting in villages and towns in hills of Uttaranchal, and because it was written so long back.
It is a good story altogether, with bits of humor, and has a happy ending, unlike most of the stories of the same genre and era. I like haapy endings :-))
December 8, 2025
It was actually a good read. Ahilya finally found the man of her life — the calm and composed Raju, who had never shown the slightest interest in her despite her beauty and wealth. However, I was expecting a dialogue between Ahilya and Raju at the end of the book, since the story mostly unfolded through Ahilya’s emotions and perspective. A brief monologue from Raju expressing his hidden feelings or desperation for Ahilya would have added more depth to the conclusion.
April 19, 2025
लेखिका: शिवानी
यह कहानी है अहिल्या की जो कुमाऊँ के एक परिवार में जन्मी और कोलकाता जैसे बड़े शहर में पली बढ़ी । शाही परिवेश में पालन होने के पश्चात भी वह अपने नैसर्गिक स्वरूप को तलाशती रही ।
कहानी में कहीं उतार चढ़ाव है और कहीं कहीं पर समाज की सोच और दकियानूसी प्रवृत्ति का भी चित्रण किया गया है ।
लेखिका की यह सर्वश्रेष्ठ कहानी में से एक है ।
रेटिंग:५/५*
यह कहानी है अहिल्या की जो कुमाऊँ के एक परिवार में जन्मी और कोलकाता जैसे बड़े शहर में पली बढ़ी । शाही परिवेश में पालन होने के पश्चात भी वह अपने नैसर्गिक स्वरूप को तलाशती रही ।
कहानी में कहीं उतार चढ़ाव है और कहीं कहीं पर समाज की सोच और दकियानूसी प्रवृत्ति का भी चित्रण किया गया है ।
लेखिका की यह सर्वश्रेष्ठ कहानी में से एक है ।
रेटिंग:५/५*
July 12, 2017
Shivani is a writer beyond compare. Her stories have a local , rustic flavour . And they are invariably tragedies . What surprised me most was a happy ending here. An Indianised version of Taming of the shrew? But in a completely different background and you keep asking for more.
April 28, 2019
Awesome...Must read👌👌
June 15, 2019
Awesome
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
One of my earliest reads..loved every bit of it. A novel you can get lost in...
April 26, 2020
I became fan of Shivani after this.
July 10, 2020
Best book of Shivani ji.
September 14, 2020
Loved reading
First time I read book from Shivaniji . ......loved it.
Story keeps you attached.completed in one go.Started another of Shivaniji....
First time I read book from Shivaniji . ......loved it.
Story keeps you attached.completed in one go.Started another of Shivaniji....
December 10, 2020
भाई मुझे तोह बस यह जानना है कि कैसे वेट करते थे लोग एक एक चैप्टर का?!
Some endings are just relieving.
Not happy. Not sad.
Just immense satisfaction.
Some endings are just relieving.
Not happy. Not sad.
Just immense satisfaction.
March 23, 2021
touching..
July 24, 2021
Good read comedy by Shivani. Her unique style of writing has made her own fan following.
August 31, 2021
Nice book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
3.5 may be. Clichéd at few points, but elating to see a woman-centric hill-based work & an authentic display of hill people in hindi writing of the era.
October 6, 2022
hindi ki ek bahut hi achhi rachna jisme ek mahila mukhya patar hai. lekhan se lekar kahani tak sb manmohak hai
June 1, 2023
शिवानी जी की चौदह फेरे पढ़ने के लिए लिंक दें।
October 2, 2023
Wonderful love story ..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews