La dea combattente

by Saswati Sengupta, Monica Capuani (Translator)

Intorno alla cucina dell’antica casa di Kailash e ai deliziosi profumi speziati dei piatti tradizionali bengalesi, si dipana il racconto di una saga familiare che nasconde un mistero sanguinoso. Tutto inizia nell’estate del 1962, mentre il monsone si abbatte su Calcutta e, fuori dalle mura di Kailash, la grande Storia indiana procede tra guerre e progresso sociale. La giovane moglie del figlio del padrone, Uma, è una ragazza istruita e “moderna” che un giorno decide di assecondare la richiesta delle donne di casa: leggere per loro il Chandimangal, un poema scritto dal bisnonno del marito e pubblicato con successo dall’impresa di famiglia, la Ganges Press. Il libro racconta e celebra il pantheon indù, ma via via che Urna legge il poema, le donne di Kailash si accorgono che questa versione del mito (e in particolare la figura della dea combattente a loro così cara) si discosta alquanto da quella che le loro famiglie tramandano di generazione in generazione. I loro dubbi si fanno sempre più insistenti e spingono Uma – lei che sa leggere e che può uscire da sola e andare in biblioteca ad approfondire l’indagine sulle caratteristiche della dea negli altri Chandimangal esistenti. Eppure le soluzioni ai misteri di interesse pubblico e privato della nuova famiglia di Urna non verranno dai libri, bensì dall’unica persona in grado di rivelare i segreti di Kailash, l’anziana Pishi, che vive da lungo tempo in quella dimora costruita sul sangue di una donna. Come reagirà la moderna Uma?

374 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Soumyabrata Sarkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical Fiction, Folklore, Mythology, Murder Mystery, Drama, so many layers are heightened by this novel. And thrown into it are bunch of beautifully chosen poems and their equally evocative translations.

Calcutta or Kolkata described in the novel, reminds me of Sunil Gangopadhyay's Shei Shomoy, the epic masterpiece that won him the Sahitya Akademi Award for in 1985, such is its lyrical and illustrious evolution described in the novel.

In some other way, it reminds uncannily of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, only in here, a couple of household women set out to uncode the songs of their origin and that of the scriptures, to find about the Goddess in Mythology - The Eternal Feminine, demure or violent, domesticated or wild in every form of herself, bereft of brahminical or orthodox pride and dilutions.

The story tells of a house in Kolkata, named Kailash(after Shiva's residence), it's main resident (generally the male heir) bearing the name of Shiva (Neelkantha, Sashisekhar, Asutosh and Rudra).

The story starts with Uma, coming into the household of Kailash, upon married to Rudra, the youngest heir of Kailash.

We also see a plethora of side characters, leading up the main story. The author also gives them enough voices for us to hear them too. The neglected yet dignified Pishi, downtrodden and lonely Bamundi, stubborn and willy help Khema, Khagen. The character Shisir with only about one page also finds a place into the story. We have Haimanti and Shivani, characters suffering unnecessarily at the hands of their own ones and sometimes to their own thoughts and actions.

It also lets us know, how history are written by the people who yield the pen, who have the might. Other's are excluded, separated and bordered to other confines. Cast-hierarchy, treatment of women and many more social stigmas that may be prevalent even today, are portrayed with strong fist.

It's a brilliant juxtaposition of merging up past and present, telling parallel tales of Uma and Pishi, along their lines and lives, converging and diverging to somewhat same environments and evoking the feminine presence in one's mind.

Beautifully rendered writing!
Recommended for lovers of Kolkata, folklore, goddess-mythology, history etc.

[Surbhi Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The satisfaction of finishing a great book is unmatched. Yet, after reading the last page, I was almost immediately tempted to reread this gem of a book for the sheer experience of it. The history of Bengal, its culture and folklore, the book covers each element with such intricacy that you feel an important part of the narrative and its world. It is a poignant exploration of the lives of women in Indian society since time immemorial. It presents an apt example of how feminism is intimately associated with the struggles for caste, class, and religion equality. And what an evocative and intriguing example that is! Weaved around mystery and laced with beautiful poems throughout, this makes for a perfect unputdownable read.
I would someday read this in one sitting, as it should be read, giving it my undivided attention and absorbing everything that this book has to offer.

[Nanta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating tale of history, oppression,myth and smothered voices told with great intrigue.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Traditional