Maa

by Anurupa Devi, Sanjukta Banerji Bhattacharya (translator)

This is a story of human emotions—love, greed, jealousy, forbearance, desire and forgiveness—as they play out in the inner sanctum of the home.
Maa revolves around four characters in a turn-of-the-nineteenth-century setting in the aftermath of the social churning caused by the Bengal Renaissance. Aurobindo Basu is the well-educated scion of a rich, influential Kayastha family. He has two Manorama, the charming daughter of poverty-stricken parents whom he married against his father’s will and who was soon disowned by his patriarchal father; and Brajarani, a beautiful, wealthy, strong-willed lady who Aurobindo was forced to marry due to the threat of disinheritance.
While the old patriarch also disowned Manorama’s son Ajit, Brajarani was unable to produce an heir. Manorama lived in dire straits but found fulfilment in caring for Ajit; in contrast, Brajarani had everything that a woman could materially desire but was bereft of her husband’s love and was immensely resentful of her abandoned co-wife. What such a situation can do to a young, innocent mind is reflected in Ajit’s coming of age.
Maa is a period piece on the private world of Bengali women as viewed through the unique lens of an extraordinarily gifted writer who belonged to and knew that society intimately.

Genres: Indian Literature

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Dilip Chauhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing first.
I can not thank enough to Rupa publication for sending me the gem of a book.

What a beautiful book it is. While read the book I have felt somany emotions at same time. Love, anger, hate, rage, pitty and a lot more.

The book was written in early 1900s in Bangali, and Anurupa Devi is a well known author in bengali. And it was made into the movie as we. I guess it's enough to gauge the greatness of this work of art.

And even in translation it has not lost it's magic. One of the best translated book i have ever read.

Story revolves around aurobindo, his first wife Manorama and their son Ajit and Aurobindo's second wife Brajarani. Aurobindo married to Manorama out of love had to break all the relationship with her and had to remarried to Brajarani because of His father's words who was a wealthy lawyer and was not happy with his son's marriage with a lowly poor woman.
However even though Aurobindo keeps his Fathers word and remarried to Brajarani, he cannot forget his first wife hence making life of all three full of sorrow and unhappiness.
Even after the birth of his son Ajit he Never acknowledge him as his son and this affects on the life of every. And the life of all the characters becomes a big tragedy.
While Manorama and Ajit are deprived from happiness of having a husband and father. Brajarani and Aurobindo are childless.
It's a coming of age book, Ajit who understands the tragedy of his and his mothers life is effected by wrong doings of his grandfather and his own life becomes a miserable one.
The book touches the themes of patriarchy, private world of bengali women and unjust society.
Anurupa Devi is exceptionally extraordinary gifted writer who was way ahead of her time. I hope more of her work gets translated and non Bengali readers like me will get bless to read her work.

A very heartbreaking heart wrenching and heart shattering book, but at the same time very beautiful as well.

Solid five star read.

[devashree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let's make a listtt!!

1. This book is written by a really great woman and lowkey a feminist icon. Anurupa Devi was one of the first published woman authors in India, and that's just amazing. I have so much admiration!!
2. This book focuses on the politics of relationships in a higher caste, wealthy family from Bengal, the spotlight being on the women and their inner politics and relationships with each other.
3. The observations in this book are amazing. The author describes the complexities, difficulties and struggles of an Indian woman's life and their psyche with pinpoint perfection.
4. It not only talks about woman but how wealth, societal pressure, and the mighty "vachan" (promise) affects a young boy's life.
5. It honestly reads like a theatre drama that I would love to watch, and it definitely made me shed a few tears in the end.
6. The author has perfectly captures how a woman's life in India was dictated by their male counterparts and society. Some of the struggles may still ring true to Indian woman today.
7. It also shows how wealth disparity, ego, and pride can corrupt a bright young future.
8. I loved this book, and would definitely recommend.

Rating - 4.2 ⭐
States of India - Bengal

[Debabrata Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Maa" written by Anurupa Devi is a masterful storyteller who explores the diversity of human emotions like love, greed, jealousy, desire, forbearance, and forgiveness. The book set against the backdrop of the 19th-century Bengal Renaissance. The story unfolds within the domestic sphere, capturing the poignant interplay between tradition, social reform, and personal change.

The narrative revolves around Aurobindo Basu, a wealthy, educated scion of a Kayastha family, and his two wives: Manorama and Brajarani. Manorama, disowned by her father-in-law for her impoverished background, leads a life of struggle and finds solace in raising her son, Ajit. In contrast, Brajarani, forced upon Aurobindo under the threat of disinheritance, is surrounded by wealth yet consumed by bitterness due to her lack of love and an heir. The tension between these women forms the emotional crux of the story, as Ajit’s coming-of-age reflects the collateral damage of fractured relationships and societal pressures.

The strength of the book lies in its intimate portrayal of Bengali women’s lives, especially their silent endurance and complex rivalries within patriarchal structures. The proximity of Manorama's quiet resilience and Brajarani's fiery resentment symbolizes the divergent paths of love and loss. The setting, steeped in the societal churn of the Bengal Renaissance, offers a rich, historical tapestry that shapes the characters’ decisions and conflicts.

The author masterfully captures raw emotions, making the characters deeply relatable. The Bengal Renaissance setting is intricately woven into the story, enhancing its cultural and temporal authenticity. Each character is layered, especially the women, whose internal struggles drive the narrative.

It poignantly critiques the rigid structures of patriarchy, revealing their destructive impact on women and children. The portrayal of Ajit’s psychological evolution is particularly compelling, illustrating how domestic discord molds the young mind. The nuanced character arcs of Manorama and Brajarani challenge traditional notions of motherhood, sacrifice, and femininity. However, at times, the narrative's slow pacing and heavy reliance on melodrama can overshadow the subtle themes.

In conclusion, it is a moving, introspective period piece that shines a light on the private lives of women and the collateral damage of societal rigidity. It’s a must-read for lovers of historical fiction and feminist literature, offering a profound glimpse into the hidden emotional undercurrents of Bengali society.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anurupa Devi (1882-1958), granddaughter of Bhudev Mukhopadhyay, the great social reformer of the Bengal renaissance period, was one of the most reputed female novelists of Bengali literature in the 1st half of the 20th century. Mantrashakti (1915), Pather Sathi (1918), Mahanisha (1919), Maa (1920) etc. are some of her most popular novels. Many of her novels were filmed in her time. Maa was filmed in Bengali in 1934 with Kanan Devi acting in the main role. Hindi version of the film came out in 1936.
Interest on Anurupa Devi’s works got a boost amongst the literature enthusiasts of the present generation when many Calcutta based publishers brought out afresh her novels and collection of short stories sixty years after her death. Latest addition towards that direction is the English translation of her novel Maa. Translation was done by Dr. Sanjukta Banerji Bhattacharya, former professor of International Relations at Jadavpur University and granddaughter of Anurupa Devi.
The novel critically reflects the nuances of the private relations in a Bengali upper-class family in the setting of early 20th century. The quality of translation is exemplary and the reader gets an unadulterated taste of the original. The objective of this work is perhaps to introduce work of Anurupa Devi to the readers not knowing Bengali. This objective is achieved in full and any reader interested to know the conflicts and emotions in the “inner sanctum” of a Bengali family “in the aftermath of the social churning caused by renaissance” will get an authentic account of that from this book.

[Craartology · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maa by Anurupa Devi is a glimpse into the lives of women during the nineteenth century in Bengal. The iconic writer pens the inner turmoil of women through this poignant story of sacrifice made to uphold reputation and surrender to the whims of the patriarch of the family.

When Aurobindo Basu, the only scion of his family marries Manorama, the wife he loves and desires, his father objects to the union because of her lower financial status creating havoc in his son's life, where he abandons his beloved wife and child. Fearing disinheritance Aurobindo marries the rich and influential Brajarani, who is not desired by him and does not bear a child, unlike Manorama.

This may sound like a familiar plot but graceful writing that portrays the grief, guilt, rage, envy and desire make this book stand apart. Sacrifices that define the complexities of a relationship and their affects on a child.

Reading regional literature or their translations not only reminding what society was like back then but also how far society has grown along with the value of family as an institution and it's impact on individual members of the setup. Where guidance and consenting to life's major decisions that could bring joy and abundance; at times lead to longing and sacrifice. I've enjoyed reading this moving story and loved the seamless flow of words, all due to the great translation by Sanjukta Banerjee Bhattacharya.

[Mahi Aggarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Maa" by Anurupa Devi is a diphaneous speculum of the Bengal Renaissance, an ardent record of the age of revolution, a reflection of the era of metamorphosis that vehemently excavtes the labyrinthine recesses of the social psyche and intricately weaves a tapestry of domestic emotions.

In the verdant backdrop of the mid 19th-century Bengal, where the languid waters of the Ganges converged with the fervent stirrings of social reform, Anurupa Devi's seminal novel "Maa" embodies the paradoxes of socio cultural landscape, depicts the pride of prejudices, the dominance of patriarchal oppressions, feminine resilience, domestic negligence and the urge of social reform.
Through the movements of the protagonists, Sarala, Madhusudan, Kamalini, and Bhupati, the combat of old and new norms, the battle of resurrection and resistance have been highlighted significantly.

Devi's explicit narrative orchestrates a exquisite exploration of the intertwined lives and times of the characters; highlights their deeds and desires, achievements and disappointments and interlined their existence collaterally with the contemporary society, constricting a bridge between home and the world.
Sanjukta Banerji Bhattacharya deserves a big round of applause for rediscovering and representing this underrated classic with an extraordinary translation.

Overall this is an unforgettable read.

[Aditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maa by Anurupa Devi—a throwback drama piece that’s got everything: love triangles, family feuds, social class tensions, and, of course, that classic Bengali storytelling flair. This book dives into all the human messiness—greed, jealousy, love, forgiveness—you name it, it's here. But buckle up, because the drama is thick, and the emotions? They’re spilling everywhere.

The first half had me totally hooked. The setup, the forbidden love, and the father’s vendetta—it had all the flavor of a juicy family saga. But here’s the deal: the second half just didn't hit the same. The story feels like it's building up to something, but when it finally "delivers," it kinda fizzles out. Maybe that was the style back then, or maybe my Bengali novel expectations were set too high, but the payoff was more like a sigh than a gasp.

Still, the writing? Pure gold. Anurupa Devi knows how to capture the period’s essence, bringing out that deep, tangled web of relationships in a way only someone with insider knowledge of the society could. If you’re into stories set in old-school Bengali households with plenty of drama and complex emotions, Maa might just be your vibe. Just don’t expect fireworks in the finale!

[Purva • readwithpurva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maa by Anurupa Devi, translated by Sanjukta Banerji Bhattacharya, is a beautifully written story about love, sacrifice, and the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. Set in 19th-century Bengal during the Renaissance period, the book dives into the complex relationships within a wealthy Kayastha family.

The story focuses on Aurobindo Basu, his first wife Manorama, and his second wife Brajarani. Manorama, disowned for her poor background, raises her son Ajit in difficult circumstances. On the other hand, Brajarani, rich and childless, feels bitter because she cannot win Aurobindo’s love.

The writing captures deep emotions and gives a vivid glimpse of women’s lives during that time. Anurupa Devi brings out the silent strength of Manorama and the fiery bitterness of Brajarani, making both characters memorable. The translation retains the charm of the original text, making it relatable for modern readers.

While the story is heartbreaking, it also highlights themes like motherhood, social norms, and personal resilience. This is a must-read for anyone interested in powerful stories about family, tradition, and change.

[Simrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was enchanting in the sense that I couldn't put it down. It was a great piece that reflects the era it was written in (1930s). I loved that it focused on the perspective of the women and the son.