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Crumpled Voices 2: Innocence Lost
A superb anthology by 17 authors: - stories of Child Abuse
145 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2015
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Ila Garg
21 books43 followers“Ila is a girl next door, who loves writing. She has a flair for words. It is a passion; a compulsion; something that gives her an avenue to express herself. She writes when she is happy; when she is angry or when an issue touches her heart. She resorts to writing when she is restless or when she is on the verge of breaking down.
Creativity and writing has always been attracting her. She also has a huge collection of poems on different genres. Besides that she loves to sketch and click pictures! Backstage work has always been her forte like organizing events, etc. Apart from being an avid reader, writer, reviewer, and editor, she is an active blogger too. She blogs at ilashininggem.blogspot.in, where you can find some of her articles, poetry, random thoughts, interviews, movie & book reviews.
Apart from ‘Life and Promises’, her novel titled, ‘Cheer up! The worst is yet to come’ is slated to be released soon. She is a contributor in several short story anthologies like, 'A Night In Paradise', 'You Me N Zindagi', and 'Moonlit Matinee'. Besides that she has also contributed in a poetry anthology, ‘Minds at Work 2’, in form of five poems.
In her leisure time, she loves to read, watch movies, listen to Sufi music, and travel to new places.
Creativity and writing has always been attracting her. She also has a huge collection of poems on different genres. Besides that she loves to sketch and click pictures! Backstage work has always been her forte like organizing events, etc. Apart from being an avid reader, writer, reviewer, and editor, she is an active blogger too. She blogs at ilashininggem.blogspot.in, where you can find some of her articles, poetry, random thoughts, interviews, movie & book reviews.
Apart from ‘Life and Promises’, her novel titled, ‘Cheer up! The worst is yet to come’ is slated to be released soon. She is a contributor in several short story anthologies like, 'A Night In Paradise', 'You Me N Zindagi', and 'Moonlit Matinee'. Besides that she has also contributed in a poetry anthology, ‘Minds at Work 2’, in form of five poems.
In her leisure time, she loves to read, watch movies, listen to Sufi music, and travel to new places.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 13, 2015
The book is a collection of short stories by many writers which touch a sensitive topic of child abuse.
Catch my short story in this anthology- 'Just a lucky day...or not?'
It is a thriller that will knockout your fears and quiver your senses.
All stories have a different feel and yet they are so close to reality.
A must read for all parents!!
Catch my short story in this anthology- 'Just a lucky day...or not?'
It is a thriller that will knockout your fears and quiver your senses.
All stories have a different feel and yet they are so close to reality.
A must read for all parents!!
October 21, 2015
Review :- Crumpled Voices 2- Innocence Lost (Stories Of Child Abuse) Compiled By- Pulkit Gupta and Edited By :- ILA Garg
Our society is cursed by several monsters - the rapist, the eve-teasers,the Abusers,the murderers and so on.To highlight the world's greatest "Silent Crime" is indeed a bold step that Gargi team have undertaken.Children are the precious gift from the God entrusted to humans To love and to care for,Not to ABUSE Nor to Neglect.
Lets hear these crumpled voices of 17 authors raising "loud and clear" against the evil(Child- Abuse) prevailing in our society.
:- Eighteen By Naisargi Bhatt
What a kick start, Authoress made grief look poetic and strong look invincible. For eighteen years, She walked with the burden of demons on her shoulders and later transform it into the pair of strong wings to fly higher in the skies of "Freedom and self-respect"
:- Pang Of History By Parmit Sarkar
Children are like wet cements , the way you mould them leaves an impression so make sure you build them rather than crushing them forever. Comparison and peer pressure to meet parents expectations is what we all must have gone through but to what extent it can effect the young mind is aptly shown in this story .
:- The Lost And Found Self - Respect by Aditi Sahu
From every wound there is a scar, and every scar tells a story, With time those bruises fades but the pain last forever. Motherly fears,Nightmarish past, Fathers understanding and concern, Merry-go-round storyline and impactful social message pretty much sums up this story.
:- The White Lily By Supriya Paurlekar
We are often lectured about the "Devils" living in our society but why there is immobility and negligence about the monsters residing in the same house? In this story, Authoress has raised her voice against the most "veiled or masked" form of abuse of i.e domestic abuse.
Hence, Well-Crafted provocative read.
:- A Cry - Help Me By Sunanda Bhadra
Studies say India is a developing nation but somewhere Our
"high-tech modern" society is still possessed by some "orthodox curses". A storyline highlighting two poisonous diseases(Child-marriage & Forced prostitution) were captured in this one, though the thought was provoking But somewhere the execution was shunt.
:- The Lost Dreams By Swathi Shenoy
Gender Equality is not a Woman's issues, It is a Human Issue. In this male chauvinist society, women are forced to sacrifice their dreams, body, freedom and ambitious for the "sick heads" of this society. Loud and bold voice is raised against "Gender discrimination" in this story.
Hence,Somewhere Felt connected to this story so can say a power-packed read.
:- Live Life Like A Fairy By Nikita Nepali
Mistaking Lust For Love is quite trending nowadays.Tracks of Lust and love runs parallel to each other with no intersection point.From that unconditional one sided love to the painful betrayal, From that "holding on phase" to that "Moving on mode" this story is pretty much thoughtful but not Impactful as the content was bit off sync
:- The Shadow By Dr.Sunil Kaushal
Poverty has given birth to many anti-social crimes such as Rapes,abuse and child marriages .This powerful story is an illustration of women miseries as a young girl,as a wife and as a mother with the spice of "Strength "sprinkle to it.
Hence, This story is a fusion of Profound poetic flair, women's endless suffering,categorical emotions and apt karmic touch.
:- The Guinea Pig By Piyush Kaviraj
After reading this soul-ripping story, words of William Shakespeare are knocking my brains
"A Stony Adversary, An inhuman wretch, incapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy" . This is a heart-tearing alarming tale featuring the exploitation of innocence for the sake of "Inhuman experiments".
:- The Unheard Cry By Brinda Tailor
Our constitution speak a lot about the freedom of choice & speech but do these rights practically exist in our society ? Living upto societies expectations by neglecting our dreams, Phobia of qualifying exams & good grades, getting the "reputed job" , marrying the person from the same community, are few examples of this "So called freedom" .
Hence,Normal yet "so relatable" story
:- The Loud Silence By Shreya Ganguly
Sex trafficking and forced prostitution are the oldest monsters threatening our nation. Sex workers are those who are coerced to sell their bodies to those who have sold their morals. In this story Authoress took a bold initiative by exposing the dark sides of our so called "Sophisticated" society.
Hence, Started with provoking thought but the ending was
a bit chaotic .
:- Tales From a Pit Deep Down By Vaisakh E Hari
They came from the holes of the "wall" ,they don't reveal their dark past to everyone,Even if you discover their dark secrets you wont b able to trace the demons cultivating deep inside their heart and minds.
Hence, Mature plot with complex language .
:- A Tryst With Nazz By Leena Ratti
This story is a sarcastic slap to our orthodox system.Few cruses like "Child-labour, partial education system and caste discrimination" were unveiled in this tale.
Hence ,A sensible read garnished by "poetic toppings".
:- Just A Lucky Day....Or Not ? By Shikha Kaul
The number of child abuse cases has recently increased and the reasons behind these crimes have been more sadistic in nature.
What if the saviour turns out to be the predator ? In this story, Authoress have raised a Lucid voice against the most shameful act (Kidnapping) of the society.
Hence,This story is the finest among all with apt twist and turns, Well crafted and captivating Narrated.
:- Lesson Learned By Dr. Lopamudra Maitra
If a child is not safe in mother's womb where in the world she will be safe ??
This story is Short and simple with a poignant impact.
:- Left To Be Estranged By Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan
What we call as a "Generation Gap" is actually a result of "Interaction Gap" .
You don't have to hit to hurt children, Emotional and psychological Abuse is just as harmful as Physical abuse.
Hence, A story putting a "question mark" on the opaque side of parenting.
:- That Shade Of Vermilion By Tanya Shrivastava
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and Do Nothing. We say "India is shinning" and we are pacing up towards the progressive society, But crime like Child abuse, Child marriages , Domestic violence, Female- infanticides,Child-trafficking, kidnapping knocks my brain that are we a part of this self-proclaimed progressive society ??
Hence, This story is a "heart- tearing" & "soul-ripping" tale.
Hits and Misses of the book :-
Content :- Aptly Conceptualised maintaining the clarity in language but there were minor printing and grammatical errors.
On the edge v/s Off the edge :- Tales like The White Lily, The Lost dreams, The Shadow,Just A Lucky Day...Or Not ?? were Bang on with apt storyline and perfect Narration whereas, stories like A Cry -Help Me, Live Like A Fairy , The Loud Silence, Tales From A Pit Deep Down were off sync (as somewhere the story was ended abruptly ,somewhere language was complex)
Overall , This book is a mature collection of 17 different voices raising against the most outrageous crime called "Child Abuse"
P.S :- "The Only Thing Necessary For the triumph of Evil is that Good men do nothing about it "
Rating :- 3.75 + .25 ( For "Just a lucky day ...Or not ??" Story ) /5
Komal Priyani ❤️
Our society is cursed by several monsters - the rapist, the eve-teasers,the Abusers,the murderers and so on.To highlight the world's greatest "Silent Crime" is indeed a bold step that Gargi team have undertaken.Children are the precious gift from the God entrusted to humans To love and to care for,Not to ABUSE Nor to Neglect.
Lets hear these crumpled voices of 17 authors raising "loud and clear" against the evil(Child- Abuse) prevailing in our society.
:- Eighteen By Naisargi Bhatt
What a kick start, Authoress made grief look poetic and strong look invincible. For eighteen years, She walked with the burden of demons on her shoulders and later transform it into the pair of strong wings to fly higher in the skies of "Freedom and self-respect"
:- Pang Of History By Parmit Sarkar
Children are like wet cements , the way you mould them leaves an impression so make sure you build them rather than crushing them forever. Comparison and peer pressure to meet parents expectations is what we all must have gone through but to what extent it can effect the young mind is aptly shown in this story .
:- The Lost And Found Self - Respect by Aditi Sahu
From every wound there is a scar, and every scar tells a story, With time those bruises fades but the pain last forever. Motherly fears,Nightmarish past, Fathers understanding and concern, Merry-go-round storyline and impactful social message pretty much sums up this story.
:- The White Lily By Supriya Paurlekar
We are often lectured about the "Devils" living in our society but why there is immobility and negligence about the monsters residing in the same house? In this story, Authoress has raised her voice against the most "veiled or masked" form of abuse of i.e domestic abuse.
Hence, Well-Crafted provocative read.
:- A Cry - Help Me By Sunanda Bhadra
Studies say India is a developing nation but somewhere Our
"high-tech modern" society is still possessed by some "orthodox curses". A storyline highlighting two poisonous diseases(Child-marriage & Forced prostitution) were captured in this one, though the thought was provoking But somewhere the execution was shunt.
:- The Lost Dreams By Swathi Shenoy
Gender Equality is not a Woman's issues, It is a Human Issue. In this male chauvinist society, women are forced to sacrifice their dreams, body, freedom and ambitious for the "sick heads" of this society. Loud and bold voice is raised against "Gender discrimination" in this story.
Hence,Somewhere Felt connected to this story so can say a power-packed read.
:- Live Life Like A Fairy By Nikita Nepali
Mistaking Lust For Love is quite trending nowadays.Tracks of Lust and love runs parallel to each other with no intersection point.From that unconditional one sided love to the painful betrayal, From that "holding on phase" to that "Moving on mode" this story is pretty much thoughtful but not Impactful as the content was bit off sync
:- The Shadow By Dr.Sunil Kaushal
Poverty has given birth to many anti-social crimes such as Rapes,abuse and child marriages .This powerful story is an illustration of women miseries as a young girl,as a wife and as a mother with the spice of "Strength "sprinkle to it.
Hence, This story is a fusion of Profound poetic flair, women's endless suffering,categorical emotions and apt karmic touch.
:- The Guinea Pig By Piyush Kaviraj
After reading this soul-ripping story, words of William Shakespeare are knocking my brains
"A Stony Adversary, An inhuman wretch, incapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy" . This is a heart-tearing alarming tale featuring the exploitation of innocence for the sake of "Inhuman experiments".
:- The Unheard Cry By Brinda Tailor
Our constitution speak a lot about the freedom of choice & speech but do these rights practically exist in our society ? Living upto societies expectations by neglecting our dreams, Phobia of qualifying exams & good grades, getting the "reputed job" , marrying the person from the same community, are few examples of this "So called freedom" .
Hence,Normal yet "so relatable" story
:- The Loud Silence By Shreya Ganguly
Sex trafficking and forced prostitution are the oldest monsters threatening our nation. Sex workers are those who are coerced to sell their bodies to those who have sold their morals. In this story Authoress took a bold initiative by exposing the dark sides of our so called "Sophisticated" society.
Hence, Started with provoking thought but the ending was
a bit chaotic .
:- Tales From a Pit Deep Down By Vaisakh E Hari
They came from the holes of the "wall" ,they don't reveal their dark past to everyone,Even if you discover their dark secrets you wont b able to trace the demons cultivating deep inside their heart and minds.
Hence, Mature plot with complex language .
:- A Tryst With Nazz By Leena Ratti
This story is a sarcastic slap to our orthodox system.Few cruses like "Child-labour, partial education system and caste discrimination" were unveiled in this tale.
Hence ,A sensible read garnished by "poetic toppings".
:- Just A Lucky Day....Or Not ? By Shikha Kaul
The number of child abuse cases has recently increased and the reasons behind these crimes have been more sadistic in nature.
What if the saviour turns out to be the predator ? In this story, Authoress have raised a Lucid voice against the most shameful act (Kidnapping) of the society.
Hence,This story is the finest among all with apt twist and turns, Well crafted and captivating Narrated.
:- Lesson Learned By Dr. Lopamudra Maitra
If a child is not safe in mother's womb where in the world she will be safe ??
This story is Short and simple with a poignant impact.
:- Left To Be Estranged By Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan
What we call as a "Generation Gap" is actually a result of "Interaction Gap" .
You don't have to hit to hurt children, Emotional and psychological Abuse is just as harmful as Physical abuse.
Hence, A story putting a "question mark" on the opaque side of parenting.
:- That Shade Of Vermilion By Tanya Shrivastava
The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and Do Nothing. We say "India is shinning" and we are pacing up towards the progressive society, But crime like Child abuse, Child marriages , Domestic violence, Female- infanticides,Child-trafficking, kidnapping knocks my brain that are we a part of this self-proclaimed progressive society ??
Hence, This story is a "heart- tearing" & "soul-ripping" tale.
Hits and Misses of the book :-
Content :- Aptly Conceptualised maintaining the clarity in language but there were minor printing and grammatical errors.
On the edge v/s Off the edge :- Tales like The White Lily, The Lost dreams, The Shadow,Just A Lucky Day...Or Not ?? were Bang on with apt storyline and perfect Narration whereas, stories like A Cry -Help Me, Live Like A Fairy , The Loud Silence, Tales From A Pit Deep Down were off sync (as somewhere the story was ended abruptly ,somewhere language was complex)
Overall , This book is a mature collection of 17 different voices raising against the most outrageous crime called "Child Abuse"
P.S :- "The Only Thing Necessary For the triumph of Evil is that Good men do nothing about it "
Rating :- 3.75 + .25 ( For "Just a lucky day ...Or not ??" Story ) /5
Komal Priyani ❤️
March 26, 2016
Brilliant stories and poems..
October 16, 2015
Mirroring the agony of the hurt...
An anthology on a highly sensitive issue i.e. Child Abuse, the book begins with a poem by Naisargi Bhatt. Titled ‘Eighteen’ it brings out the strength of a teen, his/ her determination to overcome hurdles and live on his/ her own terms. ‘Eighteen’ is followed by 16 powerful stories each one different from the other, each one bringing forth the trauma of the young one who finds himself/ herself in an unenviable situation.
‘Pang of History’ by Pramit Sarkar brings forth the mental agony of a young boy who loses his innocence post a fall. But is it the trauma of the fall or something else that has snatched away the smile from his lips and left a vacant look in his eyes? A thought- provoking story and an eye-opener, this one is a must read for all those ambitious parents who put their dreams before their child’s desires. ‘The Unheard Cry’ by Brinda Tailor too has the unreasonable attitude of the parents and the sorry fallout of the same as its core.
Aditi Sahu’s ‘The lost and found self- respect’ is the story of a mother scarred when just a child and her fear for her young one, how she lives her nightmare through the years but finally finds peace in the loving care and understanding offered her by her husband. This one sends across a strong message. It tells us the need to offer care as well as support to the tormented ones to enable them over-power the demons within.
‘The lost dreams’ by Swati Shenoy brings forth the hypocrisy of our society which discriminates between the girl and the boy child. Who is to be blamed? Is it only the patriarchal system prevalent in our society or are women to be blamed too? What if they i.e. women decide to fight for their rights? The answers are there in the story.The story ends on a note of hope, hope that there is light shinning at the end of the tunnel.
While all the stories deal with child abuse in one form or the other, the ones that truly impressed me were ‘The Shadow’ by Dr. Sunil Kaushal, ‘The Loud Silence’ by Shreya Ganguly, ‘Tales From A Pit Deep Down’ by Vaisakh E Hari, ‘Just A Lucky Day…Or Not?’ by Shikha Kaul and ‘The Shade of Vermillion’ by Tanya Shrivastava. They scored well not only in terms of content but also in terms of style, pace and language.
What worked for me
The stories each mirroring the pains and pangs of injustice, are food for thought. They mirror the true face of present day realities. Each one of them is a cry for understanding, empathy and justice. One can easily relate to them. They are straight from the heart and hence hit one hard really where it matters i.e. the heart. While some leave us numb others leave us distraught.
What needs to be fine tuned
1)Editing 2)A few stories, to make them more complete and powerful.
An anthology on a highly sensitive issue i.e. Child Abuse, the book begins with a poem by Naisargi Bhatt. Titled ‘Eighteen’ it brings out the strength of a teen, his/ her determination to overcome hurdles and live on his/ her own terms. ‘Eighteen’ is followed by 16 powerful stories each one different from the other, each one bringing forth the trauma of the young one who finds himself/ herself in an unenviable situation.
‘Pang of History’ by Pramit Sarkar brings forth the mental agony of a young boy who loses his innocence post a fall. But is it the trauma of the fall or something else that has snatched away the smile from his lips and left a vacant look in his eyes? A thought- provoking story and an eye-opener, this one is a must read for all those ambitious parents who put their dreams before their child’s desires. ‘The Unheard Cry’ by Brinda Tailor too has the unreasonable attitude of the parents and the sorry fallout of the same as its core.
Aditi Sahu’s ‘The lost and found self- respect’ is the story of a mother scarred when just a child and her fear for her young one, how she lives her nightmare through the years but finally finds peace in the loving care and understanding offered her by her husband. This one sends across a strong message. It tells us the need to offer care as well as support to the tormented ones to enable them over-power the demons within.
‘The lost dreams’ by Swati Shenoy brings forth the hypocrisy of our society which discriminates between the girl and the boy child. Who is to be blamed? Is it only the patriarchal system prevalent in our society or are women to be blamed too? What if they i.e. women decide to fight for their rights? The answers are there in the story.The story ends on a note of hope, hope that there is light shinning at the end of the tunnel.
While all the stories deal with child abuse in one form or the other, the ones that truly impressed me were ‘The Shadow’ by Dr. Sunil Kaushal, ‘The Loud Silence’ by Shreya Ganguly, ‘Tales From A Pit Deep Down’ by Vaisakh E Hari, ‘Just A Lucky Day…Or Not?’ by Shikha Kaul and ‘The Shade of Vermillion’ by Tanya Shrivastava. They scored well not only in terms of content but also in terms of style, pace and language.
What worked for me
The stories each mirroring the pains and pangs of injustice, are food for thought. They mirror the true face of present day realities. Each one of them is a cry for understanding, empathy and justice. One can easily relate to them. They are straight from the heart and hence hit one hard really where it matters i.e. the heart. While some leave us numb others leave us distraught.
What needs to be fine tuned
1)Editing 2)A few stories, to make them more complete and powerful.
March 3, 2017
"Just a lucky day.. or not" A heart touching short story, gave me goosebumps while reading. Cruel reality beautifully narrated by the Author.
All the stories are full of emotions, shock, fear, sadness, anger and many more..
While reading this book I realized how good my life was as a child.
Hope every child in this world remains safe and their innocence never fade!
All the stories are full of emotions, shock, fear, sadness, anger and many more..
While reading this book I realized how good my life was as a child.
Hope every child in this world remains safe and their innocence never fade!
October 14, 2015
My Take:
Eighteen by Naisargi Bhatt
‘Eighteen’ is a poem that describes the life of a girl. The girl is eighteen years old and recounts to the reader the tale of her life. Very expressive!
Pang of History by Pramit Sarkar
The story section of Crumpled Voices 2 opens with a bang with Pramit’s story. Every individual born on this earth is unique in his own ways. Parents often forget it and compare their child’s ability with others. This shouldn’t be done. What effect does it have on the child. Read Pang of History! This has become my favourite!
The Lost and Found Self-Respect by Aditi Sahu
This story touched my heart. Avantika was sexually abused when she was 4 year old. She tries to forget it as a bad dream and tries to move on with her life. Does this incident haunt her present? What will she do- share it with her husband or keep quiet like she did years ago? The narration of this story has been done very well. A good read!
The White Lily by Supriya Parulekar
Another story of child abuse! Lust is the evil disease which once contracted can never be cured. Rose’s husband, James is one of those monsters who abuses young girls in order to satisfy his thirst. He tricks them in to his stories about monsters and plays with their young, innocent minds. His current target is Melody. Does she escape from his lusty intentions? The narration is perfect. Dialogues are crafted well. The poem in the beginning of the story is like a cherry on the cake. Awesome read!
A Cry- Help Me! By Sunanda Bhadra
Child marriage is a social evil and it really hurts to know that it is still prevalent in many rural areas of our country. A Cry- Help Me! Talks about this evil custom and the way a girl’s life is devasted after falling prey to it. Overall, an average read!
The Lost Dreams by Swathi Shenoy
“You are a gril. You shouldn’t go out late at night.”
“You are a girl. Behave like one! Have you seen your clothes?”
Most of the girls face these talks from our elders. This story is of that kind. Riya isn’t allowed to participate in the national level match by her grandparents. Does her mother support her or does she keep mum like always? The narration is done very well. The flow of the story is also good. It is the end which stole my heart. An awesome read!
Live like a fairy! By Nikita Nepali
The story did not fit well in the theme – this is what I feel. However, the story gives a wonderful message. ‘One should take lessons from life and keep moving’.
The Shadow by Dr. Sunil Kaushal
Rape is a heinous crime. This story is about Soma, a girl who was raped in her childhood. She was forced in to marriage in order to avoid the society talks. Has she recovered from the mental torture that the incident caused to her? What does she do when she encounters the same beast again? The narration is awesome. The poetry at the start of the story is very touching. An excellent read!
The Guinea Pig by Piyush Kaviraj
‘Breast Cancer’ stories have always touched me. And so does this story. The protagonist is kidnapped by few soldiers and is brought to a laboratory where experiments are conducted. Being a young girl, the protagonist did not know what the evil minds intend to do to her. She gives in and after two months of suffering and dizziness, she finds herself in a hospital. What had happened to her? Why was she admitted? Who had rescued her? I just have one word for this story- incredible. The plot, the flow of events and the way of expressing the emotions is simply wow!
The Unheard Cry by Brinda Tailor
Most of the Indian parents confine their thoughts to only engineering and medicine as the ultimate career option. They fail to recognise the talents of their child and force them in to engineering or medicine. This story is sure to bring a change on the minds of parents.
The Loud Silence by Shreya Ganguly
‘Can a prostitute be raped?’- this is the center of this story. The question seems absurd. Isn’t it? Read Naina’s story and find out the answer to the above question. The story was overall a good read!
Tales from a pit deep down by Vaisakh E Hari
This story made me think! I cannot say anything about this one. I must say I liked reading it.
A Tryst with Naaz by Leena Ratti
Can your family behave badly with you, ill-treat you? This question arised in my mind as I started reading this story. My doubts were cleared at the end. Again, good narration! Average read!
Just a lucky day or not by Shikha Kaul
Shikha Ma’am has amazed me with ‘Hidden Husband’ and with this story too! The story begins with the girl waiting for her mum outside school. I silently prayed in my mind about her safety. But no! She is kidnapped. The surprising part of this story lies in its end. The story is amazing!
Lesson Learned by Dr. Lopamudra Maitra
Female foeticide is a crime. I am astonished to see that sex determination still exists in this modern era of technology and science. Mala’s foetus is that of a girl child. Her in-laws and husband are forcing her to get her baby aborted. Does she do it? An overall good read!
Left to be estranged by Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan
Parents and children should give each other some space. They must respect each other’s decisions and thoughts. They should be more like friends. This story primarily focuses on current parent-child relationship. A must read for parents!
That shade of vermilion by Tanya Shrivastava
What started with a bang, ended up in one! The story is about Ashwin Rathod and his failure as a son and as a husband. Ashwin is so blind with his career and success that he doesn’t realise that he has left his wife Aastha in the jaws of death. What happens to Aastha is inexplicable. An awesome story!
Innocence Lost –Stories of child abuse is a thought provoking anthology. The stories have been carefully chosen and compiled. All the stories focus on different issues which makes this anthology unique. The stories have been edited well.
My personal favorites are Pang of History by Pramit sarkar, The White Lily by Supriya Parulekar, The Shadow by Dr. Sunil Kaushal, The Guinea Pig by Piyush Kaviraj, Just a lucky day or not by Shikha Kaul and That shade of vermilion by Tanya Shrivastava.
I rate:
Cover: 4/5
Stories: 4/5
My overall rating for this anthology is 4/5 stars.
Eighteen by Naisargi Bhatt
‘Eighteen’ is a poem that describes the life of a girl. The girl is eighteen years old and recounts to the reader the tale of her life. Very expressive!
Pang of History by Pramit Sarkar
The story section of Crumpled Voices 2 opens with a bang with Pramit’s story. Every individual born on this earth is unique in his own ways. Parents often forget it and compare their child’s ability with others. This shouldn’t be done. What effect does it have on the child. Read Pang of History! This has become my favourite!
The Lost and Found Self-Respect by Aditi Sahu
This story touched my heart. Avantika was sexually abused when she was 4 year old. She tries to forget it as a bad dream and tries to move on with her life. Does this incident haunt her present? What will she do- share it with her husband or keep quiet like she did years ago? The narration of this story has been done very well. A good read!
The White Lily by Supriya Parulekar
Another story of child abuse! Lust is the evil disease which once contracted can never be cured. Rose’s husband, James is one of those monsters who abuses young girls in order to satisfy his thirst. He tricks them in to his stories about monsters and plays with their young, innocent minds. His current target is Melody. Does she escape from his lusty intentions? The narration is perfect. Dialogues are crafted well. The poem in the beginning of the story is like a cherry on the cake. Awesome read!
A Cry- Help Me! By Sunanda Bhadra
Child marriage is a social evil and it really hurts to know that it is still prevalent in many rural areas of our country. A Cry- Help Me! Talks about this evil custom and the way a girl’s life is devasted after falling prey to it. Overall, an average read!
The Lost Dreams by Swathi Shenoy
“You are a gril. You shouldn’t go out late at night.”
“You are a girl. Behave like one! Have you seen your clothes?”
Most of the girls face these talks from our elders. This story is of that kind. Riya isn’t allowed to participate in the national level match by her grandparents. Does her mother support her or does she keep mum like always? The narration is done very well. The flow of the story is also good. It is the end which stole my heart. An awesome read!
Live like a fairy! By Nikita Nepali
The story did not fit well in the theme – this is what I feel. However, the story gives a wonderful message. ‘One should take lessons from life and keep moving’.
The Shadow by Dr. Sunil Kaushal
Rape is a heinous crime. This story is about Soma, a girl who was raped in her childhood. She was forced in to marriage in order to avoid the society talks. Has she recovered from the mental torture that the incident caused to her? What does she do when she encounters the same beast again? The narration is awesome. The poetry at the start of the story is very touching. An excellent read!
The Guinea Pig by Piyush Kaviraj
‘Breast Cancer’ stories have always touched me. And so does this story. The protagonist is kidnapped by few soldiers and is brought to a laboratory where experiments are conducted. Being a young girl, the protagonist did not know what the evil minds intend to do to her. She gives in and after two months of suffering and dizziness, she finds herself in a hospital. What had happened to her? Why was she admitted? Who had rescued her? I just have one word for this story- incredible. The plot, the flow of events and the way of expressing the emotions is simply wow!
The Unheard Cry by Brinda Tailor
Most of the Indian parents confine their thoughts to only engineering and medicine as the ultimate career option. They fail to recognise the talents of their child and force them in to engineering or medicine. This story is sure to bring a change on the minds of parents.
The Loud Silence by Shreya Ganguly
‘Can a prostitute be raped?’- this is the center of this story. The question seems absurd. Isn’t it? Read Naina’s story and find out the answer to the above question. The story was overall a good read!
Tales from a pit deep down by Vaisakh E Hari
This story made me think! I cannot say anything about this one. I must say I liked reading it.
A Tryst with Naaz by Leena Ratti
Can your family behave badly with you, ill-treat you? This question arised in my mind as I started reading this story. My doubts were cleared at the end. Again, good narration! Average read!
Just a lucky day or not by Shikha Kaul
Shikha Ma’am has amazed me with ‘Hidden Husband’ and with this story too! The story begins with the girl waiting for her mum outside school. I silently prayed in my mind about her safety. But no! She is kidnapped. The surprising part of this story lies in its end. The story is amazing!
Lesson Learned by Dr. Lopamudra Maitra
Female foeticide is a crime. I am astonished to see that sex determination still exists in this modern era of technology and science. Mala’s foetus is that of a girl child. Her in-laws and husband are forcing her to get her baby aborted. Does she do it? An overall good read!
Left to be estranged by Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan
Parents and children should give each other some space. They must respect each other’s decisions and thoughts. They should be more like friends. This story primarily focuses on current parent-child relationship. A must read for parents!
That shade of vermilion by Tanya Shrivastava
What started with a bang, ended up in one! The story is about Ashwin Rathod and his failure as a son and as a husband. Ashwin is so blind with his career and success that he doesn’t realise that he has left his wife Aastha in the jaws of death. What happens to Aastha is inexplicable. An awesome story!
Innocence Lost –Stories of child abuse is a thought provoking anthology. The stories have been carefully chosen and compiled. All the stories focus on different issues which makes this anthology unique. The stories have been edited well.
My personal favorites are Pang of History by Pramit sarkar, The White Lily by Supriya Parulekar, The Shadow by Dr. Sunil Kaushal, The Guinea Pig by Piyush Kaviraj, Just a lucky day or not by Shikha Kaul and That shade of vermilion by Tanya Shrivastava.
I rate:
Cover: 4/5
Stories: 4/5
My overall rating for this anthology is 4/5 stars.
October 17, 2015
Anthology: Innocence Lost (Stories of Child Abuse)
Publisher: Gargi Publishers
Compiler: Pulkit Gupta
Editor: Ila Garg
Cover Design: Ammol Karambe
I do not deny that these stories did not disturb me, they did and practically every story I read my heart was broken. I was left to ponder whether this really happens in my own country.
The cover page designed by Ammol Karambe is classically matching the theme and makes you feel for the plight of the many who become prey to these crimes. despite one's dislike to get into such traps knowingly or unknowingly one gets entangled to it.
Each author has invariably expounded his or her outlook on this theme. The anthology contains a poem and 16 short stories. I do not want to comment on the their style of writing because they are exceptionally doing it well. each in their own style strike a chord in the reader.
Eighteen by Naisargi Bhatt
Naisargi Bhatt is a wondering philosopher, speaking of survival through atrocities of life, betrayal, wooing, confinements. She describes seasons and speaks of rights, making a mention that she has no choices and no identity thus.
Pang of History by Pramit Sarkar
This story is a bang on starter highlighting the psychological damage parents cause on a child's mind.
The Lost and Found Self-Respect by Aditi Sahu
The author presents the reality in a very subtle manner through this story. She speaks about arranged marriage and its hidden truths. She also narrates parents restlessness. She also speaks about the disgusting childhood of Avantika. what happens to her? You got to read the story ...
The White Lily by Supriya Parulekar
I loved her writing style more so the effect that she creates by the words she uses. The very start with poetical sentences which haunt the reader and remind him or her that this is a horror story. the repetition of the word like Monster, keep the reader attuned to her story.
A Cry- Help Me! By Sunanda Bhadra
This story is about Child Marriage which is shamefully prevalent in Indian interior states. I liked her expressions like 'Since that day, I had died several deaths,' 'Devils of our society,' 'Greed leads.'
The Lost Dreams by Swathi Shenoy
This story highlights that our gender cannot trample upon our dreams.
Live like a fairy! By Nikita Nepali
Many a times we question whether love really exists and this story brings home that very point that love exists for sure.
The Shadow by Dr. Sunil Kaushal
It begins with a heart touching poem. Though she uses humor and poetical tense she gets across a valid point about rape, child labor and strength of a woman.
The Guinea Pig by Piyush Kaviraj
This is again an eye opening story written explicitly well. Piyush mentions the drastic extension of man to experiment to gain insights on the research humiliating the innocent. A splendid read!
The Unheard Cry by Brinda Tailor
Engineering looks to be the only option sometimes when you want yourself to be accepted in the society. This story highlights that point and reverberates the idea that forcing onto someone what one doesn't like leads to mental tension. I hope atleast after reading this story people will change their thought and give importance to other subjects as well.
The Loud Silence by Shreya Ganguly
‘Can a prostitute be raped?’ This is a very antithetical interrogative statement in this story. What is more interesting her title itself is antithetical 'Loud Silence.' Want to know what she means by it, read it!
Tales from a pit deep down by Vaisakh E Hari
A thought provoking story, reflecting on life that is so mean at times. Vaisakh E Hari is difficult to understand for his complex formation of sentences but his thought is marvelous.
A Tryst with Naaz by Leena Ratti
She gives a different definition to Child Abuse and makes a very inspiring story.
Just a lucky day... or not? by Shikha Kaul
Amazing read no doubt, she makes you anxious and she makes you feel happy. But you have an interesting read.
Lesson Learned by Dr. Lopamudra Maitra
A story highlighting Female infanticide and sex determination. She presents what trauma a woman goes through when she is asked to abort the foetus in her womb.
Left to be estranged by Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan
Parent- Child relationship is the focus of this story. The writer shows the girls plight at what she is going through because of the mental torture she undergoes.
That shade of vermilion by Tanya Shrivastava
This is a realtime story opening up an issue that is very relevant not just in the case of a husband but also a wife and more so in relation to parent and child. Due to one's obsession with career one forgets one's family.
Compilation and Editing
Well, some would note that the stories selected do not match the theme. But I would say that Pulkit Gupta in his wisdom has compiled it well. Just imagine the book having only stories that are pessimistically related only to rape and sexual abuse etc. It would be a boring read. But the inclusion of stories that in a way relate to the theme make it an interesting anthology. The editing should have been more polished to increase the credibility of the book.
Bottomline: Want to get yourself out of ignorance, fetch Crumpled Voices 2, Innocence Lost (Stories of Child Abuse).
Publisher: Gargi Publishers
Compiler: Pulkit Gupta
Editor: Ila Garg
Cover Design: Ammol Karambe
I do not deny that these stories did not disturb me, they did and practically every story I read my heart was broken. I was left to ponder whether this really happens in my own country.
The cover page designed by Ammol Karambe is classically matching the theme and makes you feel for the plight of the many who become prey to these crimes. despite one's dislike to get into such traps knowingly or unknowingly one gets entangled to it.
Each author has invariably expounded his or her outlook on this theme. The anthology contains a poem and 16 short stories. I do not want to comment on the their style of writing because they are exceptionally doing it well. each in their own style strike a chord in the reader.
Eighteen by Naisargi Bhatt
Naisargi Bhatt is a wondering philosopher, speaking of survival through atrocities of life, betrayal, wooing, confinements. She describes seasons and speaks of rights, making a mention that she has no choices and no identity thus.
Pang of History by Pramit Sarkar
This story is a bang on starter highlighting the psychological damage parents cause on a child's mind.
The Lost and Found Self-Respect by Aditi Sahu
The author presents the reality in a very subtle manner through this story. She speaks about arranged marriage and its hidden truths. She also narrates parents restlessness. She also speaks about the disgusting childhood of Avantika. what happens to her? You got to read the story ...
The White Lily by Supriya Parulekar
I loved her writing style more so the effect that she creates by the words she uses. The very start with poetical sentences which haunt the reader and remind him or her that this is a horror story. the repetition of the word like Monster, keep the reader attuned to her story.
A Cry- Help Me! By Sunanda Bhadra
This story is about Child Marriage which is shamefully prevalent in Indian interior states. I liked her expressions like 'Since that day, I had died several deaths,' 'Devils of our society,' 'Greed leads.'
The Lost Dreams by Swathi Shenoy
This story highlights that our gender cannot trample upon our dreams.
Live like a fairy! By Nikita Nepali
Many a times we question whether love really exists and this story brings home that very point that love exists for sure.
The Shadow by Dr. Sunil Kaushal
It begins with a heart touching poem. Though she uses humor and poetical tense she gets across a valid point about rape, child labor and strength of a woman.
The Guinea Pig by Piyush Kaviraj
This is again an eye opening story written explicitly well. Piyush mentions the drastic extension of man to experiment to gain insights on the research humiliating the innocent. A splendid read!
The Unheard Cry by Brinda Tailor
Engineering looks to be the only option sometimes when you want yourself to be accepted in the society. This story highlights that point and reverberates the idea that forcing onto someone what one doesn't like leads to mental tension. I hope atleast after reading this story people will change their thought and give importance to other subjects as well.
The Loud Silence by Shreya Ganguly
‘Can a prostitute be raped?’ This is a very antithetical interrogative statement in this story. What is more interesting her title itself is antithetical 'Loud Silence.' Want to know what she means by it, read it!
Tales from a pit deep down by Vaisakh E Hari
A thought provoking story, reflecting on life that is so mean at times. Vaisakh E Hari is difficult to understand for his complex formation of sentences but his thought is marvelous.
A Tryst with Naaz by Leena Ratti
She gives a different definition to Child Abuse and makes a very inspiring story.
Just a lucky day... or not? by Shikha Kaul
Amazing read no doubt, she makes you anxious and she makes you feel happy. But you have an interesting read.
Lesson Learned by Dr. Lopamudra Maitra
A story highlighting Female infanticide and sex determination. She presents what trauma a woman goes through when she is asked to abort the foetus in her womb.
Left to be estranged by Ummul Fazal Fatima Khan
Parent- Child relationship is the focus of this story. The writer shows the girls plight at what she is going through because of the mental torture she undergoes.
That shade of vermilion by Tanya Shrivastava
This is a realtime story opening up an issue that is very relevant not just in the case of a husband but also a wife and more so in relation to parent and child. Due to one's obsession with career one forgets one's family.
Compilation and Editing
Well, some would note that the stories selected do not match the theme. But I would say that Pulkit Gupta in his wisdom has compiled it well. Just imagine the book having only stories that are pessimistically related only to rape and sexual abuse etc. It would be a boring read. But the inclusion of stories that in a way relate to the theme make it an interesting anthology. The editing should have been more polished to increase the credibility of the book.
Bottomline: Want to get yourself out of ignorance, fetch Crumpled Voices 2, Innocence Lost (Stories of Child Abuse).
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