What do you think?
Rate this book
Unvanquished
'Unvanquished' is the author's personal response to the changing times. Although fictional, her characters give voice to the students and their suffering.
Tender in its rendering of the subject, and subtle in its portrayal of violence, this is a heart-warming tale about the student community and the emotional bond that ties them together. Written with sensitivity, it speaks to audiences worldwide and has the potential to perhaps inspire people from different walks of life.
Tender in its rendering of the subject, and subtle in its portrayal of violence, this is a heart-warming tale about the student community and the emotional bond that ties them together. Written with sensitivity, it speaks to audiences worldwide and has the potential to perhaps inspire people from different walks of life.
71 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2021
6 people want to read
About the author
Shrubaboti Bose
6 books34 followersShrubaboti Bose is an Indian author, currently working as a Reader for The Dodge, an educator and is a verified Book Reviewer on Reedsy Discovery. She also enjoys reading poetry, works of indie authors and reviewing to support the emerging author community on Goodreads.
She completed her MA in English Literature from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Her works have been featured in many International Magazines such as Ruminate Magazine (Issue 56), Kalonopia, among others. You can check out her creative writing on her blog, Lemongrass or follow her on Instagram
She completed her MA in English Literature from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Her works have been featured in many International Magazines such as Ruminate Magazine (Issue 56), Kalonopia, among others. You can check out her creative writing on her blog, Lemongrass or follow her on Instagram
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 24, 2021
Unvanquished by Shrubaboti Bose is the story of a group of university students in India fighting both violent attacks and police negligence during one harrowing night at their school. The story is short but excellently paced, and I could feel the tension rising at a steady rate as I read, leading up to the "main event." The characters are interesting and felt fully fleshed out, and the author manages to introduce us to a number of local terms in a way that feels natural to the story.
This is not so much a story of police violence as it is a story of police negligence in the face of violence, and I think that's an equally important story to tell. Unvanquished doesn't sugarcoat anything when it comes to the harm done to the students or the sickening reactions of the cops, but you'll still come away feeling hopeful, knowing people will always overcome.
This is not so much a story of police violence as it is a story of police negligence in the face of violence, and I think that's an equally important story to tell. Unvanquished doesn't sugarcoat anything when it comes to the harm done to the students or the sickening reactions of the cops, but you'll still come away feeling hopeful, knowing people will always overcome.
July 2, 2021
All of us know that we're wading through a difficult time - difficult in every possible way - on one hand at pandemic level or, on the other hand, politically, reaching almost fanatic level to suppress the rising voices of the youth. In this novella, it seems to be that we can hear something regarding the second issue - something less vocal but more heartfelt. Probably, that which is the need of the hours. Timely content and great read!
July 27, 2021
I read Unvanquished fast because it sucked me in and I slipped into its university world of students and protest, reading at once until I was done.
The thing I liked best about it was the group characterization of the students—the comradery among them and their deep engagement with their study. The girls at the beginning want to sit in the front row, soaking in that learning-warmth of the opportunity a great teacher offers. For instance, Bose writes, “The lecture time was up but students hesitated to leave the classroom, still submerged in the trance.” She captured that hungry student feeling for me, the very best that universities everywhere have to offer.
When she comes to the first hint of violence, I really like how the narrator differentiates between normal canteen squabbles and a more serious argument making “the hair at the back of her neck stand up.” She writes with a subtlety that took me toward the violence in stages. I’m a reader who will sometimes put a book down when the violence is ugly or described in gory detail, but Bose navigated a fine line to keep me curious and reading without losing me.
I noticed places in the style that I would describe as being overwritten. For example, there is a wonderful, sensory description of Indian food at a crowded canteen, where the narrator has already described “… the heady scent of spices and the characteristic aroma of the basmati rice mixed with saffron.” The main character is beginning to feel, as she describes it, “… weak at the knees. .... She closed her eyes for a minute and took in a deep breath to relish the smell, smiling with delight.” The description would be more powerful if it stopped short and cut off that last phrase. And yet, it made me hungry. It works. It is just that more editing would improve the book.
As the crisis in the story ramps up, Bose shines at creating atmosphere. I got a bit lost between characters, but that didn’t bother me as Bose is a master at creating and sustaining mood. She captured the fear and simultaneous bonding of the students as their situation got dangerous.
There’s a strength and determination in this work. It is full of heart and, yes, resilience.
The thing I liked best about it was the group characterization of the students—the comradery among them and their deep engagement with their study. The girls at the beginning want to sit in the front row, soaking in that learning-warmth of the opportunity a great teacher offers. For instance, Bose writes, “The lecture time was up but students hesitated to leave the classroom, still submerged in the trance.” She captured that hungry student feeling for me, the very best that universities everywhere have to offer.
When she comes to the first hint of violence, I really like how the narrator differentiates between normal canteen squabbles and a more serious argument making “the hair at the back of her neck stand up.” She writes with a subtlety that took me toward the violence in stages. I’m a reader who will sometimes put a book down when the violence is ugly or described in gory detail, but Bose navigated a fine line to keep me curious and reading without losing me.
I noticed places in the style that I would describe as being overwritten. For example, there is a wonderful, sensory description of Indian food at a crowded canteen, where the narrator has already described “… the heady scent of spices and the characteristic aroma of the basmati rice mixed with saffron.” The main character is beginning to feel, as she describes it, “… weak at the knees. .... She closed her eyes for a minute and took in a deep breath to relish the smell, smiling with delight.” The description would be more powerful if it stopped short and cut off that last phrase. And yet, it made me hungry. It works. It is just that more editing would improve the book.
As the crisis in the story ramps up, Bose shines at creating atmosphere. I got a bit lost between characters, but that didn’t bother me as Bose is a master at creating and sustaining mood. She captured the fear and simultaneous bonding of the students as their situation got dangerous.
There’s a strength and determination in this work. It is full of heart and, yes, resilience.
July 6, 2021
At first I was put off by the disjointed narration, inconsistent descriptive focus, and shifting POVs, but as I continued reading I realized that Bose had successfully caused me to experience the same dizzying confusion and bewilderment that her characters experience. In the face of such senseless brutality, her characters are realistically terrified yet gloriously, determinedly noble.
I do not recommend this book to those who have been traumatized by law enforcement, have been physically beaten, or who are in law enforcement and are easily triggered by others’ fear of you, as this book will be, well, triggering to these groups. Be kind to yourself when considering your next read.
You can sense Bose’s heart streaming across the page as she describes shocking, yet to many unsurprising, acts of power abuse on a university campus, and how the support of friends and faculty can lace terror with triumph. While I think this book might have benefited from an additional round of editing, I recommend it to anyone interested in the experience of people other than themselves, students, travelers, voters, law enforcement advocates, and humans.
I do not recommend this book to those who have been traumatized by law enforcement, have been physically beaten, or who are in law enforcement and are easily triggered by others’ fear of you, as this book will be, well, triggering to these groups. Be kind to yourself when considering your next read.
You can sense Bose’s heart streaming across the page as she describes shocking, yet to many unsurprising, acts of power abuse on a university campus, and how the support of friends and faculty can lace terror with triumph. While I think this book might have benefited from an additional round of editing, I recommend it to anyone interested in the experience of people other than themselves, students, travelers, voters, law enforcement advocates, and humans.
July 1, 2021
Writing short stories is not easy, given that it has little time and space for character and plot development.
Despite that in a few pages Shrubaboti Bose has managed to make the story so appealing, encapsulating the nuances of dissent and protest in the face of police brutality and misconduct which is a very ongoing and pressing concern in India and various other countries.
The story was quite impactful leaving you with the takeaway that every voice of dissent adds to unity.
It takes a talented writer to make a short story flow so well from start to finish and Shrubaboti Bose has done an excellent job at that!
Despite that in a few pages Shrubaboti Bose has managed to make the story so appealing, encapsulating the nuances of dissent and protest in the face of police brutality and misconduct which is a very ongoing and pressing concern in India and various other countries.
The story was quite impactful leaving you with the takeaway that every voice of dissent adds to unity.
It takes a talented writer to make a short story flow so well from start to finish and Shrubaboti Bose has done an excellent job at that!
September 25, 2022
This book is based on Justice, innocent people are punished, and what is left behind for them to make fun of them. However, this is happening in the world, the people who are supposed to protect us are harming us.
I really enjoyed the book, but I feel bad that it is a real story and the moment which was faced by students was wrenching my heart. I really enjoyed reading this book and adding it to my digital shelf.
I really enjoyed the book, but I feel bad that it is a real story and the moment which was faced by students was wrenching my heart. I really enjoyed reading this book and adding it to my digital shelf.
June 4, 2022
Truly exquisite storytelling, I was at a loss of words when I finished reading it. So beautifully written.
I hope it reaches so many more people. And I recommend it to people who wish to empathise or empathised with the ill-treatment of university students at the riot uprisings that happened at Jamia university in New Delhi, India just before the pandemic began.
I hope it reaches so many more people. And I recommend it to people who wish to empathise or empathised with the ill-treatment of university students at the riot uprisings that happened at Jamia university in New Delhi, India just before the pandemic began.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews