TABULA RASA

by Jayanthi Sankar

Tabula Rasa shatters some of the misconceptions that abound worldwide and prejudices knowingly and unknowingly about the inhabitants, their origins, and Singapore's histories. A must-read to know what this little island has been and is about.
- - Usha Nagasamy, Further Education College Lecturer, London
The commendable research behind the novel stands out, unveiling the contributions of thousands of labourers in the building of the wonderland of Singapore. While it seamlessly weaves the bonding, cultural strengths, and taboos, it also emerges as a rare work of art in male psychology. The world of men, their loneliness, and suffocations caused by their inability to vent out their hurts and insults have been depicted intricately by a female author.
- Ethan Wynn, Houston, USA
Some books rejoice us, some leave us in tears, there are a few more give pangs of nostalgia, but a very few make us doubt our perceptions and conscience , and this fiction, like every other book of the author, did that to me. I was awestruck, unlearning, learning, and contemplating within myself. Is human mind just full of complexities or contrasts? Is there anything better in life than just a clean slate, Tabula Rasa?

- Sredhanea Ramkrishnan, Budding author and an Entrepreneur, India

The spectacular smooth, silky thread of migration holds the exquisite pearls of histories, unique perspectives, lively characters, exciting incidents, connections, and incredible imaginations of Singapore. The phenomenal Tabula Rasa will stay with me for long.
- Liu Fang, Further Education teacher, Hong Kong
The author artistically weaves a fiction on the formation and development of Singapore from the fourteenth century to the present. The reader travels into those times smoothly to know how this fabulous island was conceived and brought to today's advancement from the side of rulers, peasants, commoners, and migrant workers. A brilliant read!
- P. Muralidharan, writer, Chennai, India
Tabula Rasa captures the British colonialism continually influencing the trade and migration of different ethnic groups in Singapore for centuries.
- - Raaghav Sankar, banker, Singapore

Paperback

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

A lover of fiction, both in writing and reading, Jayanthi Sankar enjoys expanding the scope of her creative space. While living in her fictional world most of the time, she interacts with the characters as they form and shape. So, naturally, writing a novel is more of lively process she truly loves and she’s all into experimenting, especially in her storytelling.
Tabula Rasa her third book, and the second novel was a 2022 NYC Big Book Award ‘Distinguished Favourite’ in the category of Historical Fiction and an ‘honourable mention’ in San Francisco book fest award 2022. She has been in several international panels of literary festivals such as APWT 2018 at Gold coast, Singapore Writers Festival, Seemanchal International Literary festival, Asean- India Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Writers Festival. Misplaced Heads, was on the Eyelands Book Awards 2020 final list of historical fiction in Greece, making its mark as an outstanding postmodern historical fiction.
The winner in fiction: short story in 2020 International Book Award -American book fest ‘Dangling Gandhi’ also won the international The Literary Titan award apart from several shortlists and nominations. The title story Dangling Gandhi shortlisted in the 2nd Twist & Twain International Short Story Contest out of the 165 worldwide entries. A watercolour hobbyist, she has been a freelancer for more than two decades, with three years of experience in journalism. Born and brought up in India, she lives in Singapore since 1990.

Reviews

[Avani ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tabula Rasa by Jayanthi Sankar, a book about the history of Singapore starting right from 14th-15th century till the present times. We see politics, culture, migration, history, etc. everything in this book regarding Singapore.

The book definitely holds a very interesting cast of characters, a new perspective, gripping plot, varied incidents, different timelines and some interesting facts woven under the curtains of fiction.

The major point which I enjoyed was reading about the British colonialism and how it affects Singapore even till today. I'm sure author has done commendable research on Singapore for this book to come into picture.

I really loved the additional fun element of sticky notes on fridge and the conversation behind Rose & Li Wei (read the book to know more). I enjoyed reading Li Wei's perspective along with the addition of multiple characters from time to time.

[Ishan Agrawal · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a child I use to dream about travelling to cities like Singapore , Malaysia as they seemed to be everywhere .Iconic pictures of tall buildings, vibrant and constantly moving lifestyle ,ever changing sceneries , phenomenal landscapes are something one can associate with these cities. Though I dint know the vast history of Singapore,its cultural significance how it actually turned out to be what it is today .

The book delves deep into the making of a city and throws light on its history and origin. It also busts out myths regarding the inhabitants of the place who are looked upon quite differently than what they really are . Quite creatively author has also included the stigma attached with males blurting out their emotions today .

The novel exquisitely covers various aspects of different perceptions people have regarding a place ,an ethnicity a race or a culture. The content is very well researched and put out comprehensively. The narration is okayish . It would have been better had proper sequencing was followed. The book is undoubtedly quite informative but will not appeal to every individual as it caters to only those who are really interested in knowing about Singapore.

Overall a good one time read.

[Khyati Gautam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been forever interested in discovering new places and digging up more knowledge about them. It fuels my curiosity and allows me to travel, even if it's just inside my head.

Tabula Rasa by Jayanthi Sankar is a beautifully woven prose on the historical landscape of Singapore and how it got its current form. It traces the evolution of its culture, people, and more to shed light on things that remain unknown about the island of Singapore. It effectively shatters some of the misconceptions that are present worldwide and prejudices knowingly and unknowingly about the inhabitants, their origins, and Singapore's history itself.

The book starts with Muthu, an emigrant worker seeking his family and past lineages in Singapore, and soon turns to make us peep into the lives of so many more characters including Li Wei, Li Xui Ying, Adnan, Ali, Rose, Lily and a few more making it a bit complex honestly. There is a multitude of characters in Tabula Rasa and we introduce each one of them, slowly and gradually. These characters have their quirks, entangled life stories, that are as much complex as subtle in revealing the truth of life.

The writing is easy flowing and comprehensive and I loved the variety of characters who turned into immigrants. I also loved to know about how they navigated their way through employment, freedom and trading opportunities. The attempt to portray Singapore's journey shows up in nuanced storytelling.

While the book did start well, gradually I found myself lost. Reason being there were multiple timelines and I could, at some points, not keep a track of where things were headed. Perhaps, Tabula Rasa demands more concentrated focus but I also feel that it could have been simplified in the approach.

If you like to read about historical backgrounds and plots that are dense and deeply intertwined, do pick up this one.

[Siddhant Kataria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tabula Rasa is an attempt at historical fiction by Jayanthi Sankar. The author has mixed the fragments of history with the story of a few people who resemble the workers/citizens working to take their nation ahead. It involves the fact of how it emerged from the British colony to Singapore we know it as now. Many workers from a variety of places came to work there, ultimately becoming residents there. It discusses the corrupt kings, few sensible leaders and the workers from different countries.

The writing style is comprehensible with limited use of vocabulary. However, the author mentions the use of Singlish syllables to accentuate the essence of this fiction. The historic events are not shared chronologically that, in the beginning, seemed intentional to relate with the other plot, but later on, it only informed the happenings. She has shared the footnotes for reference to avoid confusion.

Before I ordered it, I inspected the blurb of the book, but all I could find was how a few strangers felt about this book. I understood the case when I read it fully. This book is a work of historical fiction because it informs the historic events, but the connection isn’t thorough with the side plot. Muthu from India visits this foreign land to find his ancestors, but this fragment was deployed to connect with the other characters and nothing else. The story of the characters could have been a different story because, in this book, their significance was to share information.

If I believe the words of one of the strangers, this book is a tribute to the establishment of Singapore, but I am amazed at how only toxic relationships played a role in that. A few episodes of the imaginations of Li Wei, the protagonist, are unfathomable. I witnessed too much negativity to ignite the side plot for the sake of sharing information via characters, and at times, I could relate with Li Wei when he pleaded with the other person to shut up. However, I admire how the author pulls out two letters in between the story praising her own books; the confidence is motivating.

[Harsh Tyagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know the meaning of the term Tabula Rasa before picking this book up, even after reading it. At one moment I googled and found - Tabula rasa is the theory that individuals are born without built-in mental content, and therefore all knowledge comes from experience or perception. Indeed, very interesting.

The book is a historical fiction set in Singapore in which the story is about the development of Singapore and the cultural and political events in Singapore. The book begins with A. Muthukannu from Chennai arriving to Singapore’s Changi Airport in order to work and Li Wei receiving him.

The book was slow and long - almost four hundred pages and with a huge timeline- the book spans the story of Singapore from the fourteenth century till the recent times. I liked the fact that the author has written messages for the reader in between. Now that was something peculiar. The first message literally said to read slowly and steadily. The book cover is quite artistic and soothing to the eye and I also loved the fact that it came with French flaps. Someone actually interested in knowing about Singapore or with slight prior knowledge about it would like the book.

[Devika Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. I will be wrong to say that I had expected something else from the author after reading her previous books. Jayanthi continues to amaze me with her creative imagination interspersed with lucid writing skills and in-depth research. Thank you for writing this lovely novel.

[Usha Nagasamy]

A demystifying novel

Usha Nagasamy reviews TABULA RASA by Jayanthi Sankar)

Jayanthi Sankar has yet again experimented with newer ways of story-telling with this historical novel, bringing us a delightful read of the history and origin of the fine island of Singapore from ancient to modern times. A must read to know what this little island has been and is about. The novel shatters some misconceptions around the world and prejudices that abound knowingly and unknowingly of its inhabitants, their origins and histories. It is a very intense and interesting account of various aspects of the fabric of its life, from its dockyards, the shipbuilding industries, the life of contractors, immigrant labourers, their psychological and practical life challenges, the attitudes, aspirations, dreams, successes and failures of the characters all interwoven in a colourful tapestry of visuals and sounds of past and present Singapore.

The novel sets out to naturally demystify in the minds of the readers from where the original inhabitants came. The circumstances that could have led to the name of the island, the old kings who ruled this land wisely, or otherwise, the immigrant population from different surrounding parts of the world, China, Bangladesh, India, especially the Tamils. Each has contributed to enriching the fabric of Singapore’s society and how this land of immigrants with its multifaceted, multicultural, multi-ethnic and interracial connections. The newly evolved communities have their unique perspectives on life as well as created new outlooks to hold on to nurture in their newfound land.

Author of Tabula Rasa proves once again how a good storyteller can bring together different seemingly disjointed threads of stories together, in the end, to fit them like a jigsaw puzzle that creates a beautiful picture. The characters are varied in how she has created them with their idiosyncrasies, quirks, peculiarities and yet typical representatives of the class they belonged to in the society that the author helps hold the mirror high up to reflect. She had built an intricate castle of the past and the present through the ages helping us see the two main British colonial formative forefathers, the political systems they contributed to, the social and educational reforms introduced, how the systems developed over the years to be what Singapore is today, the tiny well-administered perfect island with its skyscrapers and thriving economy. Each window and door opens to different time segments, different sets of people, yet in the end, the castle reveals the beauty of all these cells coming together to form the final large organism.

The people who populate the book are genuinely human characters from various walks of life, Li Wei, Muthu, Li Xiu Ying, Adnan, Ali, Rose, Lily, Albert, Senior, Shanti, Rani, Kavitha, Meena and Suresh, each with their unique life challenges. The pages where Li Wei and his mother Rose communicate tersely and curtly say a lot about the psychological workings of the two characters' minds. There’s much to learn about Raffles, Hastings, the Javanese influence, the way people from China, the Indian subcontinent from the current Bengal and the Southern India influenced the shaping of Singapore. There is an abundance to learn about the workings of different systems in the society of Singapore, the past and present and their relevance that sheds light on many important aspects of how a nation came to be what it is today. One cannot but be awed by the enormity of research and the careful weaving of facts with fictional characters that Jayanthi Sankar has again masterfully executed, just as in her last novel ‘Misplaced Heads’.

[Bhagyashree Bagchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Decade after decade accustomed to being pushed towards the Indian ocean as a 'migrant' by her islanders and as 'an islander' by the huge landers, the author has..."
Tabula Rasa is the history of the people of Singapore; of her immigrants, both old and new. Sankar's skill as a writer is on full display here, particularly in her seemingly effortless ability to capture the history of a nation within a character driven story.

This historical novel spans centuries, from 1285 to the present day. Sankar's subtle prose tugs at the conscience as she craftily lays out the facts that establishes the theme of the novel:
the price that the natives, the subjugated, and even nature had to pay for "development" of Singapura; the contribution of the immigrants to it's economy and also sets about challenging the toxic patriarchal mindset of society.

The balance between fact and fiction is
expertly handled. The previously mentioned themes are brought about by a rich cast of fictional characters from various walks of life including small-scale entrepreneurs, sub-contractors, skilled and semi skilled labourers, and migrant workers. These characters, even minor ones, are complex and memorable. From the very beginning the prose places us firmly in the consciousness of two protagonists in the novel. One is an insecure young man of Chinese descent named Li Wei who is also a resident of Singapore; thdelightf Muthu from Chennai who initially flies to Singapore on work permit. Duality is an overriding theme among the characters.

Sankar's craftsmanship in plot building, replete with twists, aid the readers in understanding the general essence of Singapore, its cultural diversity, and also experience the 'Singlish' used by the locals.

The storytelling is non linear in form and the descriptions are vivid and compelling to read. The use of postmodern communication devices such as 'sticky notes on the fridge' to portray the complex relationship between a mother-son duo, the Book 'Tabula Rasa' addressing the Readers and a letter from an "upcoming" native author of Singapore to the non-native Author of this book, are all creative delights. Apart from these, the author's signature plot development devices like Whatsapp chats, Emails, Letters also feature in the book.

The readers are treated to the timeless tale of the history of Singapura from the ancient Javanese times to the Japanese rule, the British colonization and ultimately the current times. The storyline emerges gradually building drama.
This line from the novel beautifully sums up the spirit of the book:
"After the Japs arrived, Singapore was Synon-To, we sang Kimigayo. After they left, we sand God save the king, and then God save the queen for a few years before we learnt 'Negaraku' and of course, since the mid-60s, it's only been our Majulah Singapura..."
Tabula Rasa is a steller contribution by Jayanthi Sankar to the genre of historical fiction.

[Aparna Salvi Salvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

What you do when you local your country passionately? Definitely, immortalize it in form of a historical fiction. That's what our author Jayanthi Sankar does in style and with ace. Before, I begin with the reviewing of this magnificent let me warn you this isn't a book you can read on a run. It requires patience, endurance and a deep desire to read on such intense topics. You have to keep aside a set number of hours of undisturbed reading each day to complete it in a specific time period. You will need to go back and forth to understand certain connections and hidden messages. It's not a difficult read yet not an easy read.

Now I feel relaxed that I have given you an inkling of what to expect from yourself when devoted to this book.

The book begins with Muthu, an emigrant from India, who lands in Singapore to trace his family lineage with a job in hand. Here, he meets Li Wei and then we get introduced to an array of characters like Lily, Li Xui, Adnan, etc. Each one of them have a story to tell. Each character goes through ups and downs to finally find relief on the shores of this hidden island Singapore. My favorite character is Li Wei. He is petrified by the women in his life. He loves them, doubts them and finally runs away from them. These are carved out so well that their minuscule characters create a huge impact on your beliefs. Li Wei and his mother, share a bitter-sweet relationship. You get to witness their relationship from the sticky notes they post on the refrigerator door for each other. As a writer, I found this as an innovative way of dialogue writing and building up the plot.

Singapore is the hero of this book. It's diverse culture, rich history, accidental discovery and the emigrants who call it as their Motherland is portrayed perfectly in the book. For most of us who view Singapore as a happy tourist destination, the author brings to surface how dark and deep its history has been.
After relishing this book for its vivid imagery, effortless narration and extensive research, I am little lost on the timeliness. There are multiple timelines right from the 1300, to the present day which made me do a to and fro. At times, I felt tired and took sometime off from the book. But the book drew me back to it because of the curiosity it creates as to what is the fate of all the above mentioned characters.

I will not write much about this book as anything I say will act as a spoiler. But I will not end without marveling at how the author has connected Tabula Rasa ( individuals born with a mind as a clean slate) with the history and creation of Singapore.

[Shashikala Shanmugasundaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

TABULA RASA by renowned author Jayanthi Sankar has Singapore in its very essence. An interesting story with many intricate layers unfolds as the chapters progress. The author passionately brings out all that is Singapore —history, Singlish language, culture, diversity, food, festivals, people, including the infamous tigers and the less known night soil collection system.

As a non-fiction reader, I dived into Tabula Rasa with a Tabula Rasa state of mind and came out learning so much about not just the history of Singapore but also the world of fiction. The efforts taken by the author to research and bring forth intricate details about Singapore is commendable. It was interesting to know that Singapore was once called Pulao Ujong and that it was built from a clean slate almost entirely by immigrants.

I liked the way the author presented diverse characters with their own eccentric quirks. Sticky notes gave a funny twist to the complicated mother and son relationship of Li Wei (central character) and Rose. Li Wei's talking into the mirror, and his violent delusions towards women are all small little things that make Li Wei's character complex and yet interesting. To think of it many of us also indulge in similar crazy behaviour throughout our lives.

While Li Wei may be seen as someone with an aversion towards women including his own mother, I liked how he was shown as a helpful manager who did what he could for his Indian workers, making us think that probably every person has a good side to him?

The difficulties faced by immigrant workers and their tremendous contribution to the progress of Singapore was very well brought out in the book.

While the author takes us through the life of many different characters, she also boldly presents the sudden death of some, giving it a very real twist. After all, life is unpredictable and we need to embrace death as much as we embrace life!

I loved the post-modernism style of Tabula Rasa — the book speaking to the readers in the beginning. Towards the end of the book, an aspiring author's letter to the author bringing out yet again, hurdles faced by immigrants including immigrant authors themselves was a superb finishing touch.

The author's non-linear narrative challenged my linear brain cells, making the journey of Tabula Rasa really enjoyable. This book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to feel the beat of Singapore amidst a very interesting story line.
Jayanthi Sankar never disappoints!

[Shivaraman Ramakrishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been two months since I have done any real reading. This is because of my semester exams and some personal issues. Tabula Rasa is the first book I have read cover to cover in the last 2 months, and I can say with upright joy that I have picked the right book.

This book is essentially about the history of one of the most trending places in the world, Singapore. It gives us a glimpse of how it came to be the hot spot for tourists as we know it now. The book has a set of characters through whom we travel through the city and also learn about how their life is like.

I liked the structure of the book because it didn’t bore me out in the midway. I felt it would have helped if the author had attached a map of Singapore along with the book because the names of the places were hard to keep track of, and that’s why I had a map out on my laptop the whole time so I can imagine how the layout would have been like for the characters. Singapore is one place in my list of places, where I want to do my master’s in two years, and I am so grateful to have done some homework on the place just by reading this book. There are excerpts in the book where the history of Singapore is covered, and being of curious mind, I googled everything to check if they were true, and, I am still in shock at how the author made a boring topic like the history of a place into a smooth flowing story for us reader to enjoy and learn at the same time.

One thing I liked very much is when, in the middle of the book, a snippet of the book’s thoughts has been incorporated. It’s the first time I have come across something like that, giving life to your book is very different, and including a separate part of the book to show us, the readers, what the book thinks about the world, its creator, its siblings (The author’s previous books), etc., I liked that very much.

One phrase that I found interesting to me from this book was:

“The most exquisite tours are only through books, without lifting one’s feet.”

This stood out to me because it’s true, and this one line summarises us, bibliophiles, perfectly.

Overall, I loved this book and had a good time, and I highly recommend you guys to give this one a try.

[Debabrata Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

👉𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊:-
📚ⓉⒾⓉⓁⒺ:- Tabula Rasa
🖋️ⒶⓊⓉⒽⓄⓇ:- Jayanthi Sankar
🗞️ⓅⓊⒷⓁⒾⓈⒽⒺⓇ:-
🔤ⓁⒶⓃⒼⓊⒶⒼⒺ:- English
📖ⒻⓄⓇⓂⒶⓉ:- Paperback
👉𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:-
Singapore an island in the southeast Asia who is right now the hub of investors & technologies. But is the country became like that in one day? Those lavish lifestyle, tall buildings, fast moving time zone is the identity of today's Singapore. But there was a long path that is covered by citizens & migrants in Singapore from a dockyard to shipbuilding hub to become one of the most progressive country on the world map.
.
As it is surrounded by neighbouring countries like India,China, Bangladesh the migrants played the most vital role to make the country a successful one along with the different cultures, different traditions, different peoples mixing with each other with a common goal to reform the piece of the land.
.
It not only throwing light on today's Singapore but it's history it's struggle it's political & social issues & how against all the odds they fight hard to draw a special place among other countries.
👉𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 :-
🙂Cover of the book is good it's designed nicely & the title is quite unique which means blank slate.
🙂 Writing style of the book is engrossing. Author wisely put forward the book based on a whole journey of a country in an impressive manner.
🙂 Language used in the book is moderate to hard level. It nicely blend with the storyline to make you fall with the book.
🙂 All the characters are good nicely developed but there are too many characters which somehow creates chaos while reading it.
🙂 Narration of the book is a detailed one with proper description of each event. Author gave enough amount of effort in research before writing the book which can be easily marked in the book.
🙂 The book is moved around from 1200 century to today's time frame. But these are not in a chronological manner & the switching of timelines are not that smooth.
🙂 The pace of the book is very slow. It in some parts make me feel bored while reading but author nicely adds intresting things in between the stories that regains the reading intrest.
𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑:-🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Muralidharan Parthasarathy]

Informal feedback

It felt exactly like a journey in an aeroplane. The initial chapters were like take off and Tabula Rasa welcoming the reader & talking about the author’s two earlier works were like the plane rising up to the altitude and the historical chapters felt like the calm flight experience at the altitude. A local aspiring writer's letter to the author was like saying - wear your seat belts, before landing.






A wide canvas

P.Muralidharan reviews TABULA RASA by Jayanthi Sankar)



The theme only decides the form and content of fiction, much more so when the author is a seasoned writer. What Jayanthi Sankar chooses to highlight and what she mentions subtly, and what she leaves unsaid are aimed at the creative reading and internalizing the theme by her readers. Tabula Rasa compels a male to revisit his comfort zone and his established views on femininity and females. The backdrop of Singapore's growth makes me rethink my ideas about rulers, the ruled, and the visionary. On the other hand, the fiction doesn't offer any direct reply, subtly or overtly, about how far the price paid for development has been fair. Same with another question, whether the lasting impact for generations on the roles thrust on the downtrodden was man-made or naturally inevitable? So, I am pursuing these questions provoked in me by this fiction. The narrative is post-modern, and with limited usage of words, the author has meticulously brought out developments in decades and even centuries in some chapters. With a clear choice of opting between the wide canvas or a formal narration, the author has shown her masterly touch in bringing out numerous characters and eras that reflect her professionalism and immense creativity. This novel ends off with the present-day pre-pandemic COVID-19 scenario, touching on the Spain flu pandemic during the British era in Bombay a century ago in an earlier chapter. This is the proof of her research and hard work in scheming sequences and chapters. The fiction stands out for its wide canvas.

[Sneha Josie]

💫This is Jayanthi Sankar’s third book. This book deals with the history of Singapore and it presents the beauties and realities embedded within. The story begins with an airport scene. The conversation between Muthu and Fazil shows the dreams and desires of the immigrants who enter into any new country. Then the working conditions and regulations in the shipping yard is portrayed vividly. The importance of work permit and the strict rules, medical tests run before joining the job is described in apt manner. Li Wei is shown as someone who hates or wants to kill a woman in the beginning chapters. There are various characters : Adnan and Rose, Janet, Lily and Albert, Muthu and so on. Each of their lives varies from one another. Their thought process and dreams vary too. The way their lives get interwoven marks the difference.

💫Though Singapore is a young nation, there is a lot to explore and understand it better from its heritage. The book presents the diversity of Singapore and the immigrants there. This book needs to be read, chewed slowly and relished to the fullest.

💫The usage of dream sequence to show the inner thoughts of the characters and the way it is connected to their reality is mind blowing. Reminds me of Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams.

����The childhood days of Li Wei and his thought process are noteworthy as it proves a point about him. Even the sticky notes on the fridge is illustrated and it throws some light upon events happening between certain characters. Not just sticky notes, but there are newspaper cuttings, letters which is enclosed with. Usage of these items makes it seem that the writer has employed new historicism technique.

💫The author has done a commendable research on the history and has served it interestingly to the readers. The characters are portrayed to be complex, just like the people we meet in real lives. The language is standard and the narrative style is perfect. The book is highly recommended to those who love to read about new culture and new places with no filters.

[Gayatri Saikia | per_fictionist · Rating 4 out of 5]

tabula rasa(n) an absence of preconceived ideas or predetermined goals; a clean slate

A fascinating word, isn't it? And equally enthralling is the book which flaunts this unique title. The first thing you need to keep in mind while reading the book is not to devour it but to relish in the stories of the characters as the author requests you to.

Satiety can only be a disease of a shallow tourist,I think, and I hope you are not here as a tourist

Now coming to the story, Tabula Rasa attempts to paints a picture of the history of Singapore, known often for it's diversity through the stories of her fictionalised characters. We are introduced to an array of characters as we proceed and each of their interlinking narratives sheds light upon a disparate facet of Singaporean life.

Sankar's elucidate writing highlights the plight of migrant workers like no other and lets you empathize with the characters. I was so easily moved by just the first few pages when Muthu, a migrant worker from India learns about his color blindness. Muthu, who who moves to Singapore to reconcile with his descendants after selling his house in India finds himself in a dilapidated state.

This is just once instance. There are many such incidents that leaves moves you and makes you flip the pages. Equally impressive is the author's endeavour to capture the influence of British Colonialism and it's evolution as a hub of manifold ethnicities : which can be easily perceived with the choice of her characters. I would however have rated it five stars if the rhythm wouldn't have been broken midway because there are instances when I wanted to read more about what would happen next but was distracted by another story : the chapters could have been lengthier in my opinion.

An essential read in my opinion that will broaden your horizon and fascinate you to no end.

[Gopal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every country has it's own tale to narrate.
Being an Indian reader, and a huge fan of historic fiction I have been introduced to rulers and their wars.
Tabula Rasa came as a treat where it enlightened me with informative facts that are bi authentic with captivating storyline.
This is the First book of this Author that i read and the writing style seemed to be flawless.
I admit, I had to take my own time in order to understand the plot.
I usually read books and then head to research part.
But this book made me research first and after developing my knowledge this book made a sense.

The names of characters were new to me, the Singaporian culture was new to me, the facts from 14th century to till present were new to me.
It's indeed impressive how all the history has been covered in less than 400 pages giving the readers a pleasure of reading a good historical book.
The title of this book is again too brilliant.
This book carries a vibe that stays with us even when we finish reading this book.

There are very less books available that are Masterpiece in true terms, where Authors invest their time and efforts before coming up with a book.
Thus, Tabula Rasa deserves huge appreciation and support.
The content is sensitive, unbiased, gripping and straigh forward with facts.
This is such a mature read and definitely not everyone's cup of coffee.
One needs to be mature and patient to understand and grasp what is written inside.

Readers who are into quality novels irrespective of it's length, for them Tabula Rasa is the best choice.
The detailed narrative has made the story engaging and I nowhere felt the length of this book was drawback.
It's always the nature of true book lover to experience the beauty literature, and Tabula Rasa is a brilliant work.
Reading this Book feels like we are on a unforgettable voyage.
I wish to read more books by this Author.
Tabula Rasa will always stay special for me.

[Sredhanea Ramkrishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fiction tugs at our conscience

Some books rejoice us, some leave us in tears, there are a few more that give us pangs of nostalgia, but only a very few make us doubt our own conscience, and Tabula Rasa, like every previous work of the author, Jayanthi Sankar, did that to me.
As every character, from kings to colonisers, natives to immigrants, men to women, tell their stories through the author, a reader is not just made a part of the entire experience but also transported through different eras, times, and emotions.
The socio-cultural mixture of the beautiful red dot is just a mere tip of the colossal iceberg of various mental, physical, psychological, and economic changes Singapore as a living entity has gone through over the centuries. The strength of the author in bringing that out is impressively commendable.
Who would know, meagre sticky notes can be made such an important part of a literary compendium? With her non-linear style, immense research, and innate ability to understand the nuances of deep human or inhuman nature of mind, the author seems to have struck many nails on their heads.
The book cover is the right representation of Tabula Rasa, as every reader becomes the man sitting ashore, looking at the amazing land of Singapore, its ways, its means, its people, and most of all, its heart as it reflects all its glories on us.
I believe Tabula Rasa, the third baby of Jayanthi Sankar, will not need any more attention from his mother and would soar unchartered heights to win better accolades than his siblings, soon.
I spent a day and a half reading the book, awestruck, unlearning, learning, and contemplating within myself. Is a human mind just full of complexities and contrasts? Can there be anything better in life for a human than a clean slate, Tabula Rasa?

[Livre_monde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tabula Rasa! For those who are unfamiliar, it means a blank slate. What a well thought title! 


Indeed this book has been conceived on a blank slate and written with lots of thought, research, ideas, and imagination. This book is an amalgamation of several parallel stories and the history of Singapore expanding over centuries, bringing it into the genre of historical fiction. Apart from the individual stories of each of the characters, one will find it interesting to find out how Vyaghrapura became Singapore. Using letters as the form of narration, the author has also shared a lot of details about Singapore's history during the British colonial era. In fact, history goes as far back as the 13th century. Readers are also going to love the fridge notes as the mode of communication between one of the main characters in the book and his mother. 


Overall the concept of this book is unique. There is a lot of information for history enthusiasts and they are going to like the history portion of the book. Even for fiction lovers, there are multiple storylines from different characters. However, let me warn you that the chapters are scattered in haphazard form and it is going to be a task to follow the story of each of the characters. Also, it can become confusing at one point if one is not attentive as several characters have been introduced at different stages in the story, at the most unexpected junctures, and few stories have been dropped without bringing them to a logical end. Also, if one is not familiar with Malay ways of interaction, they may find it strange to see some of the unfamiliar words used frequently throughout the book. 


Overall, my recommendation is that one should pick this book only if you have an interest in knowing about Singapore. Regarding the fiction part of the book, a better sequencing of chapters and better editing would have done wonders. Also, the usage of too many characters could have been limited to make the story less confusing.

[Abhijit Chakraborty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Title: Tabula Rasa
Author: Jayanthi Sankar
Publisher: Zero Degree Publishing
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 390
Book Rating: 5/5

This is the first time I'm reading Jayanthi Sankar's novel. I heard about this talented authoress many times from my friends. She achieved many awards from various literary festivals. I have already planned to read his previous books 'Dangling Gandhi' and 'Misplaced Heads' in coming days. So much appreciation for her encouraged me to choose this novel.

The novel is based on the history and culture of the most famous sovereign island city-state, Singapore. The main story is represented through the story of two strong characters, Li Wei and Annamalai Muthukannu. The former is a resident of Singapore and the latter has just arrived from Chennai to work at Sembawang shipyard. I felt sad to read Li Wei's life struggle before becoming a supplier of electronic panels and then the in-house contractor at the shipyard. Annamalai Muthukannu's job is in danger. Will he lose his new job and why? Read the novel to know the answers to many more surprising questions.

The language of the novel is so realistic that I felt like it was actually happening before my eyes. The story is very much informative. The story is so well told that I never felt uninterested completing almost four hundred pages of the novel. The book cover image showing a man sitting and two different landscapes going through him are indeed one of the most fascinating and never seen before cover images of the novel. The title of the novel is also very different. The readers may unaware of some part of the narrative if they have never been to Singapore. It's suitable for those who like to explore places.

[Sakshi Bassi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tabula Rasa" is a book based on the history and back story of Singapore, how the country got its name, the lives of inhabitants and the struggles and phases it had to go through before becoming a nation worth living for its people. This novel follows lives of various characters, almost a dozen or more and narrates the sequence of events in the form of letters or notes. This book takes the readers on a journey from ancient to modern Singapore and the history goes as far back as the 13th century making it fall into the category of historical fiction.

The story opens with Muthu, an emigrant worker seeking for his family and past lineages in Singapore and soon takes a turn to make us peep into the lives of so many more characters including Li Wei, Li Xui Ying, Adnan, Ali, Rose, Lily and a few more making it a bit complex honestly. The story which started off quite well got a bit off track gradually.

I liked reading about the journey from an island to a developed nation and the lives of people coming together from various nations and backgrounds to make the country what it is today! I specially loved reading the stick notes conversations between Li Wei and his mother Rose.

The novel is extensively well researched and quite informative but the introduction of so many characters all together and the continuous transitions between various phases made things difficult to comprehend. This is the only reason I'd not recommended this book to beginners because things may get messy for them.

Other than that, this is a unique and well researched book and people looking for complex plots, interested in historical backgrounds of nations or the ones looking forward to get an insight into the journey of Singapore as a developed nation can surely give it a try.

[SIDDA RAVITEJA · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tabula Rasa" is a book dependent on the set of experiences and origin story of Singapore, how the nation got its name, the existences of occupants and the battles and stages it needed to go through prior to turning into a country worth living for its kin. This novel follows lives of different characters, right around at least twelve and portrays the succession of occasions as letters or notes. This book takes the perusers on an excursion from old to present-day Singapore and the set of experiences goes as far back as the thirteenth century making it fall into the class of historical fiction.

The story starts with Muthu, an emigrant laborer looking for his family and past heredities in Singapore and before long takes a go to make us peep into the existences of such countless more characters including Li Wei, Li Xui Ying, Adnan, Ali, Rose, Lily and a couple of really making it somewhat complex truly. The story that got going very much got gnawed off-track progressively.

I preferred finding out about the excursion from an island to a created country and the existence of individuals meeting up from different countries and foundations to make the nation what it is today! I uncommonly cherished perusing the stick notes discussions between Li Wei and his mom Rose.

The novel is widely well-informed and very useful yet the presentation of such countless characters generally together and the persistent advances between different stages made things hard to appreciate.

Other than that, this is an extraordinary and information-packed book, and readers who are searching for complex plots, intrigued by historical foundations of countries or the ones anticipating get an understanding into the excursion of Singapore as a created country can certainly check it out.

[Tanmeen Kaur AS · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, the title of the book absolutely blew me away. I mean, it’s been a while that I have come across such a title with such an interesting book cover and design.

I see there are a lot of lengthy reviews about the book, with various perspectives and narratives, but for me, I think it stood out completely for the type of content, history, and topic chosen by author Jayanthi Sankar.

It has got all the points for absolutely combining a book worth reading. The story is about the journey of an island named Byaghrapura from the 13th century which we now know as the much famous Singapore.

It talks about the generations of people involved and their stories that weave through the making of one of the trendiest places in today’s time. The author subtly shows the journey of a dozen protagonists who play an important role in the storybook.

Some stories make us feel emotional, motivated, nostalgic, tears, smile, wherein I find this book full of complexities with colorful contrast. The book has characters like Ali, Rose, Adnan, Li Wei, Li Xiu, Lily and many others whose life and journey will give a glimpse into the history of Singapore.

This book results from extensive research, with validated history, very informative, interactive, motivating, as well as real. I am not much of a storyteller a si believe it diminishes the author’s hard sweat effort to mesmerize the audience with his/her writings. My favorite part of the book is where there is an exchange of Fridge notes of communication between a mother and her son.

Overall, a must-have book for all age groups with a combination of lucid writing, history, emotions, and a lineage of how one of the trendiest place was from what it is today. Enjoy !!

[Priya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book by the author and her writing style differs greatly from the other authors that I have read. I like the way the author includes little notes to the readers in between the story. And I loved the sticky notes conversation between Li Wei and his mother, which shows a lot about their relationship.

The story started with Muthu searching for his roots and his remaining family left in Singapore, but it soon took a different turn and focused on many other characters and their lives. And I was a little confused connecting the story with more than a dozen characters.

I enjoyed reading the history of Singapore, but the fictional story was not that interesting to me. And Muthu’s character turned a little annoying for me towards the end and I was a little disappointed with how the story ended. But that’s just my opinion. Overall, it was a good read, but I liked misplaced heads compared to this one.

This book takes us through the origin and history of the island of Singapore, about its first inhabitants, the shipbuilding industries and how they emerged, labourers, contractors and their psychological behaviour, the challenges they had faced since their arrival in Singapore and much more.

It gives us the details on from where the original inhabitants came from, the kings who ruled the land, how it got its name, the immigrants from India, China, Bangladesh and the diverse culture of Singapore. The author has included fictional characters along with the history of Singapore and the story revolves around these characters and their failures, faults, successes and miserable lives.

[Subhadrika Sen · Rating 4 out of 5]

#QOTD: Do you love exploring International literature, culture and heritage?

The vibrant culture of modern-day Singapore has been aweing tourists and locals for quite some time. From the colorful Nanyin costumes to the kampongs which make you feel one with nature have gained immense popularity today. However. Jayanthi Sankar in her book Tabula Rasa explores the untold stories of yesteryears’ Singapore. From being founded by the East India Company to evolving in ethos, tradition, ethnicities and heritage over the years. The freedom struggle like every other colony to now becoming a socio-cultural cosmopolitan hub.

The narrative takes the forms of illustrations, letters and dialogues which gives a break from the monotony of reading between black and white from start to end. Another aspect which needs to be commended is the book cover art which depicts a human reflecting upon decades of history, civilization, philosophy, norms, plunders and then emerging cleansed in land and soul.

Two points which I found most interesting in the book are – shattering of the myths regarding the people of Singapore and depiction of male psychology. Like most countries, Singapore too has associated myths and misconceptions. Sankar deals very carefully with these and reveals the truth behind them. Further, her portrayal of male agony and pent up sorrow, pain and anger; and their inability to vent it out on most occasions, highlights male psychology and behavior.

Overall, Tabula Rasa is an interesting read not only from the literature point of view but also considering socio-anthropological insights.

[Kuldeep Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

History has always been a mystery for most of us and getting to know it needs a deep dive into journals and whitepapers. This book Tabula Rasa by author Jayanthi Sankar is one of such books that talks about the history and making up of Singapore as a tourist spot and developed city. The story is portrayed in the form lf fiction and story using different characters as protagonists. Characters like Suresh Methu, Lily , Adnan, Li Wei, Li Xui Ying Ali, Rose and others have been put up in this novel to get the theme going with the genre. The book tells about their lifes and how it developed into the most trending places on earth for tourists. How the country got its name as Singapore, the life of its people, and the phases it has seen before becoming a great city all is described in this book. The story starts with the story of Muthu an emigrant labour and his struggles to support his family, and there are lots of characters that sometimes make you lose your hold on the story and mention of the names of multiple places is quite difficult to remember but overall this gives a much brief idea about the history of Singapore. The best part of book is stick notes conversation between Li Wei and his mother Rose, and it really touched my heart.
The book is well researched and well informative making it unique for the readers. The cover of the book is quite catchy and the language used is simple. Introduction of multiple characters make it bit confusing at times. Book is not at all a short read but the way author has researched the content in this work of art is amazing. Over all a must read for everyone who is a freak for knowing history of anything.

[Ankita Khataniar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a book that intricately weaves a grand picture of one of the most sought after tourism destinations, Singapore. Travelling through the eyes of a set of characters, the history and origin of the hot spots of Singapore. Reading this book was an incredible experience for me. Readers will experience a tour of their lives as they delve into the formation and development of the place, in a story that hardly seems fiction. I was living the lives of the characters as I rode chapter after chapter. As we drive ahead in our imaginations, the island comes to life, delicious invading us with the intricate details of people associated with places and situations. As the story is spun with cultural threads- the ins and outs of it, we also discover the hidden purpose of the book. The book studies the human psyche (especially the male perspective) in an artistic manner. The pride and prejudices of humans are explored well.
The book evokes in you, feelings that you long thought dead, or maybe even rip you a new one. With waves of nostalgia rolling through the pages, it was an extremely heavy read for me. I am not used to reading such prose. I avoid them on purpose for the reasons stated above. But every time I pick up and finish a book like this, despite the turmoil of emotions at the end of it, I am always glad. It is a bittersweet glass of happiness. On one hand, you want the book to continue, but on the other hand, you are glad that it was over.
In between alternating timelines, you will discover a place full of wonder and rich history that includes not just the glamour of a tourist destination but also the struggles of a nation.

[Shweta Shenoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tabula Rasa in Latin means 'clean/blank slate'. It is a theory that proposes that a person is born with no mental content and the experiences of life makes them wise.

This book is a historical fiction with multiple events in the timeline not sequenced in an order. It starts from 1200s to the present with different characters from varied cultures that participated significantly in building Singapore. The life of an economically backward, illegal immigrants, labour class, dockyard workers, night soil collectors etc. who all contributed in the nation building have been narrated in stories which later are linked to complete the puzzle. The legendary stories of the founding father of Singapura, the tyranny of the Japanese, followed by the inception of Singapore in British colony play a significant part in the chronology.

Honestly, I found this book quite difficult to engross into the story. The narration was quite offbeat as per my liking. The transition of the various timelines weren't smooth and frequent as well, which led to baffling and understanding the relevance as well. The learning was quite good in many sections but could have been more interesting as well.

I did learn a lot about Singapore's history from this book. We know Singapore as 'Asia's Economic Tiger' and a thriving global financial hub, went under a series of economic, pandemic and cultural altercation and has a captivating legendary past.

All in all it was interesting to read about Singapore and it's contribution in the world but I was disappointed with the dry narration.

[Book Swimmers · Rating 4 out of 5]

- This is my first read by Jayanthi Sankar. Tabula Rasa is a book that focuses on the lives of Suresh, Li Wei, Muthu, and Adnan. Through these characters, the author explores how Singapore, a sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia, came to be one of the most loved states/island countries by tourists and investors. Each character has a background. They carry a burden from their pasts which shape their present thoughts the way they are. The author shows what visions and missions the rulers had in mind how they led to Singapore's growth and development.

- Reading about the history of such a well-developed state/island country like Singapore felt very special. The author has extensively researched and presented the matter in a narration and writing style that is both lucid and descriptive giving us a healthy dose of information and entertainment.

- 'Tabula Rasa' means a clean slate or a state of mind before it is affected by the external world. The use of this term for the title is apt as the author has tried to present the history of Singapore in an unbiased manner. I loved the descriptive parts more than the fictional story as it painted a great picture for imagination. The characters portrayed are strong. The book features multiple characters which take some time to get used to.

- Overall, it is a great read. The cover page is very unique. The story is very engaging. It has some unexpected turns and twists that keep us hooked to it. The ending is very satisfying. If you are a wanderlust and like me, Singapore has been on your bucket list forever, this book is a perfect read for you.

[Aleena Treesa Dominic · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Book*: Tabula Rasa
*Author*: Jayanthi Sankar



***************************

As a historical fiction enthusiast, I was rejoiced by the insightful and illustrative information about the immigrant's narrative of building Singapore as a developed nation. The story was indeed fascinating.

The story is developed from the perspective of different characters. Li Wei is one such major character. To be honest, his was the narrative I enjoyed the most. His story gave visions of many other topics (relationship with his parents, his low self-esteem, difficulty in talking to women etc). His talks with his mother were funny and entertaining. Using elements such as sticky notes from the fridge, made the book lot more interesting. But unfortunately, some of the chapters in between, which described the history of Singapore in detail, were a bit boring(eg: Chapters such as Tigerland of Siranjong) Although there were connections between different chapters, I found it confusing. The whole plot had much more potential and could've been much better with just this rectification. Apart from some minor printing mistakes( eg: page no 33, the word results is spelt as "rpesults), this was an enjoyable read.

The design of the book was perfect. The footnotes and references are highly appreciated. The author had an interesting writing style. Personally, whenever I think of a country such as Singapore, I only think of luxury and extravaganza. This book gave me a fresh aspect that I appreciate.

[Sarthak Mohanty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visiting Singapore must have been on most people's bucket list. The tall and exquisite buildings, clean roads, extravagant food, beaches, night lights and what not! Singapore from the outer world looks like a traveller's paradise.

Tabula Rasa by Jayanthi Sankar is a brave attempt to explore the turmoil, both emotional and physical that went behind the scenes to create the Singapore that we are witnessing today. The book is essentially a work of historical fiction which has multiple plots running simultaneously. It tries to exhibit the true picture of the Asian nation by taking the readers beyond common beliefs and presenting the rich history and culture along with the taboos, with everything being given equal importance. A key aspect of the book according to me is the fact that it subtly touches various sensitive topics like the psychological dilemmas in case of the workers and how they are unable to fully express themselves as individuals. Their inner struggle is something very understandable and realistically presented.

Coming to the writing part, the vocabulary is extremely simple and that is what makes this book easily readable for people of all age groups. But, I still think that there could have been a bit more ornamentation in terms of vocabulary which would have enhanced the overall charm of the book. Readers are bound to come across various Singlish(Singaporean English) references and terms which again works as a double edged sword. Overall, Tabula Rasa is a thought provoking yet effortlessly simple book to read.