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Deflected
Few know that Mount Everest was discovered by Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician. Back in the nineteenth century, when the world was learning about Mount Everest for the first time, an unprecedented uprising against the British was fomenting among the Indians. The discovery of the tallest point on Earth became eclipsed by escalating tensions, culminating in the violent Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Based on true events, the historical fiction DEFLECTED explores love, friendship, and belonging in a world strained by intercultural friction. When Sikdar meets Sara Langley at a hunting party in the Himalayas, he is reeling from a lack of recognition for his life’s best work. He meets her again a year later when Sara flees to Calcutta to escape the mutiny. Despite the terrible uncertainty of the time, genuine emotions blossom between the two. Unknowingly though, they are inching toward a reckoning, where their destinies will collide with that of a Christian pastor, a pro-native British policeman, a cult assassin, a wronged sepoy, a khemta dancer, and Sikdar’s nationalist-leaning friend. What was to be a period of celebration for science becomes riddled with betrayal, intrigue, and a heart-wrenching test of loyalties.
Based on true events, the historical fiction DEFLECTED explores love, friendship, and belonging in a world strained by intercultural friction. When Sikdar meets Sara Langley at a hunting party in the Himalayas, he is reeling from a lack of recognition for his life’s best work. He meets her again a year later when Sara flees to Calcutta to escape the mutiny. Despite the terrible uncertainty of the time, genuine emotions blossom between the two. Unknowingly though, they are inching toward a reckoning, where their destinies will collide with that of a Christian pastor, a pro-native British policeman, a cult assassin, a wronged sepoy, a khemta dancer, and Sikdar’s nationalist-leaning friend. What was to be a period of celebration for science becomes riddled with betrayal, intrigue, and a heart-wrenching test of loyalties.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2022
2 people are currently reading
837 people want to read
About the author
Swapnonil Banerjee
1 book7 followersSwapnonil Banerjee grew up in West Bengal, India. After completing his undergraduate degree in engineering, he arrived in the United States in the early 2000s and went on to pursue a PhD in Physics from the University of California in Davis. For the last two decades, he and his wife Nivedita Majumdar have lived and worked in various cities across North America, and currently reside in the Bay Area.
Here is a link to his profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnonil...
In 2022, he coauthored with his wife Nivedita Majumdar to publish their first historical fiction DEFLECTED. In addition to available historical information, they have used their decades of cross-cultural experience, their appreciation of a scientist’s temperament, and their intimate understanding of Bengal where Sikdar is from, to write the novel. (less)
Here is a link to his profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/swapnonil...
In 2022, he coauthored with his wife Nivedita Majumdar to publish their first historical fiction DEFLECTED. In addition to available historical information, they have used their decades of cross-cultural experience, their appreciation of a scientist’s temperament, and their intimate understanding of Bengal where Sikdar is from, to write the novel. (less)
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 20, 2022
I read Deflected (290 pages) by Swapnonil Banerjee and Nivedita Sumi Majumdar via Kindle. This was a well written first novel by the husband/wife team. As a reader who knows little about India, its politics, and the scientific achievements of its native people, I learned quite a bit about what was happening in all three areas in 1857.
Centered in Bengal, and based on true events/people connected to the uprising of the Indian natives against the British (who had taken possession of India) at the same time as Radhanath Sikdar, a mathematician working for the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India (GTSI), determined the exact height of "Peak XV" which would ultimately be named Mount Everest, the story unfolded against a backdrop of bigotry, political and racial tension, violence, friendship and love.
Although main character Sikdar appears to have been among the most important members of the GTSI team in real life, he has been barely mentioned in history as the man to calculate - with only paper, pencil, and maths - the height of Everest. The peak was ultimately named for Sir George Everest who was no longer active with the project at the time of naming.
Despite a (fictional) romantic thread in the story, this is not a romance novel but a work of historical fiction based on research of the people and the time.
The novel is nicely written with very picturesque and well thought out descriptions of the setting so that readers everywhere might envision 1857 Bengal and its surrounding areas while reading.
The book contains both a map at the front and a glossary of Indian language words used throughout the story.
I am a Kindle/Audible reader and would recommend a physical copy of this particular book. It would be easier to reference the map and glossary by turning actual pages. I bookmarked those sections and used the "go to" feature frequently to flip back and forth. This was cumbersome in Kindle, hence my recommendation for a physical copy. There is currently no audio version available.
Story Idea - 4 stars
Engagement - 3.5 stars (difficult at the start due to location in a place unfamiliar to me)
Writing - 4 stars
Ease of reading with Kindle - 3.5 stars
Overall - 3.5 stars (which is my personal "good to very good" level)
Very strong first novel!
Review also posted on Amazon.com
Centered in Bengal, and based on true events/people connected to the uprising of the Indian natives against the British (who had taken possession of India) at the same time as Radhanath Sikdar, a mathematician working for the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India (GTSI), determined the exact height of "Peak XV" which would ultimately be named Mount Everest, the story unfolded against a backdrop of bigotry, political and racial tension, violence, friendship and love.
Although main character Sikdar appears to have been among the most important members of the GTSI team in real life, he has been barely mentioned in history as the man to calculate - with only paper, pencil, and maths - the height of Everest. The peak was ultimately named for Sir George Everest who was no longer active with the project at the time of naming.
Despite a (fictional) romantic thread in the story, this is not a romance novel but a work of historical fiction based on research of the people and the time.
The novel is nicely written with very picturesque and well thought out descriptions of the setting so that readers everywhere might envision 1857 Bengal and its surrounding areas while reading.
The book contains both a map at the front and a glossary of Indian language words used throughout the story.
I am a Kindle/Audible reader and would recommend a physical copy of this particular book. It would be easier to reference the map and glossary by turning actual pages. I bookmarked those sections and used the "go to" feature frequently to flip back and forth. This was cumbersome in Kindle, hence my recommendation for a physical copy. There is currently no audio version available.
Story Idea - 4 stars
Engagement - 3.5 stars (difficult at the start due to location in a place unfamiliar to me)
Writing - 4 stars
Ease of reading with Kindle - 3.5 stars
Overall - 3.5 stars (which is my personal "good to very good" level)
Very strong first novel!
Review also posted on Amazon.com
October 15, 2022
It is a story of a remarkable man, whose life is shaped and molded by foreigners in his own land. A well-researched book which weaves facts and fiction to bring alive the 19th Century Calcutta, and India in a broader sense. Where Indians educated in British Institutions in India and abroad are evolving through an internal conflict of their own as they challenge the British Raj in India and try to make sense of this very complex relationship with the British.
November 13, 2022
A must-read historical fiction that touches issues relevant to us even today……..
Deflected is a seamless amalgamation of history, politics, science, drama, love, lust, friendship in a fictional setting. It is one of those books which can lead to many conversations. The first-time authors language was so pictorial that it made all the characters come alive, I could see the scenes play out in my mind like a movie. I won’t be surprised if it gets made into a movie sometime soon. Every Bengali, in fact every Indian should read and promote this book to give Radhanath Shikdar the fame and recognition he so well deserved. It is a story of an astute mathematician who got caught up in societal upheaval that turned his life upside down. Kudos to the authors for writing about this inventive mind and bring to table the discussion of calling Mt Everest as Mt Shikdar. It is a posthumous eulogy to a person who got passed over for his illustrious achievement.
Deflected is a seamless amalgamation of history, politics, science, drama, love, lust, friendship in a fictional setting. It is one of those books which can lead to many conversations. The first-time authors language was so pictorial that it made all the characters come alive, I could see the scenes play out in my mind like a movie. I won’t be surprised if it gets made into a movie sometime soon. Every Bengali, in fact every Indian should read and promote this book to give Radhanath Shikdar the fame and recognition he so well deserved. It is a story of an astute mathematician who got caught up in societal upheaval that turned his life upside down. Kudos to the authors for writing about this inventive mind and bring to table the discussion of calling Mt Everest as Mt Shikdar. It is a posthumous eulogy to a person who got passed over for his illustrious achievement.
Read
March 15, 2023Dear All,
Are you looking for a good read?
Then please buy & read....
'Deflected', a creation by a dear school friend Nivedita Sumi Majumder & her very talented life partner Swapnonil Banerjee. This brilliant book beautifully unfolds a story of love, emotion, science, drama and politics. As you begin, you get transported to the era and get to visualise the characters and the story moving in front of your minds eye. I take super pride in the fact that this gifted couple highlighted and brought to the table this unique love story for their readers to devour. All the condiments contributed towards making "Deflected" a champion dish..
Request all of you to please read the book and motivate this young, skilful, first-time authors towards their future endeavours thus appreciating their sweaty efforts too.
Pls Note : The subtle and apt cover page layout is also an additional attraction, painted by another dear school friend Sanjukta Bhattacharya.
Sharing the link :
https://amzn.eu/d/hmxsuQe
Are you looking for a good read?
Then please buy & read....
'Deflected', a creation by a dear school friend Nivedita Sumi Majumder & her very talented life partner Swapnonil Banerjee. This brilliant book beautifully unfolds a story of love, emotion, science, drama and politics. As you begin, you get transported to the era and get to visualise the characters and the story moving in front of your minds eye. I take super pride in the fact that this gifted couple highlighted and brought to the table this unique love story for their readers to devour. All the condiments contributed towards making "Deflected" a champion dish..
Request all of you to please read the book and motivate this young, skilful, first-time authors towards their future endeavours thus appreciating their sweaty efforts too.
Pls Note : The subtle and apt cover page layout is also an additional attraction, painted by another dear school friend Sanjukta Bhattacharya.
Sharing the link :
https://amzn.eu/d/hmxsuQe
July 16, 2023
What do Mt. Everest and an Indian mathematician have in common? The book Deflected successfully tells the lost history of Radhanath Sikdar, the first man to accurately calculate Mt. Everest as the tallest point on Earth. Radhanath's life and achievement are not well-known in history and this is in part because of the tensions of his time between the British and Indian people. Accounts of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 are given the spotlight in this book with Radhanth as the main character caught in the middle of it. Though Radhanath had worked without conflict with many British scientists the book seeks to show how the parallel of his deflected recognition and the British people showing a lack of respect for Indian culture and people leads to pain, suffering, and mutiny. Radhanth finds himself in conflict with his Indian people at times as well as he becomes conflicted by his growing feelings for an English woman named, Sara Langley. This story is both historical fiction as well as a romantic fiction.
It is clear that the authors of this book put in an adequate amount of historical research in order to successfully write a historical fiction that is interesting and educational for readers who do not know about Indian culture or history. A glossary of Indian terms was present at the end of the book and was helpful in order to get the full meaning of the language and cultural references that show up throughout the story. The romance in the book added another layer of emotions to the story, as it further brought out the conflict between the British and Indian people. I learned a lot about that time, the main character's life (Radhanth Sikdar), and about his contribution to science. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history and is open to learning about other cultures.
It is clear that the authors of this book put in an adequate amount of historical research in order to successfully write a historical fiction that is interesting and educational for readers who do not know about Indian culture or history. A glossary of Indian terms was present at the end of the book and was helpful in order to get the full meaning of the language and cultural references that show up throughout the story. The romance in the book added another layer of emotions to the story, as it further brought out the conflict between the British and Indian people. I learned a lot about that time, the main character's life (Radhanth Sikdar), and about his contribution to science. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history and is open to learning about other cultures.
July 25, 2023
What do Mt. Everest and an Indian mathematician have in common? The book Deflected successfully tells the lost history of Radhanath Sikdar, the first man to accurately calculate Mt. Everest as the tallest point on Earth. Radhanath's life and achievement are not well-known in history and this is in part because of the tensions of his time between the British and Indian people. Accounts of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 are given the spotlight in this book with Radhanth as the main character caught in the middle of it. Though Radhanath had worked without conflict with many British scientists, the book seeks to show how the parallel of his deflected recognition and the British people showing a lack of respect for Indian culture and people leads to pain, suffering, and mutiny. Radhanath finds himself in conflict with his Indian people at times as well as he becomes conflicted by his growing feelings for an English woman named Sara Langley. This story is both a historical fiction as well as a romantic fiction.
Opinion:
It is clear that the authors of this book put in the adequate amount of historical research in order to successfully write a historical fiction that is interesting and educational for readers who do not know about Indian culture or history. A glossary of Indian terms was present at the end of the book and was helpful in order to get the full meaning of the language and cultural references that show up throughout the story. The romance in the book added another layer of emotions to the story, as it further brought out the conflict between the British and Indian people. I learned a lot about that time, the main character's life (Radhanth Sikdar), and about his contribution to science. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history and is interested in learning about other cultures.
Opinion:
It is clear that the authors of this book put in the adequate amount of historical research in order to successfully write a historical fiction that is interesting and educational for readers who do not know about Indian culture or history. A glossary of Indian terms was present at the end of the book and was helpful in order to get the full meaning of the language and cultural references that show up throughout the story. The romance in the book added another layer of emotions to the story, as it further brought out the conflict between the British and Indian people. I learned a lot about that time, the main character's life (Radhanth Sikdar), and about his contribution to science. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about history and is interested in learning about other cultures.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews