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Shurjo’s Clan
During the hours of daylight, young Shurjomukhi’s family is like any other in Dhaka, going through the motions of school, work, and domesticity in a nation still in the flush of youth. But every night, once darkness falls over their asymmetrical house, they switch over to the Unknown world. Death does not exist in the Unknown side and the family is joined for dinner by Shurjo’s freedom fighter uncles, who were martyred in the tea gardens of Sylhet at the start of the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, and her grandmother who killed herself by jumping into a well in the aftermath of 1947.
These dinners are festive affairs, replete with the joy of reunion, music and stories, but underneath the celebration, Shurjo’s family is riddled with the traumas of their past: death, war, migration, separation, the inability to belong to a land, dwelling in an in-between space, an eternal limbo. And when the miasmic shadow of the past inevitably falls on young Shurjo, the pitfalls of their dual reality is laid bare. The only way forward is an upheaval that splits the family apart, flinging Shurjo and her parents to the other end of the world.
Imaginative and compelling, Shurjo’s Clan merges magical realism with a vivid historicity to paint an entirely contemporary portrait of how grief is inherited, how the traumas and memories of our ancestors continue to shape those who come long after.
Spanning decades, from the forced migration of Bengalis to East Pakistan in 1947, through the 1971 liberation war, the wave of immigrants to the West in the 1980s, and a final return, Iffat Nawaz’s lyrical and evocative prose marks the arrival of a distinctive voice, one that unravels questions of grief, belonging, identity, and family with delightful imaginativeness and devastating insight. With its mesmerising balance between inexplicable otherworldliness and undeniable reality, this debut novel asks, above all, how we can honour the past without letting its wounds destroy us.
These dinners are festive affairs, replete with the joy of reunion, music and stories, but underneath the celebration, Shurjo’s family is riddled with the traumas of their past: death, war, migration, separation, the inability to belong to a land, dwelling in an in-between space, an eternal limbo. And when the miasmic shadow of the past inevitably falls on young Shurjo, the pitfalls of their dual reality is laid bare. The only way forward is an upheaval that splits the family apart, flinging Shurjo and her parents to the other end of the world.
Imaginative and compelling, Shurjo’s Clan merges magical realism with a vivid historicity to paint an entirely contemporary portrait of how grief is inherited, how the traumas and memories of our ancestors continue to shape those who come long after.
Spanning decades, from the forced migration of Bengalis to East Pakistan in 1947, through the 1971 liberation war, the wave of immigrants to the West in the 1980s, and a final return, Iffat Nawaz’s lyrical and evocative prose marks the arrival of a distinctive voice, one that unravels questions of grief, belonging, identity, and family with delightful imaginativeness and devastating insight. With its mesmerising balance between inexplicable otherworldliness and undeniable reality, this debut novel asks, above all, how we can honour the past without letting its wounds destroy us.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published November 21, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 25, 2022
Fiction tends to mostly discuss the Partition of India in terms of its effects on the people of Western India; what happened to those on the eastern borders of the country is often ignored. But the strife, the anguish, and the displacement that happened in Bengal were just as appalling, and continued for many years after 1947. What is more, the Partition of Bengal in 1947 had been preceded by an earlier, also disturbing partition in 1905; and, less than thirty years down the line, it was followed by the war that led to the formation of Bangladesh.
1947 and 1971 are in a way the basis of Iffat Nawaz’s novel Shurjo’s Clan: the ghosts (quite literally) of these two cataclysmic events form some of the major characters of the story. The protagonist Shurjomukhi ‘Shurjo’ grows up in a household dominated by the past: her grandparents came east during the Partition of 1947; her parents were born during the upheavals of a newborn East Pakistan. Shurjo’s father Babu lost his two brothers Shoku and Bhiku to the war; they were martyred in the tea estates of Sylhet, where Shoku was working when war broke out. Babu was the one who, travelling up to Sylhet, found their mutilated bodies and buried them.
… and who, every evening in his home now in Dhaka, hosts Shoku and Bhiku at dinner. For Shoku and Bhiku are part of the Unknown World, a realm bordering the Known World and separated from it by daylight. Night falls, and Babu’s wife Bela, along with her mother-in-law Paru, prepares a big dinner to which come their guests: Shoku, Bhiku, and Bela’s long-dead mother Shantori, who had jumped into a well as a new mother. The family, both from the Known World and the Unknown, comes together every night to eat, and—more importantly—to talk. Her uncles’ and father’s reminiscences about the war, her family’s stories of the years gone by, shape Shurjo’s early years, filling her with memories that aren’t hers, moulding her mind, her beliefs, her sense of what it means to be Bangladeshi.
When Shurjo’s parents decide to move to the USA in an attempt to shake Shurjo free of the ghosts that surround her—benevolent though those spirits be, much-loved and dear—life changes for all of them. For Babu, Bela and Shurjo far away in America, and for those they leave behind, on both sides of the divide.
Shurjo’s Clan is an unusual example of magical realism: a story of the supernatural, but one crafted with so much heart that it becomes a metaphor. A metaphor of the memories Bangladeshis (and other nationalities, other ethnicities with a history of bloodshed and migration) might carry with them. Partition, the war of 1971, and the migration of Bangladeshis to the west form important pivotal points here, each contributing to the tension, the sense of both rootedness and of being uprooted, of fitting in and of standing out.
Interestingly enough, Nawaz does not go deep into the details of either Partition or 1971; both are mentioned briefly (Partition even more fleetingly than 1971), and that in the form of quick snapshots of what Shurjo’s family experienced during these turbulent times. Only the far-reaching effects of these form the main focus of the novel, as Shurjo, growing from a young just-teen to a woman in her thirties, deals with her family’s past and her own experiences growing up as part of the diaspora.
Nawaz’s prose is lyrical, deeply insightful (especially when it comes to the nuances of being an immigrant), and moving. Her characters are believable, their stresses real, their sorrows and joys balanced. Shurjo’s story is an unusual coming of age: for its protagonist, of course, but also, perhaps, in symbolic way, of the Bangladesh themselves. A coming to terms with the past, a settling into a modern skin.
(From my review for Open: The Magazine: https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/bo...)
1947 and 1971 are in a way the basis of Iffat Nawaz’s novel Shurjo’s Clan: the ghosts (quite literally) of these two cataclysmic events form some of the major characters of the story. The protagonist Shurjomukhi ‘Shurjo’ grows up in a household dominated by the past: her grandparents came east during the Partition of 1947; her parents were born during the upheavals of a newborn East Pakistan. Shurjo’s father Babu lost his two brothers Shoku and Bhiku to the war; they were martyred in the tea estates of Sylhet, where Shoku was working when war broke out. Babu was the one who, travelling up to Sylhet, found their mutilated bodies and buried them.
… and who, every evening in his home now in Dhaka, hosts Shoku and Bhiku at dinner. For Shoku and Bhiku are part of the Unknown World, a realm bordering the Known World and separated from it by daylight. Night falls, and Babu’s wife Bela, along with her mother-in-law Paru, prepares a big dinner to which come their guests: Shoku, Bhiku, and Bela’s long-dead mother Shantori, who had jumped into a well as a new mother. The family, both from the Known World and the Unknown, comes together every night to eat, and—more importantly—to talk. Her uncles’ and father’s reminiscences about the war, her family’s stories of the years gone by, shape Shurjo’s early years, filling her with memories that aren’t hers, moulding her mind, her beliefs, her sense of what it means to be Bangladeshi.
When Shurjo’s parents decide to move to the USA in an attempt to shake Shurjo free of the ghosts that surround her—benevolent though those spirits be, much-loved and dear—life changes for all of them. For Babu, Bela and Shurjo far away in America, and for those they leave behind, on both sides of the divide.
Shurjo’s Clan is an unusual example of magical realism: a story of the supernatural, but one crafted with so much heart that it becomes a metaphor. A metaphor of the memories Bangladeshis (and other nationalities, other ethnicities with a history of bloodshed and migration) might carry with them. Partition, the war of 1971, and the migration of Bangladeshis to the west form important pivotal points here, each contributing to the tension, the sense of both rootedness and of being uprooted, of fitting in and of standing out.
Interestingly enough, Nawaz does not go deep into the details of either Partition or 1971; both are mentioned briefly (Partition even more fleetingly than 1971), and that in the form of quick snapshots of what Shurjo’s family experienced during these turbulent times. Only the far-reaching effects of these form the main focus of the novel, as Shurjo, growing from a young just-teen to a woman in her thirties, deals with her family’s past and her own experiences growing up as part of the diaspora.
Nawaz’s prose is lyrical, deeply insightful (especially when it comes to the nuances of being an immigrant), and moving. Her characters are believable, their stresses real, their sorrows and joys balanced. Shurjo’s story is an unusual coming of age: for its protagonist, of course, but also, perhaps, in symbolic way, of the Bangladesh themselves. A coming to terms with the past, a settling into a modern skin.
(From my review for Open: The Magazine: https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/bo...)
December 27, 2022
3.5 stars
Generational trauma and magic realism somehow go very well together in literature. This is another example. Shurjo, or Shurjomukhi, an 80's child grows up in a family broken in half by the liberation war, and by the migration after India's independence. By night, her long lost relatives come to visit, telling stories, sharing wisdom, but never telling the story of their last breaths. Every member of the house leads double lives, nights are alive, days feel like daydreams. How do you learn to be you when you are carrying the burden of so many painful lifetimes? And if you run away, are you giving up your identity?
I loved reading the book, its beautifully written, no doubt. But I also felt the author played it a little bit safe when it came to narrating the war, or the riotous migration. The ending passages about Shurjo's martyr uncles left me a little unsatisfied.
Perhaps my favorite part of the novel is Shurjo's grandma, Shantori. A student of nature, a keeper of memories, a flowing presence throughout the book. Would love to read a novella on her for sure.
Generational trauma and magic realism somehow go very well together in literature. This is another example. Shurjo, or Shurjomukhi, an 80's child grows up in a family broken in half by the liberation war, and by the migration after India's independence. By night, her long lost relatives come to visit, telling stories, sharing wisdom, but never telling the story of their last breaths. Every member of the house leads double lives, nights are alive, days feel like daydreams. How do you learn to be you when you are carrying the burden of so many painful lifetimes? And if you run away, are you giving up your identity?
I loved reading the book, its beautifully written, no doubt. But I also felt the author played it a little bit safe when it came to narrating the war, or the riotous migration. The ending passages about Shurjo's martyr uncles left me a little unsatisfied.
Perhaps my favorite part of the novel is Shurjo's grandma, Shantori. A student of nature, a keeper of memories, a flowing presence throughout the book. Would love to read a novella on her for sure.
October 16, 2023
Making me fall in love with my own city with a mesmerising writing style, and making me almost tear up in the bus thrice? Simply amazing
February 13, 2024
“Secrets have a way of manipulating their keepers; they want to be heard.”
Shurjo’s Clan is Bangladeshi writer Iffat Nawaz’s debut novel, a darkly charming story of a joint family in Dhaka torn apart by war, depression, and family conflict. We meet Shurjo as a young girl growing up in Ganderia in Old Dhaka with her parents Babu and Bela. At school, she’s an outsider because of her Calcuttan grandparents (she’s not Bangladeshi enough). At home, every evening brings a vibrant magical scene where Shurjo’s martyred uncles Shoku and Bhiku, and her dead grandmother Shantori, join them for dinner and storytelling.
“The city’s streets were empty and quiet at night, but the sound of laughter leaped out of windows and rubbed the bellies of sleepless dogs.”
But this curious joining of the Known and Unknown worlds turns out to have terrible consequences for Shurjo’s mental health. Her parents decide to take drastic measures, including fleeing Bangladesh, but many more surprises, both tragic and sweet, are in store.
“They knew what they were doing wrong. They knew that they had started playing a game of loss.”
I most enjoyed the push and pull of Shurjo’s parents’ relationship - the passionate poet figure of Babu and his practical and somewhat stern wife Bela. Shurjo’s relationship with her mother Bela is also compellingly difficult, and the twists and turns and growth in both relationships were satisfying to see (though not always smoothly or completely described).
“She had become a fan of Tagore; Bengalis had no choice in this matter.”
The writing in Shurjo’s Clan is luscious, many of the scenes wrought with rich detail and atmosphere: “The sky wore clouds like butter smeared on toast.” And it’s a quick read - I blew through the novel in a few days. Pick it up for lyrical and historical Bangali vibe rolled into one.
“The human being’s natural inheritance is love.”
Shurjo’s Clan is Bangladeshi writer Iffat Nawaz’s debut novel, a darkly charming story of a joint family in Dhaka torn apart by war, depression, and family conflict. We meet Shurjo as a young girl growing up in Ganderia in Old Dhaka with her parents Babu and Bela. At school, she’s an outsider because of her Calcuttan grandparents (she’s not Bangladeshi enough). At home, every evening brings a vibrant magical scene where Shurjo’s martyred uncles Shoku and Bhiku, and her dead grandmother Shantori, join them for dinner and storytelling.
“The city’s streets were empty and quiet at night, but the sound of laughter leaped out of windows and rubbed the bellies of sleepless dogs.”
But this curious joining of the Known and Unknown worlds turns out to have terrible consequences for Shurjo’s mental health. Her parents decide to take drastic measures, including fleeing Bangladesh, but many more surprises, both tragic and sweet, are in store.
“They knew what they were doing wrong. They knew that they had started playing a game of loss.”
I most enjoyed the push and pull of Shurjo’s parents’ relationship - the passionate poet figure of Babu and his practical and somewhat stern wife Bela. Shurjo’s relationship with her mother Bela is also compellingly difficult, and the twists and turns and growth in both relationships were satisfying to see (though not always smoothly or completely described).
“She had become a fan of Tagore; Bengalis had no choice in this matter.”
The writing in Shurjo’s Clan is luscious, many of the scenes wrought with rich detail and atmosphere: “The sky wore clouds like butter smeared on toast.” And it’s a quick read - I blew through the novel in a few days. Pick it up for lyrical and historical Bangali vibe rolled into one.
“The human being’s natural inheritance is love.”
March 11, 2023
~ Shurjomukhi and her Asymmetric home ~
Zakir Khan in his special 'Tathastu' said and I'm paraphrasing;
Whether you leave home by choice or necessity, when you do, the ties are never completely broken. They cling to you like a piece of fabric, tearing away. Only to remain attached by loose threads that never fully unravel. These scars remain with you, a constant reminder of what you left behind, etched onto your back for a lifetime.
The entire time I read this book, it was these lines that kept playing in my head. The scars Zakir talks about are evident on Shurjo, and her clan in this beautiful tale spun by Iffat Nawaz that explores the themes of family, love, loss and identity.
The story follows a family that carries the weight of migration on their back, the grief of war and death looms large on their head while they traverse through the two worlds - Known and Unknown. Known is where everything appears normal, a family from a town in Bangladesh going by their day and the Unknown is the hushed secret they all maintain. Where they meet the dead members of their clan, every night after 8 PM.
The two worlds meet at the dinner to have the time they were robbed off when some of them were alive. They talk of the Partition of 1947, the liberation war of 1971, their heroes, their country. While our protagonist, Shurjomukhi absorbs all of that like a sponge. Some things, she probably wasn't supposed to. Eventually, her parents decide to move to the US; to free her from the darkness that comes with the unknown.
To know what happens next, I'd recommend you to pick up the book.
Using magical realism and history, Nawaz brings forward how we inherit trauma and grief from our ancestors. How their experiences shape our world-view. She writes in a very light and lyrical way that encapsulates the nuances of the story exquisitely. She uses her metaphors and symbolisms of nature to bring the weight to the characters and their emotions. The book does not go into much detail of the war but centres more to the personal experiences of many families in Bangladesh via Shurjo's story. It touches upon the immigrant experience as well and the struggle one has to keep up with the culture clash.
Overall, this novel is a moving, personal and a very thought provoking read for anyone interested in exploring complexities of identity and migration, culture, and family. The tale is bound to leave a mark!
Zakir Khan in his special 'Tathastu' said and I'm paraphrasing;
Whether you leave home by choice or necessity, when you do, the ties are never completely broken. They cling to you like a piece of fabric, tearing away. Only to remain attached by loose threads that never fully unravel. These scars remain with you, a constant reminder of what you left behind, etched onto your back for a lifetime.
The entire time I read this book, it was these lines that kept playing in my head. The scars Zakir talks about are evident on Shurjo, and her clan in this beautiful tale spun by Iffat Nawaz that explores the themes of family, love, loss and identity.
The story follows a family that carries the weight of migration on their back, the grief of war and death looms large on their head while they traverse through the two worlds - Known and Unknown. Known is where everything appears normal, a family from a town in Bangladesh going by their day and the Unknown is the hushed secret they all maintain. Where they meet the dead members of their clan, every night after 8 PM.
The two worlds meet at the dinner to have the time they were robbed off when some of them were alive. They talk of the Partition of 1947, the liberation war of 1971, their heroes, their country. While our protagonist, Shurjomukhi absorbs all of that like a sponge. Some things, she probably wasn't supposed to. Eventually, her parents decide to move to the US; to free her from the darkness that comes with the unknown.
To know what happens next, I'd recommend you to pick up the book.
Using magical realism and history, Nawaz brings forward how we inherit trauma and grief from our ancestors. How their experiences shape our world-view. She writes in a very light and lyrical way that encapsulates the nuances of the story exquisitely. She uses her metaphors and symbolisms of nature to bring the weight to the characters and their emotions. The book does not go into much detail of the war but centres more to the personal experiences of many families in Bangladesh via Shurjo's story. It touches upon the immigrant experience as well and the struggle one has to keep up with the culture clash.
Overall, this novel is a moving, personal and a very thought provoking read for anyone interested in exploring complexities of identity and migration, culture, and family. The tale is bound to leave a mark!
April 26, 2023
During the day, Shurjomukhi's family is like any other in Dhaka, going about their normal routine of school, work, and family life. But at night, in their home, they enter a world where death does not exist.
Shurjo's freedom fighter uncles and grandmother, who died many years ago, join the family for dinner. Although these dinners are joyful occasions, underneath the celebration, the family is haunted by the traumas of their past, including death, war, migration, and separation. Shurjo eventually confronts these traumas, and the family must make a difficult decision that leads to their separation and a move to a new country.
Shurjo's Clan is a powerful story about how grief and trauma can be inherited and shape the lives of future generations.
This book keeps the reader interested from start to finish with beautiful writing that flows smoothly. It is a very special book that will take you on a journey full of magic and history. From the first page to the last, you'll be surprised and delighted by what you read. So pick up this book and enjoy the adventure!
Shurjo's freedom fighter uncles and grandmother, who died many years ago, join the family for dinner. Although these dinners are joyful occasions, underneath the celebration, the family is haunted by the traumas of their past, including death, war, migration, and separation. Shurjo eventually confronts these traumas, and the family must make a difficult decision that leads to their separation and a move to a new country.
Shurjo's Clan is a powerful story about how grief and trauma can be inherited and shape the lives of future generations.
This book keeps the reader interested from start to finish with beautiful writing that flows smoothly. It is a very special book that will take you on a journey full of magic and history. From the first page to the last, you'll be surprised and delighted by what you read. So pick up this book and enjoy the adventure!
August 3, 2024
When the story began from the same point as the synopsis of it, I was a bit surprised, because that's unusual for any book. But the way the author picks up the story from there, merging the Bangladesh Liberation movement and the way that lives were affected, takes you on a pleasant ride of reading a warm and comforting book. You become a part of Shurjo's clan, curious about what happens to them, wondering how they are going to work around their past traumas. As a mental health professional however, I do feel that the book has some statements abut grief which seem patronizing-grief can be extremely difficult for anyone to "just let go", and we probably need to honor and respect it, showing us that the grief represents the love we shared towards the ones who have left us. That aspect aside, I absolutely love how the book has wonderfully portrayed the aftermath of the Bangladesh war, and the historical elements were beautifully weaved. Couldn't stop reading it!
March 26, 2023
Iffat Nawaz’s book is a story of thousands of families in Bangladesh. Her clan is us, we are Shurjo! I could relate to Shurjo so much! I completely felt how her grief was from within, of losing someone she didn’t even meet. I felt for her uncles who never had a family and her mother, for whom grief was losing her way home.
I cannot imagine the strength and patience you had to have to write this book. I wish Shurjo every success.
Give it a go if you like magic realism, can relate to 1971 and the untold stories of the past that we all long for!
I cannot imagine the strength and patience you had to have to write this book. I wish Shurjo every success.
Give it a go if you like magic realism, can relate to 1971 and the untold stories of the past that we all long for!
March 21, 2023
Such a unique concept! But would have liked it better if the ending didn’t try to give an explanation to this unique setup and just left it open-ended. Other than that, great characters and story-telling. But be warned, this book is extremely sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2023
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, young Shurjomukhi lives dual life with her family in their asymmetrical house. In the daylight, their life is as mundane as anyone in Dhaka. But as the sun sets and darkness covers the sky, the family is joined for dinner by Shurjo's two martyr uncles, who fought in the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh and Shurjo's grandma, who died by jumping into a well. Over dinner, they tell stories from their youth and play music. But behind all the festivities are the shadows of the past: war, migration, separation, death and loss. And when the grief and trauma of the past start influencing young Shurjo's life, the only way to move forward is to split from their dual lives.
Shurjo's Clan is a blend of magic realism and literary fiction that portrays the aftermath of war, partition, and the struggle to belong to a land. It is an insightful and personal account of a family's journey from grief, loss and trauma to finding their ways in life.
I love reading this book. Iffat Nawaz's prose flows elegantly. The book was very gripping and engaging from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down.
A captivating and moving read.
Highly recommend it to everyone.
Shurjo's Clan is a blend of magic realism and literary fiction that portrays the aftermath of war, partition, and the struggle to belong to a land. It is an insightful and personal account of a family's journey from grief, loss and trauma to finding their ways in life.
I love reading this book. Iffat Nawaz's prose flows elegantly. The book was very gripping and engaging from the first chapter and I couldn't put it down.
A captivating and moving read.
Highly recommend it to everyone.
May 10, 2023
Shurjo, meaning sun, short for Shurjomukhi, that means the sunflower in Bengali, is the daughter of Babu, the middle and sole surviving son of the family. In an asymmetrical house, Shurjo lived on one-and-a-half floor, physically spaced between her parent’s and grandparents’ floors, and metaphysically between the day side of the living and the evening side when the dead returned to their loved ones. There is strong symbolism there, of a young girl and of a young country in limbo, and Nawaz’s use of magic realism lends itself well to tell this historical tale.
This is a story that spans decades, chronicling the family’s forced migration to East Pakistan in 1947, the liberation war and the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, the migration to the west in search of greener pastures in the 80s and an eventual homecoming. It explores themes such as the second hand trauma of war and the sense of displacement and crisis of identity caused by migrations both forced and wilful.
In this novel written in under 250 pages, Nawaz’s confidence in her story, in its central message, and in her writing shines. Combining the real and the ethereal with eloquence, Shurjo’s clan is a prayer, and a hope, that like Shurjomukhi, this young country will also look up to the sun.
This is a story that spans decades, chronicling the family’s forced migration to East Pakistan in 1947, the liberation war and the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, the migration to the west in search of greener pastures in the 80s and an eventual homecoming. It explores themes such as the second hand trauma of war and the sense of displacement and crisis of identity caused by migrations both forced and wilful.
In this novel written in under 250 pages, Nawaz’s confidence in her story, in its central message, and in her writing shines. Combining the real and the ethereal with eloquence, Shurjo’s clan is a prayer, and a hope, that like Shurjomukhi, this young country will also look up to the sun.
October 29, 2023
Stories of migration ,partition are usually tales of victims carrying the burden of turmoil and how they navigate and find inspiration from this burden and eventually adjust and navigate life . Surjo's clan though built on this premise also has a layer of magical realism , coming of age and the impact of carrying the burden of troubled past across generations. Iffat successfully weaves these diverse experiences across well built characters into a beautiful engaging read .
July 25, 2023
Emotional, Love & Bonding..
Touchy, fascinating..
Touchy, fascinating..
July 5, 2023
Book: Shurjo's Clan
Author: Iffat Nawaz
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin India
Pages: 254
Shurjo's Clan by Iffat Nawaz is a literary fiction that blends the genre of contemporary fiction and magical realism beautifully. I haven't read magical realism before I was skeptical about the same because I wasn't sure about how that is going to work. But if this genre is going to be as good as it was in this book, I'm up for it anytime!
This is the story of Shurjomukhi's family, who lives in Dhaka, but at a home that looks different in the absence of light. In the daytime, it's like any other house and family, but at night, the family is joined by her uncles- Shoku and Bhiku, who lost their lives in the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, and her maternal grandmother - Shantori. And this forms an asymmetrical house and the secret of an Unknown world. What follows up next is the tale of war, separation, migration, death, inherited grief, love, and longing. Read the book to know more.
The book is divided into three parts, and each part has its different essence. The writing of the book is simple and easy to read, but the emotions they carry are heavy and will take time to get out of them. I put down that book for weeks after reading the first part, and when I finished the second, I was almost at the same junction. But I decided to go ahead and let it tear me into parts at once. But after the heaviness of parts one and two, part three came as a healer. Talking more about it would be a spoiler, but I would say that part three came as a ray of sunshine amidst all the dullness, and thank you, dear author, for writing this.
This book is not the story of Shurjo only, but it is as much as of her parents - Babu and Bela, her uncles- Shoku and Bhiku, her paternal grandmother - Shantori, and the flute player. And each of them leaves an impact in their own way, especially Shantori.
The essence of the book lies in its nuances, in its minor details! From representing each part with different images - fireflies, butterflies, and sunflowers, as all is shown on the cover, to the poems and lines of Rabindranath Tagore, Shukanto, and others, it makes you read the lines again and again, to make you understand their meaning each time with more deepness, with more fondness, with more emotions.
This was my first read about Bangladesh Liberation War as well, and I want to explore more literature about it now. This book is definitely among my favorite reads of this year. And I took as much time as I could to read it. I know the book was slow-paced, but I didn't expect it to be any other way as well.
And I feel that everyone should read this book, no matter if you are into this genre or not, no matter if you are begginer or an avid reader, no matter if you have read on this topic before or not, read this book. Read it to be more close to human emotions, to be more close to yourself. I'll give it 5/5 stars.
Author: Iffat Nawaz
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin India
Pages: 254
Shurjo's Clan by Iffat Nawaz is a literary fiction that blends the genre of contemporary fiction and magical realism beautifully. I haven't read magical realism before I was skeptical about the same because I wasn't sure about how that is going to work. But if this genre is going to be as good as it was in this book, I'm up for it anytime!
This is the story of Shurjomukhi's family, who lives in Dhaka, but at a home that looks different in the absence of light. In the daytime, it's like any other house and family, but at night, the family is joined by her uncles- Shoku and Bhiku, who lost their lives in the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971, and her maternal grandmother - Shantori. And this forms an asymmetrical house and the secret of an Unknown world. What follows up next is the tale of war, separation, migration, death, inherited grief, love, and longing. Read the book to know more.
The book is divided into three parts, and each part has its different essence. The writing of the book is simple and easy to read, but the emotions they carry are heavy and will take time to get out of them. I put down that book for weeks after reading the first part, and when I finished the second, I was almost at the same junction. But I decided to go ahead and let it tear me into parts at once. But after the heaviness of parts one and two, part three came as a healer. Talking more about it would be a spoiler, but I would say that part three came as a ray of sunshine amidst all the dullness, and thank you, dear author, for writing this.
This book is not the story of Shurjo only, but it is as much as of her parents - Babu and Bela, her uncles- Shoku and Bhiku, her paternal grandmother - Shantori, and the flute player. And each of them leaves an impact in their own way, especially Shantori.
The essence of the book lies in its nuances, in its minor details! From representing each part with different images - fireflies, butterflies, and sunflowers, as all is shown on the cover, to the poems and lines of Rabindranath Tagore, Shukanto, and others, it makes you read the lines again and again, to make you understand their meaning each time with more deepness, with more fondness, with more emotions.
This was my first read about Bangladesh Liberation War as well, and I want to explore more literature about it now. This book is definitely among my favorite reads of this year. And I took as much time as I could to read it. I know the book was slow-paced, but I didn't expect it to be any other way as well.
And I feel that everyone should read this book, no matter if you are into this genre or not, no matter if you are begginer or an avid reader, no matter if you have read on this topic before or not, read this book. Read it to be more close to human emotions, to be more close to yourself. I'll give it 5/5 stars.
April 28, 2023
“this country is too full of words, don’t you think? It is time for silence and contemplation. Where did all those long speeches lead us? To bottoms of wells and ends without graves.”
In Iffat Nawaz's debut novel, "Shurjo's Clan," the mysteries of magical realism and the harsh realities of historical fiction entwine to create a tapestry of emotions that will leave readers spellbound. The novel's blurb provides a glimpse into the unique, hybrid world that is both ephemeral and palpable. Through the eyes of young Shurjo, we see a family that, during the day, is a typical Dhaka family going through the motions of daily life, but when the sun sets, they gather with loved ones who have passed away in a place where death does not exist. This "Unknown" world is a refuge from the trauma of the past and offers a haven for reunion, joy, music, and stories.
Nawaz's blending of magical realism and historical fiction is stunning, reminding me of Shehan Karunatilaka's "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida." The novel spans decades, from the forced migration of Bengalis to East Pakistan in 1947, through the 1971 liberation war, the wave of immigrants to the West in the 1980s, and a final return. The family's saga is both fascinating and heart-wrenching, capturing the essence of the struggles that many Bangladeshis have faced over the years.
While the novel's intricate prose adds a touch of enchantment to the story, it leaves the reader longing for a more robust plot. The tone of the tale can become monotonous after a while, which may disappoint some readers. Nonetheless, the intricate prose of Nawaz gave a magical touch to the entire book and made my reading experience unforgettable. The writing was buoyant, with a lyrical quality that spoke of the beauty of the language.
The novel is a poignant exploration of grief, belonging, identity, and family, with a delightful imaginativeness and devastating insight. The characters are richly drawn and complex, each with their own story to tell. The proses of Nazrul, in particular, added an extra layer of depth to the text, elevating it from a mere family saga to a work of art.
"Shurjo's Clan" raises poignant questions about how the wounds of the past can still shape the present. This debut novel is a testament to the author's distinctive voice and a promising addition to the literary world. It is a must-read for those who enjoy family sagas with a touch of magical realism and a keen interest in the intricacies of history.
I am grateful to Penguin India for providing me with a review copy.
In Iffat Nawaz's debut novel, "Shurjo's Clan," the mysteries of magical realism and the harsh realities of historical fiction entwine to create a tapestry of emotions that will leave readers spellbound. The novel's blurb provides a glimpse into the unique, hybrid world that is both ephemeral and palpable. Through the eyes of young Shurjo, we see a family that, during the day, is a typical Dhaka family going through the motions of daily life, but when the sun sets, they gather with loved ones who have passed away in a place where death does not exist. This "Unknown" world is a refuge from the trauma of the past and offers a haven for reunion, joy, music, and stories.
Nawaz's blending of magical realism and historical fiction is stunning, reminding me of Shehan Karunatilaka's "The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida." The novel spans decades, from the forced migration of Bengalis to East Pakistan in 1947, through the 1971 liberation war, the wave of immigrants to the West in the 1980s, and a final return. The family's saga is both fascinating and heart-wrenching, capturing the essence of the struggles that many Bangladeshis have faced over the years.
While the novel's intricate prose adds a touch of enchantment to the story, it leaves the reader longing for a more robust plot. The tone of the tale can become monotonous after a while, which may disappoint some readers. Nonetheless, the intricate prose of Nawaz gave a magical touch to the entire book and made my reading experience unforgettable. The writing was buoyant, with a lyrical quality that spoke of the beauty of the language.
The novel is a poignant exploration of grief, belonging, identity, and family, with a delightful imaginativeness and devastating insight. The characters are richly drawn and complex, each with their own story to tell. The proses of Nazrul, in particular, added an extra layer of depth to the text, elevating it from a mere family saga to a work of art.
"Shurjo's Clan" raises poignant questions about how the wounds of the past can still shape the present. This debut novel is a testament to the author's distinctive voice and a promising addition to the literary world. It is a must-read for those who enjoy family sagas with a touch of magical realism and a keen interest in the intricacies of history.
I am grateful to Penguin India for providing me with a review copy.
February 28, 2026
Our primary focus when talking about wars in general is mostly the number of tragic deaths, brutal bloodshed, and bravery of those who fought, which undoubtedly requires absolute acknowledgement, appreciation, and recognition. However, there is another major side of the coin that we still don't talk about, write about enough.
"𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈."
In Shurjo's Clan, Iffat Nawaz's debut novel, she has strung the cords of vulnerability mixed with hesitance of our freedom fighters of 1971, the psychological and social problems emerged from one's identity crisis, persistently lingering grief and love in various forms and languages. A man must fight, a man must not be scared, a man must not cry, a man must follow his fellow man's courageous footsteps. Iffat Nawaz, through one of her characters, pointed out a freedom fighters' reluctance, hesitance, and fear. He was scared, and was not willing to fight. Given the choice, he probably would have chosen to stay inside the safety of his home. Men being emotional and sensitive is something our society still fights to accept.
Very beautifully, the author has highlighted how fascinating it is to hear stories of war, yet how disturbingly dark the impacts are on the post-war children. Infused with magical realism, Shurjo's Clan speaks to us of how the war survivors barely manage to survive, how they get entangled between protecting their children from the dark sides of the war and not letting the stories of their lost loved ones fade away.
"𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒇. "
Through vivid images of the daily life, the author has successfully brought in light how our regular, ordinary choices reveal so much about our trauma. My favorite character is Babu, Shurjo's father. His growth through life, his setbacks, dilemma, vulnerability, his primal instinct to protect, the fears constantly buzzing around his loud decisions spoke directly to me of how a human functions, is supposed to function. The book had a poetic ending. I felt a melody filled with both hopefulness and gloom. As a resident of Gandaria, Shurjo's Clan seemed warmly personal to me. It's also available in Bangla translation, named as "উত্তরসূরির গান". A major underrated piece of work, Shurjo's Clan, deserves more attention and discussion.
"𝑮𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈."
In Shurjo's Clan, Iffat Nawaz's debut novel, she has strung the cords of vulnerability mixed with hesitance of our freedom fighters of 1971, the psychological and social problems emerged from one's identity crisis, persistently lingering grief and love in various forms and languages. A man must fight, a man must not be scared, a man must not cry, a man must follow his fellow man's courageous footsteps. Iffat Nawaz, through one of her characters, pointed out a freedom fighters' reluctance, hesitance, and fear. He was scared, and was not willing to fight. Given the choice, he probably would have chosen to stay inside the safety of his home. Men being emotional and sensitive is something our society still fights to accept.
Very beautifully, the author has highlighted how fascinating it is to hear stories of war, yet how disturbingly dark the impacts are on the post-war children. Infused with magical realism, Shurjo's Clan speaks to us of how the war survivors barely manage to survive, how they get entangled between protecting their children from the dark sides of the war and not letting the stories of their lost loved ones fade away.
"𝑾𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒇. "
Through vivid images of the daily life, the author has successfully brought in light how our regular, ordinary choices reveal so much about our trauma. My favorite character is Babu, Shurjo's father. His growth through life, his setbacks, dilemma, vulnerability, his primal instinct to protect, the fears constantly buzzing around his loud decisions spoke directly to me of how a human functions, is supposed to function. The book had a poetic ending. I felt a melody filled with both hopefulness and gloom. As a resident of Gandaria, Shurjo's Clan seemed warmly personal to me. It's also available in Bangla translation, named as "উত্তরসূরির গান". A major underrated piece of work, Shurjo's Clan, deserves more attention and discussion.
January 25, 2023
As a 90’s kid, born a whole decade after the war, coming of age around the time that a military dictatorship gave way to some kind of democracy, I’ve always felt a little rootless in my own homeland. Less ‘authentic’ than those that actually witnessed the horrors of 1971, not quite as jaded as my Gen X cousins who would buy into the ‘bottomless basket’ analogy and (wisely) leave for fairer shores. Iffat Nawaz captures that feeling, and all the nameless nuanced emotions of postwar Bangladeshis at home and abroad in this beautiful novel.
Shurjomukhi and her family live in an 'asymmetrical' house in Gendaria, Old Dhaka. Her father is a former freedom fighter, who lost two brothers to the war. Her mother's family migrated to Bangladesh during the Partition, after which, Shurjo's maternal grandmother committed suicide. On one hand, the girl has the legacy of those that shed blood to birth our nation. On the other, she bears the stigma of being part 'ghoti' - a slur used to describe the migrants from West Bengal. When the inherited grief appears too much for her, her parents move with her to America, in the hopes that she will thrive under a different sky. Will they ever find that amorphous, unattainable thing called 'home'? You'll have to read to find out.
Part memoir, part magical realism, once you’ve read it cover to cover, you realise that this was the only way to tell this story - on the surface, a story about one Bangladeshi family - but really, a story about a whole family of feelings. The prose is sheer poetry: so many quotable lines, that if I were prone to highlighting them, I’d paint a rainbow on each page.
A poignant, painful, but ultimately hopeful read about family, legacy and identity. Happy this was my first read of the year!
Shurjomukhi and her family live in an 'asymmetrical' house in Gendaria, Old Dhaka. Her father is a former freedom fighter, who lost two brothers to the war. Her mother's family migrated to Bangladesh during the Partition, after which, Shurjo's maternal grandmother committed suicide. On one hand, the girl has the legacy of those that shed blood to birth our nation. On the other, she bears the stigma of being part 'ghoti' - a slur used to describe the migrants from West Bengal. When the inherited grief appears too much for her, her parents move with her to America, in the hopes that she will thrive under a different sky. Will they ever find that amorphous, unattainable thing called 'home'? You'll have to read to find out.
Part memoir, part magical realism, once you’ve read it cover to cover, you realise that this was the only way to tell this story - on the surface, a story about one Bangladeshi family - but really, a story about a whole family of feelings. The prose is sheer poetry: so many quotable lines, that if I were prone to highlighting them, I’d paint a rainbow on each page.
A poignant, painful, but ultimately hopeful read about family, legacy and identity. Happy this was my first read of the year!
March 21, 2023
All the great patriotic books or movies talked about people who wanted to be part of a greater cause and were even willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the country, all the heroism of the people who wanted a war to settle the dispute, the bravery of those who participated willingly, the cowardice of those who deny, but what about those who didn’t want the war and yet they face its greatest impact, those who didn’t want a separation and yet forced to choose a side.
A mix of magical realism, historical fiction, and domestic fiction, this book talks about two universes- known and unknown. The dead are martyrs of the Sylhet during the Bangladesh Liberation War and they come at night to be with the family, those dinners are joyful, happy, and away from any talks of death. Surjo is the youngest in the house and her fascination to know things about the past and brutal reality of the wars eventually placed a tremendous concern among the adults for her life.
They tried to save her from the trauma she wasn’t even a part of. Surjo moved to a different country with her parents and even settled there nicely, but a calling keeps pulling them back until they did after years.
A deep emotional ride, with several realizations, and immense empathy for the martyrs, survivors, refugees, and civilians of any war. It’s not the property people leave, it’s not the things they lose, they lose a part of their hearts forever, their feet will heal from all the long walks but their hearts develop a crack, that aches at every mention of what’s left behind.
It can be a slow read, but it’s a good book emotionally.
A mix of magical realism, historical fiction, and domestic fiction, this book talks about two universes- known and unknown. The dead are martyrs of the Sylhet during the Bangladesh Liberation War and they come at night to be with the family, those dinners are joyful, happy, and away from any talks of death. Surjo is the youngest in the house and her fascination to know things about the past and brutal reality of the wars eventually placed a tremendous concern among the adults for her life.
They tried to save her from the trauma she wasn’t even a part of. Surjo moved to a different country with her parents and even settled there nicely, but a calling keeps pulling them back until they did after years.
A deep emotional ride, with several realizations, and immense empathy for the martyrs, survivors, refugees, and civilians of any war. It’s not the property people leave, it’s not the things they lose, they lose a part of their hearts forever, their feet will heal from all the long walks but their hearts develop a crack, that aches at every mention of what’s left behind.
It can be a slow read, but it’s a good book emotionally.
June 3, 2023
Partition stories always leave us, subcontinent audience in a state which is not descriptive. At least not by me. And I’m from a family which has no known history of fighting in the freedom struggle of India-Pakistan-Bangladesh. But somehow, these stories always pull me towards them and this one is so different than usual.
Bangladesh was has not been researched by me, most of my reads around partition revolve between India and Pakistan. Hence picking up this one came very naturally - I wanted to know how Bangladesh weeps of partition, how it heals itself from the trauma and what stories do the generations wake up to from their parents’ memories.
Iffat Nawaz has beautifully moulded history and fiction, adding a bit of magic to make this one of my best historical fiction read. She puts the grief out in front of you, dissect the hurt and show you in daylight how trauma travels across generations as inheritance.
I often get asked why I read such books which has so much pain, I think it’s escaping in these pages where my own pain find their way and heal me.
Bangladesh was has not been researched by me, most of my reads around partition revolve between India and Pakistan. Hence picking up this one came very naturally - I wanted to know how Bangladesh weeps of partition, how it heals itself from the trauma and what stories do the generations wake up to from their parents’ memories.
Iffat Nawaz has beautifully moulded history and fiction, adding a bit of magic to make this one of my best historical fiction read. She puts the grief out in front of you, dissect the hurt and show you in daylight how trauma travels across generations as inheritance.
I often get asked why I read such books which has so much pain, I think it’s escaping in these pages where my own pain find their way and heal me.
March 31, 2024
Surjo's clan is a moving story of an uprooted generation who has inherited trauma by war, conflict and separation. The unique storytelling and its universal appeal transcend the Indian subcontinent and reveal grief, guilt, broken ties, patriotism, reconciliation, loneliness (rather aloneness) through metaphysical state of mind.
Reading this book has embarked me on a magical journey which ends with a positive spin of hope, almost providing a remedy for pain, unlike any other book with similar background. The lucid style of writing has expressed the writer's deep thought and keen observation of human nature. This heart wrenching tale will surely resonate with every sensitive soul and engrave in the heart of the reader. The story from the halfway point might have influenced by the writer's privileged background however it brings new perspective to the narrative from diasporic dilemmas . The debut novel always brings the best out of the writer as the story is told through personal journey, and Surjo's clan is no different.
Reading this book has embarked me on a magical journey which ends with a positive spin of hope, almost providing a remedy for pain, unlike any other book with similar background. The lucid style of writing has expressed the writer's deep thought and keen observation of human nature. This heart wrenching tale will surely resonate with every sensitive soul and engrave in the heart of the reader. The story from the halfway point might have influenced by the writer's privileged background however it brings new perspective to the narrative from diasporic dilemmas . The debut novel always brings the best out of the writer as the story is told through personal journey, and Surjo's clan is no different.
December 13, 2023
Iffat Nawaz has masterfully used magic realism to write about a girl, Shurjo, whose life is profoundly influenced by her dead relatives, her paternal uncles and maternal grandmother, all of whom died tragically, and none of whom Shurjo met when they were alive. But their memory keeps on haunting her living relatives, throw whom it oozes into Shurjo's world, shaping her psyche in mysterious ways.
It is a story of how we deal with our ancestral past, carry on with their struggles and trauma, and how deeply they affect our lives. often without knowing that we do (because it happens in our subconscious) and never knowing how to put it into words.
Iffat has brilliantly illuminated this fragile, unknown, nameless yet deep relation with our ancestral past by beautifully weaving together the known world with the unknown, where our dead ancestors who died without making peace with themselves comes back to haunt us.
It is a delightful read.
It is a story of how we deal with our ancestral past, carry on with their struggles and trauma, and how deeply they affect our lives. often without knowing that we do (because it happens in our subconscious) and never knowing how to put it into words.
Iffat has brilliantly illuminated this fragile, unknown, nameless yet deep relation with our ancestral past by beautifully weaving together the known world with the unknown, where our dead ancestors who died without making peace with themselves comes back to haunt us.
It is a delightful read.
January 5, 2023
Iffat Nawaz book offers a unique glimpse into Bangladesh history through the story of one family. That magical worlds that are coexisting in part of the book and disappearing to create something else in other parts are great platform to tell the story of family, immigration, relationships but mostly Love. Beside all the different levels where the book is happening it is simply a great read.
May 6, 2023
An unusual, warm, and touching story of not just a fictional character, but this book carries an emotion of a free nation with its share of losses. A very well-imagined and efficiently woven plot with the themes of patriotism, familial bonds, love, grief, and resurrection.
July 28, 2025
such a delightful read!
honestly can’t even put this forth in words, from the scintillating metaphors, to vivid descriptions. the use of sunlight and poetry… how i wish i could read it for the first time again.
a must must read.
honestly can’t even put this forth in words, from the scintillating metaphors, to vivid descriptions. the use of sunlight and poetry… how i wish i could read it for the first time again.
a must must read.
August 1, 2025
Shurjo's clan started off so depressing, I was actually planning to drop it. But pushed through the first half and it kept getting better from there. As the story progressed, I felt a mix of sadness and happiness, tears and laughter. It leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling by the end!
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