The Tailor's Needle

by Lakshmi Raj Sharma

THE TAILOR'S NEEDLE follows the lives of a Brahmin family in India prior to Independence. Part comedy of manners, part social commentary, love story, mystic narration and thriller, it is a sort of Indian version of Oliver Goldsmith's THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

Genres: Fiction

330 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

About the author

Lakshmi Raj Sharma is a professor of English at the University of Allahabad. He lives in Allahabad with his professor wife, Bandana, and etymologist son, Dhruv. His first collection of stories, Marriages are Made in India, has now been published as an e-book by Publerati, USA. His first novel, The Tailor’s Needle, first published in the UK, is published by Penguin Books India, in 2012. His article, “Charles Dickens and Me” has been published in 2012 by the Oxford journal, English. Several of his stories and articles are published in American and British journals.

Reviews

[Alok Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Professor himself describes this well-written novel as a contribution to the successful comedy of manners genre. However, my interpretation finds this novel much more than a contribution to the above-mentioned genre. This is a novel that not only presents a picture of pre-independence India in its true colours but also tries to highlight that India, which was divided into high and low, Hindu and Muslim, Brahman and Vaishya, finally came together on the clarion call by Mahatma Gandhi to fight out the British. Lakshmi Raj Sharma, the author, who is a literature professor as well, has almost matched the scenes of Kanthapura in uniting the high and the low, Mulk Raj Anand in epitomising the Gandhian philosophy and the murder mystery further intensifies the novel (a certain character Mohan is murdered under mysterious circumstances).
Yes, I will say that the casual reading class might not find this novel that interesting as it finds the works by modern Indian novelists who prioritise sexual content, the serious readers will take a deep interest in this work by Professor Sharma. The literature students who are trying to find that broken bridge between standard Indian fiction which used to be meaningful and the contemporary vacuum created by the likes of Bhagat and others can do very well by reading this work. As a critic, I can say that this novel will prove to be vital for many decades... well done, Prof. Sharma!

[Amit Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked the most in the book is Menaka's character. She exceeds her time, the early 20th-century and a little further. Her father is a traditionalist and yet a sophisticated English-speaking elite who, semi-consciously, barters his Indianness with insidious British agenda of breaking India into different sections - class, race, religion etc. At the same time, Menaka takes her own decisions and makes her own choices. She does oppose Gauri's inclusion in the Ranabakshi family but later accepts that she has to accept her to lead with an example of inclusion and eventually she jumps into the Indian freedom struggle... a nice meal for the feminists is cooked in this novel and this is just a perspective. Many things are there in the novel that readers will like. A good literary fiction overall!

[Nidhi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to tell the readers about this book that it is written in a way that it evokes the feel and contours of a classic novel written about the pre-independence era in India and all its social fabrics lay bare... It is a novel that will change the perception about temporary Indian fiction and its dearth of serious writing. A must read... though with certain limitations, this is a must read novel.

[Naman Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shall I call it a comedy of manners as the author himself says it to be? Maybe not! Because this novel seems to me far more serious and intense. A well-learned, highly-educated, sophisticated English-speaking Brahman Sir Saraswati and his family are at the centre of this novel. However, the novelist has used many tools to gives this limited idea a broad circle of perspectives and aspects that will keep the readers entertained and indulged. A slow-moving but well-developing and worth-reading novel...

[Yogita Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short, this novel is about Sir Saraswati Chandra Ranabakshi and his family, wife, two daughters and one son. While the work exhibits an India of 1930s and a realistic picture of it, the novelist has done his best to include satirical anecdotes and inspirational events in isolation to make the readers feel how the freedom struggle became a household element under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi in India. The novel, excluding all the historical references and symbolism, is a slow but worthy read.

[Mugdha Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am glad that one of my friends, Ambika, recommended me this book. Written beautifully with praiseworthy storytelling, this book wouldn't disappoint you at any point of time. Set in the years a little before independence, the book succinctly represents the events, situations, traditions and practices of that period of time. A conflict is always evident and that will compel you to visualise the story... recommended for all the readers of traditional fiction with tools of literary enhancements.

[Abhishek Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another week and another traditional Indian novel... The Tailor's Needle by Lakshmi Raj Sharma is a novel that binds together different emotions and different episodes encircled with a classy style of narrative and sarcastic style of storytelling eliciting the follies of India before its independence and also bringing out the unique fabric of Mother India's Saree that brought together all the Indians. The story of a Britain-educated Sir Saraswati Chandra is at the centre while the story of his daughter, Menaka, is very near to the centre. Examples and analogies, contrasts and symbolism, twists and occasional sharpness of a crime thriller in the plot... there are many things that keep a reader occupied. The conclusion was expected and it perfectly sums up the novel.

[Sima Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, let's focus on the up sides. What a captivating book! Based on the India of 1930s and 1940s, the novel draws the attention towards class and racial discrimination practices prevalent during that period, which is, sadly, the reality that we have come through. Right from the title itself, the book is meaningful in all the way.
About the things that I did not like too much in the book are slow pace at the beginning, Rai Bahadur's departure after the death of Kashinagar's king to the next happening segment, it takes letters and sarcastic episodes... while many readers may like these things, there may be the readers who cannot synchronise their reading habits... However, if they read the novel carefully to the end, they will find so many things in the novel that are awe-inspiring and wonderful.

[Zeenat Perween · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is a must-read if you are done with sensual and erotic readings. Lakshmi Raj Sharma's The Tailor's Needle is mainly for the readers who want to understand the social set-up in pre-independence India. It is a fictional piece of writing but the characters seem to have come alive and you just cannot ignore their actions and thoughts. Recommending it to all my friends.

[Lynda Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story centers on the family of Sir Saraswati Ranbakshi, an Indian nobleman whose English education has caused him to raise his children in an unconventional manner. We follow the family through romances, marriages, deaths, and political upheaval. There’s even a murder mystery! And, always, the thread of the tailor’s needle runs through the narrative. The title refers to Sir Saraswati's idea of what education should do: teach one to "be like the tailor’s needle that passes through every kind of cloth without discriminating." His son adopts this philosophy and treats everyone with equal respect. This culminates in him falling in love with a woman from a lower caste and, ultimately, leads to the family joining India’s fight for freedom.

There are a number of editing errors throughout the text, and you’ll have to wrap your head around a lot of Indian names, as well as Indian politics and history. But it's well worth the effort. Told with dry humor, the complex storyline explores education, feminism, the Indian caste system, and the relationship between the English and the Indians. The book gives us a great insight into Indian traditions, culture, and way of life. I especially enjoyed to descriptions of the weddings.

There is a Glossary of Hindi terms at the end of the book that I didn't discover until I finished reading the book. (I googled the terms while I was reading.) The glossary would work better if the terms were hyperlinked within the text.

I received this book in return for an honest review.

Full blog post (9 January): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.co...

[Rahul Sikaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tailor’s Needle, a complete pack that comprises of history, traditions, emotions, comic, and murder mystery... I was looking for something that I could read and enjoy and also learn in these days of idle sitting. I would recommend this book to all those who want to understand Indian freedom movement in its background and also the dilemma that many Indians were living through in those days.

[Ambika Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being honest, to begin with, I did not like the pace of the novel at the beginning. It seemed overly intellectualised narrative that might push away a reader of the third decade of this 21st-century. However, as the novel progressed and with a little patience, I began reading it and it began gripping me gradually. Yes, the novel is a slow starter but it takes the readers into a different kind of grip that compels you to know more about the Ranabakshi family and then, further ahead, their experiences at the Vaish family in Dehradun. I will recommend this novel to all those who are interested in reading the pre-independence storyline novels by Indian novelists. Lakshmi Raj Sharma has done immensely well! His message is clear - the India that was divided had to unite to take on the British. Our civilisation and culture are no less compared to that of those who enslaved us by taking advantage of our loopholes.

[S Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tailor's Needle satisfies the readers who want to read literary fiction. It follows an Indian Brahman family during the 1930s. Sir Saraswati Chandra Ranabakshi's family has very distinguished members - including the British-educated family head himself, the three children have been giving British education in India (by hiring British governess). Yogendra tends to follow his British pursuit a little further and this worries his parents, Sir Saraswati and Savitri. However, it is Maneka's quest to experience freedom in her own way that troubles her parents more. Independence struggle in the backdrop and issues of British vs Indian way of life in the foreground including various other aspects of the time – Gandhi's influence, changing contours of Indian society and the unfurling of Indian unity... there are many things that the novel depicts in details. It is written in a simple but dignified language as well. Readers who can read with patience will enjoy this novel for sure.

[Saket Niranjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to enjoy a realistic panorama of India before its independence, The Tailor's Needle will be an ideal choice for you. Following the footsteps of the well-known Indian novelists like Anand and Rao, the author has dived deep into the Indian psyche in his debut work. Issues of caste and rich vs the poor do get reflection while the central storyline, that keeps the readers going, is settled on two characters and their idealogical collision - Ranabakshi family's head Sir Saraswati and his elder daughter Maneka. The story might seem serious but it is indeed an interesting read.

[Chitranjan Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rather do a critical review of this novel rather than praising it just for the same of praising. Yes, the theme is very interesting and it has been handled by the author in an uncompromising way. The novelist has made the characters alive and perfectly fit for the times in which the story has been set. Characters like Maneka and Gauri, Yogendra and Sir Saraswati, and Savitri on her own... these characters leave us impressed and surprised. However, the author has driven the story a little slower than expected and exchanges of letters and late reactions might be a disconnect for the readers of today. Only those who have already an interest in Indian history just before independence and also in the freedom movement will appreciate and connect with this novel. Students of literature can take it up as a model of serious Indian writing. However, the contemporary lot of readers might take their time to settle in and understand what is going on...

[Rakhi (New Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tailor's Needle by Lakshmi Raj Sharma is a perfect book to relive the past of the early 20th century in India.

I loved reading this book as it is written in simple English that makes the book fascinating to read and easy to imagine. As I read this book it took me to a whole new ear of India that I had only heard of till now and never fully experienced.

The way the author Lakshmi Raj Sharma has described this story flawlessly that I found myself lost in the book and felt entertained to read it fully in one go. And the narration done is just remarkable.

The author Lakshmi Raj Sharma has given us a detailed description of characters, express of emotions, the delightful treats of entertainment and lucid language for us to enjoy this book and feel from our hearts. The author is a skilled writer and has written this book professionally that you will also say once you finish reading this book. The British Raj and other times of India before Independence is described impressively. The book is not only classic fiction but I also enjoyed the entertainment, along with the impression that it left on me at the end is just beyond appraisal.

Overall I love reading this book with the perfect blend of classic era and entertainment.

[Amit Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel transports you back in time... characters and their conversations, emotions and the way of thinking... if you did not enjoy reading history too much, this is a novel that will do the job for you and let you have an opportunity to visualise what happened back in 1930s and the time just before independence. I enjoyed reading this novel a lot!

[Priyanka Kumari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Tailor's Needle is a sharply written novel that exposes the situations that need to be exposed and exalts the decisions that need to be exalted. Sir Saraswati Chandra may be the representative of all those bravehearts who came forward to take the society in a forward direction, breaking away the shackles of regressive social norms. Maneka may be our first of the feminists in true sense who could dare to voice her decisions loudly so that anyone could not go unheard... A love story between Gauri and Yogendra further adds to the novel and so does the murder mystery that anyone would be interested to know more. I find this novel a perfect blend that might hold the interest of modern readers and luckily, they will also get to see what a novel feels like... the language, the plot and the motifs... there are many things that contemporary novelists don't offer and this one does! Do read it ASAP!

[Saroj Agarwal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very different novel compared to the novels that I have read this far. A friend of mine, who reads too much, asked me if I could read this and I agreed. After I have finished the novel by Lakshmi Raj Sharma, let me tell that I found many amazing things and it has quite a different style compared to most of the novels written in this decade... The novelist has kept his language very readable but his style of narrating the events and values that he ascribes to his characters are unique and praiseworthy. I am sure that the readers will get a clear glimpse and a comprehensive idea of Indian society in the 20th century, before our independence. The novel is limited in terms of plot as it concerns with a Brahmin family led by Sir Saraswati Chandra but the theme in the novel is wide enough to include various abstract and concrete ideas... a must-read for all those who want a break from the usual titles they have been having on their reading desks.

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel that is wonderfully endowed with many ideas, concepts, realism, social commentary and a far-sighted virtuous narrative that should today become an ideal approach for modern Indian authors to learn and exemplify. The novelist has written about a Brahmin family, Sir Saraswati Chandra being the head of it, which goes through various internal and external experiences during the pre-independence years, 1930s and 1940s chiefly. Humour and light sarcasm mark the narrative and content to a large extent and seriousness loaded with realism make it even better. The language has been splendid and almost all the characters come alive... a must-read for modern readers especially so that they can visualise what was it like living in the Gandhian India...

[Partigya Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

How was Indian society before independence? How did we move about when freedom struggle was going on? What impact did Gandhi had on people living in villages and cities? How did we cope with class and religious divide created by the British? How did English language and Western education change our lives? There are many questions in the mind of people when we think about India before independence... though history can be a good company most of the times, at times, fiction can be more than interesting... Lakshmi Raj Sharma's novel The Tailor's Needle does just that for you... have a glimpse of the life of a Brahmin Indian family before Independence in 1947. The struggles, the confusions, the dilemmas and the resolution, everything has come up live!

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel offers a diverse set of reading lines to the readers. I read it from a perspective of understanding the human psyche as we improve and grow. I liked that idea how Yogendra, Maneka and Sita grow up to be different persons and how the impactful personality of Sir Saraswati affects them all. The novel is also a work of fiction that reimagines the social conditions in British India rather realistically and we can understand many things that we could not see from our own eyes. There are many other things in the work that you can enjoy... however, there is also one thing that needs to be told. The novel may take more time in completion as it is traditionally written with all the elements of classic fiction – language and style. So, be patient with it as it moves.

[Shivangi Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about 6 days to finish reading this novel. It was a read that could not be completed in a single or hurried sittings because I rather wanted to understand, visualise and think about the circumstances presented in this novel by the novelist. I have understood many things that history books could not have made me understand in a formal way... a nice tale based on British rule and an Indian urge to break free from that... weaved with Gandhian emotions embedded in the plot and further extended with many rendezvous featuring Maneka and then a final solace in terms of Yogendra's adventure, much worthy to be taken... I would love to share this one with those serious readers who can be patient with a novelist and his novel.

[Abhishek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written !! :) :) Thank you Nivedita for gifting me this wonderful book! :)
It is descriptive enough but not too much as to become boring. There is not a single dull moment and its sprinkled with humour throughout, yet has some heart-touching moments as well.
Talks about some important issues that plagued our society during pre-independence era, and sadly still does.
If you're looking for a book to read by an Indian author set in India, this is the one I'd recommend !! :)

[Amith Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic literary read to satisfy the quest of genuine literary readers. Centres on Socio-historic theme, The Tailor’s Needle by Prof. Lakshmi Raj Sharma is a perfectly narrated fiction which precisely highlights the difference between educated and uneducated Indian society before independence and propounds Gandhian philosophy. A great read to make this isolation time productive and enjoyable. I am already done!

[Sangita Verma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel that stuns the readers with its sheer storytelling technique. The novelist has told about a family, Brahmin family, which transitions through various psychological phases. Sir Saraswati Chandra is a character who keeps the novel layered around him with his extraordinary personality that is magnificent and, at times dogging. I would request every reader who loves to read classic should read this novel.

[Rani Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel traces the intellectual evolution of Maneka and Yogendra, progress as a man of words and tradition in the form of Sir Saraswati Chandra Ranabakshi and bitter-sweet experiences that the Ranabakshi family, a Brahmin family in British Raj during 1920-40 have to undergo... a splendid narrative which has been invested with a beautiful storyline with many dimensions to it. In short, the novel is a must-read and you should enjoy reading it.

[Shravan Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positive things first:
The novel is an amazing work based on a concept that usually traditional authors used to write about. Professor Sharma has executed his plot very well and he has been able to translate his thoughts into a novel very effectively. The characters seem to be perfect models of 1920s and 30s India. The freedom movement and how it became people's participated movement have been widely and effectively embedded in the novel.

The problems that I see:
There are long interventions by the authors at some points in the novel. Though not unnecessary, the interventions could have been kept short and author's indulgence could have been avoided in such serious fiction. The readers, further, who are not familiar with the style of traditional novels with serious narrative and various perspectives might find it difficult at a few occasions.

Conclusion:
However, I am sure that the readers will get many things to learn from this novel. They can learn to distinguish simple and casual novels from the novels which are aimed at achieving something – this novel aims at making the readers visualise a realistic scene of India that was still evolving and learning about freedom movement and getting out of caste and other redundant systems... and the author has been successful.

[Simran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a youth, I am expected to read the novels by Chetan Bhagat or Durjoy Datta or the likes of them... however, I have chosen to read the books that are beyond the simple tales of romance without validity... I would love to tell the readers that the romance between Gauri and Yogendra in this novel is far greater than a baseless romance presented in the novels of Nikita Singh or Ravinder Singh... there authors are merely writing... without purpose or a broader vision. The Tailor's Needle is a novel that will educate the youths of the day about how a novel is supposed to be. I am sure that the language, the plot and the themes will be an eye-opener for the readers... Enjoy your transportation into the pre-1947 India with this story and you will not regret it...

Please note that the novel may not be like what you have been reading and yes, it may have been even better to match every expectations that you may have. However, give it time and you will love it just after the first few pages... it has its own pace which you will develop a habit of, eventually. All the best guys!

[Akanksha Shrivastav · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Tailor's Needle offers growth of children's mind who have been taught at home by British governess and almost untouched with the classroom experience. And we are not talking of modern times but the times when India was enslaved by the British. Although the novel is set during the British rule, almost half of the novel talks about the manner and circumstances in which they have been brought up and further their sneaking to adulthood phase of life is an interesting portion of the story. Here we have many things to contrast between Maneka and Sita and contrasting inherited genetic qualities from their parents. Sir Saraswati Chandra is a learned and wise man who wants to see his reflection in children but that's not always possible...
Gauri and Yogendra's love story has some comfort and solace... Maneka's life is tragic and Sita is a meek girl who obeys her father all the way except for once...

Lakshmi Raj Sharma's The Tailor's Needle has occupied the place that will echo long for its unique approach. I am sure the readers will have much to talk when it ends.