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Song of the Golden Sparrow: A Novel History of Free India
In this brilliant satire on modern India and of some extraordinary Indians, Nilanjan Choudhury mixes myth and history, fact and fiction with the skill of a master storyteller. Song of the Golden Sparrow is the story of Manhoos and Mary, and mirrored in their tumultuous lives, is the history of free India from 1947 to 2022...
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
"...brilliantly conceived...brimming with wit and humour" Bibek Debroy
"...sweeps like a tornado through the history of modern India" – Jug Suraiya
"...a fearless book... a brilliant satire.." Hansda Sowvendra Sekhar
DETAILS
Guilty of the crime of sleeping on the job, the lowly yaksha Prem Chandra Guha, is banished to India on a punishment posting. During his stay here, he must write a sufficiently riveting history of the land of his exile. Prem Chandra arrives in India on the first dawn of her independence and fate brings him to Netarhat, an obscure town near the forests of Chhota Nagpur.
It is here that he meets Manhoos, an orphaned urchin who repairs motor vehicles for a living, and his friend Mary, a feisty tribal girl from the nearby Santhal village. Assuming the shape of a common sparrow, Prem Chandra turns into an unobtrusive observer and follows the fortunes of Manhoos and Mary as they travel to Calcutta, and then to Rishikesh, Bangalore, Ahmedabad...
As they plunge from one adventure to another, a series of figures play key roles in their lives: the Naxal leader Charu Majumdar; Satyajit Ray, in his crisp dhoti and clipped accent; the ever-giggling Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; the powerful business magnate, Ameer Premji; and even a mysterious man with a 56-inch chest...
On the broader canvas of India, other events are playing out. Indira Gandhi declares an Emergency; a new party, the Jana Sangh is formed; Siddhartha Shankar Ray cleanses West Bengal of Naxalism and Jyoti Basu brings in thirty years of Communism; somewhere, a dam is built, and hundreds of tribals are rendered homeless, elsewhere, a masjid falls, a deadly virus rises and the ground of India shakes beneath her feet...
Song of the Golden Sparrow is the story of Manhoos and Mary, and mirrored in their tumultuous lives, is the history of free India from 1947 to 2022.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
"...brilliantly conceived...brimming with wit and humour" Bibek Debroy
"...sweeps like a tornado through the history of modern India" – Jug Suraiya
"...a fearless book... a brilliant satire.." Hansda Sowvendra Sekhar
DETAILS
Guilty of the crime of sleeping on the job, the lowly yaksha Prem Chandra Guha, is banished to India on a punishment posting. During his stay here, he must write a sufficiently riveting history of the land of his exile. Prem Chandra arrives in India on the first dawn of her independence and fate brings him to Netarhat, an obscure town near the forests of Chhota Nagpur.
It is here that he meets Manhoos, an orphaned urchin who repairs motor vehicles for a living, and his friend Mary, a feisty tribal girl from the nearby Santhal village. Assuming the shape of a common sparrow, Prem Chandra turns into an unobtrusive observer and follows the fortunes of Manhoos and Mary as they travel to Calcutta, and then to Rishikesh, Bangalore, Ahmedabad...
As they plunge from one adventure to another, a series of figures play key roles in their lives: the Naxal leader Charu Majumdar; Satyajit Ray, in his crisp dhoti and clipped accent; the ever-giggling Maharishi Mahesh Yogi; the powerful business magnate, Ameer Premji; and even a mysterious man with a 56-inch chest...
On the broader canvas of India, other events are playing out. Indira Gandhi declares an Emergency; a new party, the Jana Sangh is formed; Siddhartha Shankar Ray cleanses West Bengal of Naxalism and Jyoti Basu brings in thirty years of Communism; somewhere, a dam is built, and hundreds of tribals are rendered homeless, elsewhere, a masjid falls, a deadly virus rises and the ground of India shakes beneath her feet...
Song of the Golden Sparrow is the story of Manhoos and Mary, and mirrored in their tumultuous lives, is the history of free India from 1947 to 2022.
- GenresIndian Literature
324 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2023
3 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Nilanjan P. Choudhury
7 books43 followersNilanjan P. Choudhury’s most recent novel is Song of the Golden Sparrow: A Novel History of Free India His earlier novel Shillong Times: A Story of Friendship And Fear
is a coming- of-age story set against the ethnic conflict in Shillong in the 1980s and has been widely praised as a significant contribution to North-east literature.
His debut novel, a mythological thriller entitled Bali and the Ocean of Milk, was a best-seller. His subsequent writings include The Case of the Secretive Sister, a contemporary detective caper set in Bangalore and two plays on science history—The Square Root of a Sonnet and The Trial of Abdus Salam, which received wide critical acclaim and have been staged across multiple cities in India and the US.
Nilanjan confesses to having studied at IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Kanpur and hopes that this will not be held against him. He grew up in Shillong and now lives in Bangalore with his family.
is a coming- of-age story set against the ethnic conflict in Shillong in the 1980s and has been widely praised as a significant contribution to North-east literature.
His debut novel, a mythological thriller entitled Bali and the Ocean of Milk, was a best-seller. His subsequent writings include The Case of the Secretive Sister, a contemporary detective caper set in Bangalore and two plays on science history—The Square Root of a Sonnet and The Trial of Abdus Salam, which received wide critical acclaim and have been staged across multiple cities in India and the US.
Nilanjan confesses to having studied at IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Kanpur and hopes that this will not be held against him. He grew up in Shillong and now lives in Bangalore with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 10, 2023
Song of the Golden Sparrow by Nilanjan P.Choudhary is a defiant and gripping novel set in independent India, of its many successes and failures, and of its spirit – often battered by its own people. Choudhury is a new voice from the Northeast. His most recent book, Shillong Times, has been widely acclaimed. His debut novel, a mythological thriller entitled Bali and the Ocean of Milk, was a best-seller.
Placed within the period 1947 to 2022, the Song of the Golden Sparrow sets out to chronicle the history of India as witnessed by a sparrow named Prem Chandra Guha, who is actually a yaksha banished from the kingdom of Alaka by Lord Kubera and punished with the task of writing the history of India. The yaksha, a shape-shifter, finds it convenient to take the form a sparrow, a little bird for the task. Exactly when India enters its tryst with destiny, this sparrow reaches the small town of Netrahat near the forests of Chhota Nagpur and meets Manhoos and Mary. As the fates of Manhoos and Mary take them to various places across India, the sparrow follows too, covering in its wake the important events from their lives; events intertwined with the fate of independent India itself.
Choudhary employs the tools of magical realism to blend the historical facts with mythology and satire, creating a narrative that not only lets us imagine the lives of ordinary people, carving their own way after independence but also to visualise the many complexities and contradictions which were not only inherited but also turned inevitable as India marched on to the path of progress after attaining freedom from colonial rule.
The complete review appears here:
https://borderlessjournal.com/2023/04...
Placed within the period 1947 to 2022, the Song of the Golden Sparrow sets out to chronicle the history of India as witnessed by a sparrow named Prem Chandra Guha, who is actually a yaksha banished from the kingdom of Alaka by Lord Kubera and punished with the task of writing the history of India. The yaksha, a shape-shifter, finds it convenient to take the form a sparrow, a little bird for the task. Exactly when India enters its tryst with destiny, this sparrow reaches the small town of Netrahat near the forests of Chhota Nagpur and meets Manhoos and Mary. As the fates of Manhoos and Mary take them to various places across India, the sparrow follows too, covering in its wake the important events from their lives; events intertwined with the fate of independent India itself.
Choudhary employs the tools of magical realism to blend the historical facts with mythology and satire, creating a narrative that not only lets us imagine the lives of ordinary people, carving their own way after independence but also to visualise the many complexities and contradictions which were not only inherited but also turned inevitable as India marched on to the path of progress after attaining freedom from colonial rule.
The complete review appears here:
https://borderlessjournal.com/2023/04...
March 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of India in the eighties and nineties rang true for me ( having grown up in that time). The tussle between material progress and environmental impact is well encapsulated in the characters of Manu and Mary. I read the whole book in one sitting - couldn't put it down!
February 27, 2023
An immersive story as it takes us through major historical moments in India from 1947 to the post-Covid period as we laugh, worry, get motivated, get inspired, get stressed up & at times cry with the protagonist & the narrator. Fantasy blends with stark reality seamlessly in a very entertaining way & facts are presented the way they are without much favouritism as the protagonist Manhoos/Manu’s life crosses paths of personalities as diverse as Lennon, Premji & Modi, to name a few.
I was sucked into the lives of all the characters in the story during the last few days. The central characters are well created & thankfully not overwhelmingly large in number.
Regarding cons, one may argue about the absolute accuracy of certain facts but then the author deserves some creative freedom while giving us such an interesting story, isn’t it :)
In the end I strongly recommend this to readers of all genres, tastes, shapes & sizes 😀
I was sucked into the lives of all the characters in the story during the last few days. The central characters are well created & thankfully not overwhelmingly large in number.
Regarding cons, one may argue about the absolute accuracy of certain facts but then the author deserves some creative freedom while giving us such an interesting story, isn’t it :)
In the end I strongly recommend this to readers of all genres, tastes, shapes & sizes 😀
April 18, 2023
This is a refreshing retelling of independent India’s story. The author chooses to recount it the experiences of a young boy, who grows up, loves and lives through it all. While it could have been an extremely cynical take, Nilanjan elects optimism. And this sets it apart from other similar attempts. Unputdownable and a must read.
October 10, 2024
A great book with a different perspective on politics, religion and greed pull good doers down, not all of them though.
April 8, 2023
Loved the flow of language , emotions and the subtle humour underlying the story ! It’s amazing how Nilanjan has managed to entwine historical facts in a simple story which keeps the reader smiling . It’s a journey which u can enjoy with a warm cup of coffee and feet on the table !!
March 28, 2023
Nilanjan Chowdhury’s latest book “Song of the Golden Sparrow” is a riveting read from start to finish.
Seen from the eyes of Yaksha, transformed into a sparrow, accompanying our protagonist Manhoos (aka Manu), the book is a narrative of the history of independent India.
Nilanjan’s inimitable style of storytelling, draws the reader in from the first chapter, and it’s impossible to put it down until you finish.
Manu’s myriad roles from a car mechanic to a horse whisperer, a fugitive, an industrialist, a real estate builder takes him through different places in India coinciding with various events (social-political-economic) in the timeline of independent India, weaving a beautiful tapestry across time.
I particularly liked the portrayal of women - strong, purposeful, driven. I could relate to the events from late 80s onwards (when I was growing up) and it almost felt like leafing through a family album.
I have to say, the subtle humour that runs through the book is the perfect seasoning, almost makes many of the events palatable, if not acceptable (Tedha hai, par mera hai), and therein lies Nailanjan’s magic!
A refreshing perspective, without being didactic or judgemental. Highly recommended, a “must read”!
Enjoyable and entertaining- go for it!
Seen from the eyes of Yaksha, transformed into a sparrow, accompanying our protagonist Manhoos (aka Manu), the book is a narrative of the history of independent India.
Nilanjan’s inimitable style of storytelling, draws the reader in from the first chapter, and it’s impossible to put it down until you finish.
Manu’s myriad roles from a car mechanic to a horse whisperer, a fugitive, an industrialist, a real estate builder takes him through different places in India coinciding with various events (social-political-economic) in the timeline of independent India, weaving a beautiful tapestry across time.
I particularly liked the portrayal of women - strong, purposeful, driven. I could relate to the events from late 80s onwards (when I was growing up) and it almost felt like leafing through a family album.
I have to say, the subtle humour that runs through the book is the perfect seasoning, almost makes many of the events palatable, if not acceptable (Tedha hai, par mera hai), and therein lies Nailanjan’s magic!
A refreshing perspective, without being didactic or judgemental. Highly recommended, a “must read”!
Enjoyable and entertaining- go for it!
June 25, 2023
After attending a book reading session by Nilanjan, I realised an author who connects with his audience must train his mind and heart like a top-notch fighter preparing for a prize fight. Against this backdrop, I understand and appreciate the story as a culmination of experiences, convictions, and aspirations. The chapters include thought-provoking truths interspersed with humour making them easier to digest. While it may be difficult to put down for some, others like me may do well to read, digest and return.
March 28, 2023
It presents you with the historical facts and situations sewing it through the life of single person and the people and the situations which impacted him and his life. Unique way of presenting history. I am sure it will appeal to all kinds of readers. Do not miss this book.
March 10, 2023
I would call this brilliant book by Nilanjan a Fictionalised History of our times. He has brilliantly brought out the reality that is India and how inspite of knowing better a majority of us are fooling ourselves. I would loved to Gift this book to a lot of acquaintances who should know better but prefer not to. Bravo Nilanjan; Each your books is better than previous. Thank you for writing this.
June 15, 2023
When I initially picked up this book, I was unsure if I would enjoy the book . But soon realised, I was finding it difficult to put down the book or having put it down, in a hurry to get back to reading it.
So there are many layers into this book. On the face of it, this is the story of Manu and Mary - but woven subtly into their life story is the story of India. The road India has travelled since independence to current events - industrialisation, naxalite movement, chipko movement, the IT boom, communal riots, to the present time. But instead of making it boring, he has made it very interesting - describing events with a great sense of humour , describing events through people you gleefully recognise (not mentioning names as that would be a spoiler 😊). I enjoyed his sense of humour in describing past events with a reference to current events (if I am not wrong, I read ‘Adani fries’ somewhere in the book .. I tried searching for it just now while writing this review but gave up). In addition to the history of India - the two protoganists also stands for two paths . Manu stands for capitalism and Mary stands for socialism/communism. Each path is a matter of individual choice for personal growth - which comes together as how a country grows . What I also like is that he has not brushed anything totally black or totally white. While the book ends on a sad note - it is still tinged with optimism. Hopefully, all is not lost and India will once again become ‘sone ki chidiya’.
I think this book will appeal to people of all ages. For people like me, it makes you recollect chipko movement etc from your childhood. While I have heard/ read of naxalites - it is this book which told me in detail how did it start at Naxalbari. For people who are younger, the book is a great way (in a fun way) to be introduced to events in India. At the end of it, makes you reflect on your role in taking your country to the country you would like it to be.
So there are many layers into this book. On the face of it, this is the story of Manu and Mary - but woven subtly into their life story is the story of India. The road India has travelled since independence to current events - industrialisation, naxalite movement, chipko movement, the IT boom, communal riots, to the present time. But instead of making it boring, he has made it very interesting - describing events with a great sense of humour , describing events through people you gleefully recognise (not mentioning names as that would be a spoiler 😊). I enjoyed his sense of humour in describing past events with a reference to current events (if I am not wrong, I read ‘Adani fries’ somewhere in the book .. I tried searching for it just now while writing this review but gave up). In addition to the history of India - the two protoganists also stands for two paths . Manu stands for capitalism and Mary stands for socialism/communism. Each path is a matter of individual choice for personal growth - which comes together as how a country grows . What I also like is that he has not brushed anything totally black or totally white. While the book ends on a sad note - it is still tinged with optimism. Hopefully, all is not lost and India will once again become ‘sone ki chidiya’.
I think this book will appeal to people of all ages. For people like me, it makes you recollect chipko movement etc from your childhood. While I have heard/ read of naxalites - it is this book which told me in detail how did it start at Naxalbari. For people who are younger, the book is a great way (in a fun way) to be introduced to events in India. At the end of it, makes you reflect on your role in taking your country to the country you would like it to be.
December 14, 2023
There is so much that I can identify with, in Song Of The Golden Sparrow by Nilanjan P. Choudhury. The story is woven imaginatively. Much of India’s political history that had blurred in my memory came back with such clarity that I am not likely to forget them for the rest of my life. A tapestry of a very humane storyline in the backdrop of the India I grew up in. Love the characterisation of Manu, Mary and Saloni - all three are so admirable yet down to earth. I particularly enjoyed references to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and John and Yoko Ono. I loved the clever portrayal of the lyrics of Imagine, Let It Be and Yesterday Once More. Satyajit Ray's trilogy and Ravi Shankar’s musical scores for the films reminded me of our classroom discussions in college in the early 1970s.
The author’s reference to the mushrooming of computer coaching centres in Bangalore took me right back to 1985 when I was video graphed introducing Basic, COBOL, Fortran and Pascal for one such institution. The author’s coining of words, and his subtle and not so subtle mention of some real life characters, left me chuckling to myself every now and then. Bangalore comes alive as do the four major devastating events that mars our history. Book six onwards tugs at one’s heart strings leaving me, as a very engaged reader, rather choked. Much about the book leaves me nostalgic. An unputdownable read.
Jaya Kalyanaraman
14/12/2023.
The author’s reference to the mushrooming of computer coaching centres in Bangalore took me right back to 1985 when I was video graphed introducing Basic, COBOL, Fortran and Pascal for one such institution. The author’s coining of words, and his subtle and not so subtle mention of some real life characters, left me chuckling to myself every now and then. Bangalore comes alive as do the four major devastating events that mars our history. Book six onwards tugs at one’s heart strings leaving me, as a very engaged reader, rather choked. Much about the book leaves me nostalgic. An unputdownable read.
Jaya Kalyanaraman
14/12/2023.
February 25, 2025
📚I first heard about Song of the Golden Sparrow when Nilanjan P. Choudhury visited our school as a guest author during our in-house Literature Festival. The vibrant and intriguing cover immediately caught my attention, sparking my curiosity about the story within. So, I bought the book from our school book fair. However, with other titles already on my reading list, it remained untouched on my shelf—until last week, when I finally picked it up. Today, I turned the last page, and I must say, it was worth the wait!
📚The book offers a refreshing take on India’s post-independence history, narrated by Premchandra Guha, a cursed yaksha living as a sparrow. Through his eyes, we witness India’s evolution from 1947 to 2022, told through the lives of captivating characters like Manu, Mary, Sayoni, and Raja Saab.
📚What I loved most was how Choudhury masterfully blended historical events with sharp satire and heartfelt storytelling. It never felt like reading a history book; instead, I felt like I was living through the incidents alongside the characters. Though some parts were a bit crowded with historical references, the witty writing style and emotional depth kept me hooked throughout.
♥️If you enjoy historical fiction with a unique, whimsical twist, Song of the Golden Sparrow is definitely worth reading. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did!♥️
Happy Reading😊
📚The book offers a refreshing take on India’s post-independence history, narrated by Premchandra Guha, a cursed yaksha living as a sparrow. Through his eyes, we witness India’s evolution from 1947 to 2022, told through the lives of captivating characters like Manu, Mary, Sayoni, and Raja Saab.
📚What I loved most was how Choudhury masterfully blended historical events with sharp satire and heartfelt storytelling. It never felt like reading a history book; instead, I felt like I was living through the incidents alongside the characters. Though some parts were a bit crowded with historical references, the witty writing style and emotional depth kept me hooked throughout.
♥️If you enjoy historical fiction with a unique, whimsical twist, Song of the Golden Sparrow is definitely worth reading. I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I did!♥️
Happy Reading😊
May 10, 2023
I can't quite recall the last time I devoured a full length novel in a single sitting. On a sultry summer evening as I binge read Song of the Golden Sparrow, the fam ordered in dinner and let me savor Nilanjan's compelling narrative that blends history with literary fiction and paints a vivid picture of the changing socio-political fabric of post independent lndia. The characters in the book, flawed yet relatable, are at times mere observers and sometimes neck deep in historical moments that shape both their destiny and their Motherland's.
You could quite literally open up any page of the book and stumble upon a line worth quoting, a scenario worth remembering. I really appreciated the subtle use of humor in the book - it helped ease the tension in places and gives the reader a respite from some of the difficult moments in the book. I think it's great how Nilanjan has managed to tackle some of the uncomfortable, serious bits in the book with irreverence, introducing a new point of view while taking the edge off the events.
Leaning against pivotal moments cherry-picked from India's history, the story of Manu as seen through the eyes of the sparrow-turned-Yaksha is lush, cheeky and has managed to stay with me long after I finished the book.
You could quite literally open up any page of the book and stumble upon a line worth quoting, a scenario worth remembering. I really appreciated the subtle use of humor in the book - it helped ease the tension in places and gives the reader a respite from some of the difficult moments in the book. I think it's great how Nilanjan has managed to tackle some of the uncomfortable, serious bits in the book with irreverence, introducing a new point of view while taking the edge off the events.
Leaning against pivotal moments cherry-picked from India's history, the story of Manu as seen through the eyes of the sparrow-turned-Yaksha is lush, cheeky and has managed to stay with me long after I finished the book.
March 10, 2023
Loved the concept. Reminded me of some of my loved books - Midnight's , Red Earth, Forrest... and made the events relatable to my generation and memories. Nilanjan's humour is ever present, poking mild fun at sacred cows and other animals, a liberal dose of mythology for ha ha moments, snippets of pop culture, Indian historical figures and events for multiple aha ! moments. There are no messages and any lessons are from experience. There are sweet but no cloying saccharine moments, with the right amount of bitter gourd like reality instead. Makes it more realistic. Loved the Bangalore references from the macro to the micro traffic references. My long awaited companion since this too started in 1947 and didn't stop post Emergency but went on till the current decade. I loved the strong women characters who add to the flow of the story, add value to the character of Manu and remain memorable in the mind of the reader. That was another positive reminder for me of Sarat Chandra, another author with strong female characters, influencing the male protagonist. Each book of Nilanjan's has a different angle and the variety doesn't allow the custom to go stale! Thank you Nilanjan.
April 19, 2023
Having read the cartwheelingly hilarious prologue, I had to read the book.
However, this unputdowable book was constantly at loggerheads with itself between irreverent filippancy, and razor sharp katana strokes drawing blood in its observations on contemporary Indian history.
Particularly graphic was the first half, especially for our post-partition generation, who have grown up on the narration of the horrors and hardships of partition having lived right across from Bijoygarh ; seen the plight of '65 and '71 refugees who did not manage to escape the horror camps in Dandakaranya, Mana Camp, Andaman et al; witnessed the deliberate emasculation of our once proud state by successive generations of politicians post Dr. BC Roy;
Your choice of protagonists was astute. Brilliant was the treatment of both 'Indira is India...' and its most recent reincarnation. The wordsmithing was a treat, and was delightful to say the least.
However, this unputdowable book was constantly at loggerheads with itself between irreverent filippancy, and razor sharp katana strokes drawing blood in its observations on contemporary Indian history.
Particularly graphic was the first half, especially for our post-partition generation, who have grown up on the narration of the horrors and hardships of partition having lived right across from Bijoygarh ; seen the plight of '65 and '71 refugees who did not manage to escape the horror camps in Dandakaranya, Mana Camp, Andaman et al; witnessed the deliberate emasculation of our once proud state by successive generations of politicians post Dr. BC Roy;
Your choice of protagonists was astute. Brilliant was the treatment of both 'Indira is India...' and its most recent reincarnation. The wordsmithing was a treat, and was delightful to say the least.
Read
May 3, 2023Wow. I am not a critic. But enjoyed the story as it unravels the history of India in an individual's life. The Hero's life traveling through the time is threaded to the historical happenings be it the five year plans, emergency, ascent of right rhetoric or the left unionism. Cleverly put together with a coat of satire that shines with multiple perspective like a film of oil on water. One would find many hues to the meaning of the same word. Manhoos, or manushy, or Manu the edict-maker or Aseem Premjee, the characters too are not spared from the sarcasm. But as you ride on the wings of the sparrow of time, the flight is not straight. Like the sparrow's it is twisty, hopping decades together sometimes, or loitering in the same space for a while, it is just enjoyable. Well crafted tale.
July 12, 2023
Relevant, bold and unveiling: Song of the Golden Sparrow - A Mesmerizing Tapestry of Adventure and Resilience through Indian history"
Nilanjan Choudhary weaves a mesmerizing narrative in Song of the Golden Sparrow, where Manhoos and Mary take center stage. Against the backdrop of India's eventful journey from 1947 to 2022, Choudhary introduces a rich cast of characters including political leaders, cultural icons, and everyday heroes. The author's skillful storytelling paints a vivid picture as Manhoos and Mary navigate through adventures across various cities while encountering figures like Naxal leader Charu Majumdar and business magnate Ameer Premji. This captivating tale beautifully captures the essence of free India's history with its engaging plot and well-developed characters full of life.
Nilanjan Choudhary weaves a mesmerizing narrative in Song of the Golden Sparrow, where Manhoos and Mary take center stage. Against the backdrop of India's eventful journey from 1947 to 2022, Choudhary introduces a rich cast of characters including political leaders, cultural icons, and everyday heroes. The author's skillful storytelling paints a vivid picture as Manhoos and Mary navigate through adventures across various cities while encountering figures like Naxal leader Charu Majumdar and business magnate Ameer Premji. This captivating tale beautifully captures the essence of free India's history with its engaging plot and well-developed characters full of life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2023
Very seldom a novel comes along that translates history from a boring academic subject to the lives of actual people in the flesh and blood who lived in those times. A masterfully crafted narrative of independent India is intricately interwoven with the character's journeys. It would be difficult to silo this book into bland baskets of history or fiction as it merges the two in an extremely delectable delicacy.
It goes from one significant event to the next (Independence, PM assassinations, Jan Sangh, Emergency, Liberalization etc.) from the perspective of some amazing characters. Moreover, author brings his amazing wit and a unique brand of clever humor to the story. (e.g., defining communism as 'Equal distribution of poverty').
A must-read satire for those who have risen above college romance, but haven't yet risen above the romantic idea of what India was.
It goes from one significant event to the next (Independence, PM assassinations, Jan Sangh, Emergency, Liberalization etc.) from the perspective of some amazing characters. Moreover, author brings his amazing wit and a unique brand of clever humor to the story. (e.g., defining communism as 'Equal distribution of poverty').
A must-read satire for those who have risen above college romance, but haven't yet risen above the romantic idea of what India was.
March 30, 2023
There are books that just remain with you, this is one of them. ‘Song of the Golden Sparrow’ strikes a chord, and how! A wonderfully woven story, wrapped around effortlessly across various periods in time, picking up moments that we’ve either heard of or witnessed, ensures that there is never a dull moment. The ease with which real life characters flow in and out of chapters and the ways in which they help the story progress is truly a delight to read.
I loved the wit, laughed at the metaphors, enjoyed the subtle and not so subtle references, felt the emotions and literally traveled 7 decades in time! Haven’t been so engrossed in a story in a long time. Big shout out to Nilanjan Choudhury for an amazing story. Highly recommended.
I loved the wit, laughed at the metaphors, enjoyed the subtle and not so subtle references, felt the emotions and literally traveled 7 decades in time! Haven’t been so engrossed in a story in a long time. Big shout out to Nilanjan Choudhury for an amazing story. Highly recommended.
March 20, 2023
Although I was born long after the emergency, reading Nilanjan's Song of the Golden Sparrow made me feel deeply immersed in the intertwined story of India, Manu, and Mary. The events that affected them were very different from those that impact me, but it was fascinating to experience their journey.
The novel is a captivating and engaging page-turner. While the author concludes the story on a hopeful note, I couldn't help but feel that Manu and Mary deserved a happy ending. Nilanjan's writing is highly descriptive and vivid, allowing me to visualize the story as I read it. I highly recommend this book for a weekend read.
The novel is a captivating and engaging page-turner. While the author concludes the story on a hopeful note, I couldn't help but feel that Manu and Mary deserved a happy ending. Nilanjan's writing is highly descriptive and vivid, allowing me to visualize the story as I read it. I highly recommend this book for a weekend read.
March 14, 2023
It is the story of a young Indian boy whose journey is intertwined with the young nation of India post attaining freedom. During the various myriad twists and turns, the author has kept us engaged with the characters of the canvas with his wit and satire. There are moments of joy and some others of despair. Overall it moves you, provokes you and leave you with some bitter sweet thoughts. The characters have an imprint on you and keeps you thinking long after you have kept the book down. A must read.
April 30, 2023
The master storyteller in his elements once again. His bold and irresistible writing is really cool, awesome and worthy of respect.
The book is a wonderful portrayal of post lndependent lndia. With an astonishing range of characters the book puts readers right in the middle of unfolding dramas, chilling horrors exposing the chaos and confusion that grips the nation
In short.... a compressed masterpiece of lndependent lndia.
The interesting book cover needs a mention too.
Wonder what your next will be.
The book is a wonderful portrayal of post lndependent lndia. With an astonishing range of characters the book puts readers right in the middle of unfolding dramas, chilling horrors exposing the chaos and confusion that grips the nation
In short.... a compressed masterpiece of lndependent lndia.
The interesting book cover needs a mention too.
Wonder what your next will be.
May 19, 2023
Finished reading a day before and unable to start the next one as I am still engulfed in the #songofthegoldensparrow by Nilanjan Choudhury.
I loved the way he handled the very heavy subject with reality and humor in right proportions that one can relate to in day to day of our lives. He has approached it very very cleverly and ethically by not taking any sides, but just giving an account of what has happened and happening, kindling the conscience and leaving the readers to decide for themselves.
Love the cover design.
A must read.
I loved the way he handled the very heavy subject with reality and humor in right proportions that one can relate to in day to day of our lives. He has approached it very very cleverly and ethically by not taking any sides, but just giving an account of what has happened and happening, kindling the conscience and leaving the readers to decide for themselves.
Love the cover design.
A must read.
May 20, 2023
A wonderful take on India's modern history of last 70 years ... packed in a 300-odd page book - traversing a twisted path that outlines the progress of a young nation-state through its ups and downs. Instills hope for the coming decades. A must read for anyone who is interested in the collective destiny of this country. The author has bravely built a literal construct that switches back and forth from realms to realms - real and surreal - without removing his focus from the immediate reality around us. Wish him all the very best on his journey towards excellence.
May 21, 2023
Loved your book Song of the Golden Sparrow Nilanjan Choudhury finished reading it during my recent vacation and loved it!! Thanks for the great narration of the Indian history thus far in midst of such superb characters of Manu Mary & Sayoni and their stories closely knitted around political scenario of India since independence Much love and more power to your writing ❤️
This book is highly recommended and it’s making some great reviews in the circle !! Buy here Song of The Golden Sparrow : A Novel History of Free India https://amzn.eu/d/f4PX90D
This book is highly recommended and it’s making some great reviews in the circle !! Buy here Song of The Golden Sparrow : A Novel History of Free India https://amzn.eu/d/f4PX90D
March 7, 2023
Loved this book by Nilanjan, just like his other books. It's a witty walk through the years since India's Independence, seen through the eyes of the protagonists Manu and Mary (was the choice of names deliberate? Manu - the first man according to Hinduism) as their lives twist and turn along with India's tumultuous years. Reminded me a bit of Shashi Tharoor's Great Indian Novel, but both authors obviously have their own niche. Pick it up for a fun read and a quick history refresher
March 11, 2023
Humorous and riveting all along, narrated in his endearingly unique style, full of witty one liners and pithy observations liberally strewn throughout the numerous twists and turns, hurtling towards an unpredictably powerful and touching climax. The saga compels the reader, no matter what echo chamber they have gotten attuned to, to reflect on the stark and ironical lessons from history this remarkable book reveals.
March 5, 2023
Loved the book thoroughly 👏👏… the way Nilanjan has blended the story around real incidents while keeping it very close and personal to few characters is just brilliant ! The other Indian author I have seen doing this very well is Amitav Ghosh . The book keeps you hooked , hard to keep it down . The ending is not the typically one that you might expect. Over all a highly recommended read.
March 24, 2023
It's a MUST READ - Nilanjan's writing is easy to read and brilliant. It's tongue and cheek all the way and will have you laughing and grimacing all at the same time.... anyone with a vague idea of what our country has been through since independence... will enjoy this read. The ending... well ... I'll leave you to discover.... !!
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