Saturday, January 04, 2014

The Lowland

I think "The Lowland" is so far the most mature work from Jhumpa Lahiri, taking theme from Naxalite movement in West Bengal in 1960s. It is not that she came up with an idea and wrote a novel sitting on desktop, but she researched it well. It was apparent that she did make sure that all historical events can be substantiated by references. I am sure, she made travels solely for the sake of novel. (Her control over city of Calcutta, Rhode Island, California and even Ireland was amazing). She poured her heart out. Immense emotional intelligence. She was able to touch every cord of my heart. The way she wrote chapter 4 of part V11 of novel is really a work of art.

Why this novel was important to me?

I grew up in Karachi in Zia Martial Law. I have seen student politics from very near. Later I saw rise and fall of MQM in my own backyards. Many jiyalas of PPP, Sindhi nationalist and leftist parties and later of MQM were killed in fake police encounters (or fighting with each other). These were politically conscious kids who were misguided by their leaders. They were foot soldiers who were used as pawns by their self-centered leaders.. and there is no trace of those unnamed poor souls. (You may project this to suicide bombers now grooming in Pakistan).

This is a tale of psychological suffering of many people, even generations, when a person dies in this unnatural way. Udayan died but his parents, his brother Subhash, wife Gauri, daughter Bela and even grand-daughter Meghna suffered in her own way. It took 40 years before there was a silver lining on clouds. This novel was a story of different dimensions of love, intricacies of relationships, heartbreaks and promises.

The most heartbreaking (and simultaneously heartwarming) highlight of the novel (for me) was - how Gauri kept secret of her husband hidden from every single soul. Throughout novel, I kept questioning the behavior of Gauri, and in last few chapters, I was even thinking that all this is now redundant but at last it turns out that there was something she knew as a wife which no one knew!

I was little turn off at one point where meeting of Bela and her mother Gauri was made little filmi/Bollywood. I think that part went too loud. Also, its hard to explain to me that why new generation Desi-American authors are still not out of fatalistic approach? - But overall, I loved this novel.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

What you think about lesbian love of Ghauri? Was it needed? or included in book to increase the sell of book

Mystic said...

No I think, it was indeed needed to show depth of loneliness of Gauri, after she left Subhash and Bela. She was very disheartened when that relation didn't go anywhere. She was a regular woman made of desires.

Ashok said...

I have not read the novel. But let me tell you why we Indians always have fatalistic approach to everything. Our language requires to put a line above every word we write (My theory)

mystic-soul said...

Ashok, interesting thought, but I am not sure how much your theory will sustain any scientific study!

Beyond said...

I think it was such a sad book. All the characters were so lonely. I do not understand how can people just give up so easily. In my view, every one in the book just kind of accepted defeat and just dragged on. Thank God , Subhash did get some joy in the end.

I loved the love between Gauri and Udayan. My favorite American writer is Ann Patchett. Her first book was about kind of same trauma. Its called The Patron Saints of Liars.

I am surprised when you say things about Karachi. I cannot get connected to you on that point. It is all pretty foreign to me. And we come from same country. It is bewildering at times.

Mystic said...

Indeed, it was a sad book! That's why I said: Why American-Indian authors have such a fatalistic approach?

As far as other parts of Pakistan is concerned, same shit happened years ago in Bengal!

Just on side note: What are your thoughts on Gauri leaving her husband and kid?

Beyond said...

Thats why I said you should read the book by Ann Patchett if you can get a chance.

I think the act itself is so selfish that it is difficult to comprehend. But I think Gauri was a bit masculine. One hears about men abandoning their families every other day. Women are left to take care of the children on their own. But she was so occupied with things that happened in her past that a child and husband was something she could not handle. But I think all the characters were very similar. The story was interesting but it was just melancholic.

mystic-soul said...

Recommend one book of Ann Patchett for me...

If you ever get chance, read Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea". It is one of the finest story of "zinda-Dili"

Beyond said...

1) The Patron Saint of Liars
2)Run.

Mystic said...

Ordered both via Amazon :)

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...


I was searching for reviews as I read this beautiful book and read your review. I am not from Pakistan (or India), but from Bangladesh. I lost my only child in University of Dhaka. Years ago, I lost my son when 2 groups of students fought fatal fight on minor issue of who will perform stage drama in famous TSC auditorium on that particular day. My son was killed. Later, we learned one teacher was deeply involved in igniting fight, passing information (making scripts of each other group public) and creating hate to benefit a third group. I lost my son. I got a newspaper heading, police inquiries and life long agony of no sleep of 30 years. There was no history written. There is no mention anywhere in google search.

I wish someday someone ever writes about those teachers who negatively impact out societies. There is no sacred cow anywhere. In novel, Udayan was a teacher, was influenced by a teacher and whole environment in world at that time was political in academics. It was no different from hippie culture in California. But, should teachers be allowed to play politics in sacred institutes of learning? Can someone please write something.