FIRST IMPRESSIONS
MUCH has been written about her grace and beauty. She is still considered the absolute epitome of style but few know the somewhat tumultuous life and times of Maharani Gayatri Devi. Most of the books written about her recall her years as the Maharani of Jaipur, but few trace her personal lineage or devote time to her own achievements.
Beginning with her early years and that of her family, this book traces her schooling, college as well as her days spent riding or skiing. Her fascination for the Maharaja of Jaipur, whom she finally married, began when she was a young teenager of 14. The Maharaja on his part, despite two earlier marriages, had decided that he would marry Gayatri Devi. Her years as the young Maharani of Jaipur are referred to in detail. Her foray into politics turned into disaster when she was imprisoned during the Emergency. After that Gayatri Devi withdrew from active politics and concentrated on education and other sectors that she had been working on for the people of Jaipur. Even today she is completely involved with her work and keeps regular hours. And though she feels that the yesteryears were golden ones, she has no regrets and lives life to the full even today.
Rajmata Gayatri Devi, Dharmendar Kanwar, Roli Books, price not mentioned.
LINBABA is a fugitive in a modern world. Even as he escapes from prison, where he was serving a nineteen-year term, Linbaba travels to India and reaches the city of dreams — Mumbai. Mumbai assails him, gets under his skin and prompts him to stay on. On the run, he thinks this city with its teeming multitudes is the perfect haven. It is also a city where nobody asks you who you are. Any name fits. Lindsay becomes Linbaba and our hero's long love story with his guide, and the city begin.
Lin whose visa has expired decides to stay on and gain time. Because he is short of money, Prabaker decides to get him to stay in a slum with him. While he adapts himself to life in the slums, he also finds out there is money to be made in black-marketing false passports, pushing drugs and doing countless other small jobs. He adapts quickly to a life of petty crime but life takes many turns and Karla the enigmatic but beautiful German girl is one of them. While Lin pursues her he finds himself drawn more and more into a vortex of crime and passion. And that's where the book begins to flag, losing its plot. Soon it reads like the dairy of a former junkie whose crime-ridden ways catch up with him. The praise for slum dwellers and their instinct for survival, the justification for their misdeeds seems almost like a cruel paean to their everyday struggle.
Shantaram, Gregory David Roberts, Little Brown, £10.99.
THIS could be the story of so many young girls caught in the conflicts of multiculturalism. In today's brave new world, the juxtapositioning of ideas, beliefs and cultures has often led to debate as well as conflict. Immigrant societies often isolate themselves, getting stauncher and sterner in their views and cultural as well as religious beliefs. But what happens to their children who grow up in a foreign society? Do they naturally reject its ideas or do they assimilate? If they assimilate will they be allowed to do so or pulled back in to traditionalism? This novel addresses many such issues as it traces the life of a young American Muslim girl who is brought back to India and is forced into an arranged marriage.
Layla begins to defy her mothers' wishes and as things come to a head, her mother, convinced that her daughter is possessed by demons, finally takes her to a blind holy man. Layla soon realises that if she is to survive, she has no choice but go along with the wedding. However, even as she sets her foot into her new home, she realises that her husband is not quite in love with her and the non-consummation of her marriage sets her mind ticking. Layla finds out that her husband is a homosexual and even as she crumples with the truth she discovers that life is larger. This is an interesting debut novel and a courageous one for having tackled issues that are so everyday and yet so rarely talked about.
Madras on Rainy Days, Samina Ali, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, price not mentioned.
SUCHITRA BEHAL
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