RAINS OFF A SMOKY SKY: TALE OF CONSCIOUS AND SUBCONSCIOUS
PRITAM MANDAL
NOTION PRESS: Rs 300
I took an instant liking to the book the minute I received it. And why not? The cover says it all. Nostalgia, rains, romanticism and rediscovering oneself. Every page of the book reflects the tale of a woman who steps out into the world of her dreams, from the small village to the big cities of the world. With it she carries the tale of many like us, who harbour dreams of doing it big but in the end realises the ultimate is to rediscover oneself, rather than enjoy the fruits of a long cherished dream.
Pritam is an IITan and studied abroad. No wonder the protagonist Anurita, who calls her other personality as Rita, also comes from a village like Pritam does and pursues her education to become 'someone' in this world that runs on money and fame. She becomes that 'someone,' from her village life, she fulfils her ambition, goes abroad and starts working. The author pens down the village life with a lot of truth and passion. Anurita's growing up days is a tale of any woman. From her friends in school to the males of her locality and how their gaze towards a growing girl changes over years, her first kiss when 'Aviroop uncle' forces himself on her and how she even enjoys that infringement in her life. They are all vivid images of how a village or a town girl goes through as she aspires to be that 'someone' in life.
The best part of the book is the dual personality that probably all of us have. When we start speaking to and dealing with our own inner strengths and demons. Anurita does the same. She is lonely despite having a great group of friends at her workplace. Anurita is fit for this cut-throat world but her inner self Rita is not. Rita is a die-hard romantic, fantasises, and finally breaks down when she meets with an unexpected tragedy. Pritam is a great story-teller and a nature enthusiast. His depictions of fireflies and other minute details of the nature around Anurita is a proof of that.
A great read too as the style of story telling is pretty out-of-the box.
PRITAM MANDAL
NOTION PRESS: Rs 300
Pritam is an IITan and studied abroad. No wonder the protagonist Anurita, who calls her other personality as Rita, also comes from a village like Pritam does and pursues her education to become 'someone' in this world that runs on money and fame. She becomes that 'someone,' from her village life, she fulfils her ambition, goes abroad and starts working. The author pens down the village life with a lot of truth and passion. Anurita's growing up days is a tale of any woman. From her friends in school to the males of her locality and how their gaze towards a growing girl changes over years, her first kiss when 'Aviroop uncle' forces himself on her and how she even enjoys that infringement in her life. They are all vivid images of how a village or a town girl goes through as she aspires to be that 'someone' in life.
The best part of the book is the dual personality that probably all of us have. When we start speaking to and dealing with our own inner strengths and demons. Anurita does the same. She is lonely despite having a great group of friends at her workplace. Anurita is fit for this cut-throat world but her inner self Rita is not. Rita is a die-hard romantic, fantasises, and finally breaks down when she meets with an unexpected tragedy. Pritam is a great story-teller and a nature enthusiast. His depictions of fireflies and other minute details of the nature around Anurita is a proof of that.
A great read too as the style of story telling is pretty out-of-the box.
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