Manil Suri, of ‘The Death of Vishnu’ fame, is coming out with a new novel - this time based on the society in India. The book is scheduled to be released in India, on 4^th February 2008. With this novel, Manil Suri has drawn a picture of the Indian society, which is still healing from the pain brought forth by partition. Mixed within the story is Indian mythology, mainly the part that revolves around Lord Shiva and his nature. Whether the novel manages to generate the same response as Manil’s debut is what we have to see.

 

The novel opens in India, as it was in the year 1955 - when people were still not over partition. We see the world through the eyes of Meera, a 17-year-old girl who falls in love with Dev, while listening to his passionate singing from the balcony of a college auditorium. She even starts thinking whether she would be able to take him away from Roopa, her older and much more beautiful sister. What Meera doesn’t know yet is that her dream is going to come true very soon, but only of marrying Dev, not of leading a blissful life.

 

After stepping foot into Dev's house, Meera comes to know that his family members are very orthodox and conservative. A free bird earlier, she has to obey the orders of her in-laws, observe extremely tough Hindu fast and even bear with the repulsive drunken behavior of her husband. To top it all, she has to deal with Arya, her brother-in-law, who always seems to have a lascivious gaze in his eyes, especially while looking at her. The only person in the family Meera can relate to is Sandhya, her sister-in-law, who seems to be her only solace too.

 

One day, she finds herself moving to Bombay (now Mumbai), where Dev wants to pursue his dream of becoming a singer. Instead of being a fresh start, the move turns out to be the ultimate crack in their crumbling relationship. However, happiness once again knocks at the door of Meera, when her son is born. In the long life that she has lived till date, she feels complete for the first time. Meera totally surrounds her son with her love. But then, it is said that excess of everything is bad. Is the same true in case of love also? Read the novel to find out!

 

Manil Suri was born in Mumbai and is one of the finest Indian-American writers, apart from being an excellent mathematician. The author shot to fame with his first book only, which had the title of ‘The Death of Vishnu’. The book won him the 2002 Barnes and Noble Discover Prize and was also nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award. After doing a PHD in mathematics, in 1983, he became a Mathematics Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and holds the position till date.