pen.books.and.scalpel

BOOK NAME: THE PRINCESS AND THE POLITICAL AGENT AUTHOR NAME: BINODINI (TRANSLATED FROM THE MANIPURI BY L. SOMI ROY) GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION PUBLISHER: PENGUIN INDIA BOOK REVIEW This book took me two long months to read and that should give you an idea of how intense it was. Not that it was bad by any means, but it was definitely demanding and, at times, quite arduous.  The story is primarily biographical and partly historical centred around the author’s aunt who was a remarkable and inspiring figure of her time. Sanatombi, the fierce and charismatic princess born to Maharaja Surchandra is at the heart of the narrative. The book begins during the Burmese occupation of Manipur and follows the struggles of the Manipuri kings as they fight to reclaim and maintain their thrones. It also delves into the events of the Anglo-Manipuri War and the internal turmoil among Sanatombi’s uncles for the right to the throne. Sanatombi initially bends to the laws of her land just like any other ...

BOOK NAME: ONE THOUSAND DAYS IN A REFRIGERATOR AUTHOR NAME: MANOJ KUMAR PANDA (TRANSLATED FROM THE ODIA BY SNEHAPRAVA DAS) GENRE: CONTEMPORARY SHORT STORIES PUBLISHER: SPEAKING TIGER BOOK REVIEW I went in with the least expectation from this book because not very many books translated from the Odia are famous. But guess who surprised me with a collection of stories that are outrageously courageous, intricately woven, and written with brilliance and wit? If you had told me that a group of stories from Odia would make it to my best short story collection (along with the Heart Lamp) read this year, I wouldn’t have trusted you at first. But now I do. I have learnt not to judge by what’s a common notion. I am glad I chose this one for the #2025indiantranslationreadathon  I would say this is the only anthology where every story had a brilliant arc, save but one which was good nevertheless, but just couldn’t stand up to its own contenders. My most favourite ones were ‘When The Gods Le...

BOOK NAME: NAULAKHI KOTHI AUTHOR NAME: ALI AKBAR NATIQ (TRANSLATED FROM THE URDU BY NAIMA RASHID) GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION PUBLISHER: PENGUIN INDIA BOOK REVIEW I wanted to read this book in a hurry and finish it faster because I was reading it as the last one for the challenge in 2025. But the theme and narration were so intense that I didn’t want to rush it. So, I let the story breathe, as it held me in its chokehold completely. It is set during the pre-partition era in India, in Jalalabad and Naulakhi Kothi, and then takes the readers on a journey many years after independence and Partition. The feud between Muslims and Sikhs in the pre-Partition Punjab is the central theme of the story. Three powerful men are involved in the story — Ghulam Haider, Sauda Singh, and William. But whose story affected me the most, and who haunted me long after the book ended, was William: a British man born in India who loved his birthplace more than the natives. His story ripped me apart, and the ...

BOOK NAME: MOUSTACHE AUTHOR NAME: S. HAREESH (TRANSLATED FROM THE MALAYALAM BY JAYASREE KALATHIL) GENRE: POLITICAL FICTION, MAGICAL REALISM PUBLISHER: HARPER PERENNIAL  BOOK REVIEW Moustache is a book about a man named Vavachan. Vavachan and his moustache. A moustache that he cannot have. This book won the JCB prize for literature in 2020 and has been on my list for a couple of years now.   Vavachan born to lower caste Pulayans whose work was to farm and do unpaid labour decides to play the part of a policeman in a drama one day. He sports the much-needed moustache for the role and decides to keep it even after the play ends. As expected, he faces opposition from upper caste people to take his moustache down who are intimidated and offended by it. But he resists. He runs amok, initially to guard himself and later in search of something dear to him. But, over time, he becomes a legend in tales and songs owing to his moustache and the fear it inflicted upon others.  ...

BOOK NAME: LONG NIGHT OF STORM AUTHOR NAME: INDRA BAHADUR RAI (TRANSLATED FROM THE NEPALI BY PRAWIN ADHIKARI) GENRE: CONTEMPORARY SHORT STORIES PUBLISHER: SPEAKING TIGER BOOK REVIEW This anthology is a compilation of Nepali short stories translated lyrically and with perfection. The book bestows the reader with stories that revolve around Nepali culture, religious and political practices, the sorrows that haunt them, their tales of joy and celebration, stories of migration and poverty, literary freedom, and more. I was amazed at the diverse mix of stories, ranging from simple, straightforward narratives to ones with deep, insightful exploration.  Though there is a definite lack of exploration of female strength and perspective, the stories manage to linger for a long time. Not one story is identical to the other and that’s what keeps the reader intrigued about the book. This is a book that you can enjoy on the go, as you munch on your favourite snack with a cup of coffee, on a ...

BOOK NAME: KHWABNAMA AUTHOR NAME: AKHTARUZZAMAN ELIAS (TRANSLATED FROM THE BENGALI BY ARUNAVA SINHA) GENRE: HISTORICAL / POLITICAL FICTION  PUBLISHER: PENGUIN INDIA BOOK REVIEW This book took me an excruciatingly long time—over two and a half months—to complete, but it was totally worth it. I sneaked in a few pages during breaks, managed some reading time after work, and religiously carried it around until I flipped that last page to a close. Although only 550 pages long, it is dense with characters and content and is one of the most complex stories ever told with such lyricism, power, and poignancy.  The story is set in the pre-partition era when Bangladesh was still a part of India, during the Tebhaga movement that created ripples across the country. The sharecroppers who cultivated their Jomidars’ and Jotedars’ lands, who were indirectly working for the British, were stripped of their benefits and mistreated. The sharecroppers' revolt against these influential people ca...

BOOK NAME: JANGALNAMA - TRAVELS IN A MAOIST GUERILLA ZONE AUTHOR NAME: SATNAM (TRANSLATED FROM THE PUNJABI BY VISHAV BHARTI) GENRE: NONFICTION PUBLISHER: PENGUIN INDIA BOOK REVIEW After a long and arduous journey, I have finally completed this Punjabi travelogue exploring the lives of Maoist guerrillas and adivasis in Bastar. The idea of a book on guerrillas intrigued me, and I wanted to find out about a commoner’s experience staying with them. That was why I decided to go with this book. And honestly, I don’t regret it at all. Though it’s a travelogue, the book is engaging and keeps your attention. I couldn’t ignore the repetition of events multiple times. But given that it is written from first-hand experience, it can be overlooked. It was interesting to read about the tribal life and how the guerrillas thrived with no basic facilities and healthcare. I am not sure if I completely agree with the author’s notion that they are all innocent and goal-driven. But still, I could sense ...

BOOK NAME: THE INVENTION OF SHOE AUTHOR NAME: RABINDRANATH TAGORE - RETOLD FROM THE BENGALI BY NIRMAL KANTI BHATTACHARJEE, VISUALISED AND ILLUSTRATED BY SEKHAR MUKHERJEE GENRE: CHILDREN’S BOOK  PUBLISHER: PERKY PARROT - NIYOGI BOOKS BOOK REVIEW For a change, I am recommending a children’s book since I found an interesting option from Indian adopted literature. A children’s book after a long, long while because why should they have all the fun? This is a colourful, illustrated book on a king who demands that his people find a way to keep his feet free from dirt. People rummage through the options from carpeting the land he steps on to covering the entire earth with leather. But nothing seems plausible until one intelligent man steps in to find a solution that is simple and reasonable. Sounds pretty interesting right? That’s what I thought too.  I read it aloud with my nephew and he was bewitched by the beautiful illustrations and I had to start over plenty of times because ...

BOOK NAME: THE HOUR BEFORE DAWN   AUTHOR NAME: BHABENDRA NATH SAIKIA (TRANSLATED FROM THE ASSAMESE NOVEL ANTOREEP BY MAITREYEE S.C) GENRE: DOMESTIC FICTION PUBLISHER: PENGUIN BOOKS BOOK REVIEW Some books we plan to read strategically based on our moods and needs, but a few others end up in our lives unplanned to change our entire perspective. One such book that made me thank my stars for accidentally uncovering a gem is this one. There is no doubt I loved it more than I expected. How did I get this lucky? Really! This is the story of Menoka, who devoted herself to her husband, Mohikanto, and their four lovely children, toiling every day and finding joy in little things in life. But she wonders where she must have faltered when Mohikanto brings home a young girl, Kiron, unannounced as his second wife. She breaks, she shatters, she screams within herself. But she never lets anyone see her wreckage. Instead, she grows resilient and makes a few decisions that will forever change he...