Skip to main content

Book Review: The Golden Age, by Tahmima Anam

In 1947, the British Empire messed up its exit while dividing territories. The Indo-Pak partition is a classic example of how the British knew what to do but desisted from doing so, as though in silent revenge of an Empire that had been brought down on its knees. The Partition of India and Pakistan is one of the world's bloodiest and tragic events in world history. At the time, Pakistan comprised of East and West, separated by India in its middle. Many writers and poets have written in detail about the partition and the bloodshed following the same, mostly from the perspective of either India or Pakistan. However, a middle path of interpretation has rarely been documented or appreciated by the world at large. However, here is one such book that is a literary gem because it is accurate yet it is a story teller’s carefully woven world of real life and events in interpreting the making of Bangladesh.

In Tahmima Anam's award winning debut novel, A Golden Age, she describes Pakistan as “poised on either side of India like a pair of horns.” For over two decades, the two parts of Pakistan remained separate in terms of culture, politics and geography. The eastern side of Pakistan spoke and thought mostly in Bengali whereas in the West, it was Urdu. People from the East felt increasingly isolated and vulnerable to exploitation by the West. These simmering tensions are captured with brutal honesty in this novel as it delves into how the full scale uprising led to the creation of a new country called Bangladesh.

The protagonist in this novel is a Muslim widow named Rehana Haque, who loses custody of her children, Maya and Sohail, to her husband’s brother and wife who take the children to Lahore in west Pakistan. The separation from her children leaves Rehana in a state of trauma and psychological breakdown and she holds onto the belief that she will get her children back no matter what happens.

The novel begins its first chapter, stating, “Dear Husband, I lost our children today.”

As the story is told, we find that Rehana builds a bungalow called Shona and she rents it out to a Hindu Bengali family, thereby restoring her children back into her custody and she begins to celebrate the day she got them back as an annual celebration. The revolutionary fervor that grips her children disturbs her but she finds herself incapable of standing in the way of their political aspirations because she knows the pain of losing them. When her children persuade her to convert Shona into a guerilla hideout, she agrees because she wants to hold them closer to her than risk losing them forever. Her wish is beautifully captured by the author in the following words, that “the country would go on being her home, and the children would go on being her children. In no time at all the world would right itself, and they would go on living ordinary, unexceptional lives.”

The novel is deeply touching and disturbing because it speaks from the perspective of a widowed mother who has experienced loss and knows what it feels like to lose her husband and children.

A Golden Age is a journey into the making of Bengal, but a highly terrifying and disturbing sojourn because you will confront unspeakable terror. In its quest for freedom, countless lives are lost, violated and destroyed. The writer’s attempt to capture the details is commendable though in certain places, it is predictable. The conflict between a mother and daughter, the reversal of roles as the war progresses and the end of these conflicts make the novel truly worth reading and reflecting on.

Comments

Namitha said…
haven't read this book..thanks for the review
R. Ramesh said…
hi how r u? Long time no c...cheers n wishes:)
@Gulmohar - thanks, its a great and fulfilling as well as emotionally disturbing novel, definitely worth reading and I hope you enjoy it.

@R Ramesh - Yes, been bogged down with lots of things...plan to be regular soon. Thanks for asking!
R. Ramesh said…
hey hi..sorry to hear that u r indisposed..plz do take care of yr health..am sure u will get well soon..and thanks for staying connected..wishes..:)

Most Popular Posts

The Ugly Truth about Caste in Kerala

Many years ago, when I wrote this post on Kerala's caste system, I had not considered that people would start sending in abusive comments about one caste over the other. It baffles me that this is how Indians, all of us, continue to judge each other on account of caste differences.  [ READ: Guru Kripa: Powerful Lessons at the Lotus Feet ] My question is - why do you ABUSE any caste or community? I suggest that you read about the lives of great Masters and their stories - none of them judged anyone on the basis of caste.  You can read the life stories of Sri Adi Shankara Bhagawadpada, Tulsidas, Jnaneshwar, Namadev, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Paramahansa Yogananda, Shirdi Sai Baba, and many more Gurus in Sanathana Dharma. NONE of them endorse these caste hierarchies in Bhakti Marga. Assuming that Guru Sampradaya does not appeal to your sensibilities, do read this  new book 'Ants among Elephants' written by Sujatha Gidla, who writes about herself as being born

How do you light Deepam at home?

How do you light deepam at home? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hygiene while lighting the lamp. Wear clean clothes while lighting the lamp. Frequently Asked Questions About Lighting Deepam at Home Collating most queries related to how to light the deepam at home, I'v

Gayatri Mantra as Panchamukhi: Get it right or let it go

Most people do not understand the importance of chanting the Gayatri mantra because they are not aware of its power. It is only when I began to read Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings that I learned how sacred and powerful the chanting of the Gayatri mantra is.    The Vedas represent the breath of God. The Gayatri mantra is the very basis of the Vedas. Try not to undertake chanting the Gayatri mantra as a light endeavor or as a hobby. It has to be chanted with faith, discipline and purity of mind and body. Be steady with your sadhana if you want to reap the spiritual dividend associated with the Gayatri mantra  and never once hesitate once you decide to do it.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that the Gayatri Mantra is referred to as Pancha Mukhi, the Goddess with five faces that represent the five pranas or life forces. Here's more on it. .  Also read: The Power of OM   Chant the Gayatri Mantra correctly: Pause Five Times Here are some important thi

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra: Meaning, Benefit of Chanting and Who can Chant the Mantra

Mahadmrityunjaya Mantra: Benefit of chanting this mantra There are very few mantras that are as powerful as the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra. Do read my post: Does Mahamrityunajaya mantra really work?       Mahamrityunjaya mantra is believed to have the power to remove all sufferings, diseases and bestow the one who chants it with good health and long life.   It is also believed that constant contemplation of the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra can help spiritual aspirants to overcome the cycle of birth and death. What got me fascinated about this mantra is something personal.  I learned this mantra from my father but it is my maternal grandmother who chanted it all the time and repeatedly told me of its tremendous power to protect. However, I did not chant this mantra regularly.  At the age of two, my son was taught some mantras by my mother who explained what it means to him and he became very enthusiastic about chanting the mantras. Following this, my mother taught him the Maha Mrityun

Saree Woes 2

Our earlier discussion on Saree Woes really perked up my spirits. A big thanks to all of you for pepping me up. Okay, here's the good news. There was an unexpected late night party that I had to attend in Gurgaon. To be honest, I haven't had the time or energy to attend any such parties after Adi was born. I was sure I wouldn't have the confidence to make conversation with the glitterati, let alone feel confident to carry off wearing a saree. This is one of those parties where you have to be dressed very formally. Well, at the end of a working woman's day, you hardly feel ready to attend one of these parties looking like a moron, right? So, with very little preparation and very few hours left, I called on all the gods in Heaven to help me look a little younger and prettier since I don't have the magic to look young all on my own. Although I was tempted to wear one of my awesome Kancheevaram treasures, I knew it would be very difficult to drape it without any h