Delayed Monsoon

                                              Delayed Monsoon

                                                                                  By chitralekha Paul

                “Delayed Monsoon” is the best book I have read written by Indian Women Authors in English now. To begin with, the Title ‘Delayed Monsoon’ is so apt for the story. Abhilasha the lead character in the story meets her ‘true love’ late in life. The author rightly puts it, when the earth (Abilasha’s life) was parched the monsoon came to revive her dried up existence. She (author) describes the cultural as well as the social aspects of the people of Calcutta. I like the way the author uses the connotation on page 102 “Abilasha got angrier. Why did he call me sweetie instead of addressing her as ‘Boudi’ the customary Bengali way to address a brother’s wife? Author brings out the conservatism followed in Calcutta, also an exposure to Bengali language.   

                   The way in which she shifts from first person narration to third person is excellent. Makes us understand the characters and narration very well, on page 23 “With all her minus and plus points, Jyotirmoyee was a unique Lady. Her unconventional attitude made her different from her contemporaries”, shows rapid changes taking place in the social scenario in Calcutta. The whole book itself describes modern internet age which revolves over one idea that is, Modernism.

                    The book is a thorough narration of the Life of Air force officers and their wives about which the general populace feels is prestigious and sophisticated but the author rightly puts it as “Glimpse into what goes on behind the gates guarded by vigilant men in uniform.” Very apt description of the tough side of the very sophisticated lives of Air force officers and their wives. Her narration of the lovely places in the south like ooty, coonor and wellington is a simply good read! Must read the novel, which is one continuous stretch of really readable, enjoyable material.

                   At the end of the novel the author speaks again in the voice of her character, Abhilasha, this change in the narration style emphasizes and acts like the punch line making the story real. The last lines of the author’s Note pages 7-8, “Abhilasha is neither me nor Anamika, she is the synergy of both and even more”, introduces the book to the readers in a very spectacular manner.

                                                                                                     © -Anjana Pai