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A review by _askthebookbug
MOOM by Arunava Sinha, Bani Basu
5.0
// Moom by @bani.basu.3705
Translated by @arunavasinha
Moom begins with girls being addressed as enemies. Because even today, certain families in our country consider daughters as an unnecessary and an expensive burden. Why spend so much on daughters who eventually leave their homes, taking with them a sizeable dowry? Getting them educated makes no sense for they aren't going to look after their parents. It's the sons who are precious. So they get the best food, clothes, education and also life. The life of a male child, if weighed and compared with that of a girl's, is always worth more. Moom, originally written in Bengali by Bani Basu and later translated into English by Arunava Sinha, is one that sends chills down the spine. The story haunts one long after they're done reading it.
A Marwari family in Calcutta has it all. They're rich, live in a grand house where men make the rules and the womenfolk follow unquestionably. There are the in-laws, their son and his wife along with the servants, living comfortably until the women of the house die. Basu writes about the men in a rather sympathetic manner, left behind without any women to look after them. The mother-in-law, as long as she lived ruled the house with an iron fist. The daughter-in-law lived with a broken heart after losing her daughter as a child. The house was maintained as a home because of her well oiled duties. Bani Basu adds a supernatural touch to it where the presence of the dead daughter-in-law lingers long after she's gone. Right when I thought there's nothing more to the story is when Moom enters. Moom, like 'mombatti' (candle), a young girl turns up at the house out of nowhere becoming a much needed company to the father-in-law. Who is this girl, really and what's her story? It's surprising how Moom, who plays such a pivotal role in the story turns up in the latter part of the story. Basu, with her stunning narration makes one empathetic towards the characters even when they didn't deserve it. Needless to say, Sinha's translation was perfect, retaining the very essence of the book.
I highly recommend this.
Translated by @arunavasinha
Moom begins with girls being addressed as enemies. Because even today, certain families in our country consider daughters as an unnecessary and an expensive burden. Why spend so much on daughters who eventually leave their homes, taking with them a sizeable dowry? Getting them educated makes no sense for they aren't going to look after their parents. It's the sons who are precious. So they get the best food, clothes, education and also life. The life of a male child, if weighed and compared with that of a girl's, is always worth more. Moom, originally written in Bengali by Bani Basu and later translated into English by Arunava Sinha, is one that sends chills down the spine. The story haunts one long after they're done reading it.
A Marwari family in Calcutta has it all. They're rich, live in a grand house where men make the rules and the womenfolk follow unquestionably. There are the in-laws, their son and his wife along with the servants, living comfortably until the women of the house die. Basu writes about the men in a rather sympathetic manner, left behind without any women to look after them. The mother-in-law, as long as she lived ruled the house with an iron fist. The daughter-in-law lived with a broken heart after losing her daughter as a child. The house was maintained as a home because of her well oiled duties. Bani Basu adds a supernatural touch to it where the presence of the dead daughter-in-law lingers long after she's gone. Right when I thought there's nothing more to the story is when Moom enters. Moom, like 'mombatti' (candle), a young girl turns up at the house out of nowhere becoming a much needed company to the father-in-law. Who is this girl, really and what's her story? It's surprising how Moom, who plays such a pivotal role in the story turns up in the latter part of the story. Basu, with her stunning narration makes one empathetic towards the characters even when they didn't deserve it. Needless to say, Sinha's translation was perfect, retaining the very essence of the book.
I highly recommend this.