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Chitra Banerjee Diwakaruni
One day, A Kanta A work sari sits on author Chitra Banerjee Diwakaruni’s office desk at the University of Houston. She didn’t know who it came from or why. But that saree eventually drives her to write her latest novel Independence (Published by Harper Collins India). Like handspun Kanta Sari, the book weaves a dramatic embroidery of Indian history, West Bengal diaspora, women artists and their imaginations.
“Kanta The art of West Bengal is created by the women of the region and is vital to their livelihood, creativity and artistic growth. Especially in difficult times, this is what they fall back on and the same is true in the novel,” said the author at the launch of the book at The Chambers, Taj Coromandel in Chennai recently.
There is a raised image of the cover of the book Kanta The work comes at a time when India is celebrating 75 years of independence. Chitra is in conversation with author and translator Nandini Krishnan.
As the conversation progresses, the burning lights of the author fill the room. “As a child born in free India, I got freedom and wanted my mother to understand that many people gave up many things, including their lives, to get this freedom,” says the author.
The novel revolves around the life of sisters Priya, Deepa and Jamini. Set against years of tumultuous separation, the fierce sisters struggle with their dreams, love and loss as the paths forward diverge untoldly. The book contains some autobiographical elements. Nabakumar’s character is based on the author’s grandfather. Known for creating compelling female characters, Chitra independence, Presents the audience with equally sensitive and layered male characters who add color to the plot. Chitra explains, “My other books are women-centric but in this one the relationship between men and women becomes problematic for each other. Not because they don’t love each other, but because they love each other. They are a woman’s choice over other things. So much of the drama comes out of the difficult choices women have to make regarding the men in their lives. ”
Independence It also explores the shape of a woman’s quiet courage against the backdrop of India’s tumultuous history. Here woman is backward. It explores “the price a woman pays when men become heroes,” the author added.
When asked what freedom means today, the author emphasizes the need for a secular and peaceful environment. The conversation ended with a composition by Rabindranath Tagore Ekla Chalo Ray (If no one walks with you, you must walk alone) quips Hemanta Mukherjee. The song is poignant because Chitra says, “This is a lesson for the women in the story to learn as the title has a double meaning. These women need to learn what it means to be independent and sometimes you have to walk alone.
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