This review has been due a long while. But,
this was definitely worth the wait… at least for me. Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘The Namesake’ in 2003 was her
first novel and this follows that one. ‘The Interpreter of Maladies’ her short
fiction collection was her best work, according to me. Her first novel, ‘The
Namesake’ did not impress me all that much, but ‘The Lowland’ definitely has
her, in my good books all over again. You can Buy the Book, right here.
Not one to not explore her Bengali to America immigrant
status, this book has that and more. The book was nominated for the Man Booker Prize. It starts off with two brothers, leading up to four different generations
of families in India and Rhode Island, across almost 60 years, between all of
them.
So, let us begin. Udayan and Subhash, the quintessential
brothers begin their life in period of Second World War coming to an end. India,
who gained her independence, is busy developing itself in Calcutta, after the
civil war. The separation of Bangladesh comes into play and gives the lowland a
new life.
Both the children are highly educated and loved
equally, yet the preference for Subhash is shown, and one can see how it
manifests itself, as the story moves forward. Udayan, the younger of the two
ends up with Naxalites, and even disappears for a few days with the disappearing
for a few days on some secretive, cagey business.
Subhash, on the other hand ends up going
to the US, and finds his way into Rhode Island (where the author’s childhood
was spent) for doing an oceanography course at a graduate school. Udayan,
meanwhile brings home a dark-skinned philosophy student, Gauri whom he has
married against his parents’ wishes. The two have a happy marriage, but it is
cut short with his involvement with the Naxals. Subhash, who returns at this
point, sees that his family is not the same, and marries the pregnant Gauri in
order to save her from the life at home.
She, after giving birth to Bela, becomes
more and more involved with philosophy, taking up classes at the university.
She finally leaves the house, which never ended up being her home. She leaves
behind Bela with Subhash, after the two return from India, on his father’s
death. The mismatched pair of Gauri and Subhash comes to an end but not in
divorce.
She, encouraged by her professor,
quickly ends up in another state, taking with her, knowledge and ends up teaching.
Lahiri, I felt did not explore the non-motherhood angle too well. Of course,
there are parts when you can see it, and even feel it, but you never do get the
other side of the picture.
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| Jhumpa Lahiri |
Bela the daughter, in the meanwhile
grows into an awkward child, but she is not without determination and true
understanding of her situation.
Subhash, who is suddenly left alone to
deal with the daughter’s travails as she grows up, is suddenly shaken out of
his semi-sleep state as he reveals the truth behind her parentage. The marriage
of convenience has suddenly come to an end.
One does not question why it all
happened. One can see the upheaval of emotions, as Bela and her life comes into
play. And Subhash’s too.
The novel twists and turns with so much
humility. There are parts, when one moves in one’s seats and in unsure for whom
to move for. The beauty of this book is probably in understanding why a certain
event took place and how the whole thing came to its awkward end.
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