The Lowland is one of the most
beautiful books I have ever read. It’s about the bond shared by two brothers
who are born fifteen months apart, Subhash and Udayan and about a woman who is reminded
of her past by her conscience.
The book starts with a description of
the area surrounding the lowland in Tollygunge in Calcutta. To the east of
Tolly Club there’s a small mosque along the enclave of a narrow lane leading
towards the marshy lowland in which the hyacinth survives. The skies were blue
like water, the humid air leaving a pungent smell which is unsettling to the
senses. The details are so intricate to be explainable.
This novel is a whirlwind of
emotions, gripping suspense and a narrative which keeps you craving for more.
It exposes the underlying human nature which gives the reader a hard knock on
the head to come to terms with the reality, leaving a wry smile with a tear on
certain occasions.
The brothers
climb the high wall to get into the Tolly Club which is reserved for the
aristocrats. Although India attained freedom, the wall hanging of Queen
Elizabeth II inside the club instead of Prime Minister Nehru tells a different
story. The indifference towards Indians still prevailed.
Udayan and Subhash were walking
cautiously to avoid being caught. They were mesmerised by the Clubs green
carpet which was soft, dewy and fresh on their bare feet. They wouldn’t be
cautious if they didn’t dared to trespass. Udayan being the youngest sibling
was always aloof while Subhash was an active one, yet he didn’t wander and
adhered to his limits. They were best friends, companion and partners in crime.
They were
fascinated by golf, although they hadn’t played the sport they decided to
collect the neglected or lost or battered golf balls inside the Tolly Club.
They even found a putting rod. They would stuff their pockets with golf balls
on their way home. With smiles on their faces.
Its 1960’s, both the siblings are now
in college but not together. Subhash was in Jadavpur College pursuing chemical
engineering and Udayan in Presidency College for physics. They had been best
friends, companion and partners in crime but now they had sensed that they
would slowly drift apart from each other. That turned out to be true.
The next
year in 1967 there was a political uprising in Calcutta by ordinary people who
were forced to rebel against the injustice in the country meted out towards the
peasants, who called themselves as Naxals. They wanted to bring a revolution to
change the course of history, to bring justice, to change the government. They
were inspired by Mao Tse-tung speeches which brought a revolution in China.
Udayan was deeply moved by the
uprising while Subhash the dutiful son he was stayed away from the politics and
also advised his brother the same. The Naxal movement gave Udayan an impetus to
pave way for shaping his life, and at the same time paving his way out of
Subhash’s life. Udayan started attending and eventually conducted meetings and morchas of the Naxals. At times Subhash
would accompany Udayan in those meetings to hear Kanu Sanyal speak about their
next agenda. Subhash was not flustered by the speeches but he was baffled by
Udayans strong allegiance towards the movement.
Only Subhash
knew about Udayans participation in the uprising, the family spared of this knowledge.
No, this isn’t a book about
Naxalite but about how it changed the brothers in an irrevocable way. Udayan
was a mischievous lad, Subhash a dutiful son who didn’t dare to go against or
do anything which his family wouldn’t agree with. Down the lane both of them
turned into completely different persons. As if they were reborn.
While Udayan
completely devoted himself to the revolt, Subhash completely devoted himself
towards his studies and his parents. He decided to go to the US for further
studies, Udayan was the first one to know yet he was apprehensive. The bond
began to grew wider as if there were a crack.
A few weeks later, Subhash found
himself in Rhode Island. It was different from Tollygunge yet it had a distinct
resemblance to it. Who knew Rhode Island would become his home. Richard his
roommate became his new companion and Subhash found traces of Udayans
characteristics in Richard. At that time America had intervened in Vietnam, due
to some miscommunication or neglect, which was at large ignored. Richard
and some of his friends protested
outside the quadrangle of the campus. It was nothing like a protest in
Calcutta, violent chaotic yet of a mature nature of human resistance. The
resilience of Richard towards injustice reminded Subhash of Udayan in some way
or another.
Back in Calcutta, Udayan found a
girl for himself. A life long companion as it was meant to be, yet Gauri
wasn’t. Udayan had managed to portray a double life although it was tiresome.
One being a teacher and one being enduced by his political endeavours of being
a Naxal. He knew he was in trouble. Only an incident had to occur to shatter
his reel life. And inevitably shattering his real life and of others who loved
him.
Subhash was
unaware of his brothers recent doings. They used to exchange letters but Udayan
stopped mentioning the political aspect and his role in it, so he thought it
might have come to an end.
Yes, it came
to an end.
Udayan was killed.
Subhash had to return to Calcutta. Nothing was new in the house except his parents
monotonous emotionless face. They were consumed by shock. They didn’t reveal
the incidents of that day. He tried to persuade them but they were adamant. So
was Subhash.
He hadn’t met the new member of the
family, Gauri, who was a widow now. She was nothing like what he had seen her
in the photograph. She seemed to have lost her jovial charm. She barely read
anything nowadays because she was supposed to mourn her husbands death. She
clearly wasn’t respected in the family after Udayan died. He would have not
have tolerated this towards his wife. He rarely cared for traditions which
reflected in his love marriage.
She was pregnant. If it hadn’t been
for Udayans child she wouldn’t be in the Mitra house. Subhash decided to take
her with him to Rhode Island. He was opposed by his parents, saying that it
would be against the ‘society norms’.
Although
Udayan had passed away, his memories weren’t. Subhash was always the obedient
one yet he wasn’t loved much as Udayan. Here he was trying to save the life of
Udayans child, confronted by his own parents. He felt being neglected.
As for
Gauri, leaving would be a painful relieve. She didn’t want to live in that
house but still some part of her wished the opposite. The child would have a
better future without the father. She agreed with Subhash.
Now one is married for the first time and
and another divorced for the first time and married for the second time.
Subhash and Gauri married each other, without a bond of love, hoping it would
develop later. But it didn’t.
They lived a
married life of pretence.
It was
raining profusely, her labour pains had begun. The drive to the hospital is one
which both wouldn’t forget. The child was delivered. It was a girl.
They had
already decided to name her Bela, after a flower. For the first time Subhash
was holding a child, Udayans daughter.
A mother was born but the father was
already dead.
So
Subhash became one.
A selfless father.
Gauri didn’t
seemed to be elated as a mother would be. With the pain, a part of Udayan left
her. Now she was bittersweet about Udayan. Though in Rhode Island she kept
herself occupied by enrolling herself at the university, visiting the library,
began exploring the new neighbourhood. Slowly and gradually she was adapting to
it. That’s what humans do, adapt. Her attire changed, a westernized look now.
She
lost her true self in the process. She got more involved in writing her thesis
that she neglected the family. Bela was self reliant from an early age. Subhash
cared for Bela more than Gauri, her own mother. She wasn’t selfless but growing
into a selfish person.
All because of that one person who entered her life and
left the world so recklessly she couldn’t comprehend it herself.
Bela was a quiet child yet she craved her
mothers attention. At times she reminded Gauri of Udayan.
Bela turned out to be a rebellious
child. She began living life on her own terms which made her a strong person to
face a tumultuous turn in her life.
After
Subhash and Bela returned from Calcutta, Gauri had left them. It was the perfect opportunity but not the perfect
time.
Bela was now motherless. Subhash was
furious. He didn’t expect Gauri to leave them too soon. There wasn’t a concrete
reason for her departure but she was tired by her role of being a mother. Bela
was raised by Subhash. The abrupt departure of her mother had deeply affected
her.
What hurts the most is, not taking a
moment to say goodbye.
When Bela was
old enough, mature enough only then Subhash told her the truth. She was taken
aback, even furious but she understood him
when the truth settled on in her mind. Both her real parents had left her,
abandoned her. Her respect for Subhash grew more. He had done what most people
wouldn’t do.
She continued to call him father.
Subhash and
Gauri both grew old, apart from each other. Gauri was a respected professor and
Subhash a respected father. Bela was soon to be a mother, she wasn’t married.
Subhash found himself a companion. But Gauri was alone. She tried to find them
in the big vast world of internet. She couldn’t, but Subhash had. He had sent a
letter revealing a bit about his life and of Bela after she had left them.
She regretted her hasty decision when she
was in early twenties.
The
conversations and characters are so intricate that it feels that you are
experiencing it in first person, and it baffles the reader. The transition from
Calcutta to Rhode Island are so seamless yet interconnected. The memories of
old times pops up in the new era, the pain endured had been subdued but not
completely gone. The fragments made up for the bigger picture in their lives.
Different perceptions but the reality clear.
So many conversations yet so many
stories untold. Its
not easy to break down the minute incidents, emotions though magnanimous to
those who have gone through it.
One really needs to read the book to understand the different perceptions.
How Udayan was killed. His perspective. Gauris and the familys perspective.
How it affected the family.
How Bela was affected by Gauris departure.
How Subhash coped after losing his loved ones.
In the end its all about the perspective.
“That’s the thing about books. They
let you travel without moving your feet.” - Jhumpa Lahiri
Not to sound
cliché but after reading the book I felt as if i have been to Calcutta, Rhode
Island, knew the brothers, Gauri and Bela. Saw them grow old as if I was among
them. Calcutta transitioned into Kolkata. Memories faded yet not completely forgotten in the new era.
It’s all about the power in the words which brings out the emotions. In the end its all about the perspective.The
human emotions are so strong at times that we shun the rationality of thinking.
Three lives, altered completely by one
person.
Three lives and many more.
Hope you liked the review! Share it with your loved ones.
