Sunitha Jayan

Revenge

payal — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Revenge sketches the transformation of Jhumur, an educated, ambitious Bengali lady who after marriage transforms into a meek, obedient wife. Taslima Nasrin has portrayes Jhumur as a strong yet submissive woman who married Haroon for love and is bewildered to see the change in her husband’s attitude after the wedding. The book keeps us pondering on the ideas of right and righteous acts.

When Jhumur married Haroon, little did she know that the life she dreamed would remain in her fantasies. Haroon was just another orthodox husband with little respect for her dreams or ambitions; he expected her to do the cooking for the entire family, despite having maids to do the same. He insisted her to cover her head and was not allowed to stand in the balcony or travel alone or to her parents’ place. He defined Jhumar’s life by setting a code of acceptable behavior befitting a daughter-in-law rather than seeing her as a woman yearning for his love and companionship.

When Jhumur conceives after six weeks of marriage, Haroon forces her to abort, as he does not believe that the child is his. This was the ultimate betrayal to Jhumur. Her husband had destroyed the truth, trust, and purity of their relationship. Jhumur realizes that she hates him and webs plans to get revenge by falling in love with Afzal, the painter living downstairs. Their mutual attraction leads to physical intimacy, and Jhumur plans to have a child fathered by Afzal. She connived by avoiding her husband during her ovulation period and keeping a physical relationship with Afzal.

By the time Jhumur becomes pregnant for a second time, Haroon is a totally changed man. He excludes her from all household chores and involves her opinion in all the decisions. He believes the child to be his beyond any suspicion and acts like a doting father, taking care of all the baby-related chores.

Jhumur’s life changes also. She no longer has to cover her head, is allowed to travel alone to meet up with her old friends, and decides to work as a eacher. Haroon no longer controls her and accepts her as an intelligent woman strong enough to make her own decisions.

Taslima Nasrin has narrated the emotional turbulence that Jhumur suffers after marriage very vividly. Jhumur faces a myriad of emotions, from the bliss of being married to the man she loved to the shock knowing his abusive nature to her insecurities and helplessness to realizing she didn’t love Haroon anymore. Jhumur opts out of divorce, as she had seen how divorced women are treated by her society. (Even their parents treat them worse than the maid.) She accepts that her life and fate is tied with Haroon, but she can’t let him off the hook for the distrust he had shown her.

Nasrin tried to portray Jhumur as a determined modern woman, though occasionally one can feel the contradiction in the character. Jhumur hates her husband well enough to have a child from another man, yet she says she doesn’t hate him enough to leave him. She decides to free herself from the traditions, yet she is traditional enough to consider marriage was for life and couldn’t live with the “disgrace of divorce.” Other than slight discrepancies in setting boundaries to Jhumur's thoughts, the novel is an uncomfortably wonderful read.

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, October 29th 2010

Sometimes Mine

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Martha Moody

Riverhead Books

Genie Toledo, the best cardiologist in Ohio, is in the midst of an eleven-year passionate love affair with Mike Crabbe, a married basketball coach residing in another state. Their love affair has survived the initial hiccups of insecurity, jealousy, and possessiveness. After a decade of physical and emotional closeness they have settled into this arrangement, perfectly understanding and respecting each others boundaries, and traveling to meet each other every Thursday. A series of events, including Mike’s diagnosis of prostrate cancer place Genie in the middle of Mike’s family affairs. She eventually has to confront Mike’s wife Karen and her children and reveal the secret affair.

In Sometimes Mine, Martha Moody unravels the struggles of Genie Toledo: professional, single mother of a college aged daughter, trying to balance her professional and personal life. The author describes how a tragedy in her personal life makes Genie come out of the emotional shell she has woven around her, which results in her repairing the mother-daughter relationship.

Does Mike’s wife accept the relationship? The children’s reaction to the “other woman” in their father’s life makes this book an interesting read. Moody narrates the story from the “mistress” perspective, which is different from the usual approach. The author, without becoming melodramatic, describes the intricate relationship between the two women in Mike’s life—each dominating certain aspects of his life. Towards the end of the story we can see a bond developing between Genie and Karen, both seeking support and reassurance from each other.

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, August 29th 2010

My Name is Khan Soundtrack

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 +0000

By Various Artists

Sony Music

My Name is Khan is a Bollywood movie that captures the post-9/11 journey of a Muslim immigrant who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. The movie and its soundtrack by Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Niranjan Iyengar, and Loy Mendonca has remained at the top of the charts since its release in January.

There are six original tracks on My Name is Khan. The first song, "Sajdaa," is sung by Richa Sharma Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Shankar Mahadevan. "Sajdaa" is the hip, happy song of this album, and brings a spring to your feet. The tracks that follow are the melodius "Noor E-Khuda, sung by Adnan Sami, Shankar Mahadevan, and Shreya Ghoshal then "Tere Naina," whose lead vocals by Shaqat Amanat Ali are an absolute delight to ears. The song praises the “eyes of beloved” and transforms into more traditional qawwali toward the end.

“Allah Hi Reham” is a concoction of Sufism and spiritualism that includes a four-minute solo sung by Rashid Khan. It's lyrics are the best in that the song stays longest in your mind. The titular theme performed by The Bombay Film Orchestra is mildly pleasing, but it could have been better. The album ends with "Rang De," sung by Shankar Mahadevan with Suraj Jaggan on accompanying percussion, and is the perfect close for this wonderful musical experience, as it is an inspirational tune that conveys the virtue of goodness and honor.

The disc also has four bonus tracks that reference the filmic history the stars of this movie (Shahrukh Khan and Kajol) have together: “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” “Suraj Hua Maddham,” “Kal Ho Na Ho,” and “Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.” The CD also features a video of the film's theatrical trailer. The album artwork is designed beautifully, like a manual. The pages have the storyline of the film, director’s notes, stills from movie, song lyrics translated into English, and a dedication to the people behind music.

All the songs on this soundtrack are a welcome change from your typical boisterous filmy pop. My Name is Khan takes a detour by embracing classical Hindustani music, and the elements from Sufism give the music a mystical touch. The lovely lyrics sung by soothing voices make these songs exemplary.

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, April 1st 2010

Another Dinner is Possible: Recipes and Food For Thought

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

By Mike and Isy

AK Press

My interest in vegetables is quite young; around a year and half. Since this new found vegetarian interest, I’ve been looking out for recipes which are quick and involve simple ingredients so that I don’t have to run around super-market looking for all those hard to pronounce spices.

At first glance, I must confess that I was disappointed with Mike and Isy’s Another Dinner Is Possible. This spiral bound, black and white printed pages, with articles on food fights and how peak oil affects our food culture, was offbeat to the conventional cookbook where one would find glossy pages with colorful pictures of dishes which tempt you to eat off from the pages. But as I browsed through it, I was enticed by “encyclopedia” of recipes—simple and quick. Exactly what I was looking for.

Another Dinner is Possible is not just a cook book. It’s the style of living for Mike and Isy who volunteer with the Anarchist Teapot Mobile Kitchen, which has cooked for various events including the Earth First Summit gatherings. They cook organic GM-free food and also run a vegan Crowley café. Any surplus money from sales of this book will be donated to Brighton Anarchist Black Cross Prisoner Support.

With more than 250 recipes, this book is divided into chapters on soups, main courses, side dishes, salads, sauces, snacks, sweets, bread, and preserving. This includes a variety of vegetable burgers and recipes for international cuisines. For instance, a chapter is dedicated for Korean dishes with notes on Korean cooking and ingredients. It was interesting to know that Korean food has such versatile vegetarian options. There is also a chapter explaining procedures of brewing beers, wines, and ciders at home.

This is a no-frill book, recipes are easy to cook with minimum ingredients, the directions are straight forward, measurements are exact, and yet flexible enough to tweak in your favorite ingredients. Since most of the recipes do not ask for elaborate cooking, the taste of vegetables and its texture is retained, which I consider to be justice to the dish and to our stomach. Recipes in this book are intended to serve six unlike four in most of the cook book so as to emphasize on the more economical way of cooking.

In short, Another Dinner Is Possible is cooking simplified. Towards the end of the book, there are articles on seasonal foods, how to reduce food wastage, tips on cooking for 100 plus people. Yes, it is a practical cookbook by practical people who are not dazzled by global capitalism and connect with the food they cook and eat. I have tried a few recipes from the book like fridge cake, potato stir fry, Borscht, and found it excellent. If you love to cook good food, this book is a keeper. It will be the cookbook I will be using over and over.

Review by Sunitha Jayan

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, January 25th 2010

Where Did I Leave My Glasses?: The What, When, and Why of Normal Memory Loss

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:40:00 +0000

By Martha Weinman Lear

Wellness Central

I knew Where Did I Leave My Glasses? was for me the moment I read its title; by the time I finished the first chapter I was sure that it would be my ‘Bible’ for rest of my life. This informative book on memory loss by Martha Weinman Lear assures us that “memory loss” is perfectly normal as we age. Well, aging may not be a very comforting thought (at least for me), but once we accept this fact “gracefully,” we will accept “memory loss” as its accomplice.

Ms. Lear makes the book very readable and entertaining with amusing life experiences and good humor. She explains the “technicalities” of the human brain in simple words and with simple examples. Who wouldn’t understand if the complex works of neurons, neurotransmitters inside the brain is compared to the big O—Orgasm!

This well researched book includes excerpts of the interviews and expert opinions of neurologists, biologists; cardiologists, psychologists, anthropologists, and many other “ologists” (and some amazing combos like neuropsychologists).

The best part of the book is the tips Ms. Lear gives for memory retention like repetition and word association. Did you know, for example, that aerobics boosts your memory? Ms. Lear distinguishes between “normal” and “not so normal” memory loss, which gives us the clue when to start worrying about memory loss.

This book is a must read for the types like me who have “what’s his/her name,” “tip of the tongue,” and “what I had for weekend’s lunch” issues. Though I know that I am getting older, that at least is much more comforting than to know that I have amnesia.

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, July 7th 2009

Shalom India Housing Society

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:56:00 +0000

By Esther David

The Feminist Press

Shalom India Housing Society is an apartment complex formed in the wake of the shocking riots of 2002 by Erza, an Indian Bene Israel Jew and a contractor by profession. The Society is formed to allow Jews to maintain a separate identity in multi-religious India. The Bene Israel communities trace their descent to Jews who escaped persecution two thousand years ago and were shipwrecked in Alibaug in Mumbai. Since then they have made India their home. Most of the Bene Israelis have now returned to their promised land, leaving very few behind.

Shalom India Housing Society traces the life of the Bene Israel Jews settled in West Ahmedabad. The protagonist of the story is Prophet Elijah, who blesses the life of a Bene Israel Jew with happiness. He also grants the wishes of people in the community. Esther David unveils the way Bene Israelis have adapted to Indian ways of religious worship; every Bene Israel Jew in India has poster of Prophet at their home. This violates basic tenets of Judaism, as idol worship is taboo.

The story begins as the prophet visits each house of the Shalom India Housing Society on the first day of Passover when Haggadah was being read out. The book is divided into nineteen chapters and the author enraptures us by sharing the pains, love, passion, and the loneliness of the members of the Shalom Housing Society.

Though humorously tailored, Esther David has portrayed the fears and issues faced by the members of this small community to keep their identity, culture, and beliefs sacrosanct in India, a land of many gods. The author unveils the problems of being a minority community in India, and their yearnings to return to Israel.

Though the characters in this book are Jews settled in India, the insecurities the book vocalizes are the feelings and frustrations of the members of a minority community everywhere in this world. I was deeply touched by these lines “Where is the home? Is our home within us or somewhere else?”

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, April 26th 2009

Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror

admin — Fri, 23 May 2008 01:58:00 +0000

By Nonie Darwish

Sentinel

An outstanding, courageous, and straight-from-the-heart book by a very remarkable woman, _Now They Call Me Infidel _gives an inside view of the sociopolitical and religious facets of Middle Eastern countries. Nonie Darwish is the daughter of Colonel Mustafa Hafaz, a high ranking Egyptian intelligence officer who was killed and hailed as a "Shahid," the highest honor bestowed on a Muslim that can be achieved by being killed during Jihad against the enemies of Islam. Darwish recounts her early experiences of being told outrageous lies, like Jewish rabbis kill Arab children to take their blood for baking cookies. She recalls being in schools filling the minds of the children with dread and terror when they hear the word "Jew" and being made to sing anti-Jewish poetry. Her education at school and her mosque bred fear, anger, and extreme intolerance towards other religions.

Darwish, who lived in Egypt for thirty years, explains that the major problem of the country is extreme poverty, which she feels is shielded in the cloak of religion. Her description of the mistreatment of Jews and other minorities (Coptic Christians, Armenians, etc.) is heart breaking. Jews were hung and branded as traitors, and they were forced to leave the country. She also identifies the Muslim marriage and divorce laws as oppressive to and fostering distrust between Muslim women, as the Islamic law allows a husband to have four wives. Darwish believes that religion is used by political and religious leaders to divert the attention from the other grave problems in Egypt.

After coming to United States, which she now considers to be her homeland, Darwish was astonished at the cultural gulf between U.S. and Egypt. She admired the way Americans accept different religious affiliations and this social equality made her ponder the degree to which Egyptian society oppressed and manipulated its citizens. She started questioning her upbringing, and the anti-Jewish propaganda she had been fed.

After 9/11, Nonnie thought it was her duty to speak out against religious fanaticism; she started to speak out and write against terrorism. Her point of view and non-defensive attitude earned her great appreciation from some, and she founded the website Arabs for Israel to provide a forum for Arabs and Muslims to express their support for Israel. On her tours, she was subjected to insults from Muslims who consider her a traitor, and many universities cancelled her presentations after Muslim students demanded that she not speak. She was shocked and embarrassed to find out that educated American Muslims think Israel should not exist and has become concerned that radical Muslim’s power is increasing in college campuses. Nonie Darwish's opinion on the problem of religious extremism is a must read.

Written by: Sunitha Jayan, May 22nd 2008