106th
Post - “A Fine Balance” by Rohinton Mistry
I
had done reading the book “A fine balance” crafted by Rohinton
Mistry. This is my sixth
book that
I
had completed so far this year
and
recently started
the Nobel
laureate Sir V.S. Naipaul's “A House For Mr. Biswas”.
Now days I am feeling that my reading list increases exponentially
and I started to be in love with one book at one time in my hand [
if I have comfortable attribute of time ].
And, every time as I sheer a book, I found why books are called as
the best companion of human being. And, with completion of every book
I found myself eager to read more book that comes
out as
a result of last book.
While,
reading any book is a delightful journey and every single book is
like an guide that gives an enormous source of knowledge which are
meant to show a path to generations of generation. There
is a
well said proverb – “A reader lives a thousand lives before he
dies. The man who never reads lives only one”. - How true it is ?
Its
a totally fundamental question that should be answered in a little
more fundamental way. :-) Well, we discuss this topic later.
ABOUT BOOK -::
“A
Fine Balance” book is set in 1970s, around 1975 when State of
Emergency was declared by the then Prime Minister of India and
exposes a whole idea about the changes in Indian society from
Independence to the declared emergency called by Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi. The book revolves around the life of four people from
four very different walks of life having their own antithetical view
towards life and who all co-incidentally cross their paths for a year
during the emergency under a single roof, where they strive and
struggle for the most crucial battle of life “Survival”.
All learn from each other and become better people, the book is about
how their lives are intertwined by external and internal influences
while they all have a common goal – How to survive in this brutal
world, where everyone and everything is corrupted. They struggle
together. They face challenges together. They celebrate together. But
will they succeed?
The
book began by introducing a reader to three of the four main
characters of epic fiction: Ishvar Darji, his nephew, Omprakash Darji
( both belongs to the Chammar caste ) and Maneck Kohlah ( The College
student ) who all are on a train journey to same destination [ but
was unaware ]. While, riding on train, Maneck can't help but be drawn
into the jovial conversation between Ishvar and Om Darji and soon
they become familiar to each other. During conversation, by chance
they came to know that they are all new to this city and headed to
the same address: Ishar and Om as a tailor looking for work and
Maneck as paying guest, for Dina Dalai; the widow and the fourth and
the important character of book.
It
is overall a story of Dina Dalal, a widow living in a big City,
trying to make two ends meet. It is a story of Ishvar Darji and his
nephew Omprakash, who've come to the city from their ancestral
village after their family being decimated by upper caste landowners.
It is a story of Maneck Kohlah, a young chap who has come to the city
for advanced studies. Moreover, its a story of their life and their
struggle for survival. And at last, author was able to makes you
realize that true happiness is inner happiness and no matter how rich
or poor you are, it is your passion for life which takes you ahead in
life by fighting against all the whirlwind of life.
One
of the most beautiful part of this book is that Mistry never takes
any names of places or politicians during the entire book. However,
you know exactly who he is talking about. Like Indira Gandhi during
emergency or her son Rajiv Gandhi the next in line politician.
Similarly the “City by Sea” is Mumbai.
Reading
this book was like a pleasuring journey for me – whereas this book
describes all about; relation between rich and poor; employer and
employee; friend and friendship; relation and family; hope and
despair; but over all that – its a story to tell a difference
between a human and a being human. And when I completed the book –
there comes only a single message in my mind – let's connect the
life, why is so much gap between the most beautiful gift of Almighty.
Let's live a life. Because, One of the great thing about this gift is
that it all remains same at some point.
And,
when the book was completed then only I was able to understand the
title and one of the finest line handed in book “You have to
maintain a fine balance between hope and despair” - A reality in
which the much oppressed population lead miserable lives so that a
few can lead luxurious ones, and as the tittle says, reaching a Fine
Balance.
“A
Fine Balance” is an easy to read book with a lucid and a very
simple vocabulary and I recommend this
to every literature lover.
About
Author - ::
Rohinton
Mistry is an Indian-born Canadian writer in English considered as to
be one of the foremost authors of Indian heritage writing in Queen's
language. He's author of three novel, Such a long journey (1991), A
Fine Balance (1995) and Family Matters (2002). His first published
work was a collection of eleven short stories about the resident of
Firozsha Baag published by Penguin Canada in 1987 by title as “Tales
From Firozsha Baag”. He is considered as one of the finest writer
in literature.
Cheers!
Dhitendra
Keep Smiling :-)
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