Extended book analysis

“India Was One” is the story of love in all its many varieties; between a man and a woman, within a family, for children, and for country. It is, essentially, a story of conviction told through the deep understanding of how love occurs and evolves. It is the day to day expression of how people live their lives finding love, enjoying their favorite foods, attending festivals, practicing their religion and planning for their futures.

But, behind this journey of love there is a subtle undercurrent, a second protagonist who is voiced through the fears and worry of the characters. She gives shape to the thoughts and dreams of every character in this story, and She is India.

Her voice is that of a country that wasn’t long ago ruled by the Raj, the arbitrator of life. Her voice is the voice of a country not long from British rule. Even as today she is a country steeped in the democratic process, she is still a country diving headfirst into the cold waters of independence and representative government.

In her voice we can still hear the echoes of an archaic caste system even as she struggles to provide a free and fair opportunity for all to decide their future. Even as, on the outside, there are doctors, engineers, and computer specialists, the voice of India is more complex. The voice is echoed throughout the story of “India Was One,” answering the questions of outsiders who wonder how to get to know the people of India.

This subtle second protagonist answers the questions of outsiders asking about food and culture while silently wondering what is happening in India that her children are leaving in such large numbers. Her voice is often heard behind the headlines of the business news proclaiming that India is poised to become an economic giant with a diverse and willing population. Even as companies from all over the world line up to take advantage of this workforce, the voice of India asks if the country is tearing itself apart.

This is the voice that makes “India Was One” a deeper and more thorough look into the culture and mores of a country that many Westerners do not understand. Behind the stories of the main characters, “India Was One” takes the reader on a journey of affirmation and heart break all at once. The novel takes your heart and soul on a journey through the geographic land that is India with its richly diverse culture and people while at the same time the second protagonist takes you on a subtle journey of diversity and questioning.

You can hear the voice of India as you read through the sounds of the city, the sounds of vehicle horns and blasting music, the sounds of people talking and shouting.

Asking the question of how India would survive if it were physically divided, the author seeks to discover how the lives of her people would continue. How would her children live, work and contribute to so many other countries? The author explores how a physical division might mirror the cultural divisions that are happening within India. What if India were divided by a wall or a fence?

While no one can completely understand a culture that is outside their own, this novel does open doors to a more comprehensive knowledge of why India is at a crossroads both politically and economically. But more importantly, there is a rich undercurrent of warmth and love from an author who clearly loves India.

The story is clearly a story of love and imparts the outsider with an understanding of a richly diverse culture. India Was One delivers this story with warmth and skill while that second protagonist asks the outsider to consider why India is at such an important economic, religious and political crossroads and come to some understanding of why “India Was One”.

Source: http://www.parentslbb.com/books/2012/...

India Was One