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A Calendar Too Crowded
A Calendar Too Crowded is a collection of poignant stories and poems woven around the theme of womanhood. What makes this work of fiction different from other books that highlight the plight of women is its unique approach. There are quite a few days in the calendar that are devoted to women. The aim of remembering and commemorating such days is simple enough: they serve the purpose of spreading awareness thereby attempting to protect the rights of women.
183 pages, Paperback
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September 6, 2013
There really isn’t a plot per se, but being a woman is the common theme that flits across all the stories and poems. However, since women are said to be creatures having several dimensions to them, the stories are also different, each stressing on one or more of these.
The topics dealt with in the book consist of those that already occupy lots of newspace in India, like dowry deaths, female foeticide, domestic violence as well as lesser known matters of migrant laborers, adopted children, childless women. These issues affect women irrespective of their education, religion/caste, socio-economic standing or family backgrounds and this is what makes the book all the more easy to identify with.
Review:
My first thoughts after reading this book were “I wonder how a man would feel after reading this book? Would he be enraged at his sex being made the ‘villain’? Would he be shocked at the injustices being meted out to women, even modern urban women, even today? What exactly would he be thinking?”
The reason I felt like that is because it’s hard to call this book fiction, since fiction implies stuff that isn’t real, doesn’t happen in real life. Nothing here could be farther from the truth. Every single character in this book has lived and every incident has already taken place in our country, several times over. The names and faces don’t matter. This is as real as it gets.
The scenarios mentioned in the book are commonplace in our society and have also been written about plenty. Then what is it that this book does that others haven’t? Using stories, which could be about your neighbor or yourself, the issues take on a much bigger level of realism, and you can’t help but feel for the characters in the book.
Sagarika Chakraborty’s style of writing is very gripping; the reader can’t stop till he reaches the end of the story to know the conclusion. She is quite talented and has all the means to make an un-putdownable page turner.
The book follows a simple pattern of going by the calendar, and listing out all the women-centric days in each month. The stories that follow are related to these days, though not in a very explicit way.
The book opens with a story about a woman who has a flashback into her worldly life, just as she’s leaving it, and she realizes how she has been blamed for every little thing that has happened in and outside her, starting from simply being the wrong sex.
Some of the stories are about problems faced by women since time immemorial and it might surprise some to know that they exist even today. ‘The Witch with the Broomstick’ and ‘Barren yet Ploughed’ are two such examples.
In ‘Finding an Ideal Mother for my Unborn Child’, one of my personal faves, the mother is portrayed almost as a slave to her son, sacrificing all her needs and desires for her spoilt child. However, today’s urban Indian mothers are learning the concept of ‘self love’ and are adopting ‘western’ disciplinary practices of self feeding, instilling feelings of responsibility in the child etc. and to them this story might appear a little outdated. It would have been interesting to know if the mother would undergo this level of sacrifice had her child been a girl.
On the other hand, stories like ‘A Life in my Mind’ and ‘Darkness under the Spotlight’ speak of the other end of the spectrum – modern and independent, financially and otherwise, who tries extremely hard not to fall into the moulds that have been created for her by her grandmothers, and ends up wondering if that is not a kind of oppression too.
Yet, all is not gloom and despair. ‘Selling a body to gain a mind’ is an excellent example of how it is possible for people to come out into the light and lead respectable lives, no matter how doomed their current circumstances may be.
‘Can you Hear me Ma?’ and ‘Choices without Options’ deal with the much-discussed evils plaguing current India – female foeticide and domestic abuse. They depict the plight of several educated Indian women, who end up covering bruises with silk sarees and sacrificing their unborn daughters for sons.
There isn’t much to criticize about this book, though I would have liked the cover to be a little more attractive. Another grouse is that the author uses certain phrases throughout the story - italicized and repeated. It was probably done to drive home the point, but it feels too labored and actually acts like a speed breaker in an otherwise smoothly flowing narrative.
Also, some stories don’t really offer a solution which makes you feel a bit let down at the end. One possible reason for this is because there are no easy answers and maybe because the author wants you to consider solutions of your own and hence make you understand the gravity of the situation.
One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this book, is because the author seems to have written from the heart. At the risk of sounding repetitive, I’d say that since all the stories are so real, they all touch certain chords in us.
This book is by no means a light read, but if you don’t really have anything planned for this Women’s Day, get a hold of it. Don’t let it be just another day on the calendar.
The topics dealt with in the book consist of those that already occupy lots of newspace in India, like dowry deaths, female foeticide, domestic violence as well as lesser known matters of migrant laborers, adopted children, childless women. These issues affect women irrespective of their education, religion/caste, socio-economic standing or family backgrounds and this is what makes the book all the more easy to identify with.
Review:
My first thoughts after reading this book were “I wonder how a man would feel after reading this book? Would he be enraged at his sex being made the ‘villain’? Would he be shocked at the injustices being meted out to women, even modern urban women, even today? What exactly would he be thinking?”
The reason I felt like that is because it’s hard to call this book fiction, since fiction implies stuff that isn’t real, doesn’t happen in real life. Nothing here could be farther from the truth. Every single character in this book has lived and every incident has already taken place in our country, several times over. The names and faces don’t matter. This is as real as it gets.
The scenarios mentioned in the book are commonplace in our society and have also been written about plenty. Then what is it that this book does that others haven’t? Using stories, which could be about your neighbor or yourself, the issues take on a much bigger level of realism, and you can’t help but feel for the characters in the book.
Sagarika Chakraborty’s style of writing is very gripping; the reader can’t stop till he reaches the end of the story to know the conclusion. She is quite talented and has all the means to make an un-putdownable page turner.
The book follows a simple pattern of going by the calendar, and listing out all the women-centric days in each month. The stories that follow are related to these days, though not in a very explicit way.
The book opens with a story about a woman who has a flashback into her worldly life, just as she’s leaving it, and she realizes how she has been blamed for every little thing that has happened in and outside her, starting from simply being the wrong sex.
Some of the stories are about problems faced by women since time immemorial and it might surprise some to know that they exist even today. ‘The Witch with the Broomstick’ and ‘Barren yet Ploughed’ are two such examples.
In ‘Finding an Ideal Mother for my Unborn Child’, one of my personal faves, the mother is portrayed almost as a slave to her son, sacrificing all her needs and desires for her spoilt child. However, today’s urban Indian mothers are learning the concept of ‘self love’ and are adopting ‘western’ disciplinary practices of self feeding, instilling feelings of responsibility in the child etc. and to them this story might appear a little outdated. It would have been interesting to know if the mother would undergo this level of sacrifice had her child been a girl.
On the other hand, stories like ‘A Life in my Mind’ and ‘Darkness under the Spotlight’ speak of the other end of the spectrum – modern and independent, financially and otherwise, who tries extremely hard not to fall into the moulds that have been created for her by her grandmothers, and ends up wondering if that is not a kind of oppression too.
Yet, all is not gloom and despair. ‘Selling a body to gain a mind’ is an excellent example of how it is possible for people to come out into the light and lead respectable lives, no matter how doomed their current circumstances may be.
‘Can you Hear me Ma?’ and ‘Choices without Options’ deal with the much-discussed evils plaguing current India – female foeticide and domestic abuse. They depict the plight of several educated Indian women, who end up covering bruises with silk sarees and sacrificing their unborn daughters for sons.
There isn’t much to criticize about this book, though I would have liked the cover to be a little more attractive. Another grouse is that the author uses certain phrases throughout the story - italicized and repeated. It was probably done to drive home the point, but it feels too labored and actually acts like a speed breaker in an otherwise smoothly flowing narrative.
Also, some stories don’t really offer a solution which makes you feel a bit let down at the end. One possible reason for this is because there are no easy answers and maybe because the author wants you to consider solutions of your own and hence make you understand the gravity of the situation.
One of the reasons I enjoyed reading this book, is because the author seems to have written from the heart. At the risk of sounding repetitive, I’d say that since all the stories are so real, they all touch certain chords in us.
This book is by no means a light read, but if you don’t really have anything planned for this Women’s Day, get a hold of it. Don’t let it be just another day on the calendar.
September 8, 2012
I am a feminist, and as one, I always felt that somewhere, its we women too, who are responsible to what is happening in our life. This book explores the feminist perspective in a new light. It does not just play the blame game that who is responsible for what...It is just a narrative, highlighting those that the society has been neglecting, or simply forgetting. The stories are nicely narrated, simple, and the areas touched are not just related to a few aspects, and the common ones - like domestic violence or rape....But the ignored ones, like being a mother, a grandmother, caste & women, etc. are very nicely penned.
June 16, 2013
This review first appeared on http://satyasurya.wordpress.com/2012/...
I did not know what I was getting into when I started the book “A Calendar too crowded”. Written by Sagarika Chakraborthy, this book is a collection of short stories and poems which speak about the problems and issues of today’s women. In this book the author questions the conventional thinking and the estabilished beliefs about women and their role in the society. Some points made by her look very valid but some of the stories have a very strong feministic touch and I found it tough at times to proceed with the book.
What I liked in the book ?
There are some stories which I liked very much, The one that appealed the most to me is “selling a body to gain a mind ” was beautiful, the way the author presented the mother –daughter bond and the determination they display in fighting one of the menaces engulfing us is very good. This story might alter one’s views on sex workers. The other stories that left an impression on me are “Knowledge beyond the printed letters” (this story tells us about the essence of education— a very beautiful one ) and “Living by the double edged sword”.
I also liked the narration style in some of the stories, the author has done a good job when it comes to style and presentation of content.
What I did not like ?
The strong doses of feminism, though there were some stories that were balanced enough, I felt there was a strong dose of feminism in others. I donot know how an average girl would respond to it, but it might drive the menfolk away from the book.
Yes, there are problems, there are differences in the way a boy and girl are being viewed by the society. Yes, there are problems, there are differences in the way a man at work and a woman at work are percieved, but then things are evolving and I strongly believe that a radical view towards any sex is only going to damage things further, if the intent is for a better society the view and the thought process ought to be inclusive.
I have got to differ with the author on the subject of adoption, in one of the stories the couple have got part ways due to this issue. In the story the wife does not want to bear a child but she rather wants to adopt one. The husband says no and they part their ways. I am not against adoption, I do support adoption but that should happen with the consent of both the partners, if a woman does not want to bear kids for the sake of her career or some thing else, it is always advisable to bring this discussion upfront (before marriage) so that they both enter the wedlock only when their opinions match. I felt blaming it all on the husband was not correct, I felt he is justified when he wanted to have a child from his wife.
I might disagree on the dressing part again , but I think I have debated enough of it already in one of my previous posts hence I am not bringing it up here again, the conservative person I am, I cannot still accept the idea of not changing the surnames after marriage, surnames indeed a bigger relevance and meaning and unfortunately today we see an increasing breed of women not willing to change their surnames.
The author has drawn from some of the hindu epics, I felt there was a misunderstanding somewhere. I believe there are some misgivings as to understanding of the epics is concerned. One should not see everything from a single viewpoint, I felt the author was looking at epics also from a feministic view.
For example, in one of the stories the lead is inspired by “Shikhandi”, if you look at the character of Amba(Amba later becomes Shikhandi) in Mahabharata, you would understand that her’s was a case of misplaced priorities, She loved Salva raja, but she did not tell it before Swayamvaram, she was confident that Salva will win the battle at the Swayamvaram. On the contrary Bhishma (on behalf of his younger brother Vichitravirya)wins the Swayamvaram and upon hearing to Amba (she tells Bhishma that she loves Salva), Bhishma leaves her and tells her that she free to marry whomever she wants. Now, when she returns to Salva Raja, Salva also rejects her saying he lost the battle and she belongs to winner not the loser(as proscribed in the rules of Swayamvaram). Now, she comes back to Bhishma who again rejects her marriage to his brother on the grounds that a King should never marry a lady who has her love and affection for another person. Then Amba goes on tapsaya and gets the boon to become a Shikhandi and dislodge Bhishma. In this story, I strongly feel it was Amba’s mindset and misplaced priorities that brought her to the condition where she was left in the end. Her anger on Bhishma is also uncalled for, her father declared the swayamvaram and Bhishama participated in it. She should have expressed her love to her parents before, incase they did not listen and all the mess was because of that decision from her parents she should have been angry with them or with Salva for rejecting her choices, what has Bhishma got to do with all this? All the while he stood by his Dharma and it was Amba who messed her life up.
I did not like the lead of a story drawing inspiration from this sort of a lady, if she was looking for a self confident woman from Mahabharatha, there are n number of women like Sakuntala, Kunti, Satybhama etc… I did not know why author picked up “Shikhandi”. The very reason I dwelled so much on this point is that we should not present epics and religious literature with wrong interpretations to generations that follow. One ought to be cautious while drawing from epics, its better to sit with some verified and tested authority before drawing from the holy books. Otherwise, we might endup committing bigger mistakes than the ones we can imagine.
Conclusion
I liked some of the points raised by the author, but they are outnumbered by the number of things that I tend to disagree with the author. A more balanced perspective might help the author bring the change she intends to bring. Sagarika writes well, she knows her language and has a remarkable flair that keeps the reader glued to the book. Her stint at ISB, her education as a lawyer, her expertise on issues like governance would come handy for her in order to project the plight of women better. I think, a more balanced perspective and a more inclusive theme would take her places and make her one of the celebrated writers of our era.
April 14, 2012
Women have been waging a battle against the society since the time immemorial. She gains ground but the success sadly does not spill onto the society and all women. Hence the need of waging crusade has been a continuous state of affair.
Take a break from romance, read some stories and poems: unrelated but amazingly related, stories of you, me, her and all.
A Calendar Too crowded: Sagarika Chakraborty is such a war directed against time and the society: the perpetrators of crime against women.
A Calendar Too crowded, is not a book but release of HER angst against the society and time, a clarion call for emancipation, a call for freedom and a vehement voice against the ills of the society. This is not a book but spots of darkness to which the society will have to shed light.
The writer has touched almost all aspects of the ills that SHE faces in her day to day life being a daughter, being a daughter-in-law, being a sister to a brother, being a mother and mother-in-law and being a career professional.
A Calendar Too crowded, deals with sexual harassment, female foeticide, molestation in workplace, the problem of single mother, being barren, being a mother of a son, dowry death, the problem of widows, the compulsion of prostitution and choice of her dresses and many more.
The book explores HER in all facets of life and calls the society to change its attitude towards HER.
This reminds me of the wretched plight of Sati in the kingdom of Meluha being a Vikarma and the freedom the princess of Ayodhya Anandamayi along with others enjoyed in her kingdom, well described by Amish Tripathy in the ‘The immortal of Meluha’ the first of the book in the Shiva Trilogy.
The book calls the society to open up its closed eyes and rethink about the norms and view points so that both HE and SHE live in an idyllic society.
Written in a style that spills simplicity but pungent in voice, this book calls for freedom, calls for betterment, calls for thorough reform in perspectives of all towards HER.
If this is an indication, more such books are expected from Sagarika Chakraborty as this is not a book to read and forget but feel proud of. Not a book of romance but the words and purports are themselves romance on paper.
Take a break from romance, read some stories and poems: unrelated but amazingly related, stories of you, me, her and all.
A Calendar Too crowded: Sagarika Chakraborty is such a war directed against time and the society: the perpetrators of crime against women.
A Calendar Too crowded, is not a book but release of HER angst against the society and time, a clarion call for emancipation, a call for freedom and a vehement voice against the ills of the society. This is not a book but spots of darkness to which the society will have to shed light.
The writer has touched almost all aspects of the ills that SHE faces in her day to day life being a daughter, being a daughter-in-law, being a sister to a brother, being a mother and mother-in-law and being a career professional.
A Calendar Too crowded, deals with sexual harassment, female foeticide, molestation in workplace, the problem of single mother, being barren, being a mother of a son, dowry death, the problem of widows, the compulsion of prostitution and choice of her dresses and many more.
The book explores HER in all facets of life and calls the society to change its attitude towards HER.
This reminds me of the wretched plight of Sati in the kingdom of Meluha being a Vikarma and the freedom the princess of Ayodhya Anandamayi along with others enjoyed in her kingdom, well described by Amish Tripathy in the ‘The immortal of Meluha’ the first of the book in the Shiva Trilogy.
The book calls the society to open up its closed eyes and rethink about the norms and view points so that both HE and SHE live in an idyllic society.
Written in a style that spills simplicity but pungent in voice, this book calls for freedom, calls for betterment, calls for thorough reform in perspectives of all towards HER.
If this is an indication, more such books are expected from Sagarika Chakraborty as this is not a book to read and forget but feel proud of. Not a book of romance but the words and purports are themselves romance on paper.
March 19, 2013
My first thought of "A Calendar Too Crowded" by Sagarika Chakraborty (aka the-sea-saga to those on twitter) was that it probably one of those books written about India and its ills designed to sell well in the west and hopefully pull in an award or two. But in this case I was wrong .It was different and thoroughly enjoyable. Conveyed the same thoughts to the author and so here i am with the review.
In a world obsessed with celebrating a 24 hour period to some cause; women i discovered seem to have the most days named after them. But this in not a Hallmark card celebration we read through. It portrays the struggle to be a women. Born as the wrong sex, covering up the beatings, handling the emotional baggage, haggling over dowry and the final abandonment for some unfortunate souls. The book is not a shocker per se; we all knew these things happen but didn't move a muscle. The book has a way of celebrating or rather exposing the truth we didn't want to know through a weaving narrative. It connects random days on the calender to events and people seemingly unconnected. Is this just another feminist rant? I began to think after turning through a few pages. It isn't in fact the effect is more sublime as the rest of the book proved. You didn't see anything but the thought stays with you for ever.
I think what stands out is that there is no cliche being exploited. It does not ask the reader to use the death ray on all the evil doers nor does it want tears for the victims. The book asks no questions nor provides any answer. Its just brings out the truth that you knew existed but did not want to acknowledge.
This will be a well thumbed well worn edition standing proud along my literary greats and not just gather dust on my bookshelf.I wouldn't dare to name a particular story as my favorite although quite a few do stand out or rather poke my conscience once in a while.
A great read, my lady Sea Saga; if i may address you as such. Awaiting more...
In a world obsessed with celebrating a 24 hour period to some cause; women i discovered seem to have the most days named after them. But this in not a Hallmark card celebration we read through. It portrays the struggle to be a women. Born as the wrong sex, covering up the beatings, handling the emotional baggage, haggling over dowry and the final abandonment for some unfortunate souls. The book is not a shocker per se; we all knew these things happen but didn't move a muscle. The book has a way of celebrating or rather exposing the truth we didn't want to know through a weaving narrative. It connects random days on the calender to events and people seemingly unconnected. Is this just another feminist rant? I began to think after turning through a few pages. It isn't in fact the effect is more sublime as the rest of the book proved. You didn't see anything but the thought stays with you for ever.
I think what stands out is that there is no cliche being exploited. It does not ask the reader to use the death ray on all the evil doers nor does it want tears for the victims. The book asks no questions nor provides any answer. Its just brings out the truth that you knew existed but did not want to acknowledge.
This will be a well thumbed well worn edition standing proud along my literary greats and not just gather dust on my bookshelf.I wouldn't dare to name a particular story as my favorite although quite a few do stand out or rather poke my conscience once in a while.
A great read, my lady Sea Saga; if i may address you as such. Awaiting more...
February 6, 2012
Full review of the book appears on my blog
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
Sagarika Chakraborty is a lawyer and student at ISB. Her début book is “a collection of stories and poems woven around the theme of womanhood”. Throughout the year there are a few dozen days set apart for women and issues surrounding gender. As is usual, we hear a lot about these issues on the special days and then go back to routine stories for the rest of the year. She outlines her purpose in the introduction:
The attempt is to delve deeper and analyse whether it is merely enough to rely on statistics and be complacent in the knowledge that the numbers indicate a better society in the making, or whether there is an urgent need to look beneath the covers and realize that despite all such dedicated days, there are 300 days when there is nothing special that life has to offer.
The first story is narrated by a girl who has been blamed for everything that went wrong in the lives of people around her, right from when she was in her mother’s womb. At the end of the story, there is just no way not to feel immensely sad about how women are blamed all around us for anything that goes wrong around them.
I kept reading on and half way through the 3rd story it stuck me; I’ve read these stories before. Every single one of them. In fact, most of what I’ve heard about women in India are these stories.
December 21, 2012
Awe-inspiring book, beautifully written by Sagarika Chakraborty. It’s a complete account on the plight of women with stories written around an unborn child to a teenaged girl to a widow to an independent lady. I liked the accounts written on the independent protagonists the most. The accounts were refreshing with new perspective. The author not only promotes the independent identity of a lady but also shows us the ‘other side’ of it. “My mother believes have overlooked the sense of comfort my father and my siblings have provided to her and have really misinterpreted my independent, successful, yet hollow social life filled with indifferent maidservants, competitive colleagues, demanding bosses and superficial friends, to convince myself that it is much better than the cloistered, protected life of my mom’s.” Author’s words actually make you THINK whether the independence which today’s modern lady so much envies is what actually she wants to achieve. The author perhaps wants to endorse the middle path of making your own identity but at the same time being with your family and values. “If my independence too is really an elaborately constructed façade that hides a more traditional feminine desire to the protected and provided for?”
December 21, 2012
This book can be a great means to form a cogent argument for women empowerment at a societal level. It makes reader understand the different roles that a woman plays every person’s life and makes his/her life a little better. Women is realy an epitome of sacrifices. ‘She ( lady in a story) has won an UN award for fighting for the cause of the girl child in third world countries. It turns out that her husband has even more accomplishments. After the programme, the lady is not to be found, for she has left, to go on a long, romantic drive with her husband, after which she goes to a slum where she educates slum-dwellers about the dangers of arsenic infected water storage, hygiene etc., after which she goes home to make it up to in-laws for the special Sunday lunch they had missed out because of her class reunion, after which she tucks her daughter to sleep with a story, after which she shares a drink with her husband as she explains to her husband.’ It also serves a noble purpose. A woman can cram in a lot into her day, achieve so much and still remain down-to-earth….Needless to say, it is worth reading and Sagarika has done a fabulous job!
December 21, 2012
A wonderful book.. Many of the story cum essays have stayed with me even after I put the book down. I love the way the feelings of a mother has been narrated. A woman who is expecting her child in few days follows the mother of a boy for a day as she takes the boy to the school bus, carrying his school bag, holding an umbrella over his head or we can say pampering him. In terms of priorities, the boy and the boy’s father are always ahead of the mother. As she observes the all-sacrificing mother, the narrator briefly wonders if she should abort her own child, but then decides to embrace motherhood because she has learnt what she does not want to be. ‘Today I am ready to embrace motherhood because I am ready to raise a child as a human being rather than a wish fulfilling machine who will make up for the things my husband and I couldn’t accomplish. .... For once I want the realisation to set in that kids are not the bearers of our unfulfilled dreams and that we should not make the sacrifices which we have seen our parents make.’ I loved this part.. You people read the book, I am sure everyone will be touched by one or the other story.
December 21, 2012
A Calendar too Crowded is a very nice account on the lives of Indian women. It has various stories on different characters revolving around different situations from an unborn girl to an old lady with a wish to live her remaining life happily. In some of the accounts, the author introduces us to the so called modern woman who has the power and will to live her life independently. I was touched when author through her protagonist says that she strongly believed then like now, that her father has bestowed upon her more than a mere surname and that she wanted to stand tall on those other legacies. This line shows that an independent woman is not arrogant, as people assume, just because she wants to be totally free of any other identity but a combination of a strong woman yet loving daughter who wants to make her own individuality in the world. Hats off to Sagarika for writing this amazing book. It’s not like any other monotonous feminist book but a very thoughtful attempt to rediscover feminism.
December 21, 2012
The book “a calendar too crowded” throws light on the different facets of women life. It revolves around the plight and roles of women in the contemporary society. The book talks about the deaths caused because of dowry system, desire for male child, difference in treatments offered to a girl child vs. boy child, plight of a woman in the modelling world, story of old aged woman who has to go to old age home despite of having children and the story of self-sacrificing mothers. Issues have been properly dissected. The fiction raises the issues of today’s era very sensitively. It tells us how our calendar is crowded by the days to be celebrated for women. There are stories revealing marital rape and domestic violence, women's equality, human trafficking. The violence a woman faces behind the four thick walls. The specialty of the book is author has covered the issues faced by women across the entire life cycle. It is for the person of every age and worth reading.
December 21, 2012
Remarkable work!
A book with so different a format, considerate issue, fresh take, amazing writing!!
The book “A Calendar too Crowded” is a very daring account which bares all the phases, sentiments which a women has to go through in her life. With lines like “It was his superficial presence through the two pinches of vermillion that had been her strongest armour” author also makes statements which are true to the Indian values for a lady. Author talks about the sacrifices and sufferings as well as the values of with which Indian lady lives her life. It’s a complete book on the emotions and the possible behaviors of women. The author presents her thoughts and viewpoints with fine rationales. The author has a complete understanding about her characters which makes the book very clear and a delight to read. Well done Sagarika!!
Looking forward to read more of your work.
And what to say of Flipcart, its always wonderful!
A book with so different a format, considerate issue, fresh take, amazing writing!!
The book “A Calendar too Crowded” is a very daring account which bares all the phases, sentiments which a women has to go through in her life. With lines like “It was his superficial presence through the two pinches of vermillion that had been her strongest armour” author also makes statements which are true to the Indian values for a lady. Author talks about the sacrifices and sufferings as well as the values of with which Indian lady lives her life. It’s a complete book on the emotions and the possible behaviors of women. The author presents her thoughts and viewpoints with fine rationales. The author has a complete understanding about her characters which makes the book very clear and a delight to read. Well done Sagarika!!
Looking forward to read more of your work.
And what to say of Flipcart, its always wonderful!
December 21, 2012
This book just cannot be of a first time writer! It’s amazing, very well crafted book. Each story has lots to give not just highlighting the issue. Some of them even question the traditional views on feminism. Some are a complete guide as to how to deal a situation. One such story is “Selling a Body to Gain a Mind”. It’s the best of all the accounts. A must read for all. Heart wrenching story of a daughter and her prostitute mother. It not only highlights the plight of that lady but also the society’s harsh dealings, her daughter’s innocent yet full of conviction actions, their dreams, their desires and their ways to fulfil them for each other!! Beautiful! It not only is an account for us to read, think and act but also the way forward to all those who are suffering from this. The way the story ends, it leaves you with a smile on your face and a hope within!
Sagarika Chakraborty has done poignant work.
Sagarika Chakraborty has done poignant work.
December 21, 2012
Writer throws light on the condition of women in the society in a brilliant way. Of the many issues faced by the women in today’s world, I am especially touched with prostitution . How the physical union between a man and a woman which should only be after their emotional and spiritual bond becomes a means of livelihood, the story is painful. After that the story tells about the hardships a woman in prostitution faces to keep her daughter away from the cloud of her sordid profession. At this time when society talks about working towards freeing women from oppression and injustice, it should also take into account the matter of rehabilitate these prostitutes form this slavery and give them a life of dignity. Like I am touched about this issue, I am sure, it will give something to every reader to think upon. A book worth read!!!!
December 21, 2012
Collection of wonderful stories, A MASTERPIECE , I must say !!! The range of expressions, issues and insights covered are themselves indicative of the depth and thought that have gone into making of these short stories and poems. Writer also draws a useful and elaborative description of conditions of women across different times. I liked ‘Selling a Body to Gain a Mind’ the most. Despite the negative title, it is about breaking the vicious cycle which sucks generations of women into prostitution. It talks about how the daughter of a commercial sex worker studies away from the environment and makes something of herself. It is written in the form of two letters and again stands solitary in this kind of style. It will not leave your mind even after putting down the book .Sagarika writes well with the authority and ease of someone with a lot of experience and understanding.
December 21, 2012
Collection of wonderful stories, A MASTERPIECE , I must say !!! The range of expressions, issues and insights covered are themselves indicative of the depth and thought that have gone into making of these short stories and poems. Writer also draws a useful and elaborative description of conditions of women across different times. I liked ‘Selling a Body to Gain a Mind’ the most. Despite the negative title, it is about breaking the vicious cycle which sucks generations of women into prostitution. It talks about how the daughter of a commercial sex worker studies away from the environment and makes something of herself. It is written in the form of two letters and again stands solitary in this kind of style. It will not leave your mind even after putting down the book .Sagarika writes well with the authority and ease of someone with a lot of experience and understanding.
December 21, 2012
The book depicts the actual picture of the society. Today people talk about a better and modern society but the scenario is different in reality. What appears to be picture perfect on the surface might not be so tranquil underneath. A perfect mother-in-law gets a perfect daughter-in-law. But as months pass, the distrust grows. One day kerosene stove explodes and the daughter-in-law dies. Nothing out of the ordinary – we are told at the end of the story that ‘one dowry death occurs in India every four hours. That for every one reported case, 299 cases go unreported and of all the reported ones, only five percent of the total number are actually pursued.’ These type of issues will make you think “ is woman really progressing in our society, society which has a calendar crowded with the days celebrated for womanhood. Great work.. heart touching!!! Commendable..
December 21, 2012
Ideal book for Indian men and women !!
The chapter in the start of the book which talks about being a “good” mother is a must read for all the Indian Mothers. The book very rightly talks about the lost way of raising children. In the end of the story author makes a very bold statement by saying that she wishes to raise her child as a child rather than a wish-fulfilling machine. Today, parents are very dominant on their children and the only focus left for them is to make them engineer or other professional. It’s not that making your child a successful person is not wrong but killing their innocent days of childhood is! Author respects Indian mother s for their sacrifices but she wants to stop them right here.
Other chapters of the book are also very upright in its ideals. The book makes you sense all those emotions and troubles which a female being has to go through.
The chapter in the start of the book which talks about being a “good” mother is a must read for all the Indian Mothers. The book very rightly talks about the lost way of raising children. In the end of the story author makes a very bold statement by saying that she wishes to raise her child as a child rather than a wish-fulfilling machine. Today, parents are very dominant on their children and the only focus left for them is to make them engineer or other professional. It’s not that making your child a successful person is not wrong but killing their innocent days of childhood is! Author respects Indian mother s for their sacrifices but she wants to stop them right here.
Other chapters of the book are also very upright in its ideals. The book makes you sense all those emotions and troubles which a female being has to go through.
December 21, 2012
A Calendar too crowded by Sagarika Chakraborty is a very striking account of womanhood! Many stories on many issues are there but my favourite is “Knowledge beyond the Printed Letters”. The story revives the quote “If literacy is to sign your name, education is to realise the identity the name bestows upon you” with a stunning illustration through its protagonist. The story questions the so-called educated people and makes you ponder upon the objective of education. Life is more than the lessons instilled through the books which we read in schools, and education is much more than those degrees hanging on the walls. Apart from that it endorses the life which many Indian ladies chose to live –a life of “a mother, a wife and a good human being”. I loved this interpretation! Looking forward to more of your books!!!
December 21, 2012
Sagarika Chakraborty, a first time author, has done some tremendous job with this beautiful yet stygian account of several women who face different situations in life. Through these characters the author has shown almost all the phases that a female human being has to go through in life. Starting from little girl to an old lady…the book has delved on all.
Moreover it’s not a regular feminist book which shows the appalling stories and innumerable sympathises! The book provides a very wise account of every story, illustrating various problems and limitations meanwhile suggesting some very refreshing viewpoints.
The format of the book is very exciting too. It has listed down various sections for each month along with the days which are celebrated on women’s name. For each month it has some relevant stories. I like the book very much and look forward to more of her books.!
Moreover it’s not a regular feminist book which shows the appalling stories and innumerable sympathises! The book provides a very wise account of every story, illustrating various problems and limitations meanwhile suggesting some very refreshing viewpoints.
The format of the book is very exciting too. It has listed down various sections for each month along with the days which are celebrated on women’s name. For each month it has some relevant stories. I like the book very much and look forward to more of her books.!
December 21, 2012
As so many reviews are already suggesting, this book deserves a hearty applause. It’s a successful attempt to uncover the wounds that every woman has pushed deep inside her heart. Sagarika Chakraborty has done justice to the issue very beautifully. It looks, lot of research has been put in into this work to unravel and understand so many emotions and do justice to each protagonist’s story. My favourite story was the ‘Sisters by Choice and not by Chance’. It’s lovely story of the love between two stories who are not attached by the blood but by the affection and care between them. One of the sister is adopted child. The story depicts the emotional challenge these children face when they come to know of their being an adopted child. Also, it shows the situation which the parents has to face.
December 21, 2012
The book is far from fiction. It is really a masterpiece. Use of literature and research in describing the facets of women’s life is commendable. Every issue has been dealt with maturity and the sensitivity in presentation is extraordinary. Almost every phase of women’s life, from her birth to old age has been written with depth through different stories which corresponds to different calendar days celebrated for womanhood. Be it the confusion and frustration of a girl entering her first menstrual cycle, anger and ambitions of a young feminist who wants to change the world overnight, the fatigue of a middle-aged mother who has resignedly adjusted to the injustice of certain degree or anguish of an accomplished lady. Writer has really done an outstanding job!!!
December 21, 2012
Great job done by sagarika. This book really forms a strong argument for women empowerment and her position in the society. Stories cover the roles which a woman plays in her entire life cycle. I like the expressions used by the writer to express the feelings of woman in different situations, like when she meets her first crush when she has already spent considerable time with her husband. Writer also presents social condition of woman, and her rights have still a long way to go. She also explains how a mother makes sacrifices for his son and pampers him. And realises that a child should be brought up like a human being rather than a wish fulfilling machine. Stories and poems stayes with the reader even after putting the book down.
December 21, 2012
The title of the book “ a calendar too crowded “ may mislead you that the book is a collection of women centered stories but it is not the case. Writer explains various issues which are hurting the women’s state in today’s era with lots of hope. She amazingly talks about domestic violence, plight of an old lady, desire for a boy child and much more. The story 'An Equal Friendship' where Panchali writes a letter to Krishna contradicting the fact that women are not treated equally in society. With the help of the character Panchali writer states the fact that besides a girl having skills in warfare, horse riding, culinary, women is still not treated with equality. Awesome work sagarika..!!
December 21, 2012
Beautiful Work !!
A complete and very apt account of the status of women in our society. Apart from highlighting the plight of Indian woman, the author also touches upon several other prevalent issues. One such issue which I liked the most was her questioning of the way our children are brought up. She talks about the ambitions of parents who want their children to top all examinations, become engineer or doctor. But these parents forget in the meantime that they are still children who also has the right to live their childhood like the good old days!
“Shouldn't they feature in the bedtime reading sessions?....for I fail to understand how meal times ceased to be story telling sessions, or be filled with little lessons of etiquette?”
A complete and very apt account of the status of women in our society. Apart from highlighting the plight of Indian woman, the author also touches upon several other prevalent issues. One such issue which I liked the most was her questioning of the way our children are brought up. She talks about the ambitions of parents who want their children to top all examinations, become engineer or doctor. But these parents forget in the meantime that they are still children who also has the right to live their childhood like the good old days!
“Shouldn't they feature in the bedtime reading sessions?....for I fail to understand how meal times ceased to be story telling sessions, or be filled with little lessons of etiquette?”
December 21, 2012
This book is a very interesting guide an “all about woman” phenomenon. It not only takes you through different stages of a woman’s life but also gives tells you how a complete calendar is dedicated to celebrate women and make people aware about the evils a lady faces in her lifetime.
I felt very amazing when I got to know that there are almost 30 days in one year dedicated to woman. And this book has very interestingly spun short stories, poems etc. around these days. This format of the book is not only a new format to write a book but also to provide information in a not very preachy way. The book has been divided into 12 sections for each month with the days and the respective stories dedicated to them.
I felt very amazing when I got to know that there are almost 30 days in one year dedicated to woman. And this book has very interestingly spun short stories, poems etc. around these days. This format of the book is not only a new format to write a book but also to provide information in a not very preachy way. The book has been divided into 12 sections for each month with the days and the respective stories dedicated to them.
December 21, 2012
Refreshing, something new!!
After so long the book A Calendar too Crowded comes out to be a refreshing account of Indian Ladies. The book is a must read for all those feminists out there. The book in many ways questions the so called self-assumed “right” of the men to be a supreme being. The author in a very subtle way in one of her stories makes a statement that the household chores can’t be done in the absence of women and how men can be expected to do their work on their own. “The question that who will serve in your absence. After all, how the men be expected to help themselves”. The book should not only be read by all the ladies but all those men also to get to know about the dilemma we go through all the phases of our lives.
After so long the book A Calendar too Crowded comes out to be a refreshing account of Indian Ladies. The book is a must read for all those feminists out there. The book in many ways questions the so called self-assumed “right” of the men to be a supreme being. The author in a very subtle way in one of her stories makes a statement that the household chores can’t be done in the absence of women and how men can be expected to do their work on their own. “The question that who will serve in your absence. After all, how the men be expected to help themselves”. The book should not only be read by all the ladies but all those men also to get to know about the dilemma we go through all the phases of our lives.
December 21, 2012
The book is a full of different emotions. You have these serious tones, humour, satires….yes satires too! The best ones are in the chapter where the author reflects upon the principles of motherhood-Indian motherhood. She sets a contrast with the prevalent “way” of motherhood. She brings to the light the very essence of bringing up children and how they are being brought up now days. The author’s concerns are very genuine, sincere and innocent at times. She very aptly questions the very widespread practice of giving old things to our maids and other people by saying “Are you not teaching your son to give articles to people who are weaker than him?” The book is full of such notations which actually make you think!
December 21, 2012
A calendar too crowded is a very brave and alluring account on womanhood. The views expressed, the stories narrated, the protagonists introduced and the situations shown are all very coherent to this world and its status for women. Every lady would find this book somehow related to their own life. Such is the fate that we all have suffered at some point of time because of our being the not so ‘superior beings’. The book has many short stories on different situations. Author presents to us very emotional as well as daring vestiges of her protagonists. The style of writing is simple yet full of conviction in the words!
This two hundred pages book will leave you with strings of feelings and exuberant thoughts full of hope!
This two hundred pages book will leave you with strings of feelings and exuberant thoughts full of hope!
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