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SIMRAN, A Novel
John, a lecturer in philosophy at Delhi University, returns to his flat one evening to find a letter waiting for him. A subsequent meeting with the author of the letter leaves a question mark over the supposed death of john's fiancée, some years earlier. He temporarily suspends his work with the hijra community in Delhi to accompany Diamond, a researcher in aesthetics, to Shimla, where he had formerly studied. At Shimla they find themselves in the midst of a right-wing conspiracy. After four weeks, when John returns to Delhi he is nowhere near a solution to the problem. If anything, events in the past seem even more inexplicable. This is a story of a deeply felt personal quest for beauty and love, against the backdrop of modern India with all its strange contradictions and tensions.
258 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 25, 2016
the first chapter of this book is one of the best openings that i have ever read. it completely grips the reader and you cannot guess the true climax, at least i couldn't (no spoilers here!) its a very moving story where the author or narrator is a centrist, neither left nor right, but despite his brilliance he has to do all kinds of things to manage to pay his rent. it has many things going for it and is a complex genre, with romance, suspense, literary and there are also non-fiction extracts on our concept of beauty that are worth reading in their own right - quite separate from the book. i compliment the author for a scintillating and moving read. an important book in today's divisive times.
January 20, 2018
Reading preferences are based on the reader's inclination towards different genres. If a book comes under different genres it is supposed to appeal to masses and in an attempt, the narration tend to be vernacular and author ends up compromising the quality of the book. It is a rare case when the book that comes under different genres manage to keep the literary finesse. Simran is one such book which is multi-genre and niche simultaneously.
The plot begins with a guy who sets out to the airport in a hurry that he stumbles upon a couple who is searching for the route to Delhi University. In the desperation to reach his destinations he cons the couple by guiding them in the wrong direction. This triggers my prejudistic self into believing that the book is yet another puppy love story and this college going hero is in search for his heroine. The next chapter takes us to a flashback when he meets a girl named Diamond, who is apparently doing a research on the "Aesthetics of human form" which in turn is in a similar line the protagonist's work. Together they start a bizarre yet interesting journey to the author's past as well completing their work.
The book is multidimensional and multilayered at different levels. On one side we can see two intellectuals in deep research and a writing which is metaphoric prose with a poetic musing. The second layer is that of a passionate lover trying to find a closure about his paramour. The next layer is a strong message that despises the human tendency to grade people on the basis of their physical appearance. The relevance of the topic is conveyed with conviction when Diamond narrates her past. Next layer is an eye opener about the societal prejudice towards transgenders or transsexuals aka Hijras in India. There is an underlying message against domestic violence and dowry and general discrimination towards female children. Female education, religious fanaticism, pseudo societal morale, inappropriate juvenile laws- there are several topics the book deals with.
Half way through the book, readers can get only a glimpse of the title character in the protagonist's thoughts and dreams. While the readers are perplexed as to where Simran is, author starts the narration of their love story. While there are no intimate moments between the lovers in the book, author has tactfully depicted the depth of the relation between them. The suspense element is maintained throughout the book. While the readers expect a twist in the climax, somehow I felt that what turned out to the twist was not adequate to keep up with the hype in maintaining suspense. It is said that one should not judge a book with the cover but unfortunately it is the general practice to do so. If displayed in a library, I might not pick up the book due to the unappealing cover but what turned out in reality is that the book is a pearl inside a shell.
Overall the book is a literary treat with a solid storyline
The plot begins with a guy who sets out to the airport in a hurry that he stumbles upon a couple who is searching for the route to Delhi University. In the desperation to reach his destinations he cons the couple by guiding them in the wrong direction. This triggers my prejudistic self into believing that the book is yet another puppy love story and this college going hero is in search for his heroine. The next chapter takes us to a flashback when he meets a girl named Diamond, who is apparently doing a research on the "Aesthetics of human form" which in turn is in a similar line the protagonist's work. Together they start a bizarre yet interesting journey to the author's past as well completing their work.
The book is multidimensional and multilayered at different levels. On one side we can see two intellectuals in deep research and a writing which is metaphoric prose with a poetic musing. The second layer is that of a passionate lover trying to find a closure about his paramour. The next layer is a strong message that despises the human tendency to grade people on the basis of their physical appearance. The relevance of the topic is conveyed with conviction when Diamond narrates her past. Next layer is an eye opener about the societal prejudice towards transgenders or transsexuals aka Hijras in India. There is an underlying message against domestic violence and dowry and general discrimination towards female children. Female education, religious fanaticism, pseudo societal morale, inappropriate juvenile laws- there are several topics the book deals with.
Half way through the book, readers can get only a glimpse of the title character in the protagonist's thoughts and dreams. While the readers are perplexed as to where Simran is, author starts the narration of their love story. While there are no intimate moments between the lovers in the book, author has tactfully depicted the depth of the relation between them. The suspense element is maintained throughout the book. While the readers expect a twist in the climax, somehow I felt that what turned out to the twist was not adequate to keep up with the hype in maintaining suspense. It is said that one should not judge a book with the cover but unfortunately it is the general practice to do so. If displayed in a library, I might not pick up the book due to the unappealing cover but what turned out in reality is that the book is a pearl inside a shell.
Overall the book is a literary treat with a solid storyline
July 1, 2019
Book- Simran
Author- Rajesh Talwar
Pages- 257
“I once saw a religious painting in a bookstore of a child playing, with a huge black cobra poised in the background, watching and protecting the child. It reminded me of her. The snake was the temper in her that allowed Simran to preserve her child-like, good-natured innocence.”
Simran by Rajesh Talwar is one such book which should’t be judged by its cover. Extremely intriguing from the very first page this book contains such contents that I could hardly fathom from the blurb. John, a lecturer in philosophy at Delhi University, returns to his flat one evening to find a letter waiting for him. A subsequent meeting with the author of the letter leaves a question mark over the supposed death of John’s fiancee, some years earlier.
This book contains diverse subjects stringed together to form a heart-warming as well as a heart-breaking tale. John was an orphan and later came to stay with his foster parent, Eliot. Eliot had a great impact on his life. Eliot’s sexuality had an even greater impact on both their lives, being discriminated and doubted of ‘socially degrading’ actvities, when John lost his foster parent, the only family he had, he vowed to do something to honour Eliot. Later, John grows up to work with the hijra community.This part of the book where John is always ready to help and stand by the hijra community shows the gratitude and respect he has for everyone irrespetive of their sexual preference is really heart touching. This book throws light on how people with varied sexualities are treated in our ‘developing country’, because of the so called societal norms and prejudices. The friendship that Sonia and John had was so great, I totally adore that part.
This book also has Simran’s story, her life and how she was discriminated against because she was a woman. She was expected to get married as soon as possible and leave her education. But she rose as a rebel, fought with her parents and didn’t even budge against all the pressure put by her parents and went ahead to do her Masters. Then there was Simran’s sister who went ahead with their parents wishes and got married, and what happened next in her married life changed her for the better.
The Author has done a great job with the narration and the writing style was really engaging. There were some parts about philosophy which kind of bored me since I’m not into that subject. The cover page could have been much much better. The characters were very beautifully described and overall, this book was an amazing read.
Rating- 4/5
Author- Rajesh Talwar
Pages- 257
“I once saw a religious painting in a bookstore of a child playing, with a huge black cobra poised in the background, watching and protecting the child. It reminded me of her. The snake was the temper in her that allowed Simran to preserve her child-like, good-natured innocence.”
Simran by Rajesh Talwar is one such book which should’t be judged by its cover. Extremely intriguing from the very first page this book contains such contents that I could hardly fathom from the blurb. John, a lecturer in philosophy at Delhi University, returns to his flat one evening to find a letter waiting for him. A subsequent meeting with the author of the letter leaves a question mark over the supposed death of John’s fiancee, some years earlier.
This book contains diverse subjects stringed together to form a heart-warming as well as a heart-breaking tale. John was an orphan and later came to stay with his foster parent, Eliot. Eliot had a great impact on his life. Eliot’s sexuality had an even greater impact on both their lives, being discriminated and doubted of ‘socially degrading’ actvities, when John lost his foster parent, the only family he had, he vowed to do something to honour Eliot. Later, John grows up to work with the hijra community.This part of the book where John is always ready to help and stand by the hijra community shows the gratitude and respect he has for everyone irrespetive of their sexual preference is really heart touching. This book throws light on how people with varied sexualities are treated in our ‘developing country’, because of the so called societal norms and prejudices. The friendship that Sonia and John had was so great, I totally adore that part.
This book also has Simran’s story, her life and how she was discriminated against because she was a woman. She was expected to get married as soon as possible and leave her education. But she rose as a rebel, fought with her parents and didn’t even budge against all the pressure put by her parents and went ahead to do her Masters. Then there was Simran’s sister who went ahead with their parents wishes and got married, and what happened next in her married life changed her for the better.
The Author has done a great job with the narration and the writing style was really engaging. There were some parts about philosophy which kind of bored me since I’m not into that subject. The cover page could have been much much better. The characters were very beautifully described and overall, this book was an amazing read.
Rating- 4/5
March 25, 2017
This novel well captured the different classes of people within Indian society. John, a lecturer in DU wasn't paid for quite few months which shows the manner of our political system without extending further.
Bahadur is a typical Indian man who is often violent to his wife unnecessarily.
Even though ‘dowry system’ has been abolished every prospect groom desire to have it in some form or the other.
Most parents over played their role in their child’s future- whether in their career or choosing life partner which sometimes even lead to suicide.
I would love if Simran did not die so abruptly that the story could have been extended to show more of the evil influence of over exercise of authority by parents to their children.
Bahadur is a typical Indian man who is often violent to his wife unnecessarily.
Even though ‘dowry system’ has been abolished every prospect groom desire to have it in some form or the other.
Most parents over played their role in their child’s future- whether in their career or choosing life partner which sometimes even lead to suicide.
I would love if Simran did not die so abruptly that the story could have been extended to show more of the evil influence of over exercise of authority by parents to their children.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews