What do you think?
Rate this book
Nimita's Place
Shortlisted for the 2017 Epigram Books Fiction Prize
An ELLE Singapore Recommended Read
It is 1944 in India and Nimita Khosla yearns to attend university to become an engineer, but her parents want a different life for her. As she accepts her fate and marries, religious upheaval is splitting the country and forcing her family to find a new home.
In 2014, her granddaughter, molecular biologist Nimita Sachdev, escapes India to run away from the prospect of an arranged marriage. Staking out a future in Singapore, she faces rising anger against immigrants and uncertainty about her new home.
Two generations apart, these two women walk divergent paths but face the same quandaries: who are we, and what is home?
An ELLE Singapore Recommended Read
It is 1944 in India and Nimita Khosla yearns to attend university to become an engineer, but her parents want a different life for her. As she accepts her fate and marries, religious upheaval is splitting the country and forcing her family to find a new home.
In 2014, her granddaughter, molecular biologist Nimita Sachdev, escapes India to run away from the prospect of an arranged marriage. Staking out a future in Singapore, she faces rising anger against immigrants and uncertainty about her new home.
Two generations apart, these two women walk divergent paths but face the same quandaries: who are we, and what is home?
480 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2019
20 people are currently reading
437 people want to read
About the author
Akshita Nanda
4 books26 followersAkshita Nanda's first novel, Nimita's Place was shortlisted for the 2017 Epigram Books Fiction Prize for unpublished manuscripts, and the 2019 Singapore Book Awards for best literary work. It was adapted into a staged reading for TheatreWorks in 2019 (www.notordinarywork.com and https://www.facebook.com/tHEATREwORKS...).
Her second novel, Beauty Queens Of Bishan is published by Penguin Randomhouse SEA. She has worked as a lab researcher, as an educator and for 12 years as a journalist and critic for The Straits Times. She is currently studying at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.
Her second novel, Beauty Queens Of Bishan is published by Penguin Randomhouse SEA. She has worked as a lab researcher, as an educator and for 12 years as a journalist and critic for The Straits Times. She is currently studying at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 11, 2018
Strictly speaking a 3.5, though I'll approximate it upwards in recognition of the author's efforts at producing the epic setup of the book, giving the reader great insight into how the turmoil during India and Pakistan's formation, affected the daily lives of many, while incorporating the themes of gender awareness, importance of racial and religious tolerance.
I understand that the author is trying to draw parallels between the religious upheavals in India and Pakistan, to forebode what Singapore has gone through in her early years, as well as what is to come, to drive home the importance of acceptance and tolerance. However at times the delivery of the narrative felt very forced (e.g. the bringing up about LKY and SG50), and could be done better as demonstrated by Balli Kaur Jaswal's Inheritance or Sugarbread.
Also, the theme on gender empowerment between the generations, from Nimita Sr, to Urmila Jr, then down to Nimita Jr, was an interesting but underdeveloped chain, as we only have a very hazy understanding of Urmila Jr's story, which is taboo is in the family.
Nevertheless, it is still a commendable piece of work, and I look forward to more works from the author.
I understand that the author is trying to draw parallels between the religious upheavals in India and Pakistan, to forebode what Singapore has gone through in her early years, as well as what is to come, to drive home the importance of acceptance and tolerance. However at times the delivery of the narrative felt very forced (e.g. the bringing up about LKY and SG50), and could be done better as demonstrated by Balli Kaur Jaswal's Inheritance or Sugarbread.
Also, the theme on gender empowerment between the generations, from Nimita Sr, to Urmila Jr, then down to Nimita Jr, was an interesting but underdeveloped chain, as we only have a very hazy understanding of Urmila Jr's story, which is taboo is in the family.
Nevertheless, it is still a commendable piece of work, and I look forward to more works from the author.
May 12, 2020
4.5 stars.
One of the best Singapore lit i’ve read! And another one i loved is also by Akshita Nanda, her recent novel Beauty Queens of Bishan. So it’s safe to say she’s one of my fave Singapore writers now. In Nimita’s Place, Nanda creates a dual narrative split in alternating chapters that follow two Nimitas living in two different countries and at different times. One Nimita works as a scientist/microbiology researcher in contemporary Singapore, and the other Nimita is her grandmother, growing up and making her own family in India in the late 1940s and the 1950s, when Partition forces her to out of her home.
I think Nanda got the dual narrative structure down pretty well. Although the writing styles and tones differ quite a lot between the two narratives—light and often humorous contemporary fiction vs sobering and “literary” historical fiction—both engaged me a lot. But i can firmly say i liked the historical narrative more than the contemporary one. The latter got slightly far-fetched towards the end, with a romantic plotline appearing quite out of nowhere and to me it felt disjointed thematically from the rest of the book. I don’t know what purpose it served other than maybe to add some drama for the sake of drama. It also brought up something new, about paranoia disorder, quite haphazardly, without going deeper into it as something that complex deserves. Mental health was not a topic central to the novel before the disorder came into the picture, and it did not really become one after either. But the historical narrative set in India, gosh it was beautifully written and heart-wrenching.
One of the best Singapore lit i’ve read! And another one i loved is also by Akshita Nanda, her recent novel Beauty Queens of Bishan. So it’s safe to say she’s one of my fave Singapore writers now. In Nimita’s Place, Nanda creates a dual narrative split in alternating chapters that follow two Nimitas living in two different countries and at different times. One Nimita works as a scientist/microbiology researcher in contemporary Singapore, and the other Nimita is her grandmother, growing up and making her own family in India in the late 1940s and the 1950s, when Partition forces her to out of her home.
I think Nanda got the dual narrative structure down pretty well. Although the writing styles and tones differ quite a lot between the two narratives—light and often humorous contemporary fiction vs sobering and “literary” historical fiction—both engaged me a lot. But i can firmly say i liked the historical narrative more than the contemporary one. The latter got slightly far-fetched towards the end, with a romantic plotline appearing quite out of nowhere and to me it felt disjointed thematically from the rest of the book. I don’t know what purpose it served other than maybe to add some drama for the sake of drama. It also brought up something new, about paranoia disorder, quite haphazardly, without going deeper into it as something that complex deserves. Mental health was not a topic central to the novel before the disorder came into the picture, and it did not really become one after either. But the historical narrative set in India, gosh it was beautifully written and heart-wrenching.
January 21, 2019
My rating - 4.5
In 1944 India, Nimita Khosla dreams of attending university to become an engineer but fate and her parents have other plans. Soon after, religious upheaval in the country forces her to flee with her family, leaving behind all the comforts of the life she had known. Seventy years later, her granddaughter, molecular biologist Nimita Sachdev, decides to leave India in the face of a prospective arranged marriage and seeks to set up a new life in Singapore.
The novel alternates between both timelines, intertwining the lives of the two Nimitas. Normally in such cases I find myself drawn more to one story than the other, but with this book, each woman's expertly written story had me in its grips.
From the fear and uncertainty that the older Nimita faces as she flees for her life, to the annoyance the younger Nimita feels for the hot weather and her neighbour, Akshita Nanda brings her characters and their surroundings vividly to life. Not just the two Nimitas but the minor characters as well; I especially savoured the humour-filled conversations that Nimita junior has with her friends, Chia Ying and Irving.
This book gives us a look into how, even as the women in this family gain more empowerment across generations, they are still faced with the same questions of identity and belonging. Nimita's Place was truly a delight to read and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Akshita Nanda!
In 1944 India, Nimita Khosla dreams of attending university to become an engineer but fate and her parents have other plans. Soon after, religious upheaval in the country forces her to flee with her family, leaving behind all the comforts of the life she had known. Seventy years later, her granddaughter, molecular biologist Nimita Sachdev, decides to leave India in the face of a prospective arranged marriage and seeks to set up a new life in Singapore.
The novel alternates between both timelines, intertwining the lives of the two Nimitas. Normally in such cases I find myself drawn more to one story than the other, but with this book, each woman's expertly written story had me in its grips.
From the fear and uncertainty that the older Nimita faces as she flees for her life, to the annoyance the younger Nimita feels for the hot weather and her neighbour, Akshita Nanda brings her characters and their surroundings vividly to life. Not just the two Nimitas but the minor characters as well; I especially savoured the humour-filled conversations that Nimita junior has with her friends, Chia Ying and Irving.
This book gives us a look into how, even as the women in this family gain more empowerment across generations, they are still faced with the same questions of identity and belonging. Nimita's Place was truly a delight to read and I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Akshita Nanda!
August 21, 2018
I read this book in three nights, staying up "past my bedtime" each night. The level of detail, number of characters and overall presentation were ambitious but largely achieved what I presume was the intended goal. I have (sadly) never (yet) been to Singapore, India or anywhere else in Asia, but I felt that I could almost smell/taste the food, feel the fabrics, hear the characters' voices and even the clinking of their jewelry.
I really like books that present important themes yet do not "tell" the reader precisely what to think about them. Such was the case here: parental/dating pressure, youthful trauma, ethnic strife, workplace equality, women's rights, immigration difficulties, and the meaning of and importance of such huge concepts as one's true home and investment in others' future as well as one's own.
Another sign for me of a good book is when I wonder for days about even minor characters' pasts and futures. I particularly loved Najma and Rahim -- they remind me so much of Gilly and Sam, my favorite characters in "A Song of Ice and Fire" -- and I likewise hope/pray that they eventually found prosperity and peace. And I wish I knew more about "Urmilla Baby" and what truly happened to her. Again, a literal "good read" is one in which many questions -- just as in life itself -- are not definitively answered.
I hope this book receives wide publication in the Western world . . . and I moreover that any such Western edition can include a comprehensive glossary, detailed maps and discussion questions in the back. These would make the text more accessible and therefore an easier read especially for people who, unlike me, lack a lifelong fascination with India/Hinduism.
I really like books that present important themes yet do not "tell" the reader precisely what to think about them. Such was the case here: parental/dating pressure, youthful trauma, ethnic strife, workplace equality, women's rights, immigration difficulties, and the meaning of and importance of such huge concepts as one's true home and investment in others' future as well as one's own.
Another sign for me of a good book is when I wonder for days about even minor characters' pasts and futures. I particularly loved Najma and Rahim -- they remind me so much of Gilly and Sam, my favorite characters in "A Song of Ice and Fire" -- and I likewise hope/pray that they eventually found prosperity and peace. And I wish I knew more about "Urmilla Baby" and what truly happened to her. Again, a literal "good read" is one in which many questions -- just as in life itself -- are not definitively answered.
I hope this book receives wide publication in the Western world . . . and I moreover that any such Western edition can include a comprehensive glossary, detailed maps and discussion questions in the back. These would make the text more accessible and therefore an easier read especially for people who, unlike me, lack a lifelong fascination with India/Hinduism.
May 12, 2019
I like this! Some parts I laughed out loud, some parts it was heartbreaking.
This story is about 2 Nimita, 2 generations apart. One in the present, and the other, in 1940s.
Their similarity: finding a place to be called home while struggling with their own problems.
The present Nimita worked in Singapore because she wanted to avoid from her aunties (bua-s) from being matchmake. All was well until she realised that she was not sure whether her employer is renewing her contract or not. On top of that, one of her bua-s is introducing her again to Gautam, whom they met during Nimita's cousin's wedding a few years ago. Well, she can't fully avoid her bua-s because once they say something, nothing and no one can stop them from doing it. Haha! It's really heartwarming reading this actually. You can see how Nimita is lucky to be surrounded with supporting and loving family.
Back to 1940s Nimita, she too, has a loving family. The only difference is that she was unable to avoid being matchmake. At first, it was hard for me to digest about the matchmake as Nimita is a jovial, outgoing and sporty person. She wanted to further her studies but couldn't do so. It took me a while to remember that this happened in the 1940s. So well, nothing much can be done and... she got married. Everything went well until the war torn her family apart. I was appalled with how bad it was. *sigh*
Both Nimita struggled with their hardship but overcame it eventually.
Reading this story, it made me want to drink chai. Not any chai but the original.
Masala tea is already delicious! I bet the original chai is even better. :p
This story is about 2 Nimita, 2 generations apart. One in the present, and the other, in 1940s.
Their similarity: finding a place to be called home while struggling with their own problems.
The present Nimita worked in Singapore because she wanted to avoid from her aunties (bua-s) from being matchmake. All was well until she realised that she was not sure whether her employer is renewing her contract or not. On top of that, one of her bua-s is introducing her again to Gautam, whom they met during Nimita's cousin's wedding a few years ago. Well, she can't fully avoid her bua-s because once they say something, nothing and no one can stop them from doing it. Haha! It's really heartwarming reading this actually. You can see how Nimita is lucky to be surrounded with supporting and loving family.
Back to 1940s Nimita, she too, has a loving family. The only difference is that she was unable to avoid being matchmake. At first, it was hard for me to digest about the matchmake as Nimita is a jovial, outgoing and sporty person. She wanted to further her studies but couldn't do so. It took me a while to remember that this happened in the 1940s. So well, nothing much can be done and... she got married. Everything went well until the war torn her family apart. I was appalled with how bad it was. *sigh*
Both Nimita struggled with their hardship but overcame it eventually.
Reading this story, it made me want to drink chai. Not any chai but the original.
Masala tea is already delicious! I bet the original chai is even better. :p
November 13, 2018
Nimita's Place is an amazing book. This book helps me understand how women in India in the 1930's were treated vs women treated now a day. There is a lot of humor in my opinion in this book, I have laughed a lot throughout this book. There are many twists as well in this book. It might be a long book but it is worth reading. Akshita Nanda has done an amazing job in writing since she switches between both time eras very smoothly which is hard to do.
December 21, 2018
It felt a little slow at first but I learnt so much about high society Indian culture, the separation of Pakistan from India and how all of these still affects people in this modern day. There are so many little things that show the things that women go through that really haven't changed so much from back then. I really appreciated this. It's definitely a very worthy read.
May 5, 2022
Great themes. Two strong women, whether in acceptance of their "destiny" or in breaking the norm and carving out a new path for themselves. Woot to women in STEM represent. Epic in its representation of India-Pakistan historical context and also in Singaporean melting pot culture.
Personally, I kept harboring a wish for a Changi airport kiss scene which alas, will have to happen in my imagination (or maybe not, see below). I did wish there was more of a footnote / guide to the cultural non-English words, both for the India side of Nimita senior's story and the Singapore side of Nimita junior's story.
NEXT PART HAS SPOILERS
Something that bugged me was that at times the characters act "cartoonish", such as Nimita junior thinking that Hong Kong is part of China - I mean, she is a scientist at the Singapore General Hospital but she isn't aware AT ALL of the Hong Kong - China conflict? My first conclusion was that well maybe she doesn't read the news at all or perhaps she is not very smart but if Nimita is a scientist then she should be (at least) somewhat smart, no? Then what really threw me off was the reveal that her ex-boyfriend had lived in Hong Kong which makes me EVEN more confused, like then wouldn't she definitely know of the conflict? Or is she supposed to be a very insensitive person like she knows about it but still jokes about it? Maybe I missed something...
The whole thing about Urmila didn't sit very well with me, because if Nimita senior is more of a progressive and forward thinker type mother and grandmother, then why would Urmila's story be taboo? Why couldn't they just have talked about it and addressed it so that Urmila could get the story she deserved? Or is there another layer to the issue that is I didn't detect?
Also, the more I think about it, the more I am unsure about my understanding of Nimita junior and Irving's relationship. I thought at first that it was supposed to be romantic, but they didn't really do anything romantic except hold hands at the airport (and it was because Irving was massaging Nimita's hurting hand). I mean, if they are friends and even flatmates, this strikes me as something completely normal to do and doesn't necessarily have to be romantic. But then suddenly at the end of the book, Irving is inviting Nimita for Chinese New Year to visit his family (which I think is a big deal) and he is ready to book a flight right away to India to meet Nimita (which also hints at future romantic undertones) but would two adults really do that after JUST holding hands in the airport?
So then I think then okay, maybe they're just really good friends and they want to visit each others' families (which is valid too). Thus I'm back at square zero in the guessing game of their relationship undercurrents.
Nevertheless, I applaud the author for such a bold undertaking that is Nimita's Place and am glad in the end both Nimitas found their homes.
Personally, I kept harboring a wish for a Changi airport kiss scene which alas, will have to happen in my imagination (or maybe not, see below). I did wish there was more of a footnote / guide to the cultural non-English words, both for the India side of Nimita senior's story and the Singapore side of Nimita junior's story.
NEXT PART HAS SPOILERS
Something that bugged me was that at times the characters act "cartoonish", such as Nimita junior thinking that Hong Kong is part of China - I mean, she is a scientist at the Singapore General Hospital but she isn't aware AT ALL of the Hong Kong - China conflict? My first conclusion was that well maybe she doesn't read the news at all or perhaps she is not very smart but if Nimita is a scientist then she should be (at least) somewhat smart, no? Then what really threw me off was the reveal that her ex-boyfriend had lived in Hong Kong which makes me EVEN more confused, like then wouldn't she definitely know of the conflict? Or is she supposed to be a very insensitive person like she knows about it but still jokes about it? Maybe I missed something...
The whole thing about Urmila didn't sit very well with me, because if Nimita senior is more of a progressive and forward thinker type mother and grandmother, then why would Urmila's story be taboo? Why couldn't they just have talked about it and addressed it so that Urmila could get the story she deserved? Or is there another layer to the issue that is I didn't detect?
Also, the more I think about it, the more I am unsure about my understanding of Nimita junior and Irving's relationship. I thought at first that it was supposed to be romantic, but they didn't really do anything romantic except hold hands at the airport (and it was because Irving was massaging Nimita's hurting hand). I mean, if they are friends and even flatmates, this strikes me as something completely normal to do and doesn't necessarily have to be romantic. But then suddenly at the end of the book, Irving is inviting Nimita for Chinese New Year to visit his family (which I think is a big deal) and he is ready to book a flight right away to India to meet Nimita (which also hints at future romantic undertones) but would two adults really do that after JUST holding hands in the airport?
So then I think then okay, maybe they're just really good friends and they want to visit each others' families (which is valid too). Thus I'm back at square zero in the guessing game of their relationship undercurrents.
Nevertheless, I applaud the author for such a bold undertaking that is Nimita's Place and am glad in the end both Nimitas found their homes.
July 23, 2023
Dit boek was zoveel meer dan ik verwachtte: Nimita’s place gaat over vrouwen in de wetenschap, over (de geschiedenis van) India, Pakistan en Singapore, over familie en migratie, over verwoestende liefde, gekozen familie en jezelf vinden als 30jarige vrouw. Heel erg graag gelezen! Leerzaam en ontroerend tegelijkertijd.
July 11, 2019
RATING: 7.5/10
I started reading this book as part of a school assignment. I'll admit that this isn't the type of book that i'd pick up for a light reading day, but i'm glad i read it anyway.
this book is told from the perspectives of two Nimitas in wildly different time periods. while i thought that this was such a unique touch you don't often see in fiction novels, it did make me really confused for the first 170 pages or so. i remember having to flip back and forth, trying to recall the names of the various family members, their friends, their nicknames... so on and so forth. i admit that it took me quite some time to get familiar with the various terminologies, but after getting used to it, i found that i was quite absorbed into the book, and the reading journey became a lot less bumpy and a lot more vivid. i do think that if i was more familiar with the different terms, i would have started enjoying the book a lot earlier than i did.
i thought the stories had beautiful arcs, and not once did i feel that the various POVs dragged on for too long before the switch. i did think that the changes were jarring and disorienting at first, but overall i think that they did such a good job in breaking up the various parts of the story.
despite the confusion and slow beginning, i felt myself being really reluctant to put the book down in the end. i found myself going back to read the ending chapters of both nimita khosla and nimita sachdev, and wishing that there was more to the story than where it stopped. did irving's book get published? did nimita sachdev marry in the end? did her funding get approved? did chia ying move to delhi? did the haanji app make it big? did karan climb back into a big job? did the kids grow up and marry too? did nimita khosla teach until she died? what happened to urmila-baby? how did urmila-baby die? what happened to sharada khosla?
i do feel that this book isn't built for a sequel/trilogy, but i would love to learn more about these wonderful, honest characters and the way their quirks and personalities have touched my heart.
I started reading this book as part of a school assignment. I'll admit that this isn't the type of book that i'd pick up for a light reading day, but i'm glad i read it anyway.
this book is told from the perspectives of two Nimitas in wildly different time periods. while i thought that this was such a unique touch you don't often see in fiction novels, it did make me really confused for the first 170 pages or so. i remember having to flip back and forth, trying to recall the names of the various family members, their friends, their nicknames... so on and so forth. i admit that it took me quite some time to get familiar with the various terminologies, but after getting used to it, i found that i was quite absorbed into the book, and the reading journey became a lot less bumpy and a lot more vivid. i do think that if i was more familiar with the different terms, i would have started enjoying the book a lot earlier than i did.
i thought the stories had beautiful arcs, and not once did i feel that the various POVs dragged on for too long before the switch. i did think that the changes were jarring and disorienting at first, but overall i think that they did such a good job in breaking up the various parts of the story.
despite the confusion and slow beginning, i felt myself being really reluctant to put the book down in the end. i found myself going back to read the ending chapters of both nimita khosla and nimita sachdev, and wishing that there was more to the story than where it stopped. did irving's book get published? did nimita sachdev marry in the end? did her funding get approved? did chia ying move to delhi? did the haanji app make it big? did karan climb back into a big job? did the kids grow up and marry too? did nimita khosla teach until she died? what happened to urmila-baby? how did urmila-baby die? what happened to sharada khosla?
i do feel that this book isn't built for a sequel/trilogy, but i would love to learn more about these wonderful, honest characters and the way their quirks and personalities have touched my heart.
May 15, 2019
I concur with an earlier reviewer that this book is more of a 3.5 for me. Ambitious in scope but slightly clunky in execution, especially the earlier parts. However, once the book started picking up in momentum it became a truly engrossing read. I stayed up way too late in my eagerness to finish the last lap. Some threads were left unsatisfactorily unresolved (primarily Irving's and Nimita's ending) while some parts felt too contrived/coincidental (Siddiqui's true identity, the location of Chia Ying's fiance's job) but overall it was a worthwhile read, especially the sections on the partition. Great effort and I look forward to reading more from the author!
August 3, 2018
A very engaging and compelling read that subtly shows the contrast in the lives of an Indian immigrant in contemporary Singapore and that of her grandmother when she was living in Lahore, Pakistan. Differences between the lives of the two woman are portrayed to the reader as we follow them along in their lives. I found it to be a hilarious and yet thought-provoking read. :-)
August 31, 2020
4.5 stars.
A sweeping saga spanning generations and across borders.
I was looking forward to coming home and picking up from the pages I left off during the work week. The female protagonists will have you rooting for them, and there's humour, heart, the potpourri of life in the mix.
Very likable, enjoyed the ride thoroughly.
A sweeping saga spanning generations and across borders.
I was looking forward to coming home and picking up from the pages I left off during the work week. The female protagonists will have you rooting for them, and there's humour, heart, the potpourri of life in the mix.
Very likable, enjoyed the ride thoroughly.
March 10, 2019
Rich cultural settings. A clever way to show the differences of two societies in two different times.
September 5, 2020
Told in alternating parts and chapters, Nimita’s Place surrounds Nimita Khosla who was born into a well-to-do Punjabi family in Lahore and whose aspiration to become an engineer is shattered by the arranged marriage with the son of another wealthy family Karan Sachdev. Her happy and tranquil marriage life is eventually disrupted by a series of bloody religious riots, followed by the Partition of India in 1947, and an impoverished yet hopeful new life in Delhi. Fast forward to 2014, her granddaughter and namesake Nimita Sachdev is a molecular biologist working for the Singapore General Hospital. Despite being a 30-year-old Singleton who is often pursued by the bachelors recommended by her aunts, Nimita rejects the idea of arranged marriage and focuses instead on developing her career, obtaining a permanent residency, and buying her own house in Singapore. Yet, when a long-buried haunting past catches up with her, Nimita decides to confront it and what follows is a self-discovery journey of reconciliation and forgiveness.
Nimita’s Place is an educational, well-researched read which covers not only Punjabi culture (all the mouth-watering foods mentioned!) and Singaporean social norms, but also the contemporary India society before, during, after the Partition. Among all the themes, discrimination and prejudice can be deemed the most prevalent one. Readers get to learn about the racial and religious landscape in India in the 1940s. The prejudice and misunderstandings between various religious groups - particularly between Hindu and Muslim - as well as the religious riots are not depicted in the book as some caricature or trauma porn. The author’s refusal to sensationalise all this is admirable indeed. Moreover, malignant sentiment shown by the Singaporeans toward the increasing number of immigrants is explored as well: the former hold a grudge against the latter who are accused of stealing jobs from them. It is indeed timely discourse existing in many countries.
Besides the aforesaid theme, the interconnectedness of womanhood and home is perhaps the most fascinating of all. Having lost everything from the Partition, the grandmother’s perseverance in building a new life and home in a foreign land is shown via her resolution to be one of the breadwinners in the family in spite of her husband’s objection. The granddaughter who is as strong-willed decides to pack up and leave the past behind for Singapore, where she experiences cultural shock, is being fascinated by its vibrant multicultural society, and at last overcomes her sense of displacement and finds her own place in this new home. Nimita’s Place is a story about family, love, female education and ambition, courage, and hope. I enjoyed it immensely and cannot wait to read the author’s second novel Beauty Queens of Bishan.
Nimita’s Place is an educational, well-researched read which covers not only Punjabi culture (all the mouth-watering foods mentioned!) and Singaporean social norms, but also the contemporary India society before, during, after the Partition. Among all the themes, discrimination and prejudice can be deemed the most prevalent one. Readers get to learn about the racial and religious landscape in India in the 1940s. The prejudice and misunderstandings between various religious groups - particularly between Hindu and Muslim - as well as the religious riots are not depicted in the book as some caricature or trauma porn. The author’s refusal to sensationalise all this is admirable indeed. Moreover, malignant sentiment shown by the Singaporeans toward the increasing number of immigrants is explored as well: the former hold a grudge against the latter who are accused of stealing jobs from them. It is indeed timely discourse existing in many countries.
Besides the aforesaid theme, the interconnectedness of womanhood and home is perhaps the most fascinating of all. Having lost everything from the Partition, the grandmother’s perseverance in building a new life and home in a foreign land is shown via her resolution to be one of the breadwinners in the family in spite of her husband’s objection. The granddaughter who is as strong-willed decides to pack up and leave the past behind for Singapore, where she experiences cultural shock, is being fascinated by its vibrant multicultural society, and at last overcomes her sense of displacement and finds her own place in this new home. Nimita’s Place is a story about family, love, female education and ambition, courage, and hope. I enjoyed it immensely and cannot wait to read the author’s second novel Beauty Queens of Bishan.
March 10, 2021
#NimitasPlace by #AkshitaNanda is BANAL. Long-winded and convoluted. Just one of those trying too hard types. I'm compelled to come down heavy-handed on this title.
@akshitan: Akshita, I'm a Tamil (aka "Madrasi, the dark-skinned CREATURES down South" written by you according to your Shukla Bibi character in your story). Allow me to educate you from one scientist to another. According to wave-particle duality, only through the visible light spectrum,(calibrated to yellow rays) in the entire electromagnetic spectrum there are visible skin colour differences which you and I can see. All humans are actually Black over the rest of the spectrums in electromagnetic radiation. Humans have limited understanding of light in EM versus skin complexion. Do I also need to teach you on melanin now?
That's some temerity you had in writing a racist epithet in your character's voice, WITHOUT RECOVERING the said narrative's gross prejudice casted on us Tamils. It's a fact we are dark-skinned. We have no issues with the colour. However, I, as a Tamil reader, a 4th Generation Singaporean Tamil reader who's ancestry from Tamilnadu, need to know your actual intention behind that statement. I think writers like you enjoy fanning the flames of hatred based on something as trivial as skin colour, pitting racism between dark complexion humans against their light skinned counterparts. Even if you meant it as part of "humor/banter" most northern & southern Indians indulge in, how did you conclude that statement you wrote? Clearly reflects your lack of prose, & I could only tell there's a glaring lack of competence in your writing& thought-processes.
I believe it went through some vetting before this story was published. @epigrambooks does it sit well with you that you gave a pass to a grossly derogatory remark written in the epilogue of this book? Unbelievable to know given this day and time, we still have publishers enabling idiocy& racism by printing stories that should have been rejected & trashed. This is a glaring lack of conviction and lack of filter for filth. I think you could do better.
#epigrambooks #IGReads #singlitstation #readingnationsg #publiclibrarysg #Bookstagram
@akshitan: Akshita, I'm a Tamil (aka "Madrasi, the dark-skinned CREATURES down South" written by you according to your Shukla Bibi character in your story). Allow me to educate you from one scientist to another. According to wave-particle duality, only through the visible light spectrum,(calibrated to yellow rays) in the entire electromagnetic spectrum there are visible skin colour differences which you and I can see. All humans are actually Black over the rest of the spectrums in electromagnetic radiation. Humans have limited understanding of light in EM versus skin complexion. Do I also need to teach you on melanin now?
That's some temerity you had in writing a racist epithet in your character's voice, WITHOUT RECOVERING the said narrative's gross prejudice casted on us Tamils. It's a fact we are dark-skinned. We have no issues with the colour. However, I, as a Tamil reader, a 4th Generation Singaporean Tamil reader who's ancestry from Tamilnadu, need to know your actual intention behind that statement. I think writers like you enjoy fanning the flames of hatred based on something as trivial as skin colour, pitting racism between dark complexion humans against their light skinned counterparts. Even if you meant it as part of "humor/banter" most northern & southern Indians indulge in, how did you conclude that statement you wrote? Clearly reflects your lack of prose, & I could only tell there's a glaring lack of competence in your writing& thought-processes.
I believe it went through some vetting before this story was published. @epigrambooks does it sit well with you that you gave a pass to a grossly derogatory remark written in the epilogue of this book? Unbelievable to know given this day and time, we still have publishers enabling idiocy& racism by printing stories that should have been rejected & trashed. This is a glaring lack of conviction and lack of filter for filth. I think you could do better.
#epigrambooks #IGReads #singlitstation #readingnationsg #publiclibrarysg #Bookstagram
November 19, 2019
4.5 stars
I'm not usually that big a fan of character-driven stories but I loved this for the depiction of India.
Nimita Khosla grows up in privilege in 1944; she yearns to become an engineer but her parents arrange a marriage for her instead. Nimita Sachdev has left India for Singapore; she's applied for Permanent Residency and watches every cent she spends.
I enjoyed Nimita Sachdev's experience of Singapore - as a literal foreigner, not picking up on the Singlish terms that we take for granted. (The author also moved to Singapore from India - I guess this is informed by experience.) It's about Nimita's search for place in the world.
Nimita Khosla's journey was interesting too - in a sense, it feels like the story is instead about her accepting her place in the world. Her dreams are to move to Edinburgh and study; instead, she "settles" into becoming a housewife, and after India's independence, . The end of her life as witnessed by Nimita the Younger felt bittersweet too - all her vibrancy as a youth is reduced to Nimita the Younger's impression of her.
I liked the parallels between them too - and how the book highlights how Nimita the Younger still has more choice, especially when it comes to education and marriage. Also, the use of food and the complicated relationship with family is great.
I'm not usually that big a fan of character-driven stories but I loved this for the depiction of India.
Nimita Khosla grows up in privilege in 1944; she yearns to become an engineer but her parents arrange a marriage for her instead. Nimita Sachdev has left India for Singapore; she's applied for Permanent Residency and watches every cent she spends.
I enjoyed Nimita Sachdev's experience of Singapore - as a literal foreigner, not picking up on the Singlish terms that we take for granted. (The author also moved to Singapore from India - I guess this is informed by experience.) It's about Nimita's search for place in the world.
Nimita Khosla's journey was interesting too - in a sense, it feels like the story is instead about her accepting her place in the world. Her dreams are to move to Edinburgh and study; instead, she "settles" into becoming a housewife, and after India's independence, . The end of her life as witnessed by Nimita the Younger felt bittersweet too - all her vibrancy as a youth is reduced to Nimita the Younger's impression of her.
I liked the parallels between them too - and how the book highlights how Nimita the Younger still has more choice, especially when it comes to education and marriage. Also, the use of food and the complicated relationship with family is great.
May 23, 2020
A whole new world
This was an eye-opening book. It tells the story of India’s Partition during and after World War II, through the eyes of a 17-year old Hindu woman. The level of detail is astounding. The main character, Nimita’s, granddaughter carries on the story in present-day Singapore, comparing and contrasting the role of women, the place of rank and family and custom, and the impact of religious and economic prejudice from them till now. I read it with my browser open to look up all the food and other words in Hindi and with Google Maps open to look up all the glorious, fascinating, and tragic cities where the three generations of characters live. I love a book that grabs me by the shirt and drags me into a culture and history I did not know. Highly recommend!
This was an eye-opening book. It tells the story of India’s Partition during and after World War II, through the eyes of a 17-year old Hindu woman. The level of detail is astounding. The main character, Nimita’s, granddaughter carries on the story in present-day Singapore, comparing and contrasting the role of women, the place of rank and family and custom, and the impact of religious and economic prejudice from them till now. I read it with my browser open to look up all the food and other words in Hindi and with Google Maps open to look up all the glorious, fascinating, and tragic cities where the three generations of characters live. I love a book that grabs me by the shirt and drags me into a culture and history I did not know. Highly recommend!
January 2, 2020
I didn’t know what to expect of Nimita’s Place. The synopsis didn’t give away too much. But as I kept reading, I realised this is not one book to speed read. Each word, page, chapter and section is to be savoured, tasted and felt.
Nimita’s Place is really two books in one, but in which both stories come together and bond on a key theme of identity.
It is well-researched and simply articulated, enabling anyone that is reading the book to read and understand it, simply.
Kudos to Akshita Nanda for the work put into this book. It is truly commendable!
Highly, highly recommended.
Nimita’s Place is really two books in one, but in which both stories come together and bond on a key theme of identity.
It is well-researched and simply articulated, enabling anyone that is reading the book to read and understand it, simply.
Kudos to Akshita Nanda for the work put into this book. It is truly commendable!
Highly, highly recommended.
November 28, 2019
To be honest it took a while for me to really get into the book, but once I did it swept me away. While the back and forth jumps between timelines and characters can be a bit jarring at first it all came together really well in the end. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2021
One of my last Singlit reads of 2020, Nimita's Place is an inter-generational story that follows the narratives of two people: Nimita Khosla in 1940s India, who wishes to attend university and become an engineer, and Nimita Sachdev (Nimita K.'s granddaughter) in 2010s Singapore, who wants to settle down in Singapore with Permanent Residency (PR).
This is an ambitious dual narrative that not only highlights the issues of contemporary Singapore with regards to its immigrants, but also explores the historical background and culture of India, as well as the effects of the Partition (separation of British India into modern-day India and Pakistan) on its citizens. Additionally, it also covers the theme of gender roles and how they've changed over time.
While all these sound like a lot to pack into one book, Nanda executes these themes and issues quite well and manages to give us insight into the day-to-day lives and current issues of both Nimitas. Personally, I found the 1940s narrative to be much more cohesive and compelling; I really liked how the growing tension present within society and the uncertainty of the characters was weaved in so seamlessly and as a whole, it felt a lot more emotionally-gripping. On the other hand, I found that the prose of the contemporary narrative felt a little forced at some parts (e.g. detailing SG50 celebrations, the death of Lee Kuan Yew etc.). And while I appreciated a lot of the descriptions of Singapore and its little aspects of daily life and settings, I disliked how the writing came across as more telling rather than showing sometimes.
One thing I found a little confusing, though, was the sudden addition of mental illness (specifically, paranoia personality disorder) as a theme much later into the contemporary narrative. I liked that it explored the psychological distress and mental strain of caring for a loved one while seeing the changes that affect their personality and the way they treat you. However, as a whole, it felt like nothing more than a cursory glance into the topic of mental illness, given that the whole thematic scope of this story doesn't seem to have much to do with this topic.
Overall though, this was an enjoyable read with a wide-ranging spectrum of issues, with the historical narrative being written so beautifully. I'm curious to see what the author has planned for her future works.
This is an ambitious dual narrative that not only highlights the issues of contemporary Singapore with regards to its immigrants, but also explores the historical background and culture of India, as well as the effects of the Partition (separation of British India into modern-day India and Pakistan) on its citizens. Additionally, it also covers the theme of gender roles and how they've changed over time.
While all these sound like a lot to pack into one book, Nanda executes these themes and issues quite well and manages to give us insight into the day-to-day lives and current issues of both Nimitas. Personally, I found the 1940s narrative to be much more cohesive and compelling; I really liked how the growing tension present within society and the uncertainty of the characters was weaved in so seamlessly and as a whole, it felt a lot more emotionally-gripping. On the other hand, I found that the prose of the contemporary narrative felt a little forced at some parts (e.g. detailing SG50 celebrations, the death of Lee Kuan Yew etc.). And while I appreciated a lot of the descriptions of Singapore and its little aspects of daily life and settings, I disliked how the writing came across as more telling rather than showing sometimes.
One thing I found a little confusing, though, was the sudden addition of mental illness (specifically, paranoia personality disorder) as a theme much later into the contemporary narrative. I liked that it explored the psychological distress and mental strain of caring for a loved one while seeing the changes that affect their personality and the way they treat you. However, as a whole, it felt like nothing more than a cursory glance into the topic of mental illness, given that the whole thematic scope of this story doesn't seem to have much to do with this topic.
Overall though, this was an enjoyable read with a wide-ranging spectrum of issues, with the historical narrative being written so beautifully. I'm curious to see what the author has planned for her future works.
January 26, 2022
A beautiful and immersive read that took me through so many highs and lows, and left me in tears while invoking giggles as well.
I must admit that I'm not the best with history, especially with regards to India and the Partition that happened in 1947, but Akshita Nanda did an amazing job immersing the reader in what must have been an incredibly difficult and tense time. I found myself sucked into the story of Nimita Sr as she tried to make a life for herself as devoted daughter, wife and mother in 1940s India, while trying to balance her own ambitions and yearning for independence at the same time. Then, the Partition happens, and her entire family is displaced and her entire life is thrown into chaos.
I won't go into details at this point because of spoilers, but I must say that the entire storyline was incredibly engaging and I felt so drawn to Nimita Sr and her life. It was completely believable. I ended up Googling more about the Partition of India after this, and searching up Lahore and Modern Town.
Nimita Jr's life in Singapore is more relatable. Bustling wet markets, a multi-racial society with the influx of foreign talent, renting apartments with flatmates of different races and religions, and the need to prove yourself at your work - all the more so as a woman of a minority race in Singapore. And of course, when your past comes to haunt you, your hard-fought peace is suddenly shattered, and you have to learn how to breathe all over again.
Reading this novel felt like I was swimming in a deep and warm ocean. I dove deep into the 1940s to Lahore, India, and came up for fresh air in present day Singapore. Both timelines were spaced out while having enough connecting dots to tie it all together, and coming to the last page felt like I had just finished an entire teapot of soothing chai tea, all while huddled under a comfy blanket at 2am with a gentle rain outside.
I am so impressed with this novel. 1000/10 would recommend. Immersive, moving and ultimately, very very real. Thank you, Akshita Nanda, for this precious book.
I must admit that I'm not the best with history, especially with regards to India and the Partition that happened in 1947, but Akshita Nanda did an amazing job immersing the reader in what must have been an incredibly difficult and tense time. I found myself sucked into the story of Nimita Sr as she tried to make a life for herself as devoted daughter, wife and mother in 1940s India, while trying to balance her own ambitions and yearning for independence at the same time. Then, the Partition happens, and her entire family is displaced and her entire life is thrown into chaos.
I won't go into details at this point because of spoilers, but I must say that the entire storyline was incredibly engaging and I felt so drawn to Nimita Sr and her life. It was completely believable. I ended up Googling more about the Partition of India after this, and searching up Lahore and Modern Town.
Nimita Jr's life in Singapore is more relatable. Bustling wet markets, a multi-racial society with the influx of foreign talent, renting apartments with flatmates of different races and religions, and the need to prove yourself at your work - all the more so as a woman of a minority race in Singapore. And of course, when your past comes to haunt you, your hard-fought peace is suddenly shattered, and you have to learn how to breathe all over again.
Reading this novel felt like I was swimming in a deep and warm ocean. I dove deep into the 1940s to Lahore, India, and came up for fresh air in present day Singapore. Both timelines were spaced out while having enough connecting dots to tie it all together, and coming to the last page felt like I had just finished an entire teapot of soothing chai tea, all while huddled under a comfy blanket at 2am with a gentle rain outside.
I am so impressed with this novel. 1000/10 would recommend. Immersive, moving and ultimately, very very real. Thank you, Akshita Nanda, for this precious book.
June 14, 2021
I had a hard time rating this novel, because I really loved the Nimita Sr story arc and spent most of the book annoyed with Nimita Jr. For the most part, it was an effective way of telling an inter-generational tale, it’s just that many of Nimita Jr’s struggles end up coming across as petty and trite when told beside her grandmother’s tale. I’m very interested in stories of Partition, partly because my own family’s stories are mostly buried, unknown or hidden. And this one was told so evocatively you really felt for everyone who had to live through those times. I have so many bones to pick with the Nimita Jr bits of the story though. Why does Irving keep getting referred to as “a six”? Isn’t that offensive? The words ‘gay’ or ‘queer’ aren’t used even once in the book. Is Irving actually gay? I don’t get that ending? Why was a mental illness introduced and portrayed so clumsily in the back end of the novel? Couldn’t Vicky just have been an asshole? There are plenty of those around without having to resort to lame stereotypes about schizophrenia. The thing that grated at me most was that I don’t know a single Sindhi Singaporean woman who talks with the kind of over-exaggerated Singlish that Hafeezah does. Akshita Nanda can write - despite its length this novel was a breezy read, and I do think it provides a fresh perspective on Singapore. The mango moment that connects the two timelines had the most poetic resonance for me. Maybe in the end the value in this novel is in asking - can we ever live up to the paths our ancestors forged for us?
June 13, 2021
I thank Nimita (both Nimitas) for teaching me resilience, forgiveness, and the art of enjoying the simple pleasures in life.
Some highlights:
I wish I were a plant. I wish I could sequester and then excise memories that are, frankly, absolutely useless, do nothing but cause pain and destroy my peace of mind. They keep bobbing up like that unsinkable Ganpati idol’s head, and when I shove them down into the muck, they remain buried but not destroyed, always waiting to pop back up at the worst possible time.
But the deepest, most important compensation of all is knowing - and she really cannot say this to anyone - is knowing that she has survived. She has survived what so many have not, survived with husband and mother and children and even old servants. She has so much compared not to her own past, but to the present of so many others. So if she dreams of Lahore in the night, she wakes in the morning determined to concentrate on simple pleasures: that she lives in Bombay, the busiest and most complicated city in all of India. That she can walk to the market and buy fresh sea fish - so light and non-bony, unlike the fish of the rivers Sutlej and Ravi. That she can cook prawns in coconut curry, like Mrs Mandore taught her; that her husband and she can giggle over whisky and talk all night, even after 15 years of marriage and two children.
Some highlights:
I wish I were a plant. I wish I could sequester and then excise memories that are, frankly, absolutely useless, do nothing but cause pain and destroy my peace of mind. They keep bobbing up like that unsinkable Ganpati idol’s head, and when I shove them down into the muck, they remain buried but not destroyed, always waiting to pop back up at the worst possible time.
But the deepest, most important compensation of all is knowing - and she really cannot say this to anyone - is knowing that she has survived. She has survived what so many have not, survived with husband and mother and children and even old servants. She has so much compared not to her own past, but to the present of so many others. So if she dreams of Lahore in the night, she wakes in the morning determined to concentrate on simple pleasures: that she lives in Bombay, the busiest and most complicated city in all of India. That she can walk to the market and buy fresh sea fish - so light and non-bony, unlike the fish of the rivers Sutlej and Ravi. That she can cook prawns in coconut curry, like Mrs Mandore taught her; that her husband and she can giggle over whisky and talk all night, even after 15 years of marriage and two children.
September 27, 2020
☆☆☆☆*
Today is #bookfairiesoffline day and I decided to maximise it.
I've started on the secret garden about 20% into the book.
And then, i decided that today is a day where I will pamper myself a lil.. did face masks, made an iced mocha at first then hot cuppa later... i sat...i savoured the brilliance that is nimita's place.
I'm thrilled to bits that I finally wrapped this up yet sad at the same time. Btw, there is a lil' total coincidence between the two books i read today!
The reason why I added the second photo is that I had that exact face, let out a sigh of bliss, and savoured the drama, the journey this book has taken me and for that I thank ms akshita nanda and epigram for releasing this book which has become one of my favourite books, not just for 2020....
Today is #bookfairiesoffline day and I decided to maximise it.
I've started on the secret garden about 20% into the book.
And then, i decided that today is a day where I will pamper myself a lil.. did face masks, made an iced mocha at first then hot cuppa later... i sat...i savoured the brilliance that is nimita's place.
I'm thrilled to bits that I finally wrapped this up yet sad at the same time. Btw, there is a lil' total coincidence between the two books i read today!
The reason why I added the second photo is that I had that exact face, let out a sigh of bliss, and savoured the drama, the journey this book has taken me and for that I thank ms akshita nanda and epigram for releasing this book which has become one of my favourite books, not just for 2020....
April 10, 2022
Not my kind of read. Took so long to finish it and many times wanted to put it down. Doesn’t help that the book is slightly longer than average novels. I don’t think it’s the book that is not good but it’s just not my kind of book. It’s a book that has no ups and downs and it’s written like an autobiography.
Many Hindi terms were used to address some characters and I wished the author will explain what the terms meant because until the end of the book, I still don’t know how some characters are related to the protagonist.
Many Hindi terms were used to address some characters and I wished the author will explain what the terms meant because until the end of the book, I still don’t know how some characters are related to the protagonist.
April 17, 2022
This was really good! I wanted to read more about both Nimitas, and I think the sections on contemporary Nimita were a work of magic - the sights and sounds of Singapore, as well as the Singaporean turns of phrase, were just spot on. Near the end of the book, there was the description of Nimita and Chia Ying getting up to close the windows (see, another Singaporeanism) to keep the rain out as the thunder rumbled brought with it a pang of a familiar action I no longer have to engage in. Upped this rating because though imperfect it's also pure magic.
October 10, 2023
DNF: listened to the audiobook for EIGHT HOURS and I still have no idea what it's about.
Nothing is happening, there's two different storylines but in the audiobook it's very unclear who's who, there's too many names and they all sound very similar, they talk veryyyy weird? I know Indians, they don't talk English like this, by which I mean: very short sentences that are often incomplete and sticking to a vocabulary of 15 words.. I love learning about Indian culture and living in Singapore, but this book really isn't for me.
Nothing is happening, there's two different storylines but in the audiobook it's very unclear who's who, there's too many names and they all sound very similar, they talk veryyyy weird? I know Indians, they don't talk English like this, by which I mean: very short sentences that are often incomplete and sticking to a vocabulary of 15 words.. I love learning about Indian culture and living in Singapore, but this book really isn't for me.
September 4, 2020
I enjoyed this very much, it was the relief I looked forward to each day, so I read this slowly. The story is of two women and their challenges, in Lahore and Singapore, and the connection between them. I loved the nuggets of a different culture and the adjustment to ours in Singapore, and the very special significance of mangoes.
August 14, 2025
very compelling read!
I bought it to read on a flight to Singapore. It was beautifully written and hard to put down. I learned more about Singapore modern life and Partition. I recommend this book highly.
I bought it to read on a flight to Singapore. It was beautifully written and hard to put down. I learned more about Singapore modern life and Partition. I recommend this book highly.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews