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A Flutter in the Colony
In 1956, the Senguptas travel from Calcutta to rural Malaya to start afresh. In their new hamlet of anonymity, the couple gradually forget past troubles and form new ties. But this second home is not entirely free and gentle. A complex, racially charged society, it is on the brink of independence even as communist insurgents hover on the periphery. How much should a newcomer meddle before it starts to destroy him? Shuttling in time and temper between the rubber plantations of Malaya and the anguish-filled years of pre-Partition Bengal, between the Malayan Emergency and Direct Action Day, between indifference and lust, A Flutter in the Colony is a tender, resonant chronicle of a family struggling to remain together in the twilight of Empire in Asia.
344 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 2019
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October 28, 2019
A Flutter in the Colony is a historical fiction that narrates the story of a young couple who make their way from newly-independent India to a town in Malaya. In a manner befitting the cadence of his writing, the author introduces us to the highly turbulent environments of Bengal and Malaya, as the respective regions grapple with communal tensions and the aftermath of being colonized by Britain.
The writing style is so fluid that with every chapter it sweeps you further and further into the embrace of the narrative. Although the political jargon is kept to a bare minimum and makes for comfortable reading, the novel very authentically depicts the way some non-native English speakers attempt to converse, by incorporating several Bengali and Malayan phrases into the dialogue. And that was my only problem with the book. Many a times, I would have to take to Google in order to understand what a word or two means. But in the overall engrossing vibe of the novel, this didn't bother me all that much.
Throughout the book, the main male character is referred to as "the young man" and initially, I didn't understand the author's motivation for leaving one of the primary characters without a name. But as I kept reading about the character's role in Pre-Partition Bengal and the Malayan Emergency, I realized that it is because the author is not writing the story of one individual with a defined identity. Through that young man, Sandeep Ray voices the story of thousands of men and women who've stood against the Empire. The young man is in essence the 'flutter in the colony'. This could very well just be my interpretation and not the actual reasoning, but that's what I felt.
Maloti's character has so many layers. I was glad to see her being indignant in the face of patriarchy, speaking her mind freely and being a supportive family member. Her equation with her husband is for the most part cordial with sporadic depictions of affection and other strong emotions. She blends in effortlessly even when compelled to mingle with people of different cultures.
I loved the way the chapters alternate between their lives in Calcutta and in Malaya. This helps us form a rich picture of their identity and back story in our minds. How domino effects work resulting from a single decision can all too clearly be gleaned from the way the story pans out. We get to read about religious clashes, corruption, tribes, Indian values, colonization and so much more. All in all, it was such a great experience reading this book. I did not want to set it down and finished reading most of it in one sitting. Highly recommend it!
The writing style is so fluid that with every chapter it sweeps you further and further into the embrace of the narrative. Although the political jargon is kept to a bare minimum and makes for comfortable reading, the novel very authentically depicts the way some non-native English speakers attempt to converse, by incorporating several Bengali and Malayan phrases into the dialogue. And that was my only problem with the book. Many a times, I would have to take to Google in order to understand what a word or two means. But in the overall engrossing vibe of the novel, this didn't bother me all that much.
Throughout the book, the main male character is referred to as "the young man" and initially, I didn't understand the author's motivation for leaving one of the primary characters without a name. But as I kept reading about the character's role in Pre-Partition Bengal and the Malayan Emergency, I realized that it is because the author is not writing the story of one individual with a defined identity. Through that young man, Sandeep Ray voices the story of thousands of men and women who've stood against the Empire. The young man is in essence the 'flutter in the colony'. This could very well just be my interpretation and not the actual reasoning, but that's what I felt.
Maloti's character has so many layers. I was glad to see her being indignant in the face of patriarchy, speaking her mind freely and being a supportive family member. Her equation with her husband is for the most part cordial with sporadic depictions of affection and other strong emotions. She blends in effortlessly even when compelled to mingle with people of different cultures.
I loved the way the chapters alternate between their lives in Calcutta and in Malaya. This helps us form a rich picture of their identity and back story in our minds. How domino effects work resulting from a single decision can all too clearly be gleaned from the way the story pans out. We get to read about religious clashes, corruption, tribes, Indian values, colonization and so much more. All in all, it was such a great experience reading this book. I did not want to set it down and finished reading most of it in one sitting. Highly recommend it!
October 23, 2019
The story is divided into 2 timelines, the present (1956) & the past of the life of the main character. I love how the main character wasn't given a name and was referred as "the young man" throughout the book. Good for me I don't have a name embed in my mind for my reminders of "the fictional characters I need to cry for" days😢💜
There was a nice suspense in the start & the character development was done beautifully. There were a lot of topics covered direct and indirectly like the Bengal partition, Independence of India, British's rule all over Asia, the Japanese, the Chinese, women's contribution towards various such issues, people's ignorance towards other religions, the Inter Cast and Racial disputes, personal disturbances caused by all the chaos and so on. There were a lot of characters but were handled very well. This book basically takes you on a ride of emotions (warning: they are mostly sad). The only thing that I couldn't digest well was the romance scene, I clearly didn't anticipate that one..... the description.....lets just say Romance is not the genre the author should put his hands on. Also a fight scene in there gave me a lot of South Indian movie vibes😅 but if you ignore those 2-3 pages the overall book was AMAZING.
There was a nice suspense in the start & the character development was done beautifully. There were a lot of topics covered direct and indirectly like the Bengal partition, Independence of India, British's rule all over Asia, the Japanese, the Chinese, women's contribution towards various such issues, people's ignorance towards other religions, the Inter Cast and Racial disputes, personal disturbances caused by all the chaos and so on. There were a lot of characters but were handled very well. This book basically takes you on a ride of emotions (warning: they are mostly sad). The only thing that I couldn't digest well was the romance scene, I clearly didn't anticipate that one..... the description.....lets just say Romance is not the genre the author should put his hands on. Also a fight scene in there gave me a lot of South Indian movie vibes😅 but if you ignore those 2-3 pages the overall book was AMAZING.
December 7, 2020
This the story of a family that emigrated from post-partition Bengal, to then Malaya in 1956, on the cusp of Malaya’s independence, the British empire exiting the country, and smack bang in the middle of the Malayan Emergency (communist insurgents). The story shifts focus between a small town and large rubber estate somewhere in the state Negeri Sembilan, (I presume, considering the repeated mentions of Seremban being in close proximity and Malacca (now Melaka) being only a few hours bus ride away) and Calcutta (and a village on its outskirts).
I enjoyed the story, a narrative of everyday life in a small town back in the old days of Malaya, as everyday as it could get during the twilight of being a British colony, post WW2, and in the middle of an emergency. But more than that it is about how a person can get so lost inside themselves, and lose their way, and slowly find themselves again in the most unexpected way.
I do have some issues with the book, however.
There is a whole mixed bag of characters, and not all were created equal. While the supporting characters in Bengal were well developed across the board, some of the supporting ones in Malaya came across as stereotypical caricatures, which is a shame, because when the author could be bothered, his character development is otherwise quite wonderful.
There were more moments than I would have liked where I kept thinking “hang on a minute, is this actually going anywhere? are we lost? What exactly is the purpose here?”
But the biggest issue of all, and I can’t believe publishers and their fact checkers and other reviewers before me missed it, is a tiny bit that may not seem significant, but to me it somewhat calls into question the credibility of an author described as a historian:
On Page 2 of the novel, just after the young Sengupta family arrived in Georgetown (Penang Island) via a liner ship, the author describes their car journey from the island to mainland Malaya, across a bridge. In 1956 Malaya, there was no bridge linking Penang Island to the mainland. There was only the Penang Ferry Service to transport everything and everything back and forth. The first ever bridge between the island and the mainland began being constructed in 1982, and was not completed until mid 1985. I don’t know if this was just dismissive laziness, or maybe everyone thought it would be insignificant, but shouldn’t there be a boundary for artistic license when it comes to historical fiction? It’s not that hard to find out this information.
I enjoyed the story, a narrative of everyday life in a small town back in the old days of Malaya, as everyday as it could get during the twilight of being a British colony, post WW2, and in the middle of an emergency. But more than that it is about how a person can get so lost inside themselves, and lose their way, and slowly find themselves again in the most unexpected way.
I do have some issues with the book, however.
There is a whole mixed bag of characters, and not all were created equal. While the supporting characters in Bengal were well developed across the board, some of the supporting ones in Malaya came across as stereotypical caricatures, which is a shame, because when the author could be bothered, his character development is otherwise quite wonderful.
There were more moments than I would have liked where I kept thinking “hang on a minute, is this actually going anywhere? are we lost? What exactly is the purpose here?”
But the biggest issue of all, and I can’t believe publishers and their fact checkers and other reviewers before me missed it, is a tiny bit that may not seem significant, but to me it somewhat calls into question the credibility of an author described as a historian:
On Page 2 of the novel, just after the young Sengupta family arrived in Georgetown (Penang Island) via a liner ship, the author describes their car journey from the island to mainland Malaya, across a bridge. In 1956 Malaya, there was no bridge linking Penang Island to the mainland. There was only the Penang Ferry Service to transport everything and everything back and forth. The first ever bridge between the island and the mainland began being constructed in 1982, and was not completed until mid 1985. I don’t know if this was just dismissive laziness, or maybe everyone thought it would be insignificant, but shouldn’t there be a boundary for artistic license when it comes to historical fiction? It’s not that hard to find out this information.
July 19, 2021
To be read slowly, so as to be enveloped by the reality of the past, and to savour the sophisticated tones. To be transported into a complex web of politics and hopes, of human imperfections and lies. To come out of it looking at the world in a slightly different way. Such is good writing to me. Thank you Sandeep Ray for the passion that drove you to write this eloquent historical tale grounded in profound research.
December 29, 2019
Reading this book made me realise that I love books that DON’T tell the story in chronological order. Life is so linear, books don’t need to be.
July 27, 2024
As an ex-pat who’d lived on the land, I enjoyed reading this novel. Don’t know if it would be as appealing for others. In parts it felt like the story was forced. As if there was a certain historical period and message that the author wanted to convey and the plot was chosen as the best conduit for it, but all in all, a good read.
November 29, 2024
The first thing that catches your eye is the beautiful book cover. The little kampung house, the bright green of the jungle. So pretty!
A young couple arrives in Malaya with their son to start a new life in a small village in the Malayan backwoods.
I loved the eloquent turn of phrase here. It brought to mind such vivid images.
Sandeep Ray's in depth research into the people, traditions & culture of 2 nations is clearly evident as A Flutter in the Colony gives you a glimpse into two different lands and two different timelines in India and Malaya.
Bengal in the days before Partition and a simpler, more innocent time before Malaya's independence
But the dark undercurrents of race riots because of Partition and the threat of communism during the Malayan Emergency permeate the book with its effects and consequences.
Sandeep has done an admirable job in telling both tales as the story alternates between the two timelines. The transitioning between both India and Malaya was effortless and really brought the story together for me.
While gripping to read about, the racial wars that sprung up because of Partition and the famine in Bengal were tough to read.
The plight of people living in the little Malayan town was no less harrowing with the British determined to root out insurgents before giving the nation its independence.
This was a very good read and I definitely recommend it to all fans of historical fiction.
A young couple arrives in Malaya with their son to start a new life in a small village in the Malayan backwoods.
I loved the eloquent turn of phrase here. It brought to mind such vivid images.
Sandeep Ray's in depth research into the people, traditions & culture of 2 nations is clearly evident as A Flutter in the Colony gives you a glimpse into two different lands and two different timelines in India and Malaya.
Bengal in the days before Partition and a simpler, more innocent time before Malaya's independence
But the dark undercurrents of race riots because of Partition and the threat of communism during the Malayan Emergency permeate the book with its effects and consequences.
Sandeep has done an admirable job in telling both tales as the story alternates between the two timelines. The transitioning between both India and Malaya was effortless and really brought the story together for me.
While gripping to read about, the racial wars that sprung up because of Partition and the famine in Bengal were tough to read.
The plight of people living in the little Malayan town was no less harrowing with the British determined to root out insurgents before giving the nation its independence.
This was a very good read and I definitely recommend it to all fans of historical fiction.
September 1, 2022
It is 1956. The Senguptas travel from Calcutta to a town in Malaya to relinquish their past and for a promise of a new beginning. With fluid prose and rich vocabulary, A Flutter in the Colony by Sandeep Ray who is a writer-historian tells a tale of family, friendship, humanity, grief, and tragedy. Sandeep Ray’s greatest talent lies in his ability to alternate effortlessly between two timelines of the past and present. He also takes readers through the atmospheric and picturesque journey of pre-partitioned Bengal and Malaya. The characters are nuanced, and they are “as intricate as the rich fabric of Malayan society itself,” as the Mekong Review has stated. Molati, one of the characters really appealed to me, as she is someone who values tradition but simultaneously someone who is open-minded.
Sadly, my reading experience was slightly disrupted during the times where I had to reread the sentences as to not get confused when the author only named the main character as a ‘young man’ when there are other male characters in the scene. As it is the author’s first novel, I do appreciate for his effort in experimenting. Some scenes I discern unnecessary for the overall plot and led me wondering why they are incorporated. Although the end felt quite abrupt and rushed, it was shocking that it rendered me speechless.
Yet, A Flutter in the Colony is one of the books that I am glad I’ve read despite its minor imperfections. It is thought-provoking by addressing the pre-Partition Bengal, the Malayan Emergency and Direct Action Day without delving too deep into the politics. How Sandeep Ray touches on the shortage of food that leads to famine and economic collapse as well as people with different beliefs are capable of violence are deepling affecting. These historical events often went unnoticed so I definitely recommend A Flutter in The Colony by Sandeep Ray for history lovers just like me.
I’m looking forward for more works from Mr. Sandeep Ray. Thank you Penguin House SEA for the review copy ❤️
Sadly, my reading experience was slightly disrupted during the times where I had to reread the sentences as to not get confused when the author only named the main character as a ‘young man’ when there are other male characters in the scene. As it is the author’s first novel, I do appreciate for his effort in experimenting. Some scenes I discern unnecessary for the overall plot and led me wondering why they are incorporated. Although the end felt quite abrupt and rushed, it was shocking that it rendered me speechless.
Yet, A Flutter in the Colony is one of the books that I am glad I’ve read despite its minor imperfections. It is thought-provoking by addressing the pre-Partition Bengal, the Malayan Emergency and Direct Action Day without delving too deep into the politics. How Sandeep Ray touches on the shortage of food that leads to famine and economic collapse as well as people with different beliefs are capable of violence are deepling affecting. These historical events often went unnoticed so I definitely recommend A Flutter in The Colony by Sandeep Ray for history lovers just like me.
I’m looking forward for more works from Mr. Sandeep Ray. Thank you Penguin House SEA for the review copy ❤️
October 28, 2019
Books with bengali nostalgia always brings me back home. A flutter in the colony was one such book, where I found myself back in my room, sipping tea with my friends on an 'Adda' session, munching on some nimki.
The language, Sandeep Ray has used was volatile enough to include Bengali, Tamil, Chinese and, Malayan and still not stand out like a sore thumb. The raw political details from pre-partition era and post-independence India, somehow was eerily similar to the current political scenario. The author, via the protagonist tried to explain how the common gentry gets all worked up for superfluous political propaganda when they have nothing to gain and everything to lose.
Maloti was the representative of the fairer sex and involvement of women in the Indian independence. The way her voices were heard resonates deep into our society. It takes a lot to be heard and to be listened to.
Communal violence and people pitted against each other in the name of religion, gets one to wonder, when will this end? It has been always like this. Yet we don't learn, do we?
Sandeep beautifully went back and forth two timelines; one in India and the other in Malaya some 15 years apart and the effortless transition was mind blowing. His meticulous research in the culture, traditions, people, was commendable. One thing worth mentioning is the table of contents. The titles fluctuated alternatively from something as simple as "Rice" to something as "bhitkel" as "The pamphleteers" .
He dropped bombs like anything and pretended like he didn't destroy me forever and moved on with the story. This casual storytelling was an absolute necessity while handling such painful stuff.
Highly recommended for all the history fanatics out there. And even if you were never into history, do try to read this one.
October 15, 2019
A Flutter in the Colony is a brilliant debut novel by Sandeep Ray, an author uniquely poised to write this story set amid the tumultuous events surrounding both India and Malaya (now Malaysia) on the cusp of independence. Not only does Dr. Ray bring to this novel his expertise as a Southeast Asia historian and his passion for multimedia nonfiction, he also grew up steeped in stories from his Bengali family who lived both in Malaya and India. Because of the setting, the characters naturally interact across diverse socio-economic, national, religious and linguistic backgrounds in a way that is truly authentic. Although the novel is in English, Ray is able to drop in smatterings of other languages, to suggest accents, to remind us who is speaking what, and who needs translation, without it ever getting cumbersome. The dialogue and action flow seamlessly with both intensity and humor. The plot is crafted expertly and becomes increasingly more complex as the tension slowly builds. Unlike some historical fiction novels, the reader never has the feeling that the characters have to be “put on hold” in order for us to have a quick history lesson—rather, we are fascinated by the richly interwoven details and backdrop of Southeast Asian history since it enlightens characters’ motives, suspicions, fear, decisions, courage. On top of all this, the writing is beautiful. The last two paragraphs actually gave me chills—but don’t skip to the end! You definitely don’t want this incredible story spoiled for you!
June 7, 2024
3.5 stars ⭐️
This story spans across two countries, from Calcutta and across to Malaya. The Senguptas are landowners and a business family in Calcutta, during the pre independence era. Changes are afoot and there is talk of freedom, but it comes at a price. Political forces divide the country right through their state.
As Sengupta junior ( referred to as the young man) comes of age he goes through misfortunes which shatter his soul leaving him leading a purposeless life.
He is persuaded to seek employment in Malaya, as a clerk in the estates. Here he brings his young family and with the help of a few fellow Indians settles into a routine and comfortable life. He comes to establish acquaintance with some locals and a few of the Colonial clan. This country is going through changes and Sengupta inadvertently becomes embroiled in conflict with disastrous consequences.
This story is written with alternating timelines, between Calcutta and Malaya. It was overall engaging and the plot unfolds gradually. It did give realistic descriptions of the Malayan life of that era, without romanticizing it.
Probably the strongest character here is Maloti.
‘ The soul where you bury your adored one can stake a strange claim. It is not in birth but In death sometimes that we plot our home under the slow arc of stars.’
This story spans across two countries, from Calcutta and across to Malaya. The Senguptas are landowners and a business family in Calcutta, during the pre independence era. Changes are afoot and there is talk of freedom, but it comes at a price. Political forces divide the country right through their state.
As Sengupta junior ( referred to as the young man) comes of age he goes through misfortunes which shatter his soul leaving him leading a purposeless life.
He is persuaded to seek employment in Malaya, as a clerk in the estates. Here he brings his young family and with the help of a few fellow Indians settles into a routine and comfortable life. He comes to establish acquaintance with some locals and a few of the Colonial clan. This country is going through changes and Sengupta inadvertently becomes embroiled in conflict with disastrous consequences.
This story is written with alternating timelines, between Calcutta and Malaya. It was overall engaging and the plot unfolds gradually. It did give realistic descriptions of the Malayan life of that era, without romanticizing it.
Probably the strongest character here is Maloti.
‘ The soul where you bury your adored one can stake a strange claim. It is not in birth but In death sometimes that we plot our home under the slow arc of stars.’
June 17, 2020
A book which has written very beautifully, seems like someone has penned it from core to the heart. Author Sandeep Ray who is actually born off the straits of Malacca, on the edge of a rubber plantation. So definitely, every details curved with fluent words and maximum details. A story of A young man and Maloti and their new starts from Calcutta to Malaya. They faced what is the wrath of famine, racism, fascism and everything during the time of 1946- 1956. I don’t know if it’s a true story, but it doesn’t let you feel that each of the character is fictional. You will feel someone has actually faced every incident author has described in the book. I must say please read this book. Because we hardly talk about Malaya and their massive situation. Highly recommended
November 11, 2022
‘Flutter in The Colony’ is written by Sandeep Ray, a writer-historian born in Malacca in 1969 and has lived in Kolkata, Massachusetts, and Singapore.
The book follows the journey of a young man, the son of Nirmal Sengupta, a wealthy man from Calcutta. Wealthy enough to start a school in a village and send his son to study in Scotland to be a doctor in the early 1940s.
The young man fell in love and things happened: birth, death, withdrawal, more death, and Bengal got torn apart. His journey with the family continued in a small settlement in Malaya where he tried to start again.
Written in 17 chapters, alternating between the present and the past, this book got us some glimpses of historical moments of India and Malaysia such as the Partition of Bengal and Liberation Day.
Since the writer is a history writer as well as a filmmaker, this book seamed the political situations into the plot nicely. We, as readers, are invited to see what we usually see as ‘date and moment’ in history books through the more subjective lens: a human being with family and friendship that tie, fear and regret, simple happiness and everlasting grief.
Some parts are funny for example when I, an Indonesian reader, got reminded of how absurd our obsession with ghosts can be. Or beautiful food as our love language.
I would recommend this book to those who are interested in SEA literature, readers who like historical fiction, multi-generational story, Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Lowland’, or something like Min Jin Lee’s ‘Pachinko’ but less painful.
The book follows the journey of a young man, the son of Nirmal Sengupta, a wealthy man from Calcutta. Wealthy enough to start a school in a village and send his son to study in Scotland to be a doctor in the early 1940s.
The young man fell in love and things happened: birth, death, withdrawal, more death, and Bengal got torn apart. His journey with the family continued in a small settlement in Malaya where he tried to start again.
Written in 17 chapters, alternating between the present and the past, this book got us some glimpses of historical moments of India and Malaysia such as the Partition of Bengal and Liberation Day.
Since the writer is a history writer as well as a filmmaker, this book seamed the political situations into the plot nicely. We, as readers, are invited to see what we usually see as ‘date and moment’ in history books through the more subjective lens: a human being with family and friendship that tie, fear and regret, simple happiness and everlasting grief.
Some parts are funny for example when I, an Indonesian reader, got reminded of how absurd our obsession with ghosts can be. Or beautiful food as our love language.
I would recommend this book to those who are interested in SEA literature, readers who like historical fiction, multi-generational story, Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Lowland’, or something like Min Jin Lee’s ‘Pachinko’ but less painful.
February 27, 2021
Historical fiction from post & pre-independent India.
This book was a page turner. I LOVED the fact that we don't know the name of the protagonist—just his surname.
I wasn't really expecting THAT end.
This book was a page turner. I LOVED the fact that we don't know the name of the protagonist—just his surname.
I wasn't really expecting THAT end.
November 22, 2022
Thank you so much, @penguinbookssea for the #ARC opportunity.
Recommending #aflutterinthecolony by #SandeepRay.
An atmospheric #historicalfiction of a newly wedded couple from Calcutta seeking greener pastures in Malaya to escape from the famine. The juxtapositions drawn parallelly between the political climates in Bengal and Malaya shaped the fulcrum of the story.
The horrific Bengal Famine was one of the abominable crimes committed by the British colonialists in pre-partition Bengal. The savaging Radcliffe line ripped the sub-continent into pieces. First, India-Pakistan and then in this story Bengal torn apart into West Bengal becoming part of India and East Bengal with Pakistan at first and then liberated to become today’s Bangladesh. The magnitude of this historical humanitarian disaster is inexplicable. But an important tool for the British colonizers to wield their power play after fanning the communal violence in the region.
The protagonist Sengupta and his second wife Maloti who were acclimatized to the freedom movement in Bengal found themselves in a similar circumstances over in Malaya. The communist insurgents, part of the Malayan National Liberation Army were fighting the British colonialists in the Anti-British National Liberation War o liberate Malaya. It was raw Cold War in all rigour to decolonize south east asia then.
Sengupta and Maloti who harboured and conditioned to the Anti-British rhetoric were immediately able to lend a hand to the like-minded compatriots in Malaya.
Sengupta who started off as a clerical staff at the rubber plantation gradually formed an alliance with a British doctor where he worked also as a locum in the evenings at the clinic. He was offered the perfect opportunity to complete his deferred medical degree in Scotland with a full sponsorship.
However, as the maxim goes, vibe attracts your tribe, Sengupta lands himself in a tricky affair with the communist insurgents.
A rekindling of his dormant freedom fighting spirit happens during a crossfire although he genuinely rendered his medical service to the sick and needy. He felt the need to carry out and succeed in the once abandoned resistance mission in Calcutta, this time in Malaya with the insurgents. Loyalties were questioned and a threat to his living was looming over his head.
I think he was already a goner, a loner after his first wife (Maloti’s elder sister) passed away, leaving behind their son Jonaki. He had to give up his medical school to return to Calcutta as a defeated man engulfed by perpetual grief who turned to alcohol for solace. Eventually he finds a companion in the strong and unbridled natured Maloti who assumed the mother role for his son. The move to Malaya brought about new undertakings for the couple and the little one. Maloti found a sense of belonging with the women in the neighbourhood.
The microcosm of the Senguptas panned out beautifully with the Malayan locals. They were integrating well. The colloquial colours and flavours were entertaining. So many cultural references made. The author has certainly done immense research to accurately represent the diverse ethnic, gastronomic, linguistic, socio-economic, hcultural, and tumultuous war anecdotes including the Japanese Occupation in this story. The indigenous Malay folklore involving the hantu, mainly the infamous Pontianak avenging especially the British men showed how a community psychologically grappled with the British Empire invading their land and plundering their wealth.
The story discourse was presented eloquently. Their lives and narratives transitioned seamlessly between Calcutta and India. Layered cleverly for readers to be absorbed into. I felt transported straight into the Malayan era. Loved the camaraderie spirit and friendships forged in the narratives, albeit I can’t help but express my distaste for the redundant usage of the third person pronoun ‘the young man’.
Incredible storytelling. This is indeed a promising story. Looking forward to reading more stories by Sandeep Ray.
#penguinbookssea #penguinsg #bookstagram #asianliterature #sgbookstagram #igreads #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bibliophile #book #bookstagrammalaysia #bookreviewersofinstagram #bookrecommendation #read #readersofinstagram
Recommending #aflutterinthecolony by #SandeepRay.
An atmospheric #historicalfiction of a newly wedded couple from Calcutta seeking greener pastures in Malaya to escape from the famine. The juxtapositions drawn parallelly between the political climates in Bengal and Malaya shaped the fulcrum of the story.
The horrific Bengal Famine was one of the abominable crimes committed by the British colonialists in pre-partition Bengal. The savaging Radcliffe line ripped the sub-continent into pieces. First, India-Pakistan and then in this story Bengal torn apart into West Bengal becoming part of India and East Bengal with Pakistan at first and then liberated to become today’s Bangladesh. The magnitude of this historical humanitarian disaster is inexplicable. But an important tool for the British colonizers to wield their power play after fanning the communal violence in the region.
The protagonist Sengupta and his second wife Maloti who were acclimatized to the freedom movement in Bengal found themselves in a similar circumstances over in Malaya. The communist insurgents, part of the Malayan National Liberation Army were fighting the British colonialists in the Anti-British National Liberation War o liberate Malaya. It was raw Cold War in all rigour to decolonize south east asia then.
Sengupta and Maloti who harboured and conditioned to the Anti-British rhetoric were immediately able to lend a hand to the like-minded compatriots in Malaya.
Sengupta who started off as a clerical staff at the rubber plantation gradually formed an alliance with a British doctor where he worked also as a locum in the evenings at the clinic. He was offered the perfect opportunity to complete his deferred medical degree in Scotland with a full sponsorship.
However, as the maxim goes, vibe attracts your tribe, Sengupta lands himself in a tricky affair with the communist insurgents.
A rekindling of his dormant freedom fighting spirit happens during a crossfire although he genuinely rendered his medical service to the sick and needy. He felt the need to carry out and succeed in the once abandoned resistance mission in Calcutta, this time in Malaya with the insurgents. Loyalties were questioned and a threat to his living was looming over his head.
I think he was already a goner, a loner after his first wife (Maloti’s elder sister) passed away, leaving behind their son Jonaki. He had to give up his medical school to return to Calcutta as a defeated man engulfed by perpetual grief who turned to alcohol for solace. Eventually he finds a companion in the strong and unbridled natured Maloti who assumed the mother role for his son. The move to Malaya brought about new undertakings for the couple and the little one. Maloti found a sense of belonging with the women in the neighbourhood.
The microcosm of the Senguptas panned out beautifully with the Malayan locals. They were integrating well. The colloquial colours and flavours were entertaining. So many cultural references made. The author has certainly done immense research to accurately represent the diverse ethnic, gastronomic, linguistic, socio-economic, hcultural, and tumultuous war anecdotes including the Japanese Occupation in this story. The indigenous Malay folklore involving the hantu, mainly the infamous Pontianak avenging especially the British men showed how a community psychologically grappled with the British Empire invading their land and plundering their wealth.
The story discourse was presented eloquently. Their lives and narratives transitioned seamlessly between Calcutta and India. Layered cleverly for readers to be absorbed into. I felt transported straight into the Malayan era. Loved the camaraderie spirit and friendships forged in the narratives, albeit I can’t help but express my distaste for the redundant usage of the third person pronoun ‘the young man’.
Incredible storytelling. This is indeed a promising story. Looking forward to reading more stories by Sandeep Ray.
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October 17, 2019
Author – Sandeep Ray
Publisher – HarperCollins
Genre – historical fiction
Length – 331 pages
Blurb – in 1956, the Sengupta family move from Calcutta to Malay to start afresh life. To forget thier past troubles and form new ties but thier new home is not entirely calm, a racially motivated society is on the brink of independence even as communist insurgents hover on the periphery. How much can an outsider meddle, before all of it destroyes him
My views
A young man, his wife and son move from troublesome peri-partition Bengal to Malay in search of a better life, seems normal? but the story is definety like an onion peel, the more you read ,the more details you discover. The story follows two timelines. I.e,
1940s – Son of a wealthy family, during is village visit falls for a poor village girl, he loves her so much that when he hears that her marriage is fixed to someone else, he gather the courage to go to the village again, to ask her father for her hand in marriage. Story takes some twist and turns from there and the girl’s father dies but somehow it all works out and the girl (niropama) gets married to our protagonist.
But Mr Sengupta wants his son to become a doctor, and in those times, you did as your father said (as if now!) So out protagonist leaves behind his pregnant wife to study medicine overseas. Meanwhile Bengal his homeland suffers from huge political tumoils, and the infamous Bengal famine of 1943. He comes back in his own quater-life crisis , with an alcohol addiction, without a degree, his wife now dead & also to find his home & homeland in a deep trouble.
1950s – The Sengupta family, the young man now married to malouti and with a son are living in Malay,their past almost left behind but when he finds out that Wong,a coworker is stealing medications from their work place he falls down a whole different trail.
The story transition smoothly from one decade to another, and things I felt were unnecessary while reading made sense a few pages later, one more thing that hit me was the realism of both the story and the characters. Most of them are so flawed but that’s what makes them believable, and how in times of desperate needs the lines between good and bad start to disintegrate. Something that might look very needed from one side might cause a big harm to others like the servant stealing rice during the great famine and the protagonist some how was caught on the side of ‘ Chinese Bandits’ in thier movement against the British Colonizers.
The books also touches on complex religious tensions during the Bengal partition and its effect on people who had to migrate. This is a staple of books around the era but there can never be enough stories to tell of the dark times.
This book is definitely worth reading, especially if you are in to historical fiction, politics and things like that.
Publisher – HarperCollins
Genre – historical fiction
Length – 331 pages
Blurb – in 1956, the Sengupta family move from Calcutta to Malay to start afresh life. To forget thier past troubles and form new ties but thier new home is not entirely calm, a racially motivated society is on the brink of independence even as communist insurgents hover on the periphery. How much can an outsider meddle, before all of it destroyes him
My views
A young man, his wife and son move from troublesome peri-partition Bengal to Malay in search of a better life, seems normal? but the story is definety like an onion peel, the more you read ,the more details you discover. The story follows two timelines. I.e,
1940s – Son of a wealthy family, during is village visit falls for a poor village girl, he loves her so much that when he hears that her marriage is fixed to someone else, he gather the courage to go to the village again, to ask her father for her hand in marriage. Story takes some twist and turns from there and the girl’s father dies but somehow it all works out and the girl (niropama) gets married to our protagonist.
But Mr Sengupta wants his son to become a doctor, and in those times, you did as your father said (as if now!) So out protagonist leaves behind his pregnant wife to study medicine overseas. Meanwhile Bengal his homeland suffers from huge political tumoils, and the infamous Bengal famine of 1943. He comes back in his own quater-life crisis , with an alcohol addiction, without a degree, his wife now dead & also to find his home & homeland in a deep trouble.
1950s – The Sengupta family, the young man now married to malouti and with a son are living in Malay,their past almost left behind but when he finds out that Wong,a coworker is stealing medications from their work place he falls down a whole different trail.
The story transition smoothly from one decade to another, and things I felt were unnecessary while reading made sense a few pages later, one more thing that hit me was the realism of both the story and the characters. Most of them are so flawed but that’s what makes them believable, and how in times of desperate needs the lines between good and bad start to disintegrate. Something that might look very needed from one side might cause a big harm to others like the servant stealing rice during the great famine and the protagonist some how was caught on the side of ‘ Chinese Bandits’ in thier movement against the British Colonizers.
The books also touches on complex religious tensions during the Bengal partition and its effect on people who had to migrate. This is a staple of books around the era but there can never be enough stories to tell of the dark times.
This book is definitely worth reading, especially if you are in to historical fiction, politics and things like that.
May 9, 2020
The 'young man', his wife Maloti & son Jonaki, travel from Calcutta to one of the rural Malayan islands to start a new life.There with the help of the young man's freind Palash, he finds a job as a clerk in rubber plantation estate. Throwing back the remanants of bitter past behind them, the descendants of highly acclaimed Senguptha family of Bengal migrates for a livelihood in a foreign island.
📝
This novel switches between two timelines , one set up in undivided Bengal and the other in Malayan islands when the country is at the verge of its independence. Interestingly the whole book runs at the backdrop of pre independence era of two countries that too both clasped in the hands of the British.
📝
During 1940's in Bengal , the state was loomed over by stark darkness of two major problems -- wretching famine due to catastrophic shortage of food; and partition of the province based on religious lines.
Both these incidents take its toll equally on the people across the state. And the young man too has to bare the brunt of consequences of those incidents. While recovering from one dent occured in his life during the famine with wit and rejuvenation thanks to Maloti , whereas the riots of partition lashes him completely sucking up his left over zeal on life.
📝
Here the protagonist is referred in the entire book as ' young man ' without revealing his original name at all. I liked the way how the young man's character has been transformed from an irresponsible and aimless stupor back in Bengal due to the whirl of events that has taken place; to a person conceived with empathy and compassion in an alien land.
📝
'A flutter in the colony' is a tauntly knitted novel with vignettes from united Bengal like religious ruptures of protests , riots on 'Direct Action day ' & it's aftermath, and the repercussions of partition.
On the other hand in Malayan island, the Japanese invasion into the British colonolised island & the eruption of communism in the country are adequately discussed.
📝
As a matter of fact, the author has not dived in deep into the history of two countries, yet this book definitely gives an idea of what had happened, alongside narrating a tender family saga of love, life, hope and sacrifice.
I felt a bit dragging in the story here and there towards the end which could have been well avoided, nevertheless it's a quite good pick for historical fiction.
📝
This novel switches between two timelines , one set up in undivided Bengal and the other in Malayan islands when the country is at the verge of its independence. Interestingly the whole book runs at the backdrop of pre independence era of two countries that too both clasped in the hands of the British.
📝
During 1940's in Bengal , the state was loomed over by stark darkness of two major problems -- wretching famine due to catastrophic shortage of food; and partition of the province based on religious lines.
Both these incidents take its toll equally on the people across the state. And the young man too has to bare the brunt of consequences of those incidents. While recovering from one dent occured in his life during the famine with wit and rejuvenation thanks to Maloti , whereas the riots of partition lashes him completely sucking up his left over zeal on life.
📝
Here the protagonist is referred in the entire book as ' young man ' without revealing his original name at all. I liked the way how the young man's character has been transformed from an irresponsible and aimless stupor back in Bengal due to the whirl of events that has taken place; to a person conceived with empathy and compassion in an alien land.
📝
'A flutter in the colony' is a tauntly knitted novel with vignettes from united Bengal like religious ruptures of protests , riots on 'Direct Action day ' & it's aftermath, and the repercussions of partition.
On the other hand in Malayan island, the Japanese invasion into the British colonolised island & the eruption of communism in the country are adequately discussed.
📝
As a matter of fact, the author has not dived in deep into the history of two countries, yet this book definitely gives an idea of what had happened, alongside narrating a tender family saga of love, life, hope and sacrifice.
I felt a bit dragging in the story here and there towards the end which could have been well avoided, nevertheless it's a quite good pick for historical fiction.
November 18, 2019
‘A Flutter In The Colony’ is a work of fiction based across significant historical events in time. The story starts in 1956 in Malaya, which is at a doldrums owing to the Malayan Emergency and the struggle of the natives, and often jumps back to the 1940s in the era of Pre-Partitioned Bengal, the Indian Independence struggle, and the political uprisings in the state. Sandeep Ray, being a noted historian, uses his vast array of knowledge to bring out the pictures clear in the mind of the readers.
The male protagonist of the story has not been named in the book. Rather, he has been referred to as ‘Young Man’ throughout. This felt odd to me. Perhaps, the author had planned to keep his protagonist unnamed, so that the readers could own the character and give him an identity as they wished; or maybe the author wanted to refer to a larger community who had faced the hardships of those struggling time, and didn’t want to confine the story to that of a single person.
The character of Maloti, the protagonist’s wife, has been sketched in a manner that it would evoke a feeling of serenity and love among the readers. Maloti is caring and binds the household. Even before her marriage, she had become a prime figure in the Sengupta family, her importance reverberating throughout the pages, making her presence essential in the life of the Young Man, as well as in the story.
Other characters too make their presence felt in Calcutta and Malaya. The writer makes an honest attempt to bind the two different time zones, and bring out the pathos of the commoners. Some of the chapters are well written. However, there are some dialogues in local dialect which I found hard to comprehend. Though it provided a sense of authenticity, I personally didn’t like it. Also, the characterization of the Young Man could have been more powerful. I did not find any quote or dialogue from the book worth noting down, which again was a sort of disappointment to me.
I, however, recommend this book to all lovers of history. The details of places are descriptive and picturesque, and the readers wouldn’t feel left out in an unknown land.
The male protagonist of the story has not been named in the book. Rather, he has been referred to as ‘Young Man’ throughout. This felt odd to me. Perhaps, the author had planned to keep his protagonist unnamed, so that the readers could own the character and give him an identity as they wished; or maybe the author wanted to refer to a larger community who had faced the hardships of those struggling time, and didn’t want to confine the story to that of a single person.
The character of Maloti, the protagonist’s wife, has been sketched in a manner that it would evoke a feeling of serenity and love among the readers. Maloti is caring and binds the household. Even before her marriage, she had become a prime figure in the Sengupta family, her importance reverberating throughout the pages, making her presence essential in the life of the Young Man, as well as in the story.
Other characters too make their presence felt in Calcutta and Malaya. The writer makes an honest attempt to bind the two different time zones, and bring out the pathos of the commoners. Some of the chapters are well written. However, there are some dialogues in local dialect which I found hard to comprehend. Though it provided a sense of authenticity, I personally didn’t like it. Also, the characterization of the Young Man could have been more powerful. I did not find any quote or dialogue from the book worth noting down, which again was a sort of disappointment to me.
I, however, recommend this book to all lovers of history. The details of places are descriptive and picturesque, and the readers wouldn’t feel left out in an unknown land.
October 6, 2019
Rating - 3.75/5
A flutter in the Colony by Sandeep Ray is about a family who had to travel from Calcutta to Malaya to start a new life, leaving behind chaos amidst the war. The history of Calcutta in the 40s and Malaya in the 50s is portrayed from the point of view of the Sengupta family and how their life wasn’t any better when they just moved. It wasn’t simple for the couple to adjust to this diverse place who was fighting for its freedom too.
The story takes turns talking about the young man in his growing years and after he got married. How easy was his life considering he was Nirmal Sengupta’s son, who was a wealthy and well-reputed member of the society. Growing up, he had all the means of comfort but after the crisis hit Calcutta and also his personal life, everything was lost to him.
The tragedies that hit the young man and Maloti were heartbreaking but then it was horrific to know how many people died of starvation, malnutrition, and diseases when famine hit Bengal in 1943 during the second world war. These were the times that can never be forgotten by those who lived there and certainly cannot be forgotten by those who were affected by it and had to leave their homes.
I really like the way the author was able to address so many things from Malaya invasion to its Independence, from brotherhood to racial differences in the society, from love to betrayal. Though there were some bits that felt out of the place or unnecessary and left me wondering why was it included and I feel the plot was missing a smooth flow and it wasn’t strong. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this book.
A flutter in the Colony by Sandeep Ray is about a family who had to travel from Calcutta to Malaya to start a new life, leaving behind chaos amidst the war. The history of Calcutta in the 40s and Malaya in the 50s is portrayed from the point of view of the Sengupta family and how their life wasn’t any better when they just moved. It wasn’t simple for the couple to adjust to this diverse place who was fighting for its freedom too.
The story takes turns talking about the young man in his growing years and after he got married. How easy was his life considering he was Nirmal Sengupta’s son, who was a wealthy and well-reputed member of the society. Growing up, he had all the means of comfort but after the crisis hit Calcutta and also his personal life, everything was lost to him.
The tragedies that hit the young man and Maloti were heartbreaking but then it was horrific to know how many people died of starvation, malnutrition, and diseases when famine hit Bengal in 1943 during the second world war. These were the times that can never be forgotten by those who lived there and certainly cannot be forgotten by those who were affected by it and had to leave their homes.
I really like the way the author was able to address so many things from Malaya invasion to its Independence, from brotherhood to racial differences in the society, from love to betrayal. Though there were some bits that felt out of the place or unnecessary and left me wondering why was it included and I feel the plot was missing a smooth flow and it wasn’t strong. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed reading this book.
October 12, 2019
#bookreview
Title : The Flutter In The Colony
Author : Sandeep Ray
During my school days, the subject which I hated the most was history. But now I wish I can go back and live those periods which we just read through books. Some books will have a major impact on you after reading and its just amazing and beyond my words.This book is similar to that.
The story revolves takes you back to 1956. The Senguptas is moving from Calcutta to Malaya for a fresh start. I haven't heard about this place and since Author had given a beautiful explanation about it, you feel you had visited it. The reason behind them leaving Calcutta was to forget their bitter past, but Malaya was no difference to them. The years filled with pre-Partition Bengal, between the Malayan Emergency and Direct Action Day.
What would have exactly happened? Will they struggle here too?
To know about all this grab your copy. The points that glued me to the book.
🍁 Amazing vocabulary, the flow is too good. I really love the way Author expressed his thoughts.
🍁 Description about the region and the characters like Maloti, Nirmal are too good.
🍁 The religious war or hatred towards Hindu- Muslim is mentioned in this story, which is suppose to have an end.
Title : The Flutter In The Colony
Author : Sandeep Ray
During my school days, the subject which I hated the most was history. But now I wish I can go back and live those periods which we just read through books. Some books will have a major impact on you after reading and its just amazing and beyond my words.This book is similar to that.
The story revolves takes you back to 1956. The Senguptas is moving from Calcutta to Malaya for a fresh start. I haven't heard about this place and since Author had given a beautiful explanation about it, you feel you had visited it. The reason behind them leaving Calcutta was to forget their bitter past, but Malaya was no difference to them. The years filled with pre-Partition Bengal, between the Malayan Emergency and Direct Action Day.
What would have exactly happened? Will they struggle here too?
To know about all this grab your copy. The points that glued me to the book.
🍁 Amazing vocabulary, the flow is too good. I really love the way Author expressed his thoughts.
🍁 Description about the region and the characters like Maloti, Nirmal are too good.
🍁 The religious war or hatred towards Hindu- Muslim is mentioned in this story, which is suppose to have an end.
November 20, 2022
REVIEW
The Flutter in the colony is a historical fiction taking place in newly independent India and pre-independent Malaya. This is the story of a young couple who moves from Bengal to Malaya to start over their life from scratch. The plot is written in timelines, one is the present 1956 in Malaya and the past life of the protagonist in Bengal. The author jumps between past and present with every alternative chapter, this shift was smooth and interesting.
Since the author is a historian himself, he has meticulously infiltrated historical events into the plot and weaved a beautiful narrative out of it. The story revolves around the protagonist called “The Young Man” the author has not named his protagonist except for “the young man” or “Sengupta” which is his surname. This was initially confusing and later turned into curiosity, as readers we would expect to learn the protagonist’s name at some point which didn’t happen. After completing the book it dawned maybe the author didn’t want to give a definite identity to the protagonist because he wants the young man to be the representation of young men who lived during those periods of history. I may be wrong but this interpretation seems quite fascinating.
The author has beautifully written down places in this book. It is always a bliss to read about Indian cities and villages, especially if their period. The way in which the author has described the pre-partition Bengal was ultimately nostalgic. His effective writing skills instantly transferred the readers to that period without any difficulty. He has done the same thing with Malaya, as a reader, you will be able to experience the 1950s Malaya and Rubber plantation to the fullest even without visiting it ever in your life. This is one of the major successes of this book.
This book had a lot of communities, you will get to know about the Senguptas in Bengal and the kind of people living in Bengal. Once the lead characters shift to Malaya, there you will be able to meet English people, Chinese, Tamils, Malayans, and Bengalis. This mixture of cultures was fascinating. To make it more authentic, the author has used phrases and words, these people use on regular basis in their everyday life.
The way the story started was amazing, it was simple, happy and engaging. As the story commences forward it gets more and more deep and serious. The protagonist hits a low point in his life after coming across certain life-altering events. How he sulks in it, and how he gets out of it has been sensibly written.
The protagonist and his friends start a magazine and create a revolution during the pre-partition time. Though the idea behind this was good, at certain instances it felt like only one side of the history has been showcased. It would have been extraordinary if the author has been more neutral.
The author has also focused on famine, and what famine did to people. The happenings of the Sengupta household were also interestingly written. Maloti’s character had many layers, and though she played a considerable role in this book, it wasn’t sufficient.
In Malaya, the author has clearly elaborated on the politics, the differences, insurgency and all in greater detail. All these were quite informative and helped the readers see the clear picture of this locality and its affairs. The best thing about this part was, here the author covered everything about all the communities living in Malaya. He went a step ahead and gave a vision of what the communist insurgents are also going through. But towards the end, it felt like the plot has missed its mark and certain things could have been avoided.
On the whole, it was a decent book. The writing style and narrative style were awesome. A stronger and solid storyline would have made it much more wonderful.
MY VIEWS
The feel and aura this book gave were simply amazing. I liked the overall experience this book gave me. I absolutely loved the way the author has brought Bengal and Malaya in front of my eyes.
I just had a couple of issues with this book, one being, Maloti and the young man getting married. Though it was something extremely normal in those days, it was just unacceptable. At least for me. The next issue was, there were certain political differences, especially certain comments by Nirmal Sengupta and one of the young man’s friends throwing statements which were not so nice.
During the period in which, the protagonist was politically active, I couldn’t understand his entire gang’s motive, because one moment, they were not happy about Muslims being treated as their equals in their country India and the next moment they are arguing with Hindu party people that they should give some rights to Muslims if not Muslims will seek partition. And at the conclave of their safe circle, they talk bullshit. It was quite confusing to understand these characters but what was clear was, these characters want Muslims to have rights just to save the country from the partition but deep down, they feel like Muslims are second-grade citizens. This was disturbing. And the next major issue was, the author had written about partition riots in Bengal, here the author has focused on Muslims killing a Hindu doctor who served the Muslim community but as I said earlier, this doctor himself wasn’t having highest of regards for Muslims. I felt like this book strategically just showcased Muslims killing Hindus and not vice versa, which definitely happened in history. The communal violence done by any religious people is wrong, I stand by that but emphasising the violence done by one community alone seems biased and one-sided.
The next thing was, to be very frank, I didn’t like the ending of the book. It was heartbreaking to read this kind of an end. How the author started the plot was spectacular but towards the end, it felt pretty pointless and aimless.
Other than these issues, the book was good.
My rating for this book would be 3 out 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐
Happy Reading Folks!
~ Meenu
The Flutter in the colony is a historical fiction taking place in newly independent India and pre-independent Malaya. This is the story of a young couple who moves from Bengal to Malaya to start over their life from scratch. The plot is written in timelines, one is the present 1956 in Malaya and the past life of the protagonist in Bengal. The author jumps between past and present with every alternative chapter, this shift was smooth and interesting.
Since the author is a historian himself, he has meticulously infiltrated historical events into the plot and weaved a beautiful narrative out of it. The story revolves around the protagonist called “The Young Man” the author has not named his protagonist except for “the young man” or “Sengupta” which is his surname. This was initially confusing and later turned into curiosity, as readers we would expect to learn the protagonist’s name at some point which didn’t happen. After completing the book it dawned maybe the author didn’t want to give a definite identity to the protagonist because he wants the young man to be the representation of young men who lived during those periods of history. I may be wrong but this interpretation seems quite fascinating.
The author has beautifully written down places in this book. It is always a bliss to read about Indian cities and villages, especially if their period. The way in which the author has described the pre-partition Bengal was ultimately nostalgic. His effective writing skills instantly transferred the readers to that period without any difficulty. He has done the same thing with Malaya, as a reader, you will be able to experience the 1950s Malaya and Rubber plantation to the fullest even without visiting it ever in your life. This is one of the major successes of this book.
This book had a lot of communities, you will get to know about the Senguptas in Bengal and the kind of people living in Bengal. Once the lead characters shift to Malaya, there you will be able to meet English people, Chinese, Tamils, Malayans, and Bengalis. This mixture of cultures was fascinating. To make it more authentic, the author has used phrases and words, these people use on regular basis in their everyday life.
The way the story started was amazing, it was simple, happy and engaging. As the story commences forward it gets more and more deep and serious. The protagonist hits a low point in his life after coming across certain life-altering events. How he sulks in it, and how he gets out of it has been sensibly written.
The protagonist and his friends start a magazine and create a revolution during the pre-partition time. Though the idea behind this was good, at certain instances it felt like only one side of the history has been showcased. It would have been extraordinary if the author has been more neutral.
The author has also focused on famine, and what famine did to people. The happenings of the Sengupta household were also interestingly written. Maloti’s character had many layers, and though she played a considerable role in this book, it wasn’t sufficient.
In Malaya, the author has clearly elaborated on the politics, the differences, insurgency and all in greater detail. All these were quite informative and helped the readers see the clear picture of this locality and its affairs. The best thing about this part was, here the author covered everything about all the communities living in Malaya. He went a step ahead and gave a vision of what the communist insurgents are also going through. But towards the end, it felt like the plot has missed its mark and certain things could have been avoided.
On the whole, it was a decent book. The writing style and narrative style were awesome. A stronger and solid storyline would have made it much more wonderful.
MY VIEWS
The feel and aura this book gave were simply amazing. I liked the overall experience this book gave me. I absolutely loved the way the author has brought Bengal and Malaya in front of my eyes.
I just had a couple of issues with this book, one being, Maloti and the young man getting married. Though it was something extremely normal in those days, it was just unacceptable. At least for me. The next issue was, there were certain political differences, especially certain comments by Nirmal Sengupta and one of the young man’s friends throwing statements which were not so nice.
During the period in which, the protagonist was politically active, I couldn’t understand his entire gang’s motive, because one moment, they were not happy about Muslims being treated as their equals in their country India and the next moment they are arguing with Hindu party people that they should give some rights to Muslims if not Muslims will seek partition. And at the conclave of their safe circle, they talk bullshit. It was quite confusing to understand these characters but what was clear was, these characters want Muslims to have rights just to save the country from the partition but deep down, they feel like Muslims are second-grade citizens. This was disturbing. And the next major issue was, the author had written about partition riots in Bengal, here the author has focused on Muslims killing a Hindu doctor who served the Muslim community but as I said earlier, this doctor himself wasn’t having highest of regards for Muslims. I felt like this book strategically just showcased Muslims killing Hindus and not vice versa, which definitely happened in history. The communal violence done by any religious people is wrong, I stand by that but emphasising the violence done by one community alone seems biased and one-sided.
The next thing was, to be very frank, I didn’t like the ending of the book. It was heartbreaking to read this kind of an end. How the author started the plot was spectacular but towards the end, it felt pretty pointless and aimless.
Other than these issues, the book was good.
My rating for this book would be 3 out 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐
Happy Reading Folks!
~ Meenu
April 9, 2020
A well-written book. Very atmospheric. However, there are several key moments in the story, where the author skimps on details. I don’t know why he did that, because these are not moments that you want to leave to the readers’ imaginations.
The last 15-20% of the book is utterly ridiculous from a character development point of view.
Also, I was really disappointed to see a fair amount of classism/ elite-ism in this book!
These two things are the reason I have downgraded the books rating to a 3 from a 4.
The last 15-20% of the book is utterly ridiculous from a character development point of view.
Also, I was really disappointed to see a fair amount of classism/ elite-ism in this book!
These two things are the reason I have downgraded the books rating to a 3 from a 4.
May 20, 2023
It's a lovely easy-breezy read. Probably the only historical fiction I've read so far that I've finished quickly and didn't impact me too deeply either(which isn't really a bad thing). I did feel like the end was abruptly wrapped up. I loved the characters, especially the protagonists and wanted to know more about them long after the book ended.
February 12, 2023
Have struggled to finish books in recent times, but this one was unputdownable! The way he addressed the Bengal famine and Partition is noteworthy, has described the events with historical accuracy without being drawn to taking sides. Even the Communist insurgency in Malaysia, has brought out the essential human story and not made it an ideological battleground. Really enjoyed reading it.
March 29, 2020
A marvellous book about the independence struggle of the South Asian Nations intertwined with cultural differences and intraclass struggle, set in Malaya - evoking the supremacy of white colour, irrespective of the white being Brits or Aussie.
October 5, 2020
What a debut novel!!
November 14, 2022
I received this from Penguin Random House SEA, check out more thoughts in this vlog: https://youtu.be/6uAVJQEL56s
August 14, 2022
'A Flutter in the Colony' is set in the Colonial era Malaysia - a country on the verge of independence. Another timeline of the story describes the affairs of the said family amidst the historically tragic events that ripped apart Calcutta and rest of the bengal - 1942 famine, 1946 communal riots and India's partition. Essentially this book sees the birth of two nations - vastly different in topography, politics and everything in between - similar still in a way that only two bloodied, bruised and beaten down countries could be. There is one line in particular that shows how acutely similar are the pain and grief, caused by colonizers everywhere.
"The young man looked at Jūju - a fourteen-year-old ragamuffin staring down the barrel of Empire."
The young man remains nameless during the entire course of the story. Maybe it's to give him a small respite in the elusiveness or maybe it's to emphasize his search for self. Without name he becomes abstract, an idea. It remains a mystery whether Sandeep Ray wanted to make the idea of him larger than life or he wanted his protagonist to be shrouded in ambiguity. It's a riddle I'm only too happy to let go unsolved. Because sometimes there's a peace in not knowing.
It reads like those 19th and 20th century novels by Bengali authors which underlines India's struggle for independence. With clear prose, accurate representation of various different factions, well researched facts and no meandering nonsense, this book makes it looks like the easiest task in the world to fall in love with the narrative.
Along with the plot and Ray's impeccable storytelling, one can't help but praise the array of characters he picked for this book. Each character is well-etched and meticulously created, each a necessary part of the story. I'm dying to talk about each one and explain how they brought nuances to the story, but I feel like I've already said too much. After all, a book is best savoured if it comes with a thrill of discovery, no?
'A Flutter in the Colony' is perfect in every way. It's a commentary on emigrant life. It throws a light on exploitation and colonialism without delving too deep into the politics. It's about the good and bad in people, about sadness, death and little joys of life. It's one of the best historical fictions I've read in recent years.
"The young man looked at Jūju - a fourteen-year-old ragamuffin staring down the barrel of Empire."
The young man remains nameless during the entire course of the story. Maybe it's to give him a small respite in the elusiveness or maybe it's to emphasize his search for self. Without name he becomes abstract, an idea. It remains a mystery whether Sandeep Ray wanted to make the idea of him larger than life or he wanted his protagonist to be shrouded in ambiguity. It's a riddle I'm only too happy to let go unsolved. Because sometimes there's a peace in not knowing.
It reads like those 19th and 20th century novels by Bengali authors which underlines India's struggle for independence. With clear prose, accurate representation of various different factions, well researched facts and no meandering nonsense, this book makes it looks like the easiest task in the world to fall in love with the narrative.
Along with the plot and Ray's impeccable storytelling, one can't help but praise the array of characters he picked for this book. Each character is well-etched and meticulously created, each a necessary part of the story. I'm dying to talk about each one and explain how they brought nuances to the story, but I feel like I've already said too much. After all, a book is best savoured if it comes with a thrill of discovery, no?
'A Flutter in the Colony' is perfect in every way. It's a commentary on emigrant life. It throws a light on exploitation and colonialism without delving too deep into the politics. It's about the good and bad in people, about sadness, death and little joys of life. It's one of the best historical fictions I've read in recent years.
August 7, 2023
First off, I love how the vibe feels like Rani Manicka's The Rice Mother (no plot similarities, just vibes which is good because that book is excellent). I was immersed enough that it took me more than half of the book to realise the MC is unnamed. There are some minor errors in facts which is addressed in the older reviews but I honestly didn't notice that after a while. This book is a great debut btw, the prose is beautiful and the pacing is good.
August 2, 2020
An interview with Sandeep Ray can be found here.
http://www.asianbooksblog.com/2020/04...
http://www.asianbooksblog.com/2020/04...
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