Day: 1315
Blog post: 136
BookLysis (Book Review): 15
Today I am sharing the analysis of 'Her Resurrection' by SoumyadeepKoley. This book is published by Gargi Publishers. So this is the third (and the most) book I am reviewing under Gargi publishers. And so many titles by them are already on my list.
- Read my Reviews of Gargi’s titles:
1. Hidden Husband by Shikha Kaul (Rating 4.5/5, 26 Comments & 63630 pageviews) (Amazon | Kindle | Flipkart)
2. Hey Dad Meet My Mom!!! by Sandeep Sharma & LeepiAgrawal (Rating 4.4/5, 6 Comments & 33k pageviews) (Amazon | Kindle | Flipkart)
(©Front Cover of Her Resurrection)
Title: Her Resurrection
Subtitle: A Survivor’s Journey of Emancipation, Reclamation and Redemption.
Author: SOUMYADEEP KOLEY
Published by Gargi Publishers in June 2015
Publisher: Pulkit Gupta
ISBN: 9789384382087
ASIN: B015YXIOAU
Copyright ©Soumyadeep Koley
Design and Layout by Ajay Verma
Cover Design by Amol Karambe
Language: English
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 260 (excluding cover)
Price: Rs. 225/-
Genre: FICTION
Reviewed by: Rajesh D. Hajare (RDH)
Rating: 4.15/5
TABOUT THE AUTHOR
©Author Soumyadeep Koley
Soumyadeep Koley is a writer, poet, women’s rights activist and photographer. After graduating with Honours degree in Chemistry from Scottish Church College, Kolkata, he joined the global fight against violence on women. He has worked with Jason Jayology Jeremias, the Founder and Artistic Director of Price of Silence, New York, which employs performing arts to bring the global struggle for women’s rights to life. Soumyadeep has three years of experience in psychological counseling of domestic violence and rape survivors from India and abroad, through unique mystical and metaphysical techniques.
You can join his Facebook page at facebook.com/unitedforwomen.
COVER AND TITLE:
(©Book cover of Her Resurrection)
Front cover of ‘her resurrection’ is very attractive, ‘h’ in ‘her’ shows tear dropping from portrait of survivor girl/woman perfectly suits to the theme and title. The Marionettes gives the glimpse of women’s suffering like puppets in the society on the back cover of the book. Pictures of marionette and a woman riding on a camel in hot sunny dessert represent the scene in Rajasthan. In my opinion, Her Resurrection’s cover portrays two different pictures of a survivor’s journey. Front cover portrays the first phase of survivor’s life (as a survivor), and the back cover portrays a survivor’s journey of Emancipation through marionette and the journey of Reclamation and Redemption through woman’s picture on a camel. The portrait of a girl whether it is in painting, marionette or on a camel, I feel the same as the replica of a survivor protagonist Maya who is suffering in the painting on the front cover, struggling for the emancipation while doing people’s so-called entertainment like the marionette, and the journey of Reclamation and Redemption on camel. Again I would applaud for Ammol Karambe’s imagination and justice with the cover.
Her Resurrection seems like a very interesting title. The title carries a subtitle ‘A Survivor’s Journey of Emancipation, Reclamation and Redemption.' Overall title gives a clue about the theme of tragedy and social issues.
(©Shadow of Her Resurrection’s front cover image)
A unique feature of the book is; each chapter in ‘Her Resurrection starts with the cover portrait of a survivor.
SETTING:
The protagonist Maya’s journey in ‘Her Resurrection’ runs through different locations like Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, more than half story of Maya’s suffering is set in Nariman point, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station, Airport, Versova and red light area in (Brothel) Kamathipura (South Mumbai) in Mumbai (Maharashtra), there is a glimpse of Jaipur (Rajasthan), Panaji (Goa) and Bandel (West Bengal) in India and Riyadh from Saudi Arab.
LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE
The language of ‘Her Resurrection’ is not very simple, but it’s lucid. Author Soumyadeep Koley uses Hindi words along with the English meaning next to the word in a bracket. Even pronunciation and syllables are noted in the story. The author narrates Maya’s journey in the style of narration as a first person. He also uses diary style to narrate the journey of Maya’s life. An impression of author's native language Bengali can be seen in his characters' (like Pronoy andHonooman) Bengali accents. The author introduces each and every character in detail.
CHARACTERS:
Maya: Maya is the protagonist in ‘Her Resurrection’. This is the story of ‘her (Maya’s) resurrection’. Her character in childhood is portrayed as a stubborn girl. Maya is one of my favorite characters because of her inspiring life.
There are so many major and minor characters like Saadia, Anjali,Pronoy, Mr. Damien Castellino, Dr. Ramasubban, Rachel, Pravin,Shittupam, Kshitij Master, Gobardan, Audra, Sayali, Pawan/Harshit, Arjun Singh, Purushottam, Jahnman, Rohan, Chhetri, Siddharth Badani, Mr. Hogan, Honooman Prasad, Sucharita, Alexandra Castellino, Saakshi and Missus Rani etc.
PLOT:
The story of Her Resurrection starts with a childhood of a common little/young girl. A scene of a cricket match being played by a group of boys with a plastic ball takes us in our childhood memories. Some scenes are scribbled gracefully so all of those look like a live picture. Failed attempts of Maya’s escapes from bordello and the thought of prostitutes’ reality in bordello thrill us. A conversation between Maya and her colleague Anjali touches to readers’ heart. When I read about Maya’s promotion, I feel like that is not her promotion, but mine and I become happy for her success. The author beautifully comments on possible misuses of a woman’s would be naked/semi-naked pictures. The narration of Maya’s unbuttoning robes for a photoshoot is really romantic. Chapter tenth brings so many twists and turns in the story. First visualization session of Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is described intelligently. The interaction between Rachel and Maya in the hypnotized state of mind seem realistic and brilliant.
Author Soumyadeep Koley comments on people’s narrow mind thinking for rescuing someone in the quotation- “If I rescue her, I’d get into trouble. If I don’t, the world wouldn’t turn upside down. So why bother?” He also comments on society’s mindset about single mothers. An irony of women’s life is fantastically narrated by the author. Although the behavior of police officers and the system is being changed with rape victims in a positive sense due to a lot of awareness, author realistically portrays the rude and corrupt police officer’s character. The author also gives the glance of an illegal judicial system like Khap Panchayat in villages among northern India. Author comments on people’s ignorance to pay a single rupee to beggars. He gives the glance of an unemployment. The author targets Indian audience for treating women like a material of an entertainment in the male centric atmosphere- “We live in a culture where women and even little girls are eroticized for public entertainment. In this way, these little girls are robbed of their innocence. It has become the way of life that it is impossible to imagine being entertained without a girl or woman being sexually objectified--- be it a movie, be it an item-song, (as they term it) be it magazines, or be it erotic literature for the sophisticated mass.” The author remarks economic condition of small vendors in a single but ironic line “He sold so much happiness but never tasted it.” Author Soumyadeep Koley gracefully scribbles the obstacles in prostitute’s life to live simple life. He comments on the tragedy of prostitutes’ children and their unfulfilled education, unfulfilled ambitions and the talent. Although I have not experienced (heheheJ), I have personally sensed the reality of red light area in Itwari (Nagpur) while traveling or walking, and the author bravely describes the reality of red light areas, let it be Mumbai’s oldest and Asia’s second largest red light area in Kamathipura or any other but the situation is same as portrayed and it’s shameful. The author writes about police, politicians and ministers’ deceitful promises about prostitutes’ resurrection. He also gives the glimpse of a horrible fact about the import of little girls in brothels for prostitution. Author elegantly refers the real incidents like Operation Shakti and Kargil War from the nineties.
The novel ‘Her Resurrection’ gives us some messages. The author urges us to act and behaves like a human being - “In today’s world, if a human being acts like a human being, that ought to be enough. He doesn’t need to be God.” Author gives a message of gender equality from even a Maya - a prostitute, when she says to her unborn baby - “If you are a boy, I’ll raise you up to be a perfect man who’d be made of love, who’d respect women, and fight for the ailing humanity at womanhood. If you’re a girl… I’ll never let you come up against a bit of what I’ve gone through in my life. I’ll never, ever let any harm come to you. I’ll be your sword and shield. I’ll protect you with my life.” Author motivates us and especially those who think to commit suicide when Rachel tells Maya - “You were are sent to the earth for a reason. You still have a big task to do in this earth. You can’t die before you complete it. If you tried to kill yourself before that, you’ll only suffer more and more.” Damien’s answer to those who consider prostitutes dirty is really commendable and acceptable.
Author’s research or knowledge about photography can be seen from the information like “skin shine and glamour are very important aspects of photography.” He tells the difference between observation by a common people and a photographer. The author gives useful information about SBI’s policy of minimum required amount in saving accounts. It seems that the author has researched a lot about Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
I reminded the four different books I have read earlier while readingHer Resurrection. But let me tell you that it’s just a coincidence and nothing more between co-relation. While reading about telepathy I commemorate the scene from ‘Hey Dad! Meet My Mom!!’ where protagonist Puneet talks to his dream-girl Roshni in her unconscious state of mind. A quotation “All problems in life are temporary, but suicide is permanent. It can never be a solution” commemorates me the similar quote"Suicide is for cowards. Suicide is a permanent solution for a temporary problem"from the ARC of novel ‘#IAm16ICan’. Setting in different locations of Mumbai commemorates me the setting of ‘50 Miles- A Reverse Journey’.
- Related Review: #IAm16ICanRape by Kirtida Gautam (Rating 4.25/5, 21 Comments & 4140 pageviews)
- Also Read: 50 Miles – A Reverse Journey by Jaydeep Khot (Rating 4/5, 3 Comments & 47460 pageviews) (Amazon)
Her QUOTES:
- “Since my childhood, I've always dreamed to be a soldier. As I grew up and stepped into the twenty-first century, I came to realize that India needs more soldiers not to go to war, but to support the pivotal battle of the nation- to fight for women who have been debased and devolved by patriarchy and misogyny, since time immemorial, in order to reclaim the rights that have always been rightfully theirs.”
- “We are the scapegoats of the vagaries of men’s desires. When a man is here having sex with us, you know, somewhere in the city, a girl is saved from being raped. We are a bunch of women-soldiers of the country, who give up their lives for the cause of the nation.”
- “Reality is very hard. Life is harder. It should be worked upon, not dreamt. Dreams should have a place in your mind only in the night, not after you wake up.”
- “Once you’re into your twenties, everybody will taunt you if you aren’t married. They’ll call you defective and impotent. Even the Pundit was discussing that you need a sojourn at a mental hospital, and you’ll become mentally fit once again.”
- “Everything happens for a reason. God never takes anything away from you without having a better plan for you. You’ll understand one day and remember me, when all the roads of your life will meet somewhere just around the corner.”
- “Time can change everything- from kings to paupers, from settlers to drifters, from lovers to strangers, and from girls to ragdolls.”
- “Life is the sum of the choices you make. There’s nothing called destiny, neither anything is written It is the difference between a small ‘yes’ and ‘no’.”
- “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Don’t let your past define your future.”
- “Some things in life are priceless. They can never be repaid off or repaid with.”
- “Experience is one’s greatest teacher, One doesn’t need to have a Master’s Degree to be a master of something.”
DRAWBACKS:
There are print and grammatical errors like her, hir, he and is instead of correct words him, his, her and in on page numbers 23, 127, 173 and 197 respectively. Double inverted comma begins on page no. 174 but does not close, similarly double inverted commas close on page numbers 204 and 241 without opening. The author Soumyadeep Koley uses so many short forms and modern words in the novel which I feel inappropriate on literary aspects. I have seen some words fainted from the novel. So I think that the editors must be careful to check and correct the print mistakes while editing.
REVIEWER’S FORWORDS:
©Image of Author Signed copy of Her Resurrection
Her Resurrection’ by Soumyadeep Koley is the fantastic thriller which enlightens so many unsaid and hidden dark truths of prostitutes’ life. Maya’s journey represents the life of so many unlucky prostitutes. The book tells the journey of common girl’s entry to exit in prostitution. This novel highlights the horrible fact that how emancipate life or even a thought of emancipation is almost impossible in the destiny of prostitutes. The novel thrills us with so many twists and turns and motivates us to think positively. I totally agree with a prediction on page no. 211 about this story of ‘Her Resurrection’, I exactly mean “Maya’s (possibly true) story will give immense strength and support to rape survivors, survivors of sex trafficking, as well as prostitutes. It is indeed a moving eulogy to every Indian woman’s life.”
I would highly recommend the novel ‘Her Resurrection’ to all photographers, models, respected citizens of the society and prostitutes themselves.
I am giving 4.15 out of 5 stars to the novel ‘Her Resurrection’ by SoumyadeepKoley.
©Youtube Video: Her Resurrection – A Survivor’s Journey
BLURB OF THE BOOK
So begins Maya’s story in the picturesque countryside of Maharashtra, where she grows up amidst cruelty and domestic violence, being an unwanted girl-child. Yet, like a lonesome beacon beset by sinister wilderness, she pursues her dreams of reaching the stars with her tiny wings. One night, a twist of fate triggers a series of incidents, when she loses everything she had – even her virginity.
Severely traumatized after her father’s death, hermother’simprisonment, and her own gang-rape, Maya finds herself all alone inthe streets of Mumbai, with wolves lurking around for raw flesh. She’s weary, but not wary. She has no sense of the fate that awaits her. What follows, would change her life forever, as also yours, as her heart wrenching, yet inspiring story echoes through time.
‘Her Resurrection’ bravely paints an appalling picture of society. Heartbreaking, hopeful and immensely healing at the same time, this emotional rollercoaster through dreams, tragedy and triumph is a moving tribute to womankind. Are you ready to embark on a transformational journey with Maya.
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Her Resurrection (4.3/5) | Soumyadeep Koley | Rajesh D. Hajare
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Disclaimer:
- This is my personal opinion about the novel ‘Her Resurrection’ by Soumyadeep Koley and your views may be vary.
- A paperback copy of ‘Her Resurrection’ was sent to me by the author Soumyadeep Koley for an honest review.
- Some quotations are used in this review by the written permission of the author.
- Related Review: Voices of the Silent Creek by Vikkas Arun Pareek (Rating 4.35/5, 2 Comments & 43740 pageviews) (Amazon | Kindle |Flipkart)
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