Lead Review (The Illuminated)

• Book: The Illuminated
• Location: India
• Author: Anindita Ghose

Review Author: tripfiction

The Illuminated by Anindita Ghose is a challenging, mind-broadening read – and I loved it! Ghose is an excellent storyteller, she creates engaging characters and I defy anyone not to finish this fascinating family novel. The book is not without its issues for a non-Indian reader, who might not be familiar with Sanskrit poetry, Hindu myths and Indian geography – but hey, isn’t that part of the fun?

When celebrated Indian architect Robi Mallick dies on a visit to his son in New York, two women are cast adrift. His wife, Shashi, is a traditional wife and they had had an arranged marriage. She has to face a future without him and create a new life for herself in the diminished role of widowhood. Their daughter, Tara, is a PhD student of Sanskrit; a modern woman who does as she pleases and enjoys the privileges of her family’s status. The two women are estranged and must cope with their bereavement without the mutual support that might have consoled them both. As time goes on, each begins to discover things about herself that run counter to the paths they have apparently chosen. But can they find common ground and reconcile?

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This is a powerful exploration of women’s roles in modern India, as seen on an intimate scale in individual women and on a national scale in Indian politics. It is an examination of power and gender politics but it is also a thoroughly entertaining story on a human level. I particularly enjoyed it as an introduction to Indian myths and poetry – it would be good to find time to educate myself further about such things. (I wonder whether someone who is already well-versed – sorry! – in Hindu culture might have an even greater appreciation of the book.) I loved the insight the book offers into the lives of both privileged and less-privileged women in Indian society. Although The Illuminated is set mainly in India, with an Indian cast of characters, many of its themes are universal or at least easy to identify with. That is the author’s secret sauce that sustains the reader’s interest through to the end.

Dharamsala (photo: TripFiction)

The plot moves around geographically. Initially in New York, the plot sees Shashi return to the family home in Delhi, where she reminisces about time spent in Mumbai and Kolkata. Tara is studying away from home in both Mysore (southern India) and Dharamsala in the Himalayas. The characters’ experience of each location is beautifully described but I did struggle to work out where Tara was at times. I feel that the author could have helped with some more hints – like when she mentions the mountains in the distance or the sea! Maybe the error lies with the reader though – see what you think!

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