Today I'm delighted to be helping out with the blog tour for Surge on like a River, by Bharathy Bhaskar, translated by V. Shyamala.
Surge On Like a River is the English translation
of the Tamil book titled ‘Nee Nadhi Pola Odikondiru’, originally written by
Bharathy Bhaskar, a Chemical Engineer and an MBA, who is a banker by
profession. She is also a popular columnist and speaker, and a household name
in Tamil homes, thanks to the debates and shows she has spoken in. The essays are written in a simple, engaging
style, and filled with profound insights. These nuggets of wisdom primarily
draw from the author’s life experiences and her empathetic observations of the
people and situations around her. This English translation by V. Shyamala captures
the lively nature of the original, bringing it to a wider audience with the
idea that the readers who do not know Tamil should not miss out on the
wonderful collection.
Bharathi Baskar is a Tamil Orator who is popular
for her humorous debate talk shows called Pattimandram.com, telecasted on Sun
TV. She is also an anchor for the daily talk show called Vaanga Peasalam at
7.15 a.m from Monday to Wednesday on Sun TV. Bharathi Baskar is also a Senior
Vice President at Citi Bank, Chenna.
V. Shyamala is a cost accountant, a homemaker, and a
writer. She loves to weave stories and
is on a continuous quest to seek new and
creative ways to teach children. When not writing, reading, or thinking up
stories, Shyamala mentors CIMA students, strives
to workout, loves tweaking South Indian heritage recipes and translates Tamil words to English. She
is also a member of AWIC (Association of Writers and
Illustrators for Children) and volunteers at a
local library twice a week.
My review:
This collection of essays is strongly
indicative of the problems faced by women in India today, notably as mothers,
daughters, and daughters-in-law. There is good advice here for mothers of
rebellious daughters, and for the clearing out of unwanted clutter from
fridges, handbags and minds. Apparently universal are the problems caused by
advertising cliches, the perfect housewife and mother, the perfect body, the
perfect face. More localised are problems arising from strictly segregating
boys and girls during education, or from encouraging women to have no say in or
knowledge of the household finances. Generally sensible, basic advice is given
in elegant Indian English, with occasional short poems and anecdotes. It is an
easy, gentle read except when she is dealing with the incidences of sexual
assault and unwanted sexual advances so prevalent in Indian society at present.
One thought-provoking chapter deals with female friendship, its closeness and
the threats to it, another with motherhood. An interesting read.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surge-Like-River-Bharathy-Bhaskar-ebook/dp/B08R3W1BCJ
No comments:
Post a Comment