Book Review of In the Shadow of The Flames by Rupsa Roy
Book Review of In the Shadow of The Flames by Rupsa Roy – A Tribute to the Countless Victims of Sati Pratha
Writing a book that weaves a fictional tale into historical facts can be challenging. However, Rupsa Roy seemed to have mastered this skill. I formed this opinion after reading her latest book, In the Shadow of the Flames.
The book addresses the now-discontinued orthodox practice of Sati. The ritual claimed the lives of countless innocent women across India. I feel that the book pays tribute to all those women. At the same time, it provides a realistic presentation of the life and culture of rural Bengal during that era.
Premise: Shadow of The Flames
Mrinalini alias Moni is a young girl married to the aged Zamindar of Shashipur. As she adjusts to her role as Rani Maa, she gradually learns about her new family members, their secrets, and orthodox beliefs. Of all the people in the family, Moni feels closest to Krishnendu, the Zamindar’s son. The two soon fall in love, even though societal norms forbid it and categorize it as a sin. Moni also fears her fate in case her husband, the old Zamindar, dies. She is sure that the family will force her to follow the ritual of Satidaha. Moni also learns that years earlier, the family matriarch, Jagmohini, was saved from the ritual by her son. She wonders if her love for Krishnendu can save her. If not, will she meet the same fate as countless other widows?
Character Development: Shadow of The Flames
Rupsa Roy has developed every character in a manner that adds value to the story. The transformation of poor, young, and naive Moni into the new Rani Maa is exceptional. The various upheavals of Moni’s life, her internal struggles, and the fears that overwhelm her are all portrayed beautifully. The characters of Krishnendu, Baro Maa, and others are all presented realistically.
Plot: Shadow of The Flames
The story is set in the backdrop of the Bengal revolution, and Rupsa Roy has done a great job of merging facts and fiction in a beautiful manner. It is quite a difficult job, especially for a modern-day writer. I am quite confident that she research in-depth about the different aspects of life in rural Bengal during the early 1800s before penning the book. Yet, her presentation of the scenes and characters, their behaviours, and language are extremely realistic. Now how I am able to say this? Thankfully I am the daughter of a retired history teacher and she is the one who elaborated and explained me about this episode of Bengal history pretty well when I was a student and history was a subject in our syllabus. Aside my mother’s aunt and cousin sister were example of survivals of Sati daha pratha. My maternal grandfather saved his sister in law and brother’s daughter from being sati, but faced severe challenges when he wished to remarry (bidhaba bibahao) of his brother’s widow daughter. It pains even to imagine the lives of the women who faced sati daha pratha.
Writing Style: Shadow of The Flames
The book reflects the great thought-process of Rupsa Roy. It brings to life the true reality of rural Bengal during the early 19th century. She uses simple language to offer a vivid description of the various scenes. She also manages to maintain the fast pace of the narrative without making the readers bore.
Final Verdict: Shadow of The Flames
I loved reading In the Shadow of the Flames. I recommend it to every book and history lover and give it a rating of 4.5/5.
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