Under The Mango Tree

Описание: Under the Mango Tree is a novel written by Bina Pillai and published by

Samrudhi Dash
5.0 out of 5 stars

An intense, hard-hitting narrative of a real Indian Society
Reviewed in India on 1 August 2020
Review of "Under The Mango Tree" by Bina Pillai with Samrudhi Dash.

In a world that's all about being 'modern' while quite paradoxically entrenched deep within a vicious circle of orthodox beliefs and practices, patriarchy is something that still happens to independent, strong willed women who dare to make their own choices. Bina Pillai's debut novel "Under The Mano Tree" is an intense, deeply moving and hard hitting narrative of how things conspire, even in well-to-do, educated Indian families.
Smart, bold and beautiful Diya Nair, is just eighteen years old and hopelessly in love with Aditya, a perfectly suitable match for her. And yet, she is suddenly married off to Rajgopal, a man ten years older to her, that too much against her wishes. But don't go by this line and think that it's just another woman's sob story. Diya does everything in her capacity to save her marriage, because she definitely valued this sacred bond. But she wasn't going to be another pawn in the hands of society and male chauvinism. The first rituals at her in-laws' place demanded that Diya eat from the leftovers of her husband's banana leaf platter. But she promptly took up a new leaf and had her meal, even though this was met with much disapproval from the other women of the family. This brings the reader face to face with the harsh fact of how women over the ages, have been conditioned to accept patriarchy as a necessity. And perhaps there's no Eureka solution, or a blueprint to a world of gender equality.
Diya was intelligent enough to understand in that one moment that she could either learn the rules of the game or demand that the rules be changed. And in her vigilant and non-violent way, she went on to do that. The silent sufferings she underwent because of cultural pressure and a loveless marriage that relegated her to just another man's property, the mother of "his" children, leaves the reader in tears. It is a book that's kept me wondering about how many other countless women fall prey to such destinies they never wanted to write for themselves. But the narrative is undoubtedly powerful, a silent rebellion in the acts of a woman who still dreams of her first and only love and yet, does everything to keep her family together and raise her son Vihaan and daughter Anamika with equality.
Years of pain and struggle, while holding on to this bond called "marriage" has left Diya tired and broken. Would she finally be reunited with her lost love, Aditya and find some peace, some respite? Is there a silver lining in those gloomy clouds of despair that refuse to part? To find out how dramatically the last few chapters are crafted, readers, do grab your copies of a novel that will definitely have you hooked.

This novel, intricately woven around the life and struggles of this young protagonist who isn't hesitant to question those meaningless customs and norms imposed upon women since generations, is something that leaves you struggling to come to terms with the world we are so comfortable in - a society where falling in love is still looked at as something atrocious, vulgar and where women are still considered as mere ornaments, meant to be decked as brides and given away. I am quite certainly reminded of the words by Ananya Roy in her TEDxMarin Talk on power and gender in the 21st century, "Patriarchy is emboldened by shame and silence". And the brilliance of Bina Pillai's novel lies in how her protagonist silently, yet assertively undoes that. And personally I am going to recommend this novel to not just literary enthusiasts, but to every educated person, so that more people in society understand the intricately hidden realities we often fail to recognize. This book apart from being an amazing read, is an eye opener for the last generation, my generation and also the coming few generations.

☘️Plot construction- Quite a riveting plot, brilliant done with fluidity of language and realistic imagery

☘️Language- The beauty of this novel lies in the simplicity of the language used, its smoothness and the way traditional (colloquial) terms are italicized and later noted down in the appendix, thereby retaining the cultural elements of the story.

☘️Cover design - Quite a simple cover which is deeply symbolic of the underlying theme. Though personally, I would have preferred a slightly vibrant, eye-catching cover.

Over all, it's a must read book. I rate it a full 5 star.🌟🌟🌟🌟


https://www.amazon.in/Under-Mango-Tre...