Critique: The Novel "The Wanderer" penned by V Shinilal
In the pages of "The Wanderer," also known as "Sambarkkakranti" or "Sampark Kranti," by Priyanka Sarkar, readers embark on a literary voyage that mirrors India's sociopolitical reality. The narrative unfolds on the Sampark Kranti Express, a train serving as a powerful metaphor for the nation's complex interactions among different social groups and histories.
The novel's narrator, Karamchand—a writer symbolically named after Mahatma Gandhi—serves more as a chronicler than a character, observing the dynamics unfolding on and around the train. Early in the story, Karamchand witnesses a moment where a travel guide titled "India" falls into filth but is rescued first by a laborer and then handed over to a foreigner, sparking his reflections on political power, social hierarchies, and colonial legacies in India.
Other characters such as John, a white wildlife photographer, and travelers like Kariman, Sameera, and Amanushi contribute to the novel's exploration of diverse perspectives on Indian society and politics. The book raises questions about a nation's collective memories and their influence on its current state, while also commenting on the present.
The novel delves deeply into themes beyond literature, exploring political power, social fabric, and identity struggles in contemporary India. The narrator draws connections between his own ideological stance and prominent Indian thinkers and activists like Govind Pansare, Gauri Lankesh, MM Kalburgi, and Amartya Sen, indicating a conscious engagement with voices who have challenged political authoritarianism, social injustice, and cultural suppression.
The train, Sampark Kranti, is a metaphor for the country and humanity, with its bogies decoupling and re-coupling used as a metaphor for the arbitrary nature of relationships. The novel also explores the themes of sex and power play, including rape and marital relationships.
The women in the book, including Sameera, Lekha Namboothiri, and the Gujarati Nimesha Mehta, are portrayed as sites of action, though some critics argue they lack agency and depth. One notable exception is Sameera's desire to fill Pakistan and India with mustard fields, depicted as a powerful statement against borders.
Priyanka Sarkar is credited as an editor, translator, and writer in the novel, with Nandakumar K. doing a commendable job of bringing out changes in language and dialect as the topography outside changes. The novel, titled "The Wanderer," is a thought-provoking exploration of India’s political and social realities, using literature as a medium to dissect power structures, identity struggles, and the ongoing negotiation of democracy and dissent in contemporary Indian society.
In the narrative, politics and India's sociopolitical reality are intertwined, as shown in a pivotal scene where a travel guide titled "India" is saved by a laborer yet handed over to a foreigner, provoking Karamchand's thoughts on power dynamics and colonial legacies.
Through characters like John, a white wildlife photographer, and various travelers such as Kariman, Sameera, and Amanushi, the book delves into diverse perspectives on Indian politics and society. It also examines the role of entertainment, with themes of sex and power play featuring prominently.
