War Review: Whimsical Tale Unfolds in World War II Calcutta
In the historical novel "Great Eastern Hotel" by Ruchir Joshi, we are taken on a gripping journey through the heart of Calcutta during the 1940s. Set against the backdrop of global turmoil, the story unfolds primarily within the luxurious Great Eastern Hotel, where the city's elite gather.
Published by HarperCollins, this 900-page tome takes readers on a sprawling narrative, expertly capturing the essence of Calcutta and its people during a pivotal period in Indian history. The author has meticulously woven critical moments from the country's past into the narrative, including Rabindranath Tagore's funeral procession, the Bengal famine, the Quit India movement, the Tebhaga movement among peasants, and the Naxalite movement.
The novel revolves around Saki, also known as Robi Nagasaki Jones-Majumdar, a scholar of architecture, who pieces together the life and times of Kedar Lahiri, an artist from a zamindar background. The characters are not the focus of the story, but rather serve to bring history to life.
Despite the near-invisible plot, the reviewer found the novel engaging, even though no actual story seemed to be coming through at the point they stopped reading. The reviewer was moved by the book, expressing feelings of happiness and potential tears upon finishing it. For the reviewer, who was born in Calcutta and lived there for the first 23 years of their life, the novel has a metaphorical sense of home.
The book effectively portrays the fear of a Japanese invasion as World War II draws closer to British India, with Calcutta being target No. 1. The novel features a diverse cast of main characters, including Nirupama, a young communist, Kedar, Imogen, a British woman, Jeremy Lambert, an air force man, and Gopal, a black marketeer.
"Great Eastern Hotel" is available for Rs 1,499. For those seeking a captivating exploration of Calcutta's past, this novel is not to be missed.
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