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The year Before
Sunset
The Year Before Sunset is about the British Empire in India that is about to come to an end. It is 1946 and India is soon to gain Independence. But, since it holds the viewpoint of the Anglo-Indian community, the title says ‘sunset’. The story revolves in the backdrop of widespread unrest and violence. Herradun can easily be identified as Dehra Dun, where the young Phillip Brandon studies in a public school. The plot involves a freedom fighter, Chawdhury, who is a chemistry teacher. He is a nephew of a rich pro-British zamindar of Bihar who got his job on recommendation. The young and sexy Lola Maison, a teacher, is an intelligence officer on the trail of Chawdhury. There are elements of caricature in the portrayal of the character of the freedom fighter. He is shown plotting to kill his benefactor, Brandon’s father, as he hates them for doing him a favour. His motives of planting a bomb stem out of personal vendetta and he is shown to be a weak character. The story then shifts to an Anglo-Indian town of Lakhbagan in tribal Bihar. The authors try to take a look at India, on the eve of Independence. They focus on the Anglo-Indian community, as it comes to terms with power slipping into the hands of Indians. Many realise that they would lose their reserved jobs with the railways and the police and plan to emigrate. Brandon and his family are among the few, who opt to stay on in India, as they consider it their own country. The novel is far from successful in capturing the freedom movement or the communal violence gripping the country. The freedom fighter is shown to be a confused person, seeking revenge for his jealousies rather than being driven by patriotic motives. The plot to plant a bomb in the sleepy Lakhbagan is pathetic. The freedom movement has been reduced to the surreptitious hanging of ‘Quit India’ banners. What seems real are the
boisterous parties, furtive dates, shooting expeditions and festive
balls. The authors have succeeded in depicting the Anglo-Indian society
but fall short of portraying the important events, which were sweeping
the country at that time and form the background of the novel. |
HUGH
and Colleen Gantzer are well-known travel writers and travel documentary
makers. The husband-wife team travels for six months and probably writes
about their travels for the rest of the year. This time they have come
up with a work of fiction. They are seventh and second generation
Anglo-Indians.