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Beyond Black Waters
This book has a myriad of characters—the protagonist Baba Lalu, his wife Gaura, "a blue-blooded kanjari", the boisterous Jalim Singh with his Punjabi-laden Hindi and many more. There is free flow of dialogues and none of the characters are larger than life. This book provides a peep into the life of the prisoners and the treatment meted out to them. The process of community building as described in this prose is very impressive. The new society that emerged at Kala Pani was very progressive and the way above issues of politics and religion. The protagonist couple is blessed with two sons. The elder is raised as a Sikh and the younger as a Muslim. The way of life of the Paar Pare community is free of political and religious bias and may serve as an eye-opener for all of us. While reading Beyond Black Waters, a layman will become acquainted with the Jarawa tribe, their myths and customs. Winds of change blow from the mainland and bring with them the seeds of religious intolerance that soon shatter the peaceful existence of the community. Translation of any piece of literature is not easy and Chauhan has done her best to retain the original essence of the novel. The beauty and smooth flow of Urdu has got lost somewhere in the translation. The talks between Chachi and Baba and the easy comradarie between Zalime and Baba will be felt only if the text is read in the original. For those readers who do not know Urdu, the translation will be a good substitute. Lion’s Honey
The life of Samson from the tribe of Dan as presented by Grosman is a revelation. Embarking on an ordained journey, there seems to be no serenity in the life of this warrior. Even the happiness experienced by him was precarious in nature. The writer explains in detail the circumstances of Samson’s birth. When "the angel of the Lord" appeared to Manoah’s wife, he told her that she would bear a son who shall be raised a Nazarite. This child "shall deliver Israel out of the hands of the Philistines". The author uses dialectics to analyse the character of Samson. Samson catches three hundred foxes, ties them tail-to-tail and torches each pair of tails. His "artistic signature" symbolises the dual forces within him. Written by a pioneering writer, the reader attempts to understand the personality of Samson who was betrayed by Delilah, the woman he loved. The writer is not afraid to question the lack of privacy in Samson’s relationship with the treacherous Delilah. The alliance between the protagonist, his Philistine wife and her kin is very fascinating. Samson appears as a national hero in Israel, where elite combat units and bodybuilding clubs are named after him. Grossman describes him as a restless soul who never had a bayit nachon—a proper home. He died taking many Philistines with him and some may compare this warrior with the modern suicide bombers. A highly informative and bold book that traces the journey of Samson that ended in tragedy.
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Beyond Black Waters
THE Myth series brings the
myth of Samson, the Biblical warrior. Written by Grossman in Hebrew and
translated to English by Schoffman Lion’s Honey has been
written in a contemporary setting. The very name Shimson in
Hebrew means the sun, denoting virility and strength. Samson has been
lauded in art, literature, theatre and films. The story of Samson is
about his extraordinary exploits. He fought a lion with his bare hands,
married among the "uncircumcised Philistines" and his very
name spelt doom for the Philistines.