Bala Iyer

In her fantastic novel “ A Rose from a Dream” Kanchana Krishnan Iyer has displayed all the attributes of a good novelist such as: 1) a suspenseful and coherent plot; 2) an engaging and unique style of writing; 3) good psychological insight into the motivations of a variety of characters; and 4) a sharp eye for personal and sociological detail. I detected three themes interwoven into the fabric of her novel: 1) Blend the modern and the traditional. Embrace the new while honoring your roots. Kandu and Kamu are the best examples. 2) Adapt to Change. Inspector Swami and Mahadevan are the best examples. The best developed is Mahadevan who skillfully migrates from Colonial India to the Pre-Independence Movement to Post-Independence India without abandoning his traditions. 3) Be Optimistic about the Future. Never give up your hopes and aspirations however unbearable the past or present may be. Bala/Mohan, Vaithee/Meera and Vani/Ganesh are good examples of couples who are able to salvage their futures. I learnt a lot about Colonial India from her novel. I was largely ignorant about this topic other than from some tidbits narrated to me by my Father and from EM Forster's novel " A Passage to India". The British were responsible for many atrocities and looting in India but also exposed the educated people to English language and culture.