Kaushik Chatterjee

Suchandra Roy Chowdhury's debut novel is an absolute page turner as it takes you to a phantasmagoric rollercoaster ride to Dita's world as she finds herself in an avatar of an English teacher in a yet-to-come-up college, tucked in the sleepy hamlet of Phulpukur. In a bizarre twist of tale, blended with dollops of earthy humor and wit and trenchant satire, you identify yourself with the protagonist, her distress and shock and a quiet defiance to face and deal with the oddities of patriarchal ego, union rivalries, college politics, with an ineffable charm and a rare aplomb. Amidst the gruel and the heat and the raucous cacophony and calculated madness that mars the idyllic setting of could have been a most sought after school of learning, Dita's jaunt is a tryst of sorts as she delves deep into herself and finds a romantic refuge that cares and soothes her, settles her frayed nerves. The magic is eventually woven in the lasting aroma of tea, played out in the intricate black and white squares of the chess board where Raja, the king, takes her queen to the kingdom of unalloyed love and bliss. A lovely read that makes you start making love with life anew.