I, ANUPAM

This debut novel by the acclaimed Bengali author Nabaneeta Dev Sen deals with a situation uneasily familiar to most of us—the conflict between integrity and expediency. A well-known political commentator and the editor of a popular newspaper, Anupam is at the height of his career. Essentially a peaceloving person, he loves many of the extremists personally and provides aid to young Naxalite revolutionaries with his power, position, and advice. The various shades of his character— a dutiful son, a desired man, a passionate lover, a person of contrasting views, and his vulnerability—have been brilliantly woven into the narrative. His journey takes us through the tides of contentment and melancholy, at times chiding him for his prejudiced views, and at the very end, evoking a deep sense of sorrow at the turn of events. The book has a moving climactic end, which makes the journey of Anupam’s life ringing in our head for long.