What gives Mrs Dalloway its distinction, however, is not the plot but the speculative and lyrical sensibility with which the heroine Clarissa is endowed. Though a ‘tinselly’ party-giver, she is yet shown to sympathize and even identify with a shell-shocked war veteran, Septimus Warren Smith, whom she has never met.
Through its exploration of colonial and postcolonial education policies, The Amateur reminds us, colonial education does not only alienate the subject from her culture but also uses education as a tool to impart and spread imperialism. The notorious Bantu Education Act (1953), which restricted resources for coloured students, was a stark institutionalization of ‘education apartheid’
The first story from which the book derives its title is about Abani, an adolescent who is accidentally left behind on a ship, completely unaware of his dangerous position as an ‘extra’. The ship’s captain, and the other officials don’t wish to jeopardize their immigration procedure in a foreign port with this unlisted sailor. A ruthless decision is taken to float Abani in a boat
Jerry Pinto’s crisp and meaty introduction opens The Diamond-Encrusted Rat Trap: Writings from Bombay. ‘The 1970s were Bombay’s 1960s,’ he recalls Imtiaz Dharker’s words. The book gathers Jussawalla’s prose from 20 years, beginning 1980. There are articles, reviews
While countries like New Zealand, Colombia and Bangladesh have secured legal rights for their rivers, India appears to march blithely on, ignoring environmental laws and the rights of not only the people who are sustained by the waters but the rights of the rivers themselves.
The simple words effortlessly touch upon the unique experience of Indian women who face the duality of a culture that celebrates the divine feminine and simultaneously flounders to protect women from violence and indignity. The Stuti adds a note of optimism and wisdom that suffuses Lal’s writings and commitment to social causes. The anthology ends on a personal note celebrating her bond with her own mother.