(रेत समाधी) Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree

Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The slow meandering initial pace of the narrative accelerates into a breathless rollicking plot in this difficult to categorize book. The book begins with vignettes from the humdrum life and domestic bickerings of an upper-middle class bureaucrat from the fatuously called “cow-belt.” These are interspersed with Joycean word-play and stream of consciousness - like the musings of Molly Bloom - and Rushdiesque magic realism. There is a brilliant expose of double standards

…An I am always the giver, and you are always the taker…When you are quiet, you are polite; but when I’m quiet, I’m wily…If you did it, it’s good etiquette; if I do, it’s fawning flattery…If you say it’s candid; if I do it’s just rude…If I ask, it’s obscene curiosity; when you do it’s sympathy…If I do it , it’s for my own convenience; it you do, you are most beneficent…If I do it, I am being stingy; if you do it, you are being thrifty…If I’m quiet, I’m acting proud; if you’re quiet, you feel bashful…I’m extremely secretive, but you’re just reserved…And my fashions are faux, whereas yours are cutting edge…And if I got it, I was grabbed it, but if your got it, it was your right…And if I said it, I was deluded, but if you said it, you were just right…And when I get angry, I’m humourless, but when you do, it’s self-respect…And when I went and did it, it was my duty, but when you did, it was big of you…And, oh, yes, if I don’t get it, I’m a moron, but if you don’t, you’re innocent… And, oh, yes, if I did it, I’m self-serving; if you did, you’re self-effacing…If I’m dark, I’m Mr Eggplant Head, whereas when you do you, black is beautiful…If I’m fat, I’m Tubby Tubkins, if you’re fat you’re pleasingly plump…If I’m thin, I’m dry as a stick, if you’re skinny, you’re svelte and shapely…And if I turn on the AC, I’m decadent, but if you do, you sufferer from delicate health…When I drink, I’m a drunk, when you drink, doctor’s orders…If I speak in English, I’m giving myself airs, if you do, you’re educated…If I’m polite it’s pretentious, if you are, it’s pedigree…

It goes on in this biting vein over four pages. There is gender-twisting ambiguous individual, a militant turned peacenik crow, sentient doors (that remind one of the sassy doors and elevators of Douglas Adams), a conclave at the interface of Wagah of a panoply of Hind/Urdu authors from pre-Independence times, protagonists without names and an exposition on Sarees for the edification of crows

Kota Doria, Patola, Nairkunj, Gadwal, Kalamkari, Kanjivaram, Bangari, Ashavali, Zardozi, Bandhej, Tanchoi, Pochampally Ikkat, Ajarakh, Jaamdaani, Chanderi, Madhubani, Maheshwari, Mooga, Kosaa, Baalucheri, Dhakai, Tasar, Lugda, Paithani…

There is no glossary and attempt to translate many Hindi terms, so non-native Hindi speakers may find the contexts of some allusions puzzling. All in all – a wicked, whacking good read!

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