The haveli of the Shahs in a village in Gujarat-Punjab is the hub of discussions about the imminent independence of India. Even as two of the Shah brothers return from the British army, bringing in tales of their political excesses, the women of the village, suffering its iron-fisted patriarchy, look for guidance towards the childless Shahni, the eldest Shah’s second wife. And in the quiet corners of the haveli, an impossible love sprouts between Shahji and young Rabeya, a mere servant of the household. It is a desire poised on the razor’s edge. One of the most controversial novels of the last century, Zindaginama is a magnificent portrait of India on the brink of its cataclysmic division.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Krishna Sobti
Writer par excellence, Krishna Sobti's contribution to Indian literature crosses the boundaries of culture. Her innovative use of language and technique and refreshing delineation of strong women characters opened new vistas in Hindi literature. Her writings revolve around Partition, upheaval and turmoil in Indian society, man-woman relationship, feudalism and dissolution of human values. Her works have been translated into Indian and foreign languages. She has received the Sahitya Akademi Award for her magnum opus, Zindaginama, the first woman writer to receive the award for Hindi. The first Katha Chudamani Award was conferred on her, in 1999, for Lifetime Literary Achievement. She is also the recipient of a number of other literary awards, besides a number of Fellowships.
There are no reviews yet.