Book Review — Ujda Hua Dayyar by Prafulla Kumar Tripathi
A short tremendously powerful Hindi novel by Prafulla Kumar Tripathi. The title is inspired from an old Hindi film named Lal Qila. It features Sameer, Mira, and Pushpa from the same generation. The story advances from 90s serene time to changing landscape of 21st century. Sameer is the lead character, other two women’s role play around him. Through the liberty of characters, the novel takes a close look of contemporary perspectives that women and men have acquired according to their situations but in that process many families land up breaking their relations and marriages. The choice of freedom, to move away from the strings of family bonding like marriage and kids and fulfillment of carnal desires often lead to destruction of lives.
The portrayal of change of feelings is brilliantly done through its characters and their voices. Sameer right since early age dreamt of doing something big in the creative field. He does that by choosing a media field. However his parents had forced him for a conventional career like doctor or engineering. Sameer is married to Mira, she is a different woman…her idiosyncrasies will not match up with him. Nonetheless, to have a family of love and calm, both look at times inward…but later on circumstances force them for independent life.
Marriage, extra-marital affair, free sex, LGBT are some prominent themes that this novel discusses and shows their consequences on our societies. The narrative of the book shows that we are influenced by Western countries, that is true when Pushpa and Sameer move to the USA and indulge in love making, drugs, and drinking. And Pusha plays the cynical role, in that she attracts many men but lands up with none…a vibe of hollowness…a sense of despair concerns her. Sameer too becomes its victim because he neither could allot himself to Mira nor to Pushpa. The difference in morality disturbs Sameer. On the other hand, Mira gets into extra marital affair with slight moral hiccups. Everyone is stagnant at their place. But ultimately Sameer feels that forlornness and loneliness comes with decadence.
It is a heartfelt book that explores the decadence of its characters from all sides. The author shows the mirror of our society and how families are destroyed based on immoral choices and habits. This is a pure hardcore Hindi novel; however, due to modern-day appeal and subjects, this is quite a readable novel. Overall, an amazing experience.
