Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig

Disabled characters are represented as morally flawed in what is a tired and archaic trope His repeated use of the term caste brothers does not at all appear critical of casteism but rather suggests its role in cementing society Finally the repeated references to Hindu deities especially Rama and the Ramayana and Hindu piety and the scarcity of Muslim characters have echoes of Hindutva ideology While the author himself was considered somewhat progressive in his day and he legitimately criticizes some wealthy or powerful characters his point of view is definitely unpalatable in todays world of progressive literary fiction This may be due to its publication in Gujarati in the 1950 s when such s were acceptable or the stories settings being predominantly in rural Gujarat.

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories ebook reader

The ending of it almost felt like deserved comeuppance. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epubs air 5 The New PoetI didn t know if I wanted to laugh at the overenthusiastic man who considered himself an extraordinary poet or be sympathetic that he couldn t understand the sarcastic comments being made at his expense Rating . Kindle The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories 5 Ratno DholiA tale of unrivaled joy and unbridled jealousy.

PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories

The Shehnai Virtuoso a collection of short stories by the writer Dhumketu and translated from Gujarati by Jenny Bhatt is uneven and unfortunately filled with outmoded and regressive ways of considering caste issues and women. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories ebook reader There are a few beautiful stories including the title one which achieve a lyricism and richness of language However many of the stories are problematic in how caste is handled It is also at times misogynistic While Dhumketu writes some memorably strong women characters in most cases these women are objectified and their fates are inevitably governed by the men in their lives Similarly the state which spawned Narendra Modi however it is questionable whether this collection has any relevance today The translation itself is uneven and the language comes across as dowdy and archaic. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdf Two stars 1646051696 This collection of short stories by Gujarati legend Dhumketu offers an extensive selection of tales spanning his career Inspired by western masters of the form and Indian writers like Tagore he was very prolific His stories are engaging easy to read with memorable often tragic characters Witty remarks moving descriptions of music and a strong sense of social justice permeates his work Jenny Bhatt s translation incorporates common expressions explained only if necessary maintaining the flavour of the communities and culture Dhumketu was exploring in his fiction. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories ebook reader Longer review can be found here 1646051696 What an excellent start to the new reading year Jenny Bhatt has here completed an astounding act of labor she compiled this collection selecting one significant short story from each of Dhumketu s 24 collections plus two additional stories and then translated each with a distinctive style that allows the quirks and idiosyncrasies of Gujarati speech to illuminate the page Many of the Gujarati inflected words and phrases truth waali we two three people or over smart feel similar to colloquial Urdu writing to me In fact much of Dhumketu s writing reminds me of other South Asian short story writers working at his time early to mid 20th century such as Hindi Urdu author Premchand Like Premchand Dhumketu is interested in exploring the lives of characters previously ignored in literary spheres rural people physically disabled people women and low caste members Caste plays a central role throughout Dhumketu s work showing him to be in line with the Tamil literary tradition than the northern Indian one at the time of his writing For me the collection went from alright to truly exciting with The Shehnai Virtuoso I do wonder if the stories were arranged chronologically by the collection they were originally published in If so I do think that there is a clear arc of improvement and refinement in Dhumketu s stories over time as he begins to feel secure in his writing voice Or perhaps I liked the second half of the book a bit better because the focus of the stories tends away from portraying female protagonists something I don t think Dhumketu does with particular nuance or complexity and towards exploring twisted male personages Class caste and shifting political structures the old days vs British rule crops up in some stories are present throughout the collection but Dhumketu never roots the short stories in a highly specific time or place He is concerned however with issues of injustice and seems to believe like Premchand that the purpose of literature is to uplift society For that reason he often explores the writer figure at times mocking him and at other times praising the writing endeavor for its simple aesthetic value. Kindle The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories Some of my very favorite stories were The Shehnai Virtuoso Mungo Gungo My Homes A Memorable Day and The Worst of the Worst I also really appreciated Bhatt s inclusion translation of Dhumketu s own introduction to which collection is unclear in which he writes of the short story form that The short story is that which like a flash of lightning pierces right through while establishing a viewpoint without any other machinations simply gestures with a finger to awaken dormant emotionsThe short story by rousing the imagination and emotions only alludes to or provides a spark of what it wants to say This is why the writer of the short story needs a reader who is impressible emotional swift and intelligent to such a reader he will forever be in debt xxv 1646051696 Average Rating One of my goals for this year has been to read translated books especially Indian ones and not just my favorite Chinese danmei novels but I can t say that I ve succeeded much at it So when I saw that this collection of short stories had released I decided I had to pick it up and put away my numerous ARCs to do just that. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdf editor I truly know very little about Indian literature especially from the 20th century which is a shame and I can only hope that I will get to read of those works from various Indian languages But I had heard of the author Dhumketu because of my friend Charvi who reviewed another of his story collections a while ago Which is why I decided to read this new collection and was immediately engrossed in it I think most of these stories were written pre independence and are set during those times but the author explores themes like caste discrimination bribery grief loneliness loss which are feel very relatable and relevant to today s times The writing has a lot of simplicity to it and the author excels at telling a lot in just a few words The translator Jenny Bhatt has also done a great job conveying the beauty of Dhumketu s words and made them accessible to us all for which I am very thankful While I may have loved some stories here than others this collection is definitely a gem a mirror to the Indian society of the times and worth reading for everyone This has only increased my resolve to read desi books. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle paperwhite Rating Tears of the SoulTale of woman s plight who is always asked to sacrifice something of herself for a higher purpose A bit rage inducing sad and powerful at the same time. EBook The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories Rating On the Banks of the SarayuI don t know exactly what this story wanted to convey but it definitely made me sad for the child who only wanted to listen to a story from him ever busy parents. Kindle The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories 5 The Rebirth of PoetryA surprising blend of fantasy and scifi set in a futuristic dystopia this was about how humans need dreams and diversity and artistic liberty to have fulfilling lives But when compared to our current lifestyle where we are in a constant need for stimulation this story left questions than answers Rating . The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdf 5 Ebb and FlowCW miscarriage corporal punishmentWhile it is about how monotonous one s life can get and how that can totally take the joy out of living I m not sure what I feel about this story. PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories Rating The Noble Daughters In LawCW suicideSad but equally enraging story about the lives of women in those times tied in destiny to their husbands and cast off once they are widows without much hope for survival. PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig 5 The Prisoner of AndamanA bit bittersweet but hopeful story of not feeling the love in one s birth place and finding a new home elsewhere even if it started out of desperate circumstances. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle books Rating A Memorable DayA tale of two women of the same name but very disparate circumstances it also felt like a commentary on how society and we humans create these divisions because of our own feeling of moral superiority And despite lots of disparagement about the true nature of art and artistry I m not sure I understood or enjoyed this fully. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories ebooks free Rating When a Devi Ma Becomes a WomanAnother story which I can t say I understood the ending but I definitely hated the men in it for having no loyalty and how their respect for a woman was all just a fa ade. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epublishing 5 The Creator of Life s RuinsCW usage of ableist slursI can t say that I liked the redemption arc of an idle and wicked disabled man as the main story here But I guess the author wrote it to perfectly encapsulate the proverb An idle mind is the devil s workshop. PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig Rating Old Custom New ApproachWhile many stories here felt relevant to the current times this one could have been written in 2022 and would still be true because bribery still rules the roost in government offices and ethical principles are relegated to printouts on the wall. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epubor Rating 1646051696 An anthology of tales by one of the pioneers of short stories in India Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi 1892 1965 known by his pen name Dhumketu meaning comet was a well known Gujarati writer But most of the Indian readers aren t aware of his works His contemporaries were stalwarts such as Munshi Premchand who wrote in Hindi Saadat Hasan Manto who wrote in Urdu and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore who wrote mostly in Bengali While these three are considered pioneers among Indian classical writers and still revered Dhumketu s name has been lost to history This collection is the very first English translation of his works and contains 26 tales chosen from a repertoire of than 500 short stories in Gujarati not an easy job for sure The translator Jenny Bhatt who is also a writer begins the set with an introductory note that was enlightening about Indian short stories Gujarati literature and Dhumketu s life and writings Then there s an author s note penned by Dhumketu himself taken from his first story collection Tankha published in 1926 This reveals his depth of thinking Both these notes and Dhumketu s fame ended up creating very high expectations in my heart And when there are high expectations there is usually disappointment Except for a few references to the caste or jaat there s nothing to suggest the historical or cultural setting Most stories seem like they could occur in rural Indian villages even today But officially the stories are all from pre independence India Most of the stories are social dramas or character oriented narratives though a couple of fantasy tales also make an appearance While most of the tales seem to be set in Gujarat not all the stories mention the location a couple are based in other parts of India Honestly I was expecting of a Premchand kind of story experience given that the time period and setting is the same But Dhumketu s tales are tough to classify Something in the writing kept me distant from feeling the emotions of the characters or experiencing the connect with the culture I found it very hard to concentrate especially during the second half As always I rated the stories individually Of the twenty six stories my favourites that reached crossed 4 stars were On the banks of the Sarayu the best story of the book for me Unknown helpers Mungo Gungo and The Golden Necklace Other than these the rest of the stories were clustered between the 2. PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories 5 star ratings I don t know if this mixed result is a consequence of those zooming expectations of a failed translation of stories that haven t dated well or simply of a mismatch between reader and writer But I did expect to enjoy this collection a lot and I am disappointed at this end result. Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig My thanks to Deep Vellum Publishing and Edelweiss for the DRC of The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book Note This story collection was originally published in India under the title Ratno Dholi The best stories of Dhumketu The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories is the name of the US edition but the stories are exactly the same Connect with me through My Blog The StoryGraph Facebook Twitter 1646051696

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories By Dhumketu

1646051696

9781646051694

English

320

Paperback

Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories book

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories booking

PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories

PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdf

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdf editor

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdffiller

ePub The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories

ePub The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epubs

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epub reader

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epublishing

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epubs air

The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epub.pub

A collection of short stories originally written in Gujarati the majority of the stories I read had depressing or melancholy endings It is clear that a lot of work went into the translation but there were still a lot of untranslated terms and references that would have helped me understand fully with the use of footnotes There was a short glossary in the end. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle reader The stories describe both village and urban life in a largely vanished India of the early 20th century The main themes I teased out were the day to day survival of everyday people and their struggles Some stories reference Hinduism which I do not have a strong knowledge and grasp of and proved confusing Very much a series of evocative character studies is how I would describe the content overall 1646051696 Refreshing short gripping stories Must read 1646051696 Early 20th century writer Dhumketu is deemed the pioneer of the Gujarati short story form and this newly translated collection of his work proves this title still holds. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epub file Dhumketu imparts wisdom through stories that explore profound human experiences His most well known story The Post Office is a lesson in empathy it tells the tale of a man estranged from his daughter and the town postmaster who ridicules the man until he is faced with a similar devastation Progressive for his time his stories also include female viewpoints Tears of the Soul Ratno Dholi as well as commentary on the caste system Gulabvahu. Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig In limited length these stories develop impressively clear settings and plots primarily in rural Gujarat Dhumketo writes from the perspective of a young child an old man and men and women from varying socioeconomic backgrounds With over 500 short stories to his name compiling a collection that captures his range is no small feat A huge kudos to Jenny Bhatt who beautifully translated each of Dhumketu s works with the respect and care they deserve bringing these stories to a new generation of readers 1646051696 The first substantive English translation of the Gujarati short story pioneer Dhumketu translated by Jenny Bhatt When Dhumketu s first collection of short stories Tankha came out in 1926 it revolutionized the genre in India Characterized by a fine sensitivity deep humanism perceptive observation and an intimate knowledge of both rural and urban life his fiction has provided entertainment and edification to generations of Gujarati readers and speakers The Shehnai Virtuoso brings together the first substantial collection of Dhumketu s work to be available in English Beautifully translated for a wide new audience by Jenny Bhatt these much loved stories like the finest literature remain remarkable and relevant even today Biographical InformationDhumketu was the pen name of Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi 1892 1965 one of the foremost writers in Gujarati and a pioneer of the short story form He published twenty four short story collections and thirty two novels on social and historical subjects as well as plays biographies memoirs translations travelogues literary criticism etc Dhumketu was a contemporary of Rabindranath Tagore Munshi Premchand and Saadat Hasan Manto and his contributions to Indian literature are just as wide ranging and groundbreaking Jenny Bhatt is a writer translator and book reviewer Her short story collection Each of Us Killers was critically well received Her writing has appeared in venues like The Atlantic NPR BBC Culture The Washington Post Literary Hub Longreads The Millions Electric Literature and others Born in Gujarat India and raised in Bombay India she now resides in Texas USA The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories.

. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle store 5 The Shehnai VirtusoIt s about grief and remembrance but what I will remember most are the gorgeous descriptions of soulful music. Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig 5 Mungo GungoI m not sure I understood the intent here but I felt it was about how devastating it could be if the only thing you were good at is taken from you. Kindle The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other stories Below are my individual story reviews The Post OfficeImportance of empathizing with another person s situation told in a very simple but effective manner: The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle reader Rating KailasA bittersweet tale of regrets and grief and loneliness unexpected bonds and finding purpose anew. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle books Rating The Queen of NepalAnother story of what if s and regrets and some surprising turn of events, The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle reader Rating Unknown HelpersExactly as the title says it s the story of those who help when help is needed without any expectations: The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle store Rating AnaamiJust a sweet tale of an unexpected bond between a young child her milk woman and a neighbor who doesn t want to be involved, The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epub file Rating Light and ShadeVery much about the cycle of abuse across generations and households and one young girl s quest to find a way out of it in her own little ways: The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle reader Rating GulabvahuFilled with extreme caste prejudice the power of lies told over and over again and the fickle nature of trust this was truly heartbreaking. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories epub.pub Rating My HomesCW suicideA fascinating tale about how every home has a story behind it in this case full of loss and grief. PDF The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig 5 A Happy DelusionDefinitely a well written and thought provoking tale about life one s accomplishments and what happens when one s passion and survival are at cross purposes, Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig 5 The Golden NecklaceA tale about true love sincerity craftsmanship and how it grants immortality on the creator this was very interesting. The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories kindle store Rating This Dispenser of JusticeA tale of oppression and justice this felt sad but ultimately was satisfying, The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories pdf Rating The Worst of the WorstA very well written tale of exaction of justice by a most unlikely person when everyone else in the community doesn t even try, Book The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other storiesig 3 stars based on the average of my ratings for each of the stories.Rating .Rating .Rating .Rating .Rating .Rating .Rating .Rating .5 to 3