There's so much to do in life and just look at me. What am I doing ? Just waiting to be with my lover ?
Virmati is sitting in a women's conference in Lahore but her mind is in Amritsar, where her lover lives. This is the Laohore of 1940 we are talking about. It was all set for Veermati, being the eldest of eleven siblings, responsibility came early to her. She was Pehenji to her siblings and a responsible daughter to her parents. And then she fell in love with a a married man. Her mother's Kasturi's who is educated till class eighth often wonders how did her daughter grow wings and take decision for herself . Wasnt' women lives all about getting married, cooking, making Phulkari and producing kids and most importantly carrying family's honour on their fragile shoulders ?
Kapur's novel further explores what education meant for women back then and how it changed things for them. But getting degrees was never a plan for Veermati. Yes, her elder cousin, Shakuntala was a teacher in Lahore and she was quite in awe of her achievements but then she only admired her from afar. True, they belonged to Aryasamaji families where girls were supposed to get basic education but Shakuntala's accomplishments never meant a thing to her mother because she chose to remain unmarried.
Veermati was certain that she would never follow her cousin's path till she fell in love with Harish Chandra, her neighbor and teacher. Now, Harish was married with a child but that did not deter him from falling in love with young Veermati, who he lovingly called Veeru.
His wife was no good for him because she was uneducated and Veeru, on the other hand was unattainable. Her family found out and they sent her to Lahore to study further believing distance will make her forget Harish.
Little did they realise that distance makes heart grow fonder. And the rest of the novel is all about their struggle to get united in the backdrop of World war 2 and Freedom struggle.
It was pleasant for me learn that Lahore was a city of intellectuals and thinkers back then. Manju Kapur has painted a nostalgic picture of Lahore in such a way that your heart will yearn to visit the city at least once in your life.
The congress league, the meetings of muslim league and women league- Lahore was a happening city and epitome of Hindu- Muslim unity. But like I said, the book is not about that. It is all about one woman's journey towards marrying the man she loved.
Veermati is a feisty woman and you would admire her for her guts. She has gone through a lot but she still stands strong. She gets her degrees while she was waiting for her lover to take an action for her and not because she was particularly interested in them.
Punjabi families and their daily lives have been predicted well by Kapur. While reading the book, you will yearn for white butter and lassi.
The book is long but Veermati's story needs detailing. There had not been a single dull moment in her story. Her life before meeting Harish, her decision to go to Shanti Niketan when she felt Harish might never gather enough courage to leave his family for her, the way she moved back to Lahore after finally marrying Harish and how a separate country was formed amidst everything. What is not to love ?
Virmati is sitting in a women's conference in Lahore but her mind is in Amritsar, where her lover lives. This is the Laohore of 1940 we are talking about. It was all set for Veermati, being the eldest of eleven siblings, responsibility came early to her. She was Pehenji to her siblings and a responsible daughter to her parents. And then she fell in love with a a married man. Her mother's Kasturi's who is educated till class eighth often wonders how did her daughter grow wings and take decision for herself . Wasnt' women lives all about getting married, cooking, making Phulkari and producing kids and most importantly carrying family's honour on their fragile shoulders ?
Kapur's novel further explores what education meant for women back then and how it changed things for them. But getting degrees was never a plan for Veermati. Yes, her elder cousin, Shakuntala was a teacher in Lahore and she was quite in awe of her achievements but then she only admired her from afar. True, they belonged to Aryasamaji families where girls were supposed to get basic education but Shakuntala's accomplishments never meant a thing to her mother because she chose to remain unmarried.
Veermati was certain that she would never follow her cousin's path till she fell in love with Harish Chandra, her neighbor and teacher. Now, Harish was married with a child but that did not deter him from falling in love with young Veermati, who he lovingly called Veeru.
His wife was no good for him because she was uneducated and Veeru, on the other hand was unattainable. Her family found out and they sent her to Lahore to study further believing distance will make her forget Harish.
Little did they realise that distance makes heart grow fonder. And the rest of the novel is all about their struggle to get united in the backdrop of World war 2 and Freedom struggle.
It was pleasant for me learn that Lahore was a city of intellectuals and thinkers back then. Manju Kapur has painted a nostalgic picture of Lahore in such a way that your heart will yearn to visit the city at least once in your life.
The congress league, the meetings of muslim league and women league- Lahore was a happening city and epitome of Hindu- Muslim unity. But like I said, the book is not about that. It is all about one woman's journey towards marrying the man she loved.
Veermati is a feisty woman and you would admire her for her guts. She has gone through a lot but she still stands strong. She gets her degrees while she was waiting for her lover to take an action for her and not because she was particularly interested in them.
Punjabi families and their daily lives have been predicted well by Kapur. While reading the book, you will yearn for white butter and lassi.
The book is long but Veermati's story needs detailing. There had not been a single dull moment in her story. Her life before meeting Harish, her decision to go to Shanti Niketan when she felt Harish might never gather enough courage to leave his family for her, the way she moved back to Lahore after finally marrying Harish and how a separate country was formed amidst everything. What is not to love ?
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