ELTWeekly Vol. 4 Issue#32 | August 06, 2012 | ISSN 0975-3036
Book: ‘An Unfinished Song’ by Swarnakumari Debi Ghoshal. OUP. pp100. Price 395.
Reviewed by Dr. Krati Sharma
An Unfinished Song (1913) is a translated work by the writer Swarnakumari Debi Ghosal ‘s(1856-1932) Kahake(1898). The title of the novel exhibits the uneasiness of the writer to finish the destined song. The novel sets in the 20th century India a colony of British Raj. The novel revolves round an educated Bengali family consist of father Mr. Majumdar and his two motherless daughters. The younger daughter Moni is the protagonist of the novel. The novel deals with the psyche of Moni who loves to sing a song since her childhood with her childhood friend Chotu
“Alas, we met. . .”
The complete song fades from her memory as soon as Chotu went away for higher education. Moni educated in convent school and learnt the English customs and traditions. She is nineteen a young unmarried girl, a talk about subject for everyone, a responsibility for her father.
The twist and turn comes in life of Moni when she gets fascinated by the song Mr.Roy at her sister home. She fell in love with the voice. Moni’s elder sister invites this young fellow in the name of English courtship so that Moni and he could know each other. Finally, Mr.Roy proposes Moni, on the other hand she came to know that he is already engaged which deters her mind to snatch the happiness of other girl. Finally, she decides not to marry Mr. Roy. A new character emerges from the blue, a young England educated Doctor Binoy who win heart of everyone with her wit and candid nature. The plot progresses when Mr.Majumdar came to know about Mr. Roy and he discarded the whole idea of English courtship and takes away Moni back to his home. Mr.Majumdar decides to engage Moni to Chotu. Chotu is back from London and can come in couple of days to see them. Moni is in fix she is unable to decide what she want from her life. She sings her childhood song again and this time doctor completes the song. Finally, Moni finds her true love and lover.
This work deals with the impact of the colonial thinking on the Elite class of Bengal Badhrlok who struggles to balance between their old customs and the frankness of English society. The description of Tennis party, playing piano and picnics are the part and parcel of English culture adapted by them. The transition in the society is portrayed by the writer by these new upcoming trends in the society of Elite class. Young girls though educated in English but unable to write letters in English. They are not proficient in writing in their native terms. Ghosal beautifully presents this ironical situation when Moni finds it difficult to write a letter in English.
The novel is divided into concise chapters which move from one incident to another very aptly. The writing style shows the appropriateness of the words and small sentences. Some lines are very remarkable like, “ That women is blessed who once installed in the shrine of a consecrated heart. . .”
“Love creates love; there is no other power so potent”.
“A woman can forgive almost anything for a word of sympathy”.
The title of the novel is very apt. This song is which Moni sings with her childhood friend Chotu. The same song haunts her in her youth. She does not remember the complete song, she tries to remember the remaining song. In the end Chotu who become a doctor completes the song and wins the heart of Moni.
The writer beautifully conveys the psyche of young Moni who is educated and learning western way of living. On the contrary, she is a Bengali girl who cannot openly say her father that I want to marry to doctor. She writes a letter to her father to tell him that she desires not to marry but serve her motherland. She tries to balance between her role as conventional Bengali girl and educated young lass. This novel beautifully portrayals the psyche of young Indian mind of Elite class in colonial India when they praise British and looked up by the society for their education in the West. This novel also explores the changes accepted by the society where the young boy could propose the girl and finalise his marriage. It also highlights the patriarchal power play in the Bengali society.
It is one of the remarkable novel which gives an insight of the colonial India and women psyche.
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