Drawing the reader into the uncharted zone between fantasy and reality, this novel is an odyssey across the landscape of a changing urban India. It follows neglected lives, trapped in despair, as they take off on their private flights of hope.
Raj Kamal Jha Books
January 1, 1966
Raj Kamal Jha is an acclaimed novelist and Chief Editor of The Indian Express. His writing explores the complexities of the human experience, delving into profound themes with a distinctive narrative style. Jha's approach to storytelling is both insightful and evocative, drawing readers into richly imagined worlds. His work is celebrated for its literary depth and unique perspective.
The Blue Bedspread
- 228 pages
- 8 hours of reading
In a house on a Calcutta street, lit by the half-light of a yellow street lamp, lies a baby, one day old, wrapped in its hospital towel. In the next room sits a man, all alone, writing. Who is this man, at once frightened and determined? What is he writing? Where has the baby come from and where will it go? Tonight, these questions will be answered when the man unravels the dark secrets he has carried all his life.
The Blue Bedspread has drawn numerous comparisons to Raymond Carver, as it tells a poignant tale of a poverty-stricken family where love and torment coexist. The father is an alcoholic, the mother is absent, and the siblings find solace in each other. Jha's voice is a striking blend of affectless and passionate, reminiscent of Carver’s best work, presenting the harsh realities people inflict on one another. However, while Carver depicted the American West, Jha sets his narrative in Calcutta, offering a fresh perspective through a cool, concise, and beautifully observed style, contrasting the florid prose often associated with Indian literature. The narrative unfolds as an unnamed man receives a late-night call informing him of his estranged sister's death during childbirth, with the baby's adoptive parents arriving the next day. Throughout the night, he writes the family's history, revealing painful truths of abuse and incest with careful tenderness. He reflects on his sister's departure from their childhood home, noting, "In a way, it was essential that one of us should leave never to return." This acknowledgment of their shared past highlights the complexities of their relationship. Amidst the sorrow, Jha weaves moments of redemption for these troubled characters, providing a sense of relief.
Eine furiose literarische Auseinandersetzung mit der Zerrissenheit des gegenwärtigen Indien - und eine magische Reise ins Reich der Phantasie. Februar 2002: Eine beispiellose Welle der Gewalt erschüttert die indische Stadt Ahmedabad, doch Mr. Jay nimmt die Apokalypse um ihn herum kaum wahr, denn er erwartet die Geburt seines ersten Kindes. Da gelangt unter mysteriösen Umständen ein Foto in seine Hände; darauf ein verbranntes Buch, eine zerbrochene Uhr und ein blutiges Handtuch. Noch ahnt er nicht, welche Bewandtnis diese Dinge für sein Leben haben - und er wird fortgerissen auf eine Reise in die Nacht, in der Terror und Zärtlichkeit ganz nah beieinander liegen
