I just finished reading Parineeta by Saratchandra Chattopadhyay. I have been trying to get a copy of this book ever since I saw the movie which starred Vidya Balan and Saif Ali Khan. Somehow It was impossible. The book stores I checked never had an English translation. Finally my beloved sister-in-law gave me a collection of works by Saratchandra Chattopadyay .( One of the best gifts I have ever received indeed)
So I finally read the book. I absolutely adore the style and depiction. But somehow it didn't make my heart warm like I thought it would. I am generally blind in my devotion to bengali novels of pre -independence era , I am a hopeless romantic who never get sick of love stories and I did enjoy the movie. But....
May be my expectations were high and may be I am really put off by the fact that Sekhar is a 25 year old man and Lalita is a 13 year old girl whom he tutors. So they didn't quite sit and write and compose 'Piyu Bole' they way they did in the movie.
Can a 25 year old man really fall in love with a 13 year old. I know the story is set in Calcutta in the early decades of 20th century. Child marriage was quite the norm those days. But suppose if this happened in recent times wouldn't we just call Sekhar a 'pervert'? Especially since he was her tutor. Take the part where Lalita worries about repaying Sekhar all the money she owes him. He looks at her and says it is actually getting repaid.. Really? And when she accidentally garlands him in what is supposed to be a 'doll's wedding' he tells her what shouldn't have happened has happened and they cannot revoke it. He even goes on to kiss her and she doesn't protest as she is convinced that he owns her now. Really...?
This actually makes me think. If this was love where do we draw the line. Whats is love and What is perversion?
So I finally read the book. I absolutely adore the style and depiction. But somehow it didn't make my heart warm like I thought it would. I am generally blind in my devotion to bengali novels of pre -independence era , I am a hopeless romantic who never get sick of love stories and I did enjoy the movie. But....
May be my expectations were high and may be I am really put off by the fact that Sekhar is a 25 year old man and Lalita is a 13 year old girl whom he tutors. So they didn't quite sit and write and compose 'Piyu Bole' they way they did in the movie.
Can a 25 year old man really fall in love with a 13 year old. I know the story is set in Calcutta in the early decades of 20th century. Child marriage was quite the norm those days. But suppose if this happened in recent times wouldn't we just call Sekhar a 'pervert'? Especially since he was her tutor. Take the part where Lalita worries about repaying Sekhar all the money she owes him. He looks at her and says it is actually getting repaid.. Really? And when she accidentally garlands him in what is supposed to be a 'doll's wedding' he tells her what shouldn't have happened has happened and they cannot revoke it. He even goes on to kiss her and she doesn't protest as she is convinced that he owns her now. Really...?
This actually makes me think. If this was love where do we draw the line. Whats is love and What is perversion?
