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Book review

the narrative.
What is interesting is that author
adds many titbits of information for
the readers which works to keep
them hooked. So, if you want to
know how Narad really came into
being or Yama’s sister, this book
definitely provides these little gems.
Another interesting point is the co-
relation of heavenly deities to pro-
fessionals. Sample this, Narad is the
quintessential journalist who does
not just poke his nose around every
The Yamraj that wasn’t situation in Triloka, he also makes
sure the news is spread far and wide
with the correct customisations. No,
Chatterjee’s Narad does not manipu-
Mrinal Chatterjee’s Yamraj 5003 raises some pertinent late stories, he just tweaks it as per
questions about the boundaries of societal rules that even the the personality of the God.
The author does not just stop
Gods seem to have taken for granted, writes Bedasree das at Narad. He makes sure that the
prevalent issues on Earth are part
of the heavenly discussion, too. And,
sk anyone familiar the characters and raises questions ironically, in this book, Yamraj 5003
with Hindu mythol- that even the Trinity is unable to is the hero. So, while Yamraj swiftly
ogy to visualise Yama face. points out the bias of the lords
or Yamraj and the first The novel delves deep into a against women, he gets cheered
thing that you would pertinent question that has been from the crowd for his stand sup-
A get is a huge dark bugging humankind for ages. Are porting women. Even the women
green man with near fearful physi- directives imperative to sustain the in hell and heaven had not left their
cality. His countenance is a suitable natural course of time or are they feminism behind. To a reader, this
justification for the role he plays; just trappings which fail to address also raises the larger question about
that of the lord of death. Yamraj is the demands of a situation? By how we view our scriptures. Why
the eventual ruler of souls and de- putting Yamraj at the centre of the is it that a woman is always lauded
cides the fate of Earthlings, making question, the author explores the for her sacrifices and a man for his
him fearful among the population. irony through the lens of a character heroic abilities?
But, what if Yamraj is not as petrify- known for his polarising persona. But, what happens when a person
ing as he is made to look like? What The Yamraj in Chaterjee’s novel goes beyond his call of duty? Is he
if Yamraj has a poetic heart? Can he questions the norm rather than necessarily encouraged or are his
still do justice to his responsibilities? shrink under the demands of his actions only seen as antics that ques-
Mrinal Chatterjee’s Yamraj 5003 duty. The reader will definitely enjoy tion the powers?
explores this interesting insight into the clever way in which the author One aspect that acts a deterrent
the world of the wrathful king. weaves real world problems into to the storyline is the potpourri of
In a world of fantastical charac- unrelated sub-stories which are not
ters, Chatterjee pours in another necessarily an extension to the story.
fascinating idea. There is not one There are too many issues cramped
but a multitude of cloned Yamas, ‘yamraj’ inside a small story, which only dis-
thanks to the burgeoning popula- by: Mrinal Chatterjee tracts the reader from the story. Also,
tion on Earth and the protagonist of translator: thiruMoy readers must note that the book was
the novel only makes for the num- banerjee originally published in Odia, which
ber 5003. What puts a twist to this rupa Publications explains why the language does not
Yamraj’s story is a curious mishap 127 pp; 195 necessarily reveal a particular style
by Heaven’s own journalist, Narad. or flow.
However, the result of the mishap
has far-reaching consequences on letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 may 2018 59 www.Tehelka.com

59 Book Review.indd 3 17/05/18 4:00 PM