My Name Is Not Devdas
Written by Aayush Gupta
Published by HarperCollins
Book Review in Association with Blogchatter
My Name Is Not Devdas by Aayush Gupta is a contemporary reimagining of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel, Devdas. The novel brings together the three protagonists, Devdas, Paro, and Chandramukhi, who tell their versions of events, revealing a tale of half-truths, bruised egos, deadly obsessions, and electrifying revelations. The novel is a slick and modern take on the enduring classic, where the characters are not the same as they were in the original.
The story revolves around Devdas, a seventeen-year-old student at Delhi University, whose father is a professor at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. Devdas is a Marxist, feminist, and an erudite thinker, picking up all these wonderful qualities from his father. His mother ran away with the local cable guy, and she is dead to him. Devdas and his father are against the world, the holy trinity of patriarchy, who are on a mission to be good to women, rescue them, and give them a loving home. Devdas gets involved in the murky politics of recent times, from protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act to pride parades, and he is an active participant in the institution of democracy.
The author has done an excellent job of reimagining the classic story and making it relevant to today's times. The characters are more nuanced and complex, and their motivations are not as straightforward as they were in the original. The novel is fast-paced and keeps the reader engaged throughout. The writing is sharp and witty, and the author's observations on society and culture are astute and thought-provoking.
Overall, My Name Is Not Devdas is an excellent read and a must-read for fans of the classic novel. The author has done a great job of updating the story for a modern audience while staying true to the spirit of the original.
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3LbHP8V
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