Demigods are Alive - Long and Short Stories by Monalisa Joshi

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Photo credits: Deepti Menon

The world knows that there is an unwritten code of conduct that women across are expected to adhere to. It takes a strong woman to break out of these invisible fetters and live life on her own terms. Monalisa Joshi’s debut book titled ‘Demigods Are Alive’, published by Chrysanthemum Chronicles and edited by Nandita De nee Chatterjee, celebrates the sagas of six such women, who look for love in their lives, unwilling to settle for second best. The title is significant. Demigods are alive, but her women protagonists deny “the control of a patriarchal society”, choosing to free themselves “from those perennial manacles”, as the author herself puts it.

Does Mohua really know what she wants out of life as she moves towards another man because she feels trapped in her marriage? Is she willing to forgo her role as a wife and a mother to turn into an infidel muse? Which will win – romance or real life?

Chitra sacrifices her own life to bring up a family that she had always considered and loved as her own, but finally she stands at the threshold of life, wondering whether the choice she had made is the right one. Does she have the courage to break the confines and move away, opting to live a life filled with joy and love?

What is the connection between the love story of Devi, an Indian woman, Abigail, a British officer and Calcutta pudding? When circumstances turn tragic, can love survive in its purest form? Is the relationship termed loveless or selfless when a woman takes care of a man, despite everything? The denouement in this story is tender, proving that love and forgiveness can erase years of hatred and frustration.

When life becomes a nightmare of abuse and insomnia, a woman finds a solution to live through it by staying in a dream state, where she finds the perfect lover. The two worlds of dream and reality collide, and finally she makes the choice that makes her happy. A fantastic story that comes across like a dream sequence!

The title story, this is the tale of Ulma who has a past, one which she has kept hidden. There is an element of mystery in the events that unfold. Why did she spend nights in the room of Kunwar, the King of the land, and why did he suddenly accept her after ignoring her for so many months? Envy and hatred play a significant role in the larger-than-life scenario, and the suspense and intrigue make this one of the most interesting stories in the anthology.

Psychology lies at the heart of this story, as Neelima and Monjunath return to Barrackpore to start their life all over again. Memories that have been erased, resulting in amnesia, are rekindled all over again, and the drama that has been the façade of their lives translates into a brand-new life where husband and wife decide to live together in harmony.

This book reveals how vivid Monalisa Joshi’s imagination is, as her stories, and the characters who live within them, leap out of the pages into the consciousness of the readers. There are women who desire and women who sacrifice, but nowhere are they portrayed as weak or indecisive. It is for this very reason that, though they are steeped in the past, they are modern in their outlook, which makes it easy to relate to them. These two ideas have been incorporated brilliantly on the cover. The black and white front cover showcases a haveli with a beautiful woman in traditional wear; the back cover blazes with a fiery red-haired lady who looks out at the word with defiance and confidence.

At the end, the reader is left with myriad emotions, but the overriding one is exemplified in a quote that says it all:

“The world needs strong women – women who will lift and build others, who will love and be loved, women who live bravely, both tender and fierce, women of indomitable will.” Amy Tenney

 


Monalisa Joshi - Writer and Chief Editor, Chrysanthemum Chronicles

 

 

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