Book Review

Revathi Raj Iyer: Zorami: A Redemption Song  

Malsawmi Jacob
Zorami: A Redemption Song
Fiction
Morph Books | Primalogue. 2015
ISBN/EAN: 978-93-82759-10-2
Pages 263 | Rs 399

A tale inspired by the Mizo struggle

Malsawmi Jacob's debut fiction novel Zorami: A Redemption Song is an appealing story of conflict, love, war and suffering during the 1960's when Mizoram, an erstwhile district of Assam, was fraught with political unrest and famine that caused death, starvation and devastation. The story delves into the lives of the Mizos who resented India, albeit being a part of it, because India was not taking proactive steps to alleviate their misery. This resulted in the formation of the Mizoram National Front and warfare with the Indian National Army in an attempt to extricate itself from the mainland. Interwoven in this backdrop is the endearing life story of the protagonist, Zorami, which literally means 'flower of Mizoram.'

The title of this novel is as engaging as the book. The fastidiousness with which Malsawmi Jacob has chosen such an intriguing title is praiseworthy. 'Zorami' when rearranged, phonetically sounds as Mizoram. The spirit of her story is implicit in this catchy title. The author has also added a euphemistic touch to the sub-title, 'A redemption song.' I loved this analogy to the much acclaimed redemption song about freedom and liberation, by the legendary Bob Marley of the 1980's, whose verses might still linger in the hearts of many. The conflict and struggle of the Mizo people, their dream to be liberated and have their own Government, is the redemption that Malsawmi Jacob has, strikingly, brought about in this novel.

The story is interspersed with songs and poems, which the author has tuned with immense sensitivity, together with demonstrating a fine skill for prose; be it to describe the beauty of the nature or the horrors of war, the personality of her characters or the minutest details of seating in the Church.

The book starts with a lovely prologue which brings to life the people of Aizawl town scuttling towards the Church on a Sunday morning, talking amongst themselves about the rains, harvest, political situation; which sets the "everybody knows everybody" tone amongst the locals. Walking quietly are the newly wedded couple, Zorampari and her husband Lalliansanga, who were married in the same church, just that week and this was their first Sunday together at the Church, yet they were seated apart (pun unintended).

The opening chapter portrays a lonely Zorami on her birthday, anxiously waiting for that call from her husband who is away on a business trip accompanied by the pretty, young Julie, a cashier in the same bank. Zorami is unable to trust Sanga and she looks back at her failing and fading relationship over the last 25 years, and on this special day is all the more sad. Even her younger brother Matea, who lived in a distant town, Lunglei, has not wished her. Her sombre mood quickly brightens by the effervescent tinkle of her childhood friend Kimi, who chides her for falling prey to local gossip and being suspicious about her husband; but Zorami is still not convinced.

In the initial stages, although the author introduces traces of fun by Mizo lore and grandma tales that are sometimes contrived much to the chagrin of Matea and the mirth of Zorami; the story quickly moves on to serious issues of the Mizo people, faced with famine, rats eating away their supplies to the point that they find rat droppings in their food, the apathy of the Indian Government and the growing resentment against the Indians.

Although the book gives a perspective about certain historic facts, one has to bear in mind that this is a book of fiction and not to get particularly attached to specific instances, as the anti-Indian sentiments expressed could be overstated. There are a couple of characters like Thanchchunga, Zorami's father who believes in a unified nation or Pu Lalrinmawia, editor of a daily and few of the Mizos themselves, who are against war because it brings no good, but their voices go unheard. The author has empathised more from the perspective of the people of Mizoram, but there are always two sides to a coin. A discerning reader should be able to understand and not get swayed or become too judgemental, remembering the fact that this is a book of fiction, wherein most of the struggle could be the author's imagination and certain liberties may have been taken with historic facts.

As the story unfolds, the author introduces the vile character Ralkapa, disliked by everybody, and particularly Zorami, who hates him for reasons of her own. Those were the times when the MNF was recruiting volunteers and Ralkapa was one of the many that joined, in good faith, but ultimately turns traitor and backstabs the Mizo people. How all this comes about is a very interesting read about trust and betrayal. It is appalling to find this distorted character still surviving amongst the Mizos, much to the angst of Zorami. Ralkapa is also the mischief maker who knocks Zorami's door on her birthday, under the pretext of enquiring about his loan application to the bank where Sanga worked and leaves feeding off the gossip about Sanga and Julie.

The reader's attention is drawn to the vision of an independent Mizoram as seen by Nikhuma, the Patriot who was beckoned to Aizawl by the MNF leaders and what follows is the deed of Declaration of Independence and the representation to the Government of India seeking freedom and the story gets deeper into the plots of the MNF vs the Indian Army. The retaliation by the Indian Army is also fast and ruthless and it is quite touching to read – I quote "O, if only they had given a quick response like this when we cried for help during the famine! … They wouldn't help us when the rats ravaged our land and we were starving. As soon as we decided to do without them, just when we don't need them anymore, they come after us to kill us." It is a rare, but historic, fact that Indian Air Force had, indeed, carried out air raids in Aizawl, its own territory.

The war makes the people of Aizawl come closer, and amidst fear they also share a few laughs. A song that depicts the plight of the regrouped villagers is worthy of mention –

Of all our bad times, Khaw Khawm is the darkest;
All our Zoram has faded like worn out clothes;
Men, women and children, gathered from all hills
Go hungry and homeless like the riakmaw bird…
Our village streets and the house of our dear God,
Where beloved families and friends sang joyful songs
Are cold, silent, abandoned, now have become
The dwelling of lonesome, sad, motherless birds

The story then takes us back to that ugly vai looking Zorami in her teens, how she is bullied on her first day at school, how she is taught to be shy and how the ghost never leaves her. As the story progresses, it portrays the cruelty of the Indian Army as they retaliate to quell the rebellion and spread terror, not to spare even schools where the science teacher from Kerala is, mercilessly, killed in front of the children. In spite of the collateral damage of civilian lives, the warfare continues with more people joining the MNF. Songs of the departed ones who live in happiness yonder bear elements of good writing.

Half way through, myriad of characters are introduced with their stand-alone stories, perhaps to give credibility to the war happenings, but it just gets a bit tangential and hard to keep up with; and a strange monotony sets in along with a melancholy. However, the part where Mary, who is away from the war zone finds her father's inability to save their home and press, is quite touching, but then again a new character crops up. Similarly, there are a few more characters along the way and somewhere Zorami fades away, only to reappear towards the last few chapters. The story rolls back to Ralkapa revealing a fresh truth. The novel goes on till the Peace Treaty is signed and then finishes not as mystifying as one would expect.

The book has a literary appeal with liberal doses of metaphors and similes in prose and poems not to miss oxymorons such as "horrified fascination" and the like. Malsawmi Jacob has maintained a consistent mix of controlled and elegant style throughout her book. Overall, a well- researched and nicely articulated book that should not hurt to add to your collection.

 

                                                                  Published in Muse India September/October, 2015

                                                                Thank you Atreya Sarma - Editor (fiction & reviews)