The setting of the
story is the early years of independence. The country is still churning in a
phase of transition. A bloody partition, refugee status, communal violence has
rocked the nation a few years back. At such a time when erstwhile feudal class
is grappling with the kind of future charted for them in the new democracy,
Arefa Tehsin’s work of fiction The Witch in the Peepul Tree gives a peek
into the myriad changes unfolding in the nation through the lives of the people
in Dadabhai’s house.
Set in the mystical
city of Udaipur, Rajasthan, the book weaves an enigmatic tale that encompasses
the events that took place in a single day, Makar Sankranti of 1950, immersing
readers in a world of captivating mystery and darkness. The myth of the jeevti
dakkan or the living witch in the peepul tree fascinates one and all. For
many, the witch is an embodiment of terror, for others she is a granter of
wishes.
The story unfolds with
the tragic death of Dada Bhai’s sixteen year old daughter Sanaz. Dadabhai’s
youngest son Ahad discovers her lifeless body. As the day moves on and the
investigation proceeds, more characters emerge and layers of intrigue are added
to the story. Tehsin also flourishes elaborate details about the visitors to
the house who are suspects of the murder. Through their stories, a vivid
picture of the nation in transition with a frigid society is portrayed.
There is elderly Rao
Sahib, who is on the verge of losing his zamindari in the new democracy and
looking for a way out. He is accompanied by the tribal Bhil Doonga, a known
tracker and a performer in the Gavari renditions. Another Bhil Nathu awaits
Dadabhai to tell him about the deadly leopard lurking in his village.
Then there is Parijat,
the nightsoil collector. Through the beautiful Parijat who is in the absolute
margins of the society, Tehsin reflects on a caste ridden patriarchal society.
Parijat was sexually abused by the elderly Rao Sahib and her denial led to her
losing her voice. Even now, she regularly faces assault form the upper caste
men whose notions of purity do not stop them from groping her. She awaits
outside Dada bhai’s house.
Dada Bhai’s wife Mena
Bai is a mysterious character who is unwell and taken to bed in the story. She
is also a crusader of women’s rights and against much opposition she undertook
the responsibility of teaching women. In a deeply patriarchal society where a
woman’s boundary is her threshold, many did not take kindly to Mena Bai’s
ventures. Interestingly, the opposition to Mena Bai’s venture is across
communities.
There is also the
character Hariharan who has donned the role of a power broker. As the nation
faced the blow of communal riots and religious polarization, Hariharan worked
hard to gain out of the financial distress of Dada Bhai. Two other interesting
characters are Badi Bi, the child widow who is also Dadabhai’s housekeeper and
Sugra, Dadabhai’s mother. Sugra is a typical matriarch who laments the slippage
of power from her hands. She feels utmost disdain for her daughter-in law’s
social activities and is often in connivance with her daughter Khadija who was
one of the visitors that day.
Through out the day,
references were made to the Jeevti Dakkan and concerns expressed about how
Sanaz was probably taken by this vengeful witch. Udaipur's rich history and
mystical aura serve as the perfect backdrop for this dark tale. The setting
itself becomes a character, concealing hidden secrets that seep into the
narrative, exuding palpable mystery as readers are transported through the
winding lanes of history.
As the readers progress
through the story, layers of the mystery is slowly peeled off. Readers get to
know the characters closely and get an idea of the various contexts of their
visits. The story is gripping and the novelist succeeded in keeping the mystery
alive. Written in a classic whodunit style, the author kept the readers
guessing till the end.
The Witch in the Peepul
Tree
stands out with its masterful blending of genres. It traverses the realms of
mystery and psychological thriller, each turn of the page keeping readers
uncertain of what lies ahead. The narrative's gripping structure switches
between characters and perspectives, intensifying the suspense, especially as
the widow Sugra yearns for the jeevti dakkan's allegiance believing that she
has all the solutions for her problems.
Through this lucidly
written novel, the author also brings forth the hard hitting social realities
of that period. Independence and democracy could not rid the society of its
rigidities. Patriarchy, caste hierarchy, feudalism continued to thrive. Doonga
and Nathu portrays sorry character of how their lives and experiences are
dehumanized. Doonga’s disappearance and discovery hits hard as the violence
meted out on Dalits and tribals become evident.
Tehsin also mentions
about the controversial practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) practiced
among Bohras and talks about the hard life of widows. Through Dada Bhai, she
presents the persona of a benevolent rich businessman. And Valmiki, Parijat’s
brother is a character whom we meet only as others refer to him, shows how
Ganhdiji reached out to the Harijans with a hope of emancipation and a dream of
a more equal world.
However, the climax of
the novel somewhere fell short of providing an equally intriguing closure.
Nathu and his father’s character did not help much in taking the story forward
like Doonga’s except adding one more account of Dadabhai’s benevolence. Even
the character of Hariharan could not bring out much in the story. On the other
hand, Dada Bhai and his wife Mena’s character, Dada Bhai’s mother Sugra’s
character could have been further developed and given more space. The novel
felt a bit crowded with too many characters clubbed in a day’s event.
Similarly, the book also touched on various social issues but did not delve
much on either.
To give an example,
Sugra’s daughter Khadija is sterile and faces the jeers of the society that
comes with it. But her character is seen only as a bitter conniving woman who
will go to any extent to get what she wants. There is no room for empathy for a
woman who herself is a victim of a society obsessed with a woman’s fertility.
Irrespective of this,
the book reflects on crucial social issues and shows how the line between myths
and reality often blurs during crisis. The story also delves deeper into the
dark recesses of human nature and brings out the grey areas in people’s characters.
It leaves readers wondering about the limited choices that women had but at the
same time – women like Mena Bai and her daughter Sanaz also hoped to shatter
the glass ceiling.
(Published in the December Issue of The Book Review Journal)
