Scarred Earth by Bhaswar Mukherjee Book Review
The tragic tale of Baruni and Muneim, "Scarred Earth" slows the reality of our brutal society. The narrative centres on two powerful characters who clash but do not come together. The story opens with a depiction of her existence in the banguran village. Throughout the narrative, more individuals are gradually introduced, one of which is Kalicharan, a police officer who drastically shatters Baruni's life with his sly methods and ruins her as well as her family's life. After that, Muniem's persona is revealed in Kolkata. His family and goals are explained. At last, Muniem and Baruni meet. How do they affect one another? Will Baruni be able to take revenge on Kalicharan for his gruesome deeds?
Scarred Earth addresses the issues like religious disputes, poverty, tribal revolution, power structure discrimination as well as the position of the women in the societal hierarchy. The book shows how the laws act different for the "other" of the society. The author does a wonderful job in sketching the characters of Baruni and Muneim despite being destroyed by their situation, they never give up. Their conversations are the best parts in the book. The author's vivid description of the Beguran village transports readers to the fictional location to experience the lives of the characters. I loved how the author beautifully handles child-parent relationship as well as the mindset of the teenagers. It also describes how rich and poor live in two totally different worlds.
Scarred Earth is a story of revenge and justice. The book strongly portrays reality. There is no fluffy "heroism" here. It speaks truth. The book is cathartic. The ending can leave one teary eyed. Overall, it's a thoughtful book for sensitive readers.
