Book Review - She : Ekla Cholo Re by Santosh Avvannavar

Synopsis –

 Set in the backdrop of 1990 Calcutta, She is a story about finding one’s own identity in spite of all odds. The story spins around the life of Kusum, a brave heart whose identity is often untitled and blurred; it does not belong anywhere, definitely not under the ‘he’ or ‘she’ bracket, thanks to our social conditioning. Will she be successful in her mission? Find out in She, an utterly absorbing read that derives inspiration from Tagore’s “Ekla Cholo Re” song, which urges everyone to move on despite the fear of abandonment from others.

About the story –

This is a story about Kusum, who meets Raj on a highway. Raj gives her lift to her house and that is the time when she pours her heart to Raj about her identity.

Kusum does not belong to any he or she category but still stands strong and fights with the double standard of the society.

The main motto of the book is “If no one stands or walks besides you, you have to walk alone.”

My verdict –

This is a very inspiring story and clearly shows the double standard of our society. Our society only accepts two genders and the third one are treated as a curse. But every person has to fight his or her battle alone so did the main protagonist of the book.

However, the story lacks somewhere in presentation. The concept is very attractive and unique. Authors could have done better.

Nevertheless, read it on to gain some strength.

Ratings – 3/5