Ibnebatuti (Hindi)
Divya Prakash Dubey
2020
Hind Yugm
pp. 160
Ibnebatuti is a story revolving around a mother and son and how their relationship unfolds. Like all of Dubey’s writings, this is contemporary, it is new age, and it is very refreshing. I picked up this book with a lot of expectations and it did not disappoint. The son discovers that his mother had a past before she married his father. A fact that is so obvious but so often ignored. Parents often remain seen as always having been mature and in control of everything. Discovering the human side of them as people who also have emotions other than love for their children and each other, is difficult to acknowledge.
The subtle nuances that the author has described of the relationship between the mother (Shobha) and the son (Raghav), capture many everyday occurrences that lend depth and meaning to a family, single parent or otherwise.
I also follow a lot of Dubey’s writings because I find the women characters in his writing very strong and independent, and unapologetically so. In this story, I found the narration around several social issues, of social stigma, caste, office pressures, quite sensitively dealt with.
Somewhere in the end, Dubey writes about wanting to bring about a change in the world. I feel strongly that his work, this work, can be used for teaching in multiple ways. A particular instance which comes to mind is where Raghav is discussing his mother’s past relationships with his girlfriend (Nisha). The conversation between the two points out ways in which negotiation and communication can challenge patriarchy so strongly. There are other incidences where the ability to live a full life has been beautifully portrayed.
The book is fast paced and an easy read. Some dimensions, such as that of Nisha’s life could have been fleshed out more. But, overall it is a good read.
Click here to buy this book (affiliate link). To read about more books by Divya Prakash Dubey, click here.