Book - Edwina Aur Nehru (hindi)

Book – Edwina Aur Nehru (Hindi)
By Catherine Clamma
Hindi Translation : Nirmala Jain,

This book is written by French Writer Catherine Clamma & translated in Hindi by Nirmala Jain.

As per the original writer, in France, people are least interested in simple & happy ending love story. French people are drawn to unusual love story, which ends, on parting of lovers. Love stories between rich & poor, one caste & other caste, love story which has tragedy as destiny.

The love story of Nehru & Edwina perfectly fells in this league. Nehru, the representative of suppressed / slave country & Edwina the symbol of ruling Country. Both are married & met each other when there was no place /t ime for love. Love in this case was not ordinary & hence it is perfect story for French people.

Being an Indian, I read the story with suspicious mind. I hoped that there is no such love between both of them. This woman should, not have influenced the decision of our First Prime Minister. The faith of India (& Pakistan) should not have been decided by the game played by Lord Mountbatten & his wife, Edwina.

The book has span of around 40 years & depicted the various phases of Edvina & Nehru’s life & relationship. It also narrates our freedom movement, pre & post independence challenges before Indian leaders & about Gandhiji.

Edwina, the wife of Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, having dubious past records & her relationship with husband was turbulent. However she was also devoted to help the war displaced people.

Lord Mountbatten, when arrived in India, had tough task ahead. British council was in the final phase of taking decision about freedom of India & he has to ensure that transfer of power from England to India should be carried out smoothly. However the road was not smooth for Mr.Mountbatten, there are countless problems like Jinha’s demand of Pakistan, Gandhi’s opposition of partition, demand of freedom by independent Kings, ruling at that time.

The story travels through the most crucial time of Indian history. Nehru was widower at that time & was carrying heavy burden of representing our country. During this hard times, Nehru & Edwina finds true friend / companion in each other. As even after partition, Edwina was actively serving the Indian people displaced due to partition.

The writer has taken creative liberty & illustrated their love as platonic & divine. The flow of story is very good. While reading I started imagining Nehru as an ordinary man, who was in extra ordinary situation & as not as great person / political leader. I started realizing that he was really mentally taxed & doing his best. If he tried to find comfort in her, then I should not mind it. We know & sure that Nehru was 100% committed to India & his priority was India & Indian people only, everything come after that.

The book is silent about any physical relationship between both of them rather it does not suggest any thing about it. As per the book, it is just the great bonding between two individuals with different cultural background, met each other because of their destiny. They played pivotal & positive role in each & others life.

I feel that author has not revealed much about the height of their relationship & termed their love as extra ordinary. I think author was right in doing so as Indian people do not have mentality to accept that their leader was a weak man.

It is good as a book depicting love story but it can not be termed genuine book representating historical infomation.

Khushal
09/07/2009.(written date)