Dust Under Her Feet

by Sharbari Zohra Ahmed

Sharbari Zohra Ahmed, born in Bangladesh and raised in the United States, is a playwright, screenwriter and author of fiction. She barely graduated high school but now teaches creative writing. She lives in Darien, Connecticut.

In her debut novel she takes the reader through an exquisite journey through WWII Calcutta subtly exposing the racism and classism prevalent not only in India but also in England and America. She takes you through “Bombay Duck” – the night club patronised by the Allies soldiers – and introduces Yasmin, the successful no-nonsense businesswoman. She deftly weaves tales of friendship, struggle, betrayal and love amongst her characters.

In the turbulent 1940s, Calcutta, being the port of arrival of the Allied forces in India and its proximity to Burma, became the centre of operations against the onslaught of the Japanese forces that had already crossed into South East Asia and were moving swiftly through Burma with the intention to occupy India.

There was a large influx of American and British armed forces in Calcutta to build up a strong defence.

It was in this tense environment that a 26-year-old, strikingly attractive, confident Yasmin Khan found a business opportunity.

Unlike the more conservative British, the rather gregarious Americans, reached out to and befriended the local population. Yasmin realised that they were easy customers for her scheme – a night club with singers, dancers and a band including a band and a pianist, Pharaoh.

From its opening, the US officers thronged to the “Bombay Duck”in the hope of a temporary respite from their anxiety of being sent over to fight a seemingly losing battle in damp Burma.

This riveting, well researched narrative has captured romance, bonding, intrigue, jealousy, envy and the inevitable stigma of caste, in the times of conflict.

Yasmin created a home away from home for a group of talented singers and dancers – Asma, Radhika, Patience and Rahul.

Patience, the beautiful Anglo Indian girl with dark hair and alabaster skin could enter the “whites only” club with ease. And took her revenge on her friend, Yasmin.

The author skilfully builds intricate sub plots for each character but the relationship between Radhika, the village belle, and Rahul is the most touching, heart breaking and memorable.

The author clearly exposes thediscrimination prevalent in the US army and the very heart wrenching treatment meted out to the black American soldiers.

The story revolves around the cold, determined, confident Yasmin who had once declared that men didn’t matter to her, yet let her defences down when it came to the tall, handsome, mature, patient and understanding Edward. This novel portrays the adept manner in which she resolves her predicament and explains it to her son born out of this relationship, and how and why she never went back to his father.

This is a must read for those who have experienced the “Calcutta” of Park Street and may be “Golden Slipper” night club near Nizam’s, probably used as the model for “Bombay Duck”, to appreciate this intricate but believable story.

 

 -- review by

Ronald D’Costa

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