Gently Falls The Bakula

Bakula. When I first bumped into this book title, online, I had no clue what it meant. But, like in most situations, I didn't google the name. I let it intrigue me. I wanted the book to draw me into it. I wanted to be seduced by the simplicity of it's cover. And so it did.

Originally written in Kannada by Sudha Murty and later translated in English, Gently Falls The Bakula is warm, charming and easy-to-read. Set in the '80s in a small village in Hubli, Karnataka, the story begins with two academically brilliant students, Shrimati and Shrikant. Despite being neighbours, they are complete strangers. But what draws them to each other is the Bakula tree that their families share despite the family feuds peppered with constant bickering.

Bakula: An ornamental tree, it has fragrant white flowers. Poets fancy that the Bakula’s flowers owe their sweetness to the wine that the tree is sprinkled with, and it is this that draws the bees to them.  That and perhaps too the heavy scent they exude.
According to the author, the Bakula flowers are widely found in northern Karnataka.

"Shrikant was restless . . . Holding a bakula flower in his palm, he was wondering why he was fascinated by this tiny flower, that was neither as beautiful as a rose nor had the fragrance of a jasmine or a champaka. And yet, it was very special to him. It held an inexplicable attraction for him."

Shrimati loves history  and Shrikant, believes that history is bunk. He is hardworking and sincere but over-ambitious. As time flew, they nurture a deep love and admiration for each other. Shrimati is attracted to Shrikant's friendly demeanor, his ready and constant willingness to better himself, and his truthful love for her. On the other hand, Shrikant is drawn to Shrimati's simplicity, charming nature and independent thinking. Is this why they say opposites attract?
Eventually, as time progresses, they marry and move to Bombay. Armed with a degree from IIT-Powai, Shrikant finds himself a job in a large IT organisation. While Shrikant works relentlessly, Shrimati sacrifices relentlessly to ensure Shrikant has a smooth sailing life. She keeps his house, entertains his guests and packs his bags whenever he goes on tours. Shrimati is a font of inner strength and patience. She abandons her academic aspirations and becomes an uncomplaining, non-questioning entity in his life. And I say entity, because her sacrifices reduce her to being a mere shadow at home. Shrikant reaches the pinnacle of success and stays oblivious to his wife's emotional and physical needs. It's true, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Shrikant's rise in the corporate ladder brought along with it a certain intoxication for name, fame and money.
Clouded by loneliness and emptiness, Shrimati decides to rethink her life. With a little time and effort, she could lead a full life once again. Or, she could get back to living in someone's shadow forever. The decision to get back in control of her life is hers and hers alone. To know her decision, read the book.

My Views:
Having read the book, now, it is very obvious to me that, for the author, Bakula symbolizes Shrimati, it in a way stands for an Indian woman, at large. In the book, Shrimati realizes, how easily she has made her husband’s ambition as her ambition and in the process has lost not only her identity but her self-respect too. She says in the book adressing her husband Shri,that if he can't understand her silence then he cannot understand her words. And that's how Bakula falls gently without making any fuss.
Written in the 1980s, the book depicts the expectations and stereotypes that surround an average Indian woman. The characters are almost real in a way that it made me think that I probably know a Shrimati and Shrikant who have been through this tumultuous situation of choosing between ambition and family, unquestionable sacrifice and a compelling patriarchal dominance where a husband's dreams have to become his wife's dreams, too. Is that why they say, behind every successful man there is a woman?