The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – South America; Focus Country – Venezuela

Jonathan Jakubowicz is famous as the writer and director of some very noteworthy films such as Secuestro Express which brought him instant international recognition in 2005. The film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the British Independent Film Awards and was a New York Times “Critics’ Pick” as well. His latest venture, Hands of Stone, starring names such as Robert De Niro, Edgar Ramirez, Ana de Armas, Ellen Barkin, Ruben Blades, John Turturro and Usher, premiered as an Official Selection of the Cannes Film Festival 2016 and was released worldwide by The Weinstein Company.

His first novel, ‘Las Aventuras de Juan Planchard’ which was published in 2016, has captured the attention of the people of Venezuela, becoming an important text for the fifty thousand-odd community of Resistencia Venezuela hasta los tuétanos (resistance to the Maduro dictatorship). They read the book aloud every night on the encrypted frequency of the app Zello. This novel is touted to be the biggest best-seller of all time for a Venezuelan author. Through his first novel, Jakubowicz weaves a thrilling tale which combines action, adventure, suspense, drama and comedy while providing an insight into life at Venezuela. His book is relevant and given the current circumstances in the country, an essential read for anyone interested in the Venezuelan state of affairs.

For more about the Literary Corner, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/Literary-Corner/

The Envoy Shorts: Roundup of 2017

Focus Area – Asia; Focus Country – China

Writer Jia Pingwa is one of the most influential Chinese authors overseas. His book, Gaoxing, was translated by Nicky Harman and published in English in 2017. Titled, ‘Happy Dreams’, this novel traces the journey of Hawa Liu (who prefers to call himself ‘Happy’) from the rural landscape to the urban Xi’an for a shot at a better life. Liu is a peasant in rural China who wants to find himself a partner. Unable to find himself a wife (in a place where there is scarcity of women), he sets forth the city, along with his best friend Wufu, and a pair of high-heeled women’s shoes that he hopes would fit the feet of his lady love, in a Cindrella-esque manner.

Pingwa’s novel is a beautiful take on the life of a migrant and how he faces its struggles in a new environment. When Liu had started his journey, he was full of unrelenting optimism. As he navigates life in Xi’an, does he manage to hold on to that optimism or does he become more realistic? The author asks some important questions through this novel and takes the readers on a breath-taking ride through contemporary China.

For more about the Literary Corner, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/Literary-Corner/

Last Letter: Chapter 3

“Please come in and sit down,” said the older Gauri to the younger Gaury.

“I knew that you would come one day. Did not know that it would take you so long,” she said, offering her a cup of black tea. “Do you take sugar?” she asked politely, as if waiting to hear a “No.” When she heard a faint “Yes, please!” she was slightly taken aback. “Really? You youngsters are so health conscious nowadays!” she laughed, like a school girl.

Gaury could not fathom the fact that she was standing and talking to ‘G.C.’, a person who knew K.B. well enough to have her initials inscribed right next to his name. It was not very difficult to find the white bungalow that Chander Babu was talking about. She did not expect to find Gauri Chowdhury. Now that she was sitting inside her house, she felt all her words float away like the clouds in the dark sky outside.  It was about to rain again.

“You were saying that you have K.B.’s last letter. Can I see it?” Gauri asked, stretching out her fair but wrinkled hand expectantly. Gaury felt a sharp pain in her heart. It felt as if somebody had asked for the most precious fruit in her garden.

“Did you call him K.B. too?” Gaury retaliated, in no mood to hand over the most important letter to her namesake.

Gauri started to laugh uncontrollably. “So funny that you should ask! I did not know that you referred to your grandfather like that. I thought only I and Arun called him by his initials.”

“Arun? Is he A.G.? Why are your initials inscribed in the red ribbon with the letter?”

“I will answer all your questions. Please be patient. But before that, can I please have a look at the letter? I thought I had his last letter!”

Her response created a flurry in Gaury’s head. “K.B.’s last letter to G.C.?” she thought to herself.

Gaury reluctantly parted with the letter. Her namesake’s face lit up as soon as she set her eyes upon the letter. She was glowing with happiness; the innocent happiness that was visible in the eyes of a child who had received a long-due toy.

She observed Gaury’s puzzled expression and leaned closer to explain. “Your grandfather was one of our comrades. We started really young. Arun Gupte was the third member of our group. We had a lot of members from different backgrounds. Barristers from London, doctors from the States, however, K.B. was the most popular guy in any room. He knew everything, about everything. Tolstoy, Shakespeare, Marx and Lenin. I first thought that he would be really arrogant. But, it turned out, he was one of the few perfect gentlemen that I have encountered in my life.” She was gleaming now, looking out of the window to see the rains slowly tear up the sky.

For more about the Literary Corner, please visit http://www.theenvoy.in/Literary-Corner/