A Book of light
Author- Jerry Pinto
Publisher- Speaking Tiger, Rs399
A Book of light can be seen as a pioneering work in the discourse on mental illness in India. The writers in this volume have displayed bravery in baring their souls, particularly to a thankless society. It now falls on our collective conscience to not let their efforts go waste and be empathetic towards anyone with a different mind, writes ANANYA BORGOHAIN
There is something profound and striking about the sub-heading of Jerry Pinto’s A Book of light, ‘When a loved one has a different mind’. It may sound simple but its effect lingers in the mind of the reader long after the unputdownable book is read. It meets its readers with a sharp prod and glaring questions: What indeed if a loved one doesn’t realise our affectionIJ What if we miserably fail to rescue them for the ruthless clasps of forlornness and mental agonyIJ What if the shadows of the past cast a net of chaos on the futureIJ
A Book of light is a moving anthology of stories penned by people who have lived with a dear one who has struggled with a mental illness; as well as some who write about their own psychological conflicts. These are extremely personal accounts that not only make the book one of its kind but also a brave and path-breaking endeavour. It does not seek out solutions, neither does it preach society to care. It simply expects to be heard, to be acknowledged, for therein lies a giant leap for humankind.
At the Q&A session in one of the readings of Pinto’s Windham-Campbell Prize winning Em and the Big Hoom that chronicled the life of his mentally ill mother, a woman wept recalling how her family had locked her brother for five years because he was hearing voices. That is when a friend suggested to Pinto that in his capacity as a writer, he should become a catalyst for these people to channelise their grief. As Pinto writes in the introduction, “To each his or her own distance, to each his or her own device.”
The opening story Papa, Elsewhere is narrated by Sukant Deepak who writes about his father who was a celebrated author suffering from bipolar disorder. There couldn’t have been a better choice to open the volume as Deepak’s recollection of a son’s bitterness towards a parent makes for an unsettling account. It’s all at once moving, terrifying and transfixing. It makes one wonder if closures are the preserve of a selected few; and if so, what do the rest doIJ Patricia Mukhim’s Daniella that describes her life as a single mother to a depressed child consolidates the essence of a family and asks a pressing question: Who is it that needs helpIJ The depressed or the ones who are in denial about the need for medical assistance in such casesIJ It resonates in Madhusudan Srinivas’s Abhimanyu, Our Son where a father talks about his autistic son’s daily life. These stories are thought provoking and heartbreaking because they make us realise how the mundane could also be filled with life altering dilemmas for many. lalita Iyer’s Roger, Over and Out talks about a fiancé who is schizophrenic. What should one do under such circumstances — get married or step backIJ
Sharmila Joshi’s The Man Under the Staircase recounts the story of her alcoholic uncle. In this overwhelming and moving tale, the readers get a glimpse of a corner under the stairs assigned to her uncle Vinay who silently fades into oblivion on the streets. Its irony is disturbing, for the civilised judge in the story is an insensitive, violent man and the madman is the one who seeks to bring art and music to civilisation. This chapter dislocates all settled notions of madness and civilisation.
In his powerful introduction, Pinto laments the various stories that could not be shared for some reason or the other. It’s appalling how exorcists have been picked over doctors! Desperate times call for desperate measures and in an effort to leave no stone unturned in helping a loved one, people actually push him/her to the torrid clasps of further chaos. Perhaps that’s why it’s so perplexing, love can wound and embalm, all at once.
Its cover illustration, with what looks like neurons on a blue background, is intelligently done. By denying readers a solution, the book opens up the possibility of a discourse, of conversations from the petty to the sublime. It builds an association of pain and since hurt is universal, the bond is strengthened by the empathy it generates.
And it does so without any romanticisation of mental disorders. English literature has given us characters suffering from psychological challenges who will forever be etched in our memories and continue to unsettle us — from Virginia Woolf’s Septimus Smith to Charlotte Bronte’s Bertha Mason. Pinto, on the other hand, gives Indians the opportunity to talk about their own encounters with real life personas that have left a lasting impact on them. Mental illness continues to be a taboo in the country and this is why A Book of light can be seen as a pioneering project. An email id has also been mentioned for more people to send in their tales. One can only hope that there will be a next volume of these stories.
A Book of light not only destabilises notions attributed to psychological disorders particularly in India but also delves deep into the sociological and cultural factors affecting them. If schizophrenia is a major motif, so is substance abuse. The book’s benevolent tropes launch an onslaught on the stigmas hitherto clouding the vision and damaging the social fabric of the country. It upholds the power of love and acknowledges the strength of prayers. It goes without saying that the writers have displayed bravery in baring their soul, particularly to a thankless society. It now falls on our collective conscience to not let their efforts go to waste and be empathetic towards anyone with a different mind.
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