Book Review : The Wildflower of Assam by Gayatri Sarkar.

Some books make us cry, some stay with us long after we’ve finished reading and some leave our hearts feeling heavy. The Wildflower of Assam does all of that and even more. This book speaks to the pain and inner world of women in a way that’s vivid and deeply moving.

Let’s begin with the cover image, which suits the story well and sets the right vibe for the reading experience. The title feels like a match made in heaven too.

The story unfolds across two timelines, the 1950s and the 1980s. What makes this narrative truly remarkable is how these timelines seamlessly intertwine as you read. The book focuses on three characters: Shabana, Mahesh, and Agha. But mainly it shares about Shabana's journey, who came from East Pakistan (Now Bangladesh) to India aka Bharath, as an illegal immigrant. Her life in Assam and the challenges, pain, and political pressure she faces as an immigrant, along with her inner questions and mindset, come together to create this beautiful story. If it speaks about Shabana, then who are the other two characters? To find out, do read this book.

This contemporary fiction transports readers to Assam in the 1950s and 1980s timeframe upon reading a few pages of the book. When I read a book, I usually want it to hold suspense and keep me guessing the plot at least until halfway through. This book managed to keep that suspense alive all the way to the very end. Shabana’s character is crafted with great intensity, and her entire life journey, along with the wide range of emotions she experiences, feels incredibly real while reading it.

Usually, I’m not a big fan of two-timeline narration, but this book nailed it. Speaking frankly, this two-timeline narration added a spike of suspense throughout the story. The narration is impeccable; it transports us to Assam and allows readers to experience the same pain and emotions the characters face, from their inner struggles to their outer ones. I truly appreciated the author’s choice of timeline, the turbulent era when Pakistan was divided and Bangladesh emerged as a new nation. The story vividly captures the riots, struggles, and divisions, revealing not just the events but the deep emotional impact and lasting scars the separation left on the people.

I could go on about this book endlessly, but I will leave the rest for you to discover on your own. It also helped me overcome my reading block. This is truly an amazing read and a must for lovers of all genres.