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Life.
Death. Joy. Tragedy.
Suite101, January 2, 2003 by Sharon Wren
Dark Rooms:
A Saga -- Siddharth Katragadda
Life. Death. Joy. Tragedy. A culture in the midst of change.
All these elements are woven together in an exotic tapestry
of poetry called “Dark Rooms A Saga” by Siddharth Katragadda.
Gopal spends his long days in the dark rooms of his family
home, a home that was once alive with as much light and creativity
as was allowed by the structured life in India at that time.
When the family’s patriarch dies at his desk, it sets off
a chain reaction that can be felt two generations later. Gopal
and his family struggle to live the way they were raised,
in a world where everyone has been turned upside down and
shaken. One sibling makes movies; another engraves wedding
invitations, even though she will never be able to have one
of her own. Gopal tries to do what is expected marry
the woman promised to him as a child and take his place in
society but his hopes are dashed when Kaveri, his bride,
leaves him and flees to America. He waits for her return in
those dark rooms, writing poetry. Katragadda uses adjectives
like a paintbrush, creating a lush description of a culture
that is still quite mysterious to Western minds. He writes
lyrically of love and loss without resorting to clichés.
He frequently uses cultural references, but each poem ends
with a brief description of those that are unfamiliar. The
reader feels like he’s at strange, new rituals with a friendly
guide who’s more than happy to whisper explanations when necessary.
“Dark Rooms” offers a revealing look behind India’s journey
to keep up with an ever-evolving world, and that journey’s
effects on its people. Narrated by Gopal’s nephew, the story
is compelling but doesn’t demand to be read. Instead, it lures
the reader in gently and offers itself, like a cold drink
on a sultry day.
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