Not many books successfully seem to capture the harsh brutalities that lurk in the overlooked alleys of the society, and therefore it’s a marvellous feat of the author Damyanti Biswas to have portrayed the unimaginable reality of feminine violence through her book “You Beneath Your Skin” like never before.
The story commences through the protagonist Anjali Morgan, an Indian American single mother with an autistic son Nikhil. Caring for her son with special needs and working as a psychiatrist, Anjali keeps busy most of her time. She gets involved in an affair with Police Commissioner Jatin Bhatt—a relationship that is a double-edged sword to both of them. When acid attack cases start to mushroom all over New Delhi, Jatin and Anjali suddenly find themselves at the epicentre of the crime spree. If murder of slum women with their faces disfigured by acid wasn’t too bad; all hell breaks loose when Anjali herself gets attacked by acid. In an intense jugglery of thrill, goriness and corruption, the book lunges forward to put up the life of such acid attack victims, until they evolve into not just mere receivers of the brutality, but into gallant warriors and survivors.
Combining the intelligent use of diction with her extraordinary talent to give the readers a full-fledged panoramic view of what is happening; Damyanti Biswas crafts a tale that captures the various strata of power and dominance in the Indian metropolitan societal fabric. Her writing is heavy with reflective elements that upholds the dense web of violence, corruption and greed that has spread around in the 21st century. The plot, the climax, and the storyline—all seem to scream into our ears the shrill notes of prejudice, hatred, and hunger. The characters with their flaws and guilts, personify brazenness and courage. Biswas makes sure to inculcate enough spiciness into her story, the kind of spiciness that leaves your tongue burning with the turmoil that has passed. Germinating from a very basic familiar setting, the complex chains of relationships get fuelled by the naked display of human emotions, and the tears and ecstasy attached with it. In an attempt to balance the thrill aspect of crimes with the powerful, raw reflections of the violence against women, the book mostly dwells in the vicinity of betrayal, loss of hope and guilt. The fight for justice, the helplessness in front of human ego and the belittlement before political superpowers---it all manages to get conveyed to the minds of the readers. Leaving aside the brilliant social commentary that the book is, it also turns out to be a desperate plea to mitigate the brutal atrocities hurled at women, offering them a prospect to demand unbiased justice.
➦You can purchase the book here !
Disclaimer: This review is in lieu of a review copy.
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