Page 47 - india

Susan McBeth’s
TRAVEL BY THE BOOK

Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

ou may not be familiar with the Bengali word for ole- robi has a particularly disturbing dream in which her dead
ander, but the sub-tropical korobi is instantly recogniz- mother appears as an apparition and points at something be-
able for its fragrant and showy pink blossoms envel- yond the horizon. Korobi interprets this as a message that she
Yoped in long, leathery, dark-green leaves. must travel to the United States in search of her true roots.

Believed to be native to India, the korobi is known for its Korobi explains to her fiancé why she must delay the wedding
three legendary characteristics: hardiness, beauty, and toxic- to travel to America. However, Rajat and his family are not
ity. Tough enough to withstand extreme heat and tolerant of as understanding as she hoped they would be, which makes
drought and poor soil, it seems ironic that this toxic shrub her second-guess her decision to marry at all. Determined
was the first floral to bloom after the decimation of Hiroshi- more than ever to make the trip unchaperoned, her plans are
ma. Not surprisingly, it quickly became a symbol of hope and thwarted when her grandfather dies unexpectedly, revealing
beauty, symbolism which is deftly utilized by bestselling au- another secret about the state of the family’s finances. Com-
thor Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni in her most recent book, Ole- pounding Korobi’s grief is her guilt that she caused her grand-
ander Girl (Simon & Schuster: March 2013) father to suffer a fatal heart attack.

We are introduced to Divakaruni’s epony- Meanwhile, Rajat’s family-owned busi-
mous protagonist Korobi Roy at age seven- ness is struggling with its share of wild-
teen as she is about to celebrate her engage- cat strikes, picket lines, violence, and
ment to the handsome Rajat. As the sole fear of bankruptcy. Without an investor
heir to his family’s seemingly successful art to help them ride out these challenges,
gallery business, he is the ideal match accord- they may lose everything, but they be-
ing to the tradition-bound grandparents who lieve an investor they are courting will
raised the orphaned Korobi. be more inclined to help if Rajat and Ko-
robi marry. They thus place undue pres-
An only child being reared by her grandpar- sure on Korobi to abandon her trip to
ents in a distinguished Kolkata household America and immediately wed their son.
after her father was killed in an automobile
crash and her mother died in childbirth, Ko- Utilizing the strong roots inherent in
robi nevertheless enjoys a relatively carefree the botanical for which she was named,
life until she stumbles upon an unfinished Korobi makes the difficult decision to
love letter written by her mother to her fa- undertake the trip despite objections
ther that was hidden inside a book of poetry. from all her loved ones. She will need
much courage when her search quickly
Although Korobi is anxious to marry, she senses the letter uncovers more poisonous secrets, challenges, and will ulti-
holds the key to the secrets she has always sensed that her mately require her to make the most difficult decision of her
protective grandparents have not disclosed to her, and she life.
is hesitant to marry before she discovers the truth. Korobi
questions her grandparents and, unable to withstand her guilt Divkaruni’s trademark lyrical prose paints a beautiful back-
any longer, Korobi’s grandmother divulges to Korobi that her drop of Indian culture through which the reader explores one
father, an American, is actually still alive. young woman’s coming-of-age journey through secrets, love,
betrayal, the caste system, religion, and ultimately the under-
The love letter, together with this shocking new development, standing of who she is and why her mother named her after
awaken in Korobi the drive to finally unveil the toxic secrets the beautiful, strong korobi.
being kept from her. She dreams of one day sharing the pure
love expressed in the letter her mother wrote to her father, Whether you are planning a trip to India, or perhaps just
but doesn’t feel she will be able to achieve that without dis- dreaming of one, Oleander Girl will provide an enjoyable read
covering her true identity. that melds the past and present of this fascinating culture.

~ By Susan McBeth
Korobi’s confusion, betrayal, and anger at her grandparents
for lying to her for seventeen years is compounded when Ko-

Wine Dine & Travel Spring 2014 47