I took up threads of my earlier read of Mircea Eliade's 'Bengal Nights', written in 1933. 'It Does Not Die: Romance' is written by Maitreyi Devi in response to Eliade's fantasies. 'Bengal Nights' ends with the excruciating pain of separation of a surreptitious teenage romance between a Romanian boy (Mircea Eliade) and an Indian girl (Maitreyi Devi). In contrast, 'It Does Not Die' ends with the reunion of the separated teenagers of the 1930s in the 1970s. Written 42 years later, it sounds even more real. Maitreyi's narrative offers a woman's perspective, while Mircea's 'Bengal Nights' offers a man's perspective.
Both novels are incomplete without each other. I had decided to finish reading them before the last day of December, but the narration was so compelling that I finished them 10 days ahead of schedule.
In colloquial language, it sounds like they are two parts or volumes of the same book. However, in reality, both books are unique in their own ways – complete with each other and incomplete without each other. This is a symmetrical dichotomy. Mircea's novel is about the trauma left after separation, while Maitreyi's novel is the aftermath of that trauma. These two books are a must-read in a lifetime. Highly recommended.
— Faith
Amol
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