CINXE.COM

<html lang="en"><head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://desicritics.org:80/2006/06/10/133644.php","20060618052520","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1150608320"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Desicritics.org: Book Review: The Point of Return - Siddartha Deb</title> <meta name="description" content="Culture: Book Review: The Point of Return - Siddartha Deb - A story exploring the evolution of a relationship between father and son at one level and alienattion and yearning for roots and stability among displaced people at another."/> <meta name="keywords" content="Book Review: The Point of Return - Siddartha Deb, Culture, Culture: Books, Culture: Family, Culture: Rural, Culture: Social Issues, "/> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20060618052520cs_/http://desicritics.org/styles/v10.css" type="text/css">  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20060618052520cs_/http://desicritics.org/styles/v10print.css" type="text/css" media="print"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/index.xml"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20060618052520im_/http://desicritics.org/favicon.ico"> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="/web/20060618052520js_/http://desicritics.org/includes/cookies.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="/web/20060618052520js_/http://desicritics.org/includes/external.js"></script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS for Culture section" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/culture.xml"> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS for review articles" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/review.xml">  <style type="text/css"> #wrapper{background:#f6f6f6 url(/web/20060618052520im_/http://desicritics.org/images/DCbg3col2.gif);} #sidebar{background:none;} #navbar{text-align:center;} </style> </head> <body id="desicritics-org" class="article culture"> <center><table width="800" border="0"><tr><td> <div id="wrapper"> <div id="ad1"></div> <div id="header"><style type="text/css">@import "/web/20060618052520cs_/http://desicritics.org/styles/quicksub.css";</style><div id="quickSub" style="position:absolute; visibility:hidden; z-index:1000;" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmousemove="return delayqs();"></div><script language="JavaScript" src="/web/20060618052520js_/http://desicritics.org/includes/quicksub.js"></script><div id="logo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/" title="Desicritics.org Home"><img alt="Desicritics.org" src="/web/20060618052520im_/http://desicritics.org/images/DCLogo.gif" align="left" border="0" vspace="5" height="50" width="313"></a></div><div id="rotating banner"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/05/30/003638.php" title="Desicritics.org Home"><img alt="Desicritics img" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://static.flickr.com/48/155437597_031fb1af01_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" vspace="5" height="60"></a></div> </div> <div id="navbar">Go:<ul><li class="navSection home"><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/" title="Home">Home</a></li><li class="navSectionHere"><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/culture/" title="Culture">Culture</a></li><li class="navSection media"><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/media/" title="Media">Media</a></li><li class="navSection politics"><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/politics/" title="Politics">Politics</a></li><li class="navSection sports"><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/sports/" title="Sports">Sports</a></li><li class="navSection biztech"><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/biztech/" title="Business and Technology">Biz/Tech</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sidebar"><div class="sitelinks links"><h3>Desicritics.org</h3> <ul><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/01/25/205846.php">About DC</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/freshcomments.php">Fresh Comments</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/">RSS</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/mt/mt.cgi">Login</a></li></ul>  </div> <div id="search"><form id="searchform" method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.google.com/custom" target="_top"><div id="searchlabel"><label for="q" accesskey="4">Search with <b><span style="color:blue;">G</span><span style="color:red;">o</span><span style="color:yellow;">o</span><span style="color:blue;">g</span><span style="color:green;">l</span><span style="color:red;">e</span></b></label></div> <div id="searchinput"><input type="hidden" name="domains" value="desicritics.org"></input> <input type="text" id="q" name="q" size="16" maxlength="255" value=""></input> <input type="hidden" name="sitesearch" value="desicritics.org"></input>  <input type="hidden" name="client" value="pub-7273131845408543"></input> <input type="hidden" name="forid" value="1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="oe" value="ISO-8859-1"></input> <input type="hidden" name="cof" value="GALT:#333333;GL:1;DIV:#AE001E;VLC:000000;AH:center;BGC:F9F9F9;LBGC:AE001E;ALC:000000;LC:000000;T:44423A;GFNT:663333;GIMP:663333;LH:35;LW:200;L:http://blogcritics.org/images/BCLogoOnlyTiny.gif;S:http://blogcritics.org/;FORID:1;"></input> <input type="hidden" name="hl" value="en"></input> </div></form></div> <div class="network">Part of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://blogcritics.org/">Blogcritics.org</a> Network.</div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://blogcritics.org/blogads-cache2/fsjdpmtfodpnqvtfswfdpn/blogcriticssponsor/feed.js"></script> <div class="topposters links"><h3>Top Writers</h3><span>Most prolific Desicritics for June</span> <ul> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://shantanudutta.sulekha.com/">Shantanu Dutta</a> (23)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://blogs.epicindia.com/leapinthedark">Richard Marcus</a> (20)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://baithak.blogspot.com/">temporal</a> (10)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.sakshijuneja.com/blog/">Sakshi Juneja</a> (8)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://dayswork.wordpress.com/">Kishore</a> (7)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://gbytes.gsood.com/mayank.php">Mayank 'Austen'</a> (7)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.viveksharmaiitd.blogspot.com/">Vivek Sharma</a> (7)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://kamlabhattshow.com/">kamla bhatt</a> (5)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://apolloschronicle.blogspot.com/">Apollo</a> (4)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://drishtikone.com/">Desh</a> (4)</li> </ul> <span>Most prolific Desicritics for May</span> <ul> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://blogs.epicindia.com/leapinthedark">Richard Marcus</a> (31)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://baithak.blogspot.com/">temporal</a> (19)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.sakshijuneja.com/blog/">Sakshi Juneja</a> (18)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://gbytes.gsood.com/mayank.php">Mayank 'Austen'</a> (14)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desitrain.com/">Desi Train</a> (11)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://dayswork.wordpress.com/">Kishore</a> (10)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://drishtikone.com/">Desh</a> (8)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://kamlabhattshow.com/">kamla bhatt</a> (8)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.sandeepweb.com/">Sandeep</a> (8)</li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.viveksharmaiitd.blogspot.com/">Vivek Sharma</a> (8)</li> </ul> <div class="bullet">» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/author.php">All Desicritics</a> «</div></div> <div class="archives"><h3>Article Archives</h3> <p>2006</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/01/" title="January 2006 (167 articles)">Jan</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/02/" title="February 2006 (435 articles)">Feb</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/03/" title="March 2006 (525 articles)">Mar</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/04/" title="April 2006 (394 articles)">Apr</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/05/" title="May 2006 (348 articles)">May</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/" title="June 2006 (176 articles)">Jun</a></li> </ul><br/>  </div> <div style="text-align:center;font-size:x-small;margin-top:2em;"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://blogcritics.org/images/home-logo-130x60w.gif" alt="In Association with Amazon.com" border="0" height="60" width="130"></a><br/> <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/latestposts.php">Latest Articles</a> <center><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://help-pakistan.com/main/dont-block-the-blog/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://help-pakistan.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2006/03/dontblocktheblog2.jpg" border="0"/></a></center> </div></div> <div id="main"> <div id="content"> <div id="ad3"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <div class="articleType">REVIEW</div><div class="reviewItem"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501510/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060501510.01._SX140_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg" border="0" hspace="5" alt=""/></a></div>  <a name="#main"><h1>Book Review: The Point of Return - Siddartha Deb</h1></a> <div class="tagline"> June 10, 2006<br/> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://shantanudutta.sulekha.com/">Shantanu Dutta</a></div> <div class="reviewDesc"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501510/pageturners0c"><i>The Point of Return : a novel</i></a><br/>Siddhartha Deb<br/>Book<br/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501510/pageturners0c"><b>Buy now</b> from <img src="/web/20060618052520im_/http://desicritics.org/images/AmazonLogo.gif" width="100" height="19" vspace="4" align="top" border="0" alt="Amazon.com"/></a></div> <div class="abody"><div id="ad6"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <p>Any one above 40 reading Siddhartha Dev's debut novel will be forced to make an inward journey retracing their steps into the past and revisiting their history. This book can be read and read again and each time with different emotions. </p> <p>At one level , this an account of the life of one Dr Dam , a retired veterinary surgeon who had to migrate from the Sylhet area of Bangladesh in to Meghalaya when it was still part of Assam , served first the Assam and then the Meghalaya government with distinction and then as the North East of India got engulfed in to ethnic turmoil was again termed an outsider in the very soil he had served all his life and in the evening of his life had to retreat into another Bengali ghetto of Silchar where the Assamese looked upon them with derision as Bengalis and the genteel Bengali elite Calcutta sneered at them for their peculiar East Bengali accent. </p> <p>At another level, it is another piece of documentation on the effects of the less violent but certainly no less painful effects of the partition on the Bengalis - whose echoes echo percolate to this date - infiltrator if Muslim and refugee if Hindu - both terms not conducive to enhancing human dignity.</p> <p>On yet another level, it is the story of a young man - a man with very different values discovering his father , a man of another generation scarred by partition and its economic woes compounded with family burdens as he first retires from his job, then has a stroke and gets disabled and his stature and status in life steadily diminishes. </p> <p>In the fears, despair and hopelessness of his father's situation, is mirrored his own fears and alienation from the place he calls home but in local parlance is an outsider - in his father's life long wanderings is the foreboding of what is to come in his life, in reaching out to his father in his need and weakness is the realization rootlessness is almost a way of life in our times. </p> <p>Seeped in the nuances of local ethnic identities and clashes of North East India, the pain and alienation caused by displacement that occurs due to far reaching political events beyond one's control, every word in the book is tinged with prose that is melodic with poetry and dipped with the sadness of nostalgia. Fittingly enough, the book jacket includes a quote by Ursula K Le Guin "You can go home again... so long as you understand that home is a place where you have never been in". </p> <p>Equally fittingly, Siddhartha Deb dedicates the book to his father Ranjit Lal Deb. <br/> <br/> </p></div> <div id="authorbio">Shantanu Dutta is a doctor by training and a development professional by vocation. He is an onlooker on events happening in India and the world in the realm of society, politics and the many intangible events that populate our lives. </div><div id="promote">Like this article? <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://desicritics.org/2006/06/10/133644.php&title=Book Review: The Point of Return - Siddartha Deb">+ del.icio.us</a> </div>  <div style="float:right;text-align:right;"><div class="stats"> <a target="_top" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://t.extreme-dm.com/?login=ericolse"> <img name="im" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://u1.extreme-dm.com/i.gif" height="20" border="0" width="20" alt=""/></a><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> </script><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript1.2"> </script><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> </script><noscript><img height="1" width="1" alt="" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://t0.extreme-dm.com/0.gif?tag=ericolse&j=n"/></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">var site="s11blogcritics"</script><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://s11.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=s11blogcritics"></script><noscript><div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://s11.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s11blogcritics"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://s11.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s11blogcritics" alt="Site Meter"/></a></div></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://s18.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=s18desicritics"></script><noscript><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://s18.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s18desicritics" target="_top"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://s18.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s18desicritics" alt="Site Meter" border="0"/></a></noscript> </div> </div> <div class="notice">Keep reading for comments on this article and add some feedback of your own!</div> <div><center><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=pageturners0c&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=subst%2Fhome%2Fhome.html"><b>Buy</b> from <img src="/web/20060618052520im_/http://desicritics.org/images/AmazonLogo.gif" width="100" height="19" vspace="4" align="top" border="0" alt="Amazon.com"/></a><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=pageturners0c&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;"/></center><div class="amazonbox"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501510/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060501510.01._SY90_THUMBZZZZZ_.jpg" border="0" align="left" style="margin-right:3px;" alt="The Point of Return : a novel" oonload="if(this.width=='1')this.src='http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060501510.01._SY90_SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg'" title="The Point of Return : a novel"/></a> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501510/pageturners0c">The Point of Return : a novel</a><br/><span style="color:gray;">Siddhartha Deb<br/><b>Book</b></span></div> <div class="amazonbox"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501553/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060501553.01._SY90_THUMBZZZZZ_.jpg" border="0" align="left" style="margin-right:3px;" alt="An Outline of the Republic : A Novel" oonload="if(this.width=='1')this.src='http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0060501553.01._SY90_SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg'" title="An Outline of the Republic : A Novel"/></a> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060501553/pageturners0c">An Outline of the Republic : A Novel</a><br/><span style="color:gray;">Siddhartha Deb<br/><b>Book,</b> Usually ships in 24 hours</span></div> <div class="amazonbox"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679463356/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0679463356.01._SY90_THUMBZZZZZ_.jpg" border="0" align="left" style="margin-right:3px;" alt="Shalimar the Clown : A Novel" oonload="if(this.width=='1')this.src='http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0679463356.01._SY90_SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg'" title="Shalimar the Clown : A Novel"/></a> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679463356/pageturners0c">Shalimar the Clown : A Novel</a><br/><span style="color:gray;">Salman Rushdie<br/><b>Book,</b> Usually ships in 24 hours</span></div> <div class="amazonbox"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140240527/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0140240527.01._SY90_THUMBZZZZZ_.jpg" border="0" align="left" style="margin-right:3px;" alt="Strangers in the Mist" oonload="if(this.width=='1')this.src='http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0140240527.01._SY90_SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg'" title="Strangers in the Mist"/></a> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0140240527/pageturners0c">Strangers in the Mist</a><br/><span style="color:gray;">Sanjoy Hazarika<br/><b>Book</b></span></div> <div class="amazonbox"><a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8121205174/pageturners0c"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://images.amazon.com/images/P/8121205174.01._SY90_THUMBZZZZZ_.jpg" border="0" align="left" style="margin-right:3px;" alt="Geopolitics of north east India: A strategical study" oonload="if(this.width=='1')this.src='http://images.amazon.com/images/P/8121205174.01._SY90_SCTHUMBZZZ_.jpg'" title="Geopolitics of north east India: A strategical study"/></a> <a target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/8121205174/pageturners0c">Geopolitics of north east India: A strategical study</a><br/><span style="color:gray;">Joysankar Hazarika<br/><b>Book</b></span></div> </div><br style="clear:both;"/> <div id="ainfo"><h3>Book Review: The Point of Return - Siddartha Deb</h3><div id="aic1"> <h3>Article</h3> <ul id="article"> <li>» Published on June 10, 2006</li> <li>» Type: <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/review/">Review</a></li><li>» Filed under: <ul id="categories"><li><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/culture/">Culture</a></li>, <li><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/category.php?category=11">Culture: Books</a></li>, <li><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/category.php?category=12">Culture: Family</a></li>, <li><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/category.php?category=60">Culture: Rural</a></li>, <li><a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/category.php?category=63">Culture: Social Issues</a></li></ul>.</li> </ul> <h3>Author: Shantanu Dutta</h3><ul id="author"><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/author.php?author=Shantanu Dutta">All Desicritics.org articles by Shantanu Dutta</a></li><li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://shantanudutta.sulekha.com/">Shantanu Dutta's personal weblog</a></li></ul> </div> <div id="aic2"> <h3>RSS:</h3> <ul id="rss">Subscribe to RSS 2.0 feeds for: <li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/10/133644.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/2006/06/10/133644.xml');">Comments on this article</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/culture.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/categories/culture.xml');">Culture</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/culture_books.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/categories/culture_books.xml');">Culture: Books</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/culture_family.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/categories/culture_family.xml');">Culture: Family</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/culture_rural.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/categories/culture_rural.xml');">Culture: Rural</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/culture_social_issues.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/categories/culture_social_issues.xml');">Culture: Social Issues</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/authors/Shantanu_Dutta.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/authors/Shantanu_Dutta.xml');">Desicritics.org articles by Shantanu Dutta</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/review.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/review.xml');">All Review articles</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/index.xml" onmouseout="return timeqs();" onmouseover="return quicksub(this,'/index.xml');">All Desicritics.org articles</a></li></ul> </div> <div id="open"> </div> </div> <div id="commentLabel"><h2>Comments! Feedback! Speak and be heard!</h2> <h3>Comment on this article or leave feedback for the author</h3></div> <div id="comments"> <div class="comment"><div class="cheader"><span class="cid"><a name="comment-13156">#1</a></span><br/> <span class="name">Sanjay</span><br/><span class="date">June 11, 2006</span><br/><span class="time">12:55 AM</span></div><div class="cbody"><p>Regarding the phrase "infiltrator if Muslim and refugee if Hindu" -- I would point out the nobody chooses to be a refugee, so I would not morally equate them with an infiltrator. At the same time, those who *chose* partition have no business crossing the border. Otherwise it's "what's mine is mine, what's yours we share." Infiltration is a one-way street, and not a mutually voluntary or mutually beneficial relationship.<br/> <br/> </p></div><div class="cfooter"></div></div><div class="comment"><div class="cheader"><span class="cid"><a name="comment-13279">#2</a></span><br/> <span class="name">Evangeline</span><br/><span class="date">June 13, 2006</span><br/><span class="time">12:30 AM</span></div><div class="cbody"><p>Ursula K Le Guin "You can go home again... so long as you understand that home is a place where you have never been in". Is so true... especially for third culture person. Coming to terms and accepting the reality of the phrase "so long as you understand" that the home you left behind is not what it used to be is the most difficult part and sometimes it haunts you. </p></div><div class="cfooter"></div></div> <div class="addComment"><h2>Add your comment</h2> (Or ping: http://desicritics.org/tb/2081)<br/> <br/> <div class="notice">Personal attacks are <b>not</b> allowed. Please read our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/11/07/153055.php">comment policy</a>.</div> <form method="post" action="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/mt/mt-comments.php" name="comments_form" onsubmit="if (this.bakecookie.checked) rememberMe(this)"> <input name="static" value="1" type="hidden"/> <input type="hidden" name="entry_id" value="2081"/> <label>Name:<br/> <input type="text" name="author" size="30"/></label><br/><br/> <label>URL:<br/> <input type="text" name="url" size="30" value="http://"/></label><br/><br/> <label>Comments:<br/> <textarea name="text" rows="10" cols="50"></textarea></label><br/><br/> <input name="bakecookie" type="checkbox"/>Remember Name/URL? <input onclick="forgetMe(this.form)" value="Forget Name/URL" type="button"/><br/><br/> <input name="preview" value="Preview" type="submit"/> <b>Please</b> preview your comment! <input name="post" value="Publish" type="submit"/><br/><br/> </form> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">  </script> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ad8"></div></div> <div id="extrabar"><div class="spotlight links"><h3>In the Spotlight</h3><ul> <b>Desicritic Of The Day: Visit And Honor <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://jawahara.blogspot.com/">Jawahara Saidullah</a></b> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/14/034137.php">Writer's Block</a></li> <li>» <b><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/13/055719.php">Identity And Violence</a></b></li> <li>» <b><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/03/17/000521.php">Link To Desicritics</a></b></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/13/053223.php">Sholay KOs Don</a></li> <li>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/06/14/011708.php"><b>Blogcritics: Jihad Comes To Canada</b></a></li> <li><b>» <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520/mailto:desicritics@gmail.com">Tip Us Off/Join Us</a></b></li> </ul></div><div class="links"><h3>Fresh Comments</h3><div class="clist"><ul> <li id="2025">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/06/001647.php">Arjun Singh's Piece de Resistance</a> by balaji: </span><span class="cbody"> thanks soothsayer for acknowledging. i do understand it is a satire. my last comment summarizes m...</span></li> <li id="2152">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/17/133929.php">Manufacturing "Merit"</a> by balaji: </span><span class="cbody"> sanjay i wd not like to take the argument at an individual's level. secondly, i do not want to...</span></li> <li id="2133">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/16/001120.php">Movie Review: <i>The Break-Up</i></a> by Triniman: </span><span class="cbody"> GG, the 4/5 rating is simply my opinion...everyone is entitled to one.</span></li> <li id="2153">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/18/001232.php">What To Do With Unemployed Jehadi's?</a> by Sanjay: </span><span class="cbody"> "fag-pack" calculation, eh? Yeah, I'd say that's appropriate descriptor for the jihadis. I don't exp...</span></li> <li id="2144">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/17/012709.php">Gender Selection Continues In India</a> by Ash: </span><span class="cbody"> POST OF THE DAY. Another victim of SIF harrassment. Wonderful post. Must read. http://sriramr....</span></li> <li id="2008">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/04/130631.php">Movie Review: Fanaa - The day I Became My Own Critic</a> by Mad Munky: </span><span class="cbody"> Yup - I go by my own internal monitor :o) If the film moves me, or makes me happy etc, then it's do...</span></li> <li id="2146">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/17/060544.php"><i>Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (KANK)</i> by Karan Johar + New York</a> by Mad Munky: </span><span class="cbody"> The only stars I've ever spotted were Sunny Deol, Hema Malini, and Dimple K - all three were at some...</span></li> <li id="2130">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/15/132416.php">Powergen Quits India: Apple Abandons Plans</a> by Sanjay: </span><span class="cbody"> While the world will not quit its outsourcing habits, whether India remains central to their outsour...</span></li> <li id="1399">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/04/12/182133.php">Book Review: <i>Who Stole Feminism? How Women have Betrayed Women</i></a> by gotbrainwashed: </span><span class="cbody"> Nelson, comment #111 - 'a woman who's tried of deleting spam.' She said 'long live 498!' See? The ex...</span></li> <li id="2127">» <span class="cheader">On <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/06/15/071110.php">Radhika Needs Your Help</a> by drac: </span><span class="cbody"> Cute pic of six-year-old Sakshi!! ;) I had a friend during school years who, like you, had six fing...</span></li> </ul></div> <div class="bullet">» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/freshcomments.php">Fresh Comments</a> «</div></div> <div id="ad7"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> <div class="topcommenters links"><h3>Top Commenters</h3><span>Most profilic Commenters for last 24 hours</span><ul> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=balaji&url=&timeframe=24">balaji</a> (11)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Kush&url=http://www.mynation.net/kush/&timeframe=24">Kush</a> (9)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Sanjay&url=&timeframe=24">Sanjay</a> (7)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Shantanu Dutta&url=&timeframe=24">Shantanu Dutta</a> (6)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=temporal&url=http://baithak.blogspot.com/&timeframe=24">temporal</a> (6)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Mad Munky&url=http://munkygoestobollywood.blogspot.com/&timeframe=24">Mad Munky</a> (3)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Abhishek&url=http://broadbandblog.in&timeframe=24">Abhishek</a> (2)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Kush&url=http://www.mynation.net/kush&timeframe=24">Kush</a> (2)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Sakshi&url=www.sakshijuneja.com/blog&timeframe=24">Sakshi</a> (2)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=WeedWanderer&url=http://weedwanderer.blogspot.com&timeframe=24">WeedWanderer</a> (2)</li> </ul> <span>Most prolific Commenters for last 7 days</span><ul> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=temporal&url=http://baithak.blogspot.com/&timeframe=7">temporal</a> (54)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Kush&url=http://www.mynation.net/kush/&timeframe=7">Kush</a> (48)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=balaji&url=&timeframe=7">balaji</a> (43)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Sanjay&url=&timeframe=7">Sanjay</a> (23)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Shantanu Dutta&url=&timeframe=7">Shantanu Dutta</a> (14)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Deepu&url=&timeframe=7">Deepu</a> (13)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Aaman&url=http://desicritics.org&timeframe=7">Aaman</a> (10)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=sami&url=http://sami4u.blogspot.com&timeframe=7">sami</a> (10)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Apollo&url=http://apolloschronicle.blogspot.com&timeframe=7">Apollo</a> (9)</li> <li>» <a rel="nofollow" href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/comments.php?poster=Mayank 'Austen'&url=ruinedbyreading.blogspot.com&timeframe=7">Mayank 'Austen'</a> (9)</li> </ul> <div class="bullet">» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/leaderboard.php">Leaderboard</a> «</div></div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://blogcritics.org/blogads-cache/fsjdpmtfodpnqvtfswfdpn/1031808123/feed.js"></script> </div> <div id="footer"><div class="sitelinks links"><h3>Desicritics.org</h3> <ul><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/2006/01/25/205846.php">About DC</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/freshcomments.php">Fresh Comments</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/categories/">RSS</a></li><li>» <a href="/web/20060618052520/http://desicritics.org/mt/mt.cgi">Login</a></li></ul>  </div> <div>This site and all content © Desicritics.org and the respective authors. All Rights Reserved.</div> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=pageturners0c"></script><noscript><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520im_/http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=pageturners0c" alt=""/></noscript> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060618052520js_/http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="javascript"> _uacct = "UA-104842-3"; urchinTracker(); </script> </div> </div> </td></tr></table></center> </body></html>