The Unforgettable Woman | Indian Writing | Contemporary Fiction | Romance Novel | Pankaj Giri

As a new author breaking into the literary scene, one of the biggest challenges is to find your voice. Most of our writing is birthed out of what we have consumed as human beings. We are after all a product of our experiences. While as writers we try to be as original and honest as possible, we tend to subconsciously mimic what we have been influenced by, which may not be other writers necessarily. It could just be ordinary people we have met. This is not a bad thing. Imagination is a great quality but so is observation.Neil Gaiman, in one of his lessons to young writers presses on the need to be brutally honest. But I’ve also heard him say that it's okay to sound like writers who have influenced you. It often starts like that. He further says, “Let the bad words out, and the good ones will follow”. Eventually, he reckons, “You will find your voice”. This means that finding your voice is a journey.Having read Pankaj Giri’s critically acclaimed earlier work, ‘The Fragile Thread Hope’, I think it's safe to assume that this is a new Indian author who is pursuing that journey. While his latest novel, ‘The Unforgettable Woman’ is a quicker read and departs from his earlier novel in more ways than one, Pankaj does stick to things that make his writing engaging.Here, he chooses fictional towns in Sikkim to tell his story and explores the themes of love, regret, and forgiveness while touching upon several social issues. The two central characters in the novel are seemingly leading uneventful lives until ghosts of their past come to haunt them. It's not that such themes have not been explored by Indian authors before. But here are some of my observations that set this author apart from other new Indian authors writing in this genre.Character development – Just like in his previous novel, here too, the author chooses to dedicate each chapter to a character. He also chooses to journey between the past and present thereby creating a sprawling narrative. An improvement from his earlier novel that I noticed is how he has added several layers to his characters thereby making them more relatable. Whether you agree with them or not is a different discussion, but they aren’t black or white. There is sufficient conflict in the story to keep the reader invested.Worldbuilding – This is perhaps the author’s biggest strength; his understanding of the culture that he was born into. To write a story rooted in culture is easier said than done. The devil is in the details, and it takes tremendous observation skills to make it authentic. The author has managed to bring to life not just the landscapes of Sikkim but also the mindscapes of its people in a fictional setting. The ability to understand what is unique to the world you have built is imperative to make it believable.Dialogues – As new writers, we often falter in writing conversations. Effective dialogue writing does require technical prowess. It also comes with practice. I liked how the author through dialogue has been able to unravel the layers of his characters, their mindset, their beliefs, their flaws, and their courage. I liked also how he builds up tension through dialogue thus lending cinematic quality to the narrative.Vivid Imagery – Often the trap that new writers fall into is to fill sentences with adjectives in a bid to make the narrative vivid. The reader ends up with a verbose prose that can cause an eye sore. In this novel, the language is simple, free-flowing, and effective. It also benefits from good editing. The words woven have been able to create the required imagery in the mind of the reader.To conclude Pankaj Giri’s ‘The Unforgettable Woman’ is an effective novel that has well-etched characters and tackles important social issues. The book is evocative when it needs to be, and the writing has cinematic quality. In case you are looking for a well-written book by an Indian author, give this one a go.

Dr. Adarsh, a senior physician, finds himself deserted by his wife and daughter, living with his cousin’s son and feeling isolated. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he starts catching glimpses of a woman from his past in the streets of Ilathang, his hometown.Meanwhile, Smriti finds solace in nurturing a brotherly relationship with her landlord’s teenage son, who is battling drug addiction, while working as a teacher at Ilathang Government School. However, a shocking revelation in the summer of 2007 shatters her world and leaves her grappling with trauma.As Adarsh seeks to unravel the mystery behind the enigmatic woman, and Smriti struggles to cope with the aftermath of the devastating secret, their intertwined stories unfold against the backdrop of fictional towns in scenic Sikkim.The Unforgettable Woman by Pankaj Giri explores various contemporary themes, including the clash between old traditions and modern lifestyles, highlighting the importance of communication and forgiveness in relationships. The character of Savitri embodies these values, serving as the titular unforgettable woman.The author has masterfully depicted the intricacies of human personalities, making the characters relatable to many of us. They navigate through regrets, misunderstandings, stubbornness, and the struggle to mend relationships, mirroring the complexities of real-life emotions. Each character’s journey feels vivid and authentic, resonating with readers’ own experiences.The title is fitting, and the book cover is captivating. The engaging narration, with its multiple storylines, brisk pace, concise chapters, and accessible language, keeps readers hooked. The intertwining of past events with twists and turns adds to the enjoyment.

With a vibrant backdrop of Iiathang, Pankaj Giri’s The Unforgettable Woman is a journey of Smriti and Dr Adarsh whose paths cross and the stories take us to one woman, Savitri. While with Dr Adarsh, we see the past, with Smriti we see the present scenarios, each of them leading to the determined, loving Savitri - the Unforgettable Woman.With the layers of love, secrets, loss, regret, trauma and hope, with his enchanting writing style and gripping plot, he weaves a beautiful tale. While we see Adarsh’s past where he faces issues in his married life, we see Smriti helping PG owner Son who is a drug addict. With a crisp, descriptive narrative and deep, powerful characters, it's an emotional rollercoaster ride. With Smriti discovering secrets which shatter her, I loved how she gathered herself and learned the art of forgiveness. The more she forgives, the more life offers her. Pankaj brilliantly weaves all the characters. Each of them has its own charm, its own journey which will make readers emotional. The more we read about Savitri, the more we fall for her character. I loved the bond of Smriti and Dr Adarsh Shares.With each event, the story gets more intense, making readers curious about how will the events turn. One thing I love here is Pankaj’s practical approach to the situations. The way he shares Satyadeep’s situation and the way Smriti helps him is wonderfully portrayed. He sheds light on the important social issues. It is a bit heavy read and readers will take a little time to understand the situations in the first few chapters, but layers it not less than a rollercoaster ride.With unforgettable characters, interesting plot and captivating writing style, It's a heartwarming read, filled with love and life lessons.