Santanu Bhattacharya’s Deviants: A Multigenerational Tale of Queer Life in India
Santanu Bhattacharya,the acclaimed author of One Small Voice,returns with his highly anticipated second novel,Deviants. This aspiring work delves into the shifting attitudes toward homosexuality in India over the past five decades, weaving together the lives of three gay men from the same family.
The novel introduces Vivaan, a 17-year-old navigating the complexities of modern sexuality in Bengaluru, India’s tech hub.His story is told through voicenotes, capturing the vivacious freedom of a generation exploring identities like “heteroflexible, homoflexible, objectumsexual, omnisexual, skoliosexual, bi-curious.” Vivaan’s journey is shaped by his uncle, Mambro, who grew up in the mid-1990s and recognizes his younger self in his nephew. mambro’s support contrasts sharply with the lack of guidance he received from his own uncle, Sukumar, in the 1970s.
Sukumar’s story, set in 1977 Kolkata, is the most poignant. A sculptor stifled by societal norms,he lives a life of quiet desperation,finding fleeting solace in anonymous encounters. Bhattacharya writes, “when he’d meet all those others, he’d learn that this was the story of every man like him, a long legacy littered with broken hearts, quashed dreams, duplicitous lives. Men like them, it was best they didn’t wish for anything at all.”
The novel’s structure reflects the generational shifts in India’s LGBTQ+ experience. While Sukumar and Mambro’s long-term partners remain shadowy figures, Vivaan’s story highlights progress: “The country has changed sufficiently for Vivaan to be able to go to the school dance with his boyfriend.”
Bhattacharya’s Deviants is a testament to the resilience of queer lives in India, offering a nuanced exploration of identity, love, and societal change.
| Character | Era | Key Themes |
|—————|—————|—————————————–|
| Vivaan | Present Day | Modern sexuality, tech-driven freedom |
| Mambro | Mid-1990s | Generational mentorship, self-revelation |
| Sukumar | 1977 | Repression, artistic stifling |
For more on Santanu Bhattacharya’s work, explore his debut novel, One Small Voice, and stay tuned for Deviants, a groundbreaking addition to South Asian queer literature.the Power of Words: How Language Reflects Social Change in Modern India
In a world where interaction is often reduced to emojis and abbreviations, the act of crafting full sentences has become a rare art. For Vivaan, a teenager navigating the complexities of identity and relationships, this simple act holds profound meaning. “If you’ve been on those apps and know how people talk, you know that someone bothering to type out full sentences without grammatical errors is enough to make you fall in love with them,” he observes. This sentiment underscores the transformative power of language, a theme that resonates deeply in the works of authors like Bhattacharya, who use words as a mirror to reflect societal and personal evolution.
The Struggle for Equality in India’s legal Framework
India’s journey toward equality has been fraught with challenges, particularly in its legal system. vivaan’s sharp critique of the Supreme Court’s judgment on same-sex marriage highlights this ongoing struggle. “The judges said big cuddly things about gay people, oh give them respect, show them love, but refused to grant equal rights,” he remarks. This decision, while disappointing, has not stifled the spirit of progress.Vivaan’s ability to attend his school dance with his boyfriend, despite initial resistance, is a testament to the shifting societal attitudes. The headteacher’s eventual acceptance, symbolized by her unfurling a Pride flag “like she’d come to watch an India-Pakistan cricket match and it was the last over and India was sure to win,” captures the bittersweet triumph of small victories.
Language as a Catalyst for Change
Bhattacharya’s writing masterfully weaves language into the fabric of social transformation. In one poignant moment,Sukumar struggles to articulate his feelings to his mother about his relationship. “All the words he couldn’t tell her, all those feelings they didn’t have vocabulary for, all the things they didn’t have the courage to speak out loud, where circulating through his veins, making it challenging to breathe,” Bhattacharya writes. This passage encapsulates the stifling effect of societal norms on personal expression and the urgent need for a more inclusive lexicon.
Similarly, Mambro’s discovery of his old journal, which details his relationship with Y, leads to ostracism by his university friends. The journal becomes a symbol of his past, a burden he carries until Vivaan begins tearing its pages to make paper boats. This act of destruction and creation signifies a turning point,freeing Mambro from the weight of his history and allowing him to write anew.
The Evolution of Expression
For Vivaan, the act of writing and speaking with clarity is not just a personal preference but a form of rebellion against the superficiality of modern communication. His recognition for well-constructed sentences reflects a broader yearning for authenticity in a world dominated by fleeting interactions.
| Key Themes | Examples |
|——————————-|—————————————————————————–|
| Legal Equality | Supreme Court’s judgment on same-sex marriage |
| Social Acceptance | School dance with Vivaan’s boyfriend |
| Language as a Motif | Sukumar’s struggle to express his feelings |
| Personal Transformation | Mambro’s journal and its symbolic destruction |
| Authentic Communication | Vivaan’s admiration for full sentences |
A Call for Authentic Connection
As India continues to grapple with its colonial legacy and evolving social norms,the power of language remains a vital tool for change. Bhattacharya’s unshowy yet lyrical style captures the nuances of this transformation, offering readers a glimpse into the lives of individuals navigating love, identity, and self-expression.
For those seeking to understand the intersection of language and social progress, Bhattacharya’s work is a compelling starting point. As Vivaan’s story illustrates, the simple act of writing or speaking with care can be a revolutionary act, one that fosters deeper connections and paves the way for a more inclusive future.
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In Deviants, Santanu Bhattacharya crafts a narrative that is as much about the complexities of human connection as it is about the digital age’s encroachment on our lives.The novel, published by Fig Tree, delves into the life of Vivaan, a character whose journey is marked by a profound yearning for tangible human relationships, even as he navigates a world increasingly dominated by technology.
One of the most striking moments in the book occurs when Vivaan, reeling from the breakdown of his relationship, turns to an AI bot—a digital mirror that simulates desire by harvesting data. “It felt untrue to Vivaan that he could be satisfied by this avatar; for all that he lives his life online, his yearning for palpable human connection is stronger than that,” Bhattacharya writes. This moment, though a minor misstep in an otherwise compelling narrative, underscores the tension between the digital and the human, a theme that resonates deeply in today’s tech-driven world.
Deviants is not just a story about personal relationships; it is a nuanced exploration of politics, love, and freedom.Bhattacharya masterfully balances these elements, creating a novel that is both unflinching in its portrayal of past cruelties and optimistic about the future. Yet, the author is wise enough to acknowledge that progress frequently enough comes with its own set of costs.
The novel’s concise yet epic scope has garnered praise for its ability to blend the personal with the political. It is a testament to Bhattacharya’s skill as a storyteller that he can weave such a rich tapestry of themes without losing sight of the human element at its core.For those eager to dive into this thought-provoking work, Deviants is available for purchase at guardianbookshop.com. Supporting the Guardian and Observer by ordering a copy not only grants access to this compelling read but also contributes to the continued production of quality journalism.
| Key Highlights of Deviants |
|———————————-|
| Author | Santanu Bhattacharya |
| Publisher | Fig Tree |
| Price | £16.99 |
| Themes | Politics, love, freedom, human connection |
| Notable Moment | Vivaan’s interaction with an AI bot |
| Where to Buy | world where technology often threatens to overshadow human interaction, Deviants serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring power of genuine connection. Bhattacharya’s novel is a must-read for anyone grappling with the complexities of modern life.