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Rebirth
Rebirth is the only book on the [Man Asian Literary Prize] shortlist for which overseas rights are yet to be granted. For that reason, if you manage to track down this book outside India, you’re a better literary detective than I. All of which is a shame, because reviews on the sub-continent suggest it is a delicate, deeply affecting novel deserving of wider readership. Set in modern-day Bangalore, Kaberi is pregnant with a longed-for child nobody else knows about: neither her estranged, unfaithful husband, nor her parents or friends. Rebirth takes the form of a monologue from mother to baby in which she expresses her doubts about her marriage and her life, and ultimately seeks, and finds, some form of redemption. In time, it’s likely its shortlisting will open it up to a bigger readership. - From themillions.com
216 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
January 6, 2021
✴️Genre: Domestic Fiction
✴️Deals with marriage, infidelity, abandonment, pregnancy
☑️This book revolves around Kaveri who got married without knowing the man she is married to. She has to move to Bangalore after her marriage which was far away from the place she grew up.
She has to start her life all over again in a new place, adapting to the circumstances without any complaints. But in due course of time she has to deal with an unfaithful husband, pangs of loneliness and loss of her childhood friend as well as the death of her father.
Only after the death of her father, she came to know the bitter truth from her mother why her father remained aloof which she will always hold a grudge about forever without which her troubled relationship with her father would have been settled much earlier when he was alive.
The story grips the reader in such a way through all kinds of emotions : sadness, uncertainties of life, love, betrayal.
Raw feelings regarding bandonment as well as coming to terms with emotions so deep have been portrayed well.
The story ends on such a good note that the reader will feel triumphant at the end,feeling life is worth all the pain if it is to end in such a way.
✴️Deals with marriage, infidelity, abandonment, pregnancy
☑️This book revolves around Kaveri who got married without knowing the man she is married to. She has to move to Bangalore after her marriage which was far away from the place she grew up.
She has to start her life all over again in a new place, adapting to the circumstances without any complaints. But in due course of time she has to deal with an unfaithful husband, pangs of loneliness and loss of her childhood friend as well as the death of her father.
Only after the death of her father, she came to know the bitter truth from her mother why her father remained aloof which she will always hold a grudge about forever without which her troubled relationship with her father would have been settled much earlier when he was alive.
The story grips the reader in such a way through all kinds of emotions : sadness, uncertainties of life, love, betrayal.
Raw feelings regarding bandonment as well as coming to terms with emotions so deep have been portrayed well.
The story ends on such a good note that the reader will feel triumphant at the end,feeling life is worth all the pain if it is to end in such a way.
July 30, 2020
Today I want to highlight an author that I have not seen anybody talking about on any online platform and all I want to do is scream : WHY? WHY? WHY?
It aches my heart to realise that authors like Jahnavi Barua whose writing is so composed and poised remains mostly unexplored by the mass readers of our country and beyond.
I came across this book at my local bookstore and the cover sucked me in, the moment I laid my eyes on it.
Set in the backdrop of Bengaluru and Assam, Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua is a beautiful, understated and poignant story of a lonely mother talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb. This merely 200 pages novel evoked so many unspoken emotions within me that my heart was heavy with love and full of hope for that unborn child by the time I turned the last page. I was left yearning for more, for I was so engrossed in the lives of Kaberi and her little ray of sunshine.
It aches my heart to realise that authors like Jahnavi Barua whose writing is so composed and poised remains mostly unexplored by the mass readers of our country and beyond.
I came across this book at my local bookstore and the cover sucked me in, the moment I laid my eyes on it.
Set in the backdrop of Bengaluru and Assam, Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua is a beautiful, understated and poignant story of a lonely mother talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb. This merely 200 pages novel evoked so many unspoken emotions within me that my heart was heavy with love and full of hope for that unborn child by the time I turned the last page. I was left yearning for more, for I was so engrossed in the lives of Kaberi and her little ray of sunshine.
April 26, 2012
This book came to my notice when it was praised in the Literary Review section of The Hindu. For the recommendation of some very lesser known books this has proved to be quite effective.
The story is of a woman from North-east of India who lived all her life in the small city of Guwahati and suddenly has to experience of living with her husband in Bangalore.
Some details have been shared about her experiences of living in a small town which has remained "disturbed" for long but still exudes the warmth to its residents.
Barua has shared the pain and prowess shown by a woman in the most bizarre but utterly possible situations. The inner conflicts and confusions ensued when the protagonist tried to grapple with the promises of motherhood and betrayal of her love has been shown meticulously.
This book should be read for the sheer fun of details of emotions and the discrepancies of life.
The story is of a woman from North-east of India who lived all her life in the small city of Guwahati and suddenly has to experience of living with her husband in Bangalore.
Some details have been shared about her experiences of living in a small town which has remained "disturbed" for long but still exudes the warmth to its residents.
Barua has shared the pain and prowess shown by a woman in the most bizarre but utterly possible situations. The inner conflicts and confusions ensued when the protagonist tried to grapple with the promises of motherhood and betrayal of her love has been shown meticulously.
This book should be read for the sheer fun of details of emotions and the discrepancies of life.
December 2, 2020
An exquisite, painful, intricate, and intimate look at one woman’s unraveling from a toxic, abusive marriage. This was the first time I was reading Jahnavi and I was mesmerized by her eloquence - that the novel is set in Bangalore only added to that allure.
I have long wondered why people stay in abusive relationships - we think the answer is so clear - but the reality is far more complex. The shame we try to cover up. The sense of ‘maybe it will change’ hopeless hope that we cling on to. The trauma of thinking that there is nothing better out there. But Barua gives hope. There’s always a ‘Rebirth.’
I have long wondered why people stay in abusive relationships - we think the answer is so clear - but the reality is far more complex. The shame we try to cover up. The sense of ‘maybe it will change’ hopeless hope that we cling on to. The trauma of thinking that there is nothing better out there. But Barua gives hope. There’s always a ‘Rebirth.’
July 11, 2021
A friend of mine who shares my interests in the stories on Assamese middle class recommended this book by author Jahnavi Barua, named Rebirth. Reading the brief of the book gave me a sceptical thought about it being a female-centric Tony Morrison-styled novel as it involves themes of pregnancy and abandonment. As I am/was going under few demotivating bouts of struggle in my personal life, I thought reading the book will be counter-productive.
However, the book turned out to be completely different; so fresh that I felt guilty that I have not heard about it since 2010. What was I doing in my BA Literature years?
Now, this is not some book review, these are my feeling which has been evoked upon reading the book. I won’t disclose the plot of the book as I want more and more people to read it. Here are few ramdom obseravtions:
Urban Middle-Class Lens
The book addresses the middle-class response to the historical events in Assam in the last few decades. Many a time, books written on or about Assam explores the topics of insurgency, floods, Assam Agitation from a rural or peasant centric approach. But, in Rebirth, the Agitation and the insurgency is seen from the lens of how it affected the urban middle class through the observations of Kaberi. This is very fresh and rare and a narrative that has been missed out in pop culture literature or films.
But, the plot suffers from few continuity issues as the protagonist finds herself in all these events (which is not in sync chronologically to her timeline). We can excuse that for creative liberty needed to internalise these events.
Migration
As a kid in primary school, I overheard my eldest cousin wanting to go to Bangalore. This made me fascinated by the city. What is this Bangalore? Well, Bangalore as we know has seen migration (if not the highest) from Assam. Along with that, a lot of girls I know from Assam are married there to “suitable” and “eligible” bachelors. A common component in all these marriages is, “Our son works in a big company.” The writer has exposed the Bangalore life; not in the sense, it is bad or uncomfortable but the sheer monotony of it and how it doesn’t even align with someone as accommodating as Kaberi.
She continuously writes about the parks and also juxtaposes them with Kaziranga (not directly though). There is just no comparison between the two.
Assamese nationalism
The incidents of the failed Assam Agitation where the ‘andulonkaris’ became apathetic politicians is constantly written about in the book. At one point, the protagonist makes comments on a fisherman in Guwahati and compares him to an alien (citizen). A lot of mainland leftist people will criticise the writer for being xenophobic, but the protagonist being from a middle-class Assamese family has uttered these words out of frustration, not the writer. At this point, I have managed to separate Kaberi as a unique identity and not the writer herself.
Guwahati – A city to fall back
No matter how much materialism, Bangalore offers you, it can never compete with a river-facing house in Guwahati. A lot of houses with aesthetic interior designing in Bangalore is introduced in the book but the protagonist finds the house of her friend near the Brahmaputra to be the best. The most important part is that she sees the same Brahmaputra differently from her own husband’s house and her friend’s house. This I feel, demonstrates that love is something she constantly seeks and she makes others realise the importance of love along with that.
Also, the ending is very ambiguous and I am not exposing it here for those who have not read. But, I am presuming the protagonist takes a brave new step after she visits Guwahati, the city that has reignited her a new perspective of self-esteem. The Assamese middle-class comfort that even if everything goes bad “you will still have a house in your hometown” gives her strength to fight back. Assamese middle-class society’s strong fundamentals play a huge role in her decision making in her redemption.
Dada culture
The book, I feel is the victory of the Guwahati Middle-Class Dada over the suave metropolitan men. These prospective men may achieve a lot of things in their life (career-wise) but someone who has received a very humble upbringing will always fall back to the comfort of the caring dada (the need for a fatherly figure has been constant in the book from other characters). The character Bidyut is the best dada I have ever read in a novel and he gives me the comfort that he will always be there when there is an emergency.
I believe, Rebirth is the kind of novel that should be read by all aspiring writers of Assam because it will help to translate colloquial sentiment into the English language. As for the reader, it is pure drama and a great weekend read.
However, the book turned out to be completely different; so fresh that I felt guilty that I have not heard about it since 2010. What was I doing in my BA Literature years?
Now, this is not some book review, these are my feeling which has been evoked upon reading the book. I won’t disclose the plot of the book as I want more and more people to read it. Here are few ramdom obseravtions:
Urban Middle-Class Lens
The book addresses the middle-class response to the historical events in Assam in the last few decades. Many a time, books written on or about Assam explores the topics of insurgency, floods, Assam Agitation from a rural or peasant centric approach. But, in Rebirth, the Agitation and the insurgency is seen from the lens of how it affected the urban middle class through the observations of Kaberi. This is very fresh and rare and a narrative that has been missed out in pop culture literature or films.
But, the plot suffers from few continuity issues as the protagonist finds herself in all these events (which is not in sync chronologically to her timeline). We can excuse that for creative liberty needed to internalise these events.
Migration
As a kid in primary school, I overheard my eldest cousin wanting to go to Bangalore. This made me fascinated by the city. What is this Bangalore? Well, Bangalore as we know has seen migration (if not the highest) from Assam. Along with that, a lot of girls I know from Assam are married there to “suitable” and “eligible” bachelors. A common component in all these marriages is, “Our son works in a big company.” The writer has exposed the Bangalore life; not in the sense, it is bad or uncomfortable but the sheer monotony of it and how it doesn’t even align with someone as accommodating as Kaberi.
She continuously writes about the parks and also juxtaposes them with Kaziranga (not directly though). There is just no comparison between the two.
Assamese nationalism
The incidents of the failed Assam Agitation where the ‘andulonkaris’ became apathetic politicians is constantly written about in the book. At one point, the protagonist makes comments on a fisherman in Guwahati and compares him to an alien (citizen). A lot of mainland leftist people will criticise the writer for being xenophobic, but the protagonist being from a middle-class Assamese family has uttered these words out of frustration, not the writer. At this point, I have managed to separate Kaberi as a unique identity and not the writer herself.
Guwahati – A city to fall back
No matter how much materialism, Bangalore offers you, it can never compete with a river-facing house in Guwahati. A lot of houses with aesthetic interior designing in Bangalore is introduced in the book but the protagonist finds the house of her friend near the Brahmaputra to be the best. The most important part is that she sees the same Brahmaputra differently from her own husband’s house and her friend’s house. This I feel, demonstrates that love is something she constantly seeks and she makes others realise the importance of love along with that.
Also, the ending is very ambiguous and I am not exposing it here for those who have not read. But, I am presuming the protagonist takes a brave new step after she visits Guwahati, the city that has reignited her a new perspective of self-esteem. The Assamese middle-class comfort that even if everything goes bad “you will still have a house in your hometown” gives her strength to fight back. Assamese middle-class society’s strong fundamentals play a huge role in her decision making in her redemption.
Dada culture
The book, I feel is the victory of the Guwahati Middle-Class Dada over the suave metropolitan men. These prospective men may achieve a lot of things in their life (career-wise) but someone who has received a very humble upbringing will always fall back to the comfort of the caring dada (the need for a fatherly figure has been constant in the book from other characters). The character Bidyut is the best dada I have ever read in a novel and he gives me the comfort that he will always be there when there is an emergency.
I believe, Rebirth is the kind of novel that should be read by all aspiring writers of Assam because it will help to translate colloquial sentiment into the English language. As for the reader, it is pure drama and a great weekend read.
July 7, 2024
The book is about an expecting mom, Kaberi talking to her unborn child in her womb, while dealing with her husband's infidelity and her father's death. The setting criss crosses between Bangalore and Assam and brings out the dual solitude of living in a big city and the constant yearning of being close to your homeland. I like books with the ability to stir emotions and palpably bring them to the surface, and Jahnavi, the author does the job beautifully with a great deal of sensitivity and a keen sense of observation.
February 20, 2012
Jahnavi Barua's 'Rebirth' is such a delicate and under-stated book that it is perhaps no surprise it should prove so elusive: for sale, its publisher Penguin India rather archly reminds us on its contents page, in the Indian Subcontinent only; yet deserving to resonate with a much wider audience.
Hopefully, the frustration of restricted rights is about to change. Barua's debut novel, set both in bustling, modern Bangalore and the Assam region from which she hails, has a real chance of carrying off the prestigious MAN Asian Literary Prize, for which it has already been shortlisted.
If such an accolade does hasten the arrival of 'Rebirth' on the global market, then it will be confirmation of the adage that good things come to those who wait: a fitting phrase, also, for a story of which patience proves one of its finest virtues.
Kaberi discovers she is pregnant shortly after her husband leaves her, ostensibly because of her failure to bear him a child. He is a selfish, violent man, who is nevertheless still capable of occasional moments of tenderness. This erratic behaviour lies at the heart of Kaberi's dilemma at the start of the novel: to tell him, and surely hasten his return, or risk an uncertain future alone.
'Rebirth' is written as a monologue from Kaberi to her unborn child. It may sound twee, but it is, in fact, an ingenious example of the effectiveness of first-person narration: deeply touching, but never sentimental; restrained, but never frustrating; patient, but always page-turning.
There are parallels here with another longlisted title, Anuradha Roy's 'The Folded Earth'. Like Roy, Barua underpins her work with a rich evocation of her surroundings, from the birdsong in the gardens of urban Bangalore to the slinking tigers and the irresistible - and conveniently metaphorical - Brahmaputra river flowing through the heart of her home region.
Like Roy, Barua has the ability to flirt with cliché to positive effect. She defly avoids the obvious pitfalls: this does not become a novel about keeping secrets, nor is it a familiar tale of a downtrodden wife trapped in an arranged marriage (there is, in fact, no suggestion that being arranged has contributed to its breakdown - rather a chastening experience for illicit western eyes sometimes too quick to judge this aspect of some parts of Indian culture).
It is also emphatically, unashamedly middle-class. Kaberi has a doting maid and meets her friends for coffee shop cappucinos, while her husband, when he is around, heads out in a shirt and tie to provide for his wife and future child. So what? Who says modern Indian literature - at least that which has breached international boundaries - must be the preserve of risen-up lower castes or religious fundamentalists? This is a story of everyday Indians facing everyday Indian issues, and is all the better for it.
The setting for the latter part of the book switches to Assam, part of the lobster-shaped appendage to India's far north-east, and the childhood and family home of both Kaberi and her husband.
It is a region scarred by political protests and insurgency, memories which remain particularly raw for Kaberi, whose inseparable childhood friend Joya was killed there by terrorists. Home among family, it is sometimes easy for her to feel more alone than ever.
Throughout, Barua never loses her poise, never succumbs to the temptation to lend unnecessary urgency or drama to her story. There are no scenes of pot-throwing outrage at Ron's infidelity; no attempt to use Kaberi's hormones as an excuse for erratic behaviour: on the contrary, they afford her a renewed feeling of tranquility and empowerment.
What Barua has achieved is something beautifully simple, achingly real, and which, for all its lack of what you might call a conventional plot, proves ferociously readable.
It will leave you yearning for more, both of this book and its author. Hopefully, the publicity afforded by Barua's deserved shortlisting will belatedly give her the platform she deserves.
Hopefully, the frustration of restricted rights is about to change. Barua's debut novel, set both in bustling, modern Bangalore and the Assam region from which she hails, has a real chance of carrying off the prestigious MAN Asian Literary Prize, for which it has already been shortlisted.
If such an accolade does hasten the arrival of 'Rebirth' on the global market, then it will be confirmation of the adage that good things come to those who wait: a fitting phrase, also, for a story of which patience proves one of its finest virtues.
Kaberi discovers she is pregnant shortly after her husband leaves her, ostensibly because of her failure to bear him a child. He is a selfish, violent man, who is nevertheless still capable of occasional moments of tenderness. This erratic behaviour lies at the heart of Kaberi's dilemma at the start of the novel: to tell him, and surely hasten his return, or risk an uncertain future alone.
'Rebirth' is written as a monologue from Kaberi to her unborn child. It may sound twee, but it is, in fact, an ingenious example of the effectiveness of first-person narration: deeply touching, but never sentimental; restrained, but never frustrating; patient, but always page-turning.
There are parallels here with another longlisted title, Anuradha Roy's 'The Folded Earth'. Like Roy, Barua underpins her work with a rich evocation of her surroundings, from the birdsong in the gardens of urban Bangalore to the slinking tigers and the irresistible - and conveniently metaphorical - Brahmaputra river flowing through the heart of her home region.
Like Roy, Barua has the ability to flirt with cliché to positive effect. She defly avoids the obvious pitfalls: this does not become a novel about keeping secrets, nor is it a familiar tale of a downtrodden wife trapped in an arranged marriage (there is, in fact, no suggestion that being arranged has contributed to its breakdown - rather a chastening experience for illicit western eyes sometimes too quick to judge this aspect of some parts of Indian culture).
It is also emphatically, unashamedly middle-class. Kaberi has a doting maid and meets her friends for coffee shop cappucinos, while her husband, when he is around, heads out in a shirt and tie to provide for his wife and future child. So what? Who says modern Indian literature - at least that which has breached international boundaries - must be the preserve of risen-up lower castes or religious fundamentalists? This is a story of everyday Indians facing everyday Indian issues, and is all the better for it.
The setting for the latter part of the book switches to Assam, part of the lobster-shaped appendage to India's far north-east, and the childhood and family home of both Kaberi and her husband.
It is a region scarred by political protests and insurgency, memories which remain particularly raw for Kaberi, whose inseparable childhood friend Joya was killed there by terrorists. Home among family, it is sometimes easy for her to feel more alone than ever.
Throughout, Barua never loses her poise, never succumbs to the temptation to lend unnecessary urgency or drama to her story. There are no scenes of pot-throwing outrage at Ron's infidelity; no attempt to use Kaberi's hormones as an excuse for erratic behaviour: on the contrary, they afford her a renewed feeling of tranquility and empowerment.
What Barua has achieved is something beautifully simple, achingly real, and which, for all its lack of what you might call a conventional plot, proves ferociously readable.
It will leave you yearning for more, both of this book and its author. Hopefully, the publicity afforded by Barua's deserved shortlisting will belatedly give her the platform she deserves.
November 8, 2021
Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua
An ode to an existence of a cheated, battered woman. It almost felt like a Japanese classic to me - on the lines of the territory of light by Yuko Tsushima.
There was so less happening in the book but so much more happening . Initially I felt melancholic by the mundanity of the book. But to stop and literally smell the flowers.
The cosy alcove overlooking the park. Meeting the colourful birds and their playfulness. It’s true , nature is healing and nature is the best support .
Kaberi is like all of us - strong and independent at times , indecisive and submissive at times. There’s no judging Kaberi.
Having an offspring seems like the saving chance for her failed marriage . Her husband is a cheating and abusive prick . Her days and nights are dictated for the whisper and acknowledgment of love .
Running in parallel, is her simple childhood shielded by guava trees and nestling in the Brahmaputra river. The light shimmering off the blue- green river healing lost souls.It is true that the times of our childhood are simplest and richer .
The friendships , road trips and the small joys takes centrepiece. Our life is also like that. We constantly want to grow up when we are kids but as adults will find ourselves wishing to reverse time and relive moments as children .
The story of Joya and Kaberi is heartwarming . That one childhood friend who always has your soul. We all do.
The strength of Kaberi is in her quiet and withdrawn demeanour. As the book progressed, we could see the mountain of expectations closing in on her ..
But she had made her decision already..
In the very first page..
It almost felt like intuition to me.
An ode to an existence of a cheated, battered woman. It almost felt like a Japanese classic to me - on the lines of the territory of light by Yuko Tsushima.
There was so less happening in the book but so much more happening . Initially I felt melancholic by the mundanity of the book. But to stop and literally smell the flowers.
The cosy alcove overlooking the park. Meeting the colourful birds and their playfulness. It’s true , nature is healing and nature is the best support .
Kaberi is like all of us - strong and independent at times , indecisive and submissive at times. There’s no judging Kaberi.
Having an offspring seems like the saving chance for her failed marriage . Her husband is a cheating and abusive prick . Her days and nights are dictated for the whisper and acknowledgment of love .
Running in parallel, is her simple childhood shielded by guava trees and nestling in the Brahmaputra river. The light shimmering off the blue- green river healing lost souls.It is true that the times of our childhood are simplest and richer .
The friendships , road trips and the small joys takes centrepiece. Our life is also like that. We constantly want to grow up when we are kids but as adults will find ourselves wishing to reverse time and relive moments as children .
The story of Joya and Kaberi is heartwarming . That one childhood friend who always has your soul. We all do.
The strength of Kaberi is in her quiet and withdrawn demeanour. As the book progressed, we could see the mountain of expectations closing in on her ..
But she had made her decision already..
In the very first page..
It almost felt like intuition to me.
January 24, 2021
Absolutely unputdownable ! I am impressed by Jahnavi’s work ; she is a medical graduate from Guwahati medical college ; she didn’t pursue her post graduation and doesn’t practice medicine , because of her love for writing .. this book is throbbing with emotions of love , anger , resentment , hatred and much more; and it made me teared up !
It’s a story about a woman , Kaberi , who is from Assam, from a humble background, and got betrothed to an affluent rich man in Bangalore, as a typical arranged marriage .. the book unfolds her life’s story ; her tumultuous married life, how her husband never loved her and drifted away as she couldn’t conceive after many years of marriage , infidelity and even accepting the insults her husband hurled at her , making her feel diminished! But one day she suddenly gets to know that she is expecting , the story starts from this revelation ..the mother talking to her unborn child from beginning till the birth ....pangs of motherhood and love beautifully captured in this book, throes of emotions that descends upon Kaberi, poignantly written ..the beauty of Assam and river Brahmaputra , so mesmerisingly described , I am enamoured reading it and there is this yearning to see this heaven atleast once !
What path would Kaberi take ? Would she live with her husband for the sake of her child ? Did she realise what is important to her and for her child ? The readers would get to know the answers , when they venture on this path, and the story beautifully gets unravelled !
It’s a small book but power packed snd lucid writing style !
I am happy that Our country is throbbing with lovely contemporary authors and they are taking pains to write books for us 🙂
I loved this book ...
It’s a story about a woman , Kaberi , who is from Assam, from a humble background, and got betrothed to an affluent rich man in Bangalore, as a typical arranged marriage .. the book unfolds her life’s story ; her tumultuous married life, how her husband never loved her and drifted away as she couldn’t conceive after many years of marriage , infidelity and even accepting the insults her husband hurled at her , making her feel diminished! But one day she suddenly gets to know that she is expecting , the story starts from this revelation ..the mother talking to her unborn child from beginning till the birth ....pangs of motherhood and love beautifully captured in this book, throes of emotions that descends upon Kaberi, poignantly written ..the beauty of Assam and river Brahmaputra , so mesmerisingly described , I am enamoured reading it and there is this yearning to see this heaven atleast once !
What path would Kaberi take ? Would she live with her husband for the sake of her child ? Did she realise what is important to her and for her child ? The readers would get to know the answers , when they venture on this path, and the story beautifully gets unravelled !
It’s a small book but power packed snd lucid writing style !
I am happy that Our country is throbbing with lovely contemporary authors and they are taking pains to write books for us 🙂
I loved this book ...
July 15, 2021
The story is told in a first person narrative by a young pregnant mother to her unborn child. The story takes place during the course of pregnancy and starts at the wake of the mother, Kaberi, becoming aware of her husband's infidelity.
Rebirth is plethora of emotions; there a physiological aspect to it as well as a psychological one. It is during this time, she is editing her book - a book she wrote about her dead best friend and the trip they took, there is gnawing fear of losing people in her home due to decades old conflicts, there is a personal loss and there is always dealing with the new relationship her husband is now in. And then there is terrible loneliness.
Amidst all this, Kaberi slowly changes. It is no metamorphosis but acceptance of expectations, to be self aware and face the reality for it is and not what is told to her. As she is ready to give birth, she is reborn as a person from the experiences.
Rebirth tells a poignant story of a woman coming to terms with her life.
Rebirth is plethora of emotions; there a physiological aspect to it as well as a psychological one. It is during this time, she is editing her book - a book she wrote about her dead best friend and the trip they took, there is gnawing fear of losing people in her home due to decades old conflicts, there is a personal loss and there is always dealing with the new relationship her husband is now in. And then there is terrible loneliness.
Amidst all this, Kaberi slowly changes. It is no metamorphosis but acceptance of expectations, to be self aware and face the reality for it is and not what is told to her. As she is ready to give birth, she is reborn as a person from the experiences.
Rebirth tells a poignant story of a woman coming to terms with her life.
May 30, 2025
What an excellent read! I enjoyed the narration very much. The choice to tell the story through the voice of an expecting mother speaking to her unborn child was brilliant. It made the book feel intimate and emotional right from the beginning.
The characters are well written, and the descriptions are beautiful. Kaberi’s story is both sad and complex. Her relationships with the people in her life are portrayed with depth. There were moments when I felt she could have made better decisions, but the more I read, the more I understood her. There are many women like Kaberi around us, shaped by the same kind of society that still carries deep-rooted misogyny.
I especially liked the last 50 to 60 pages of the book. Overall, it’s definitely a wonderful read. I’m happy to have discovered a fantastic writer like Jahnavi Barua and look forward to reading more by her.
The characters are well written, and the descriptions are beautiful. Kaberi’s story is both sad and complex. Her relationships with the people in her life are portrayed with depth. There were moments when I felt she could have made better decisions, but the more I read, the more I understood her. There are many women like Kaberi around us, shaped by the same kind of society that still carries deep-rooted misogyny.
I especially liked the last 50 to 60 pages of the book. Overall, it’s definitely a wonderful read. I’m happy to have discovered a fantastic writer like Jahnavi Barua and look forward to reading more by her.
June 4, 2021
I don't know how to start this review because this book has left me speechless. I know that's not a good line to start a review but that's what I feel. This was my first book by Jahnavi Barua and I can't tell you how much beautiful yet poignant this story was.
Rebirth is the story of Kaberi, who hails from Assam but lives in Bengaluru after her marriage with Ranjit. The narration moves back and forth in time as Kaberi narrates it all to the unborn child in her womb. Hers was a simple arranged marriage; her husband never loved her and used to hit her. After years of trying to conceive a child, her husband starts to have an affair with another woman. It is only after her husband leaves her did she realise that she's pregnant. She talks about her childhood in Guwahati, her best friend Joya, her relationship with her parents, the Assam Agitation and the Assam Insurgency.
This book started off seemingly normal but as the story progressed, different layers unraveled. The writing is poised and beautiful. Jahnavi lovingly writes about the Brahmaputra river and the Kaziranga National Park. The characters are sketched finely. I can just say that I absolutely loved this book! It made me cry. Never have I ever connected with a character so deeply as Kaberi. And there was an open ending! I was left yearning for more. My review isn't that grand but please do read this book because it's so beautifully written. My review didn't did justice to the beauty of this book; even after days of finishing it, I still can't talk about it without giving away spoilers. I'll just tell you to please read this book. Jahnavi Barua is an excellent writer and she deserves to be read by every reader out there!
Recommended to everybody!
Here's a letter that I wrote to Kaberi...
Dear Kaberi,
Firstly, I should congratulate you for your debut book. It must have been a really tiring yet exciting journey to publish it. I hope your book find readers who will enjoy reading it. I don't know if I understood your story completely, but my heart found it really easy to connect with you. It was a matter of pages before I was another spectator to your story and was rooting for you. It was really poignant to read about your marriage with Ron. I believe that he never truly loved you, he was there just for the family's sake. I still don't know if you'll divorce him or live with him for your child's sake, but I wish that you find comfort in whatever decision you make. I loved to see how Sonia changed after that night. I always thought from the beginning that your relationship with Sonia was going to be one of formality and the unwillingness to see each other, but the way it changed was extremely nice. You found a sister in her! Joya was your best friend and her death must have shook you to the core. It must have been really hard for you to cope up with it, living with all those beautiful memories of the past, knowing that Joya has left you forever. After you, I found your mother to be another enigmatic character in the story. How heartbroken she was after your father's death, even after what he did to her. I didn't understood her completely as well, but my heart goes out to her. The poignancy in your story was maybe the thing that touched my heart. I'm all for happy stories, but still your story found a place in my heart. I finished reading your story before going to bed and I kept thinking about a possible ending to your story the whole time before I fell asleep. I don't know what happens after because your writer left the story upto the reader's imagination. But then, some stories are better left unfinished.
From another reader who's heart was touched by your story,
Ayati.
{ I've never felt as connected to a character as I've felt with Kaberi. Her story just touched my heart in a way I can't describe. Ever since I finished the book, I wanted to talk to Kaberi but that's not possible because she's fictional. So I just wrote out this letter to her. I hope you liked reading it. }
Rebirth is the story of Kaberi, who hails from Assam but lives in Bengaluru after her marriage with Ranjit. The narration moves back and forth in time as Kaberi narrates it all to the unborn child in her womb. Hers was a simple arranged marriage; her husband never loved her and used to hit her. After years of trying to conceive a child, her husband starts to have an affair with another woman. It is only after her husband leaves her did she realise that she's pregnant. She talks about her childhood in Guwahati, her best friend Joya, her relationship with her parents, the Assam Agitation and the Assam Insurgency.
This book started off seemingly normal but as the story progressed, different layers unraveled. The writing is poised and beautiful. Jahnavi lovingly writes about the Brahmaputra river and the Kaziranga National Park. The characters are sketched finely. I can just say that I absolutely loved this book! It made me cry. Never have I ever connected with a character so deeply as Kaberi. And there was an open ending! I was left yearning for more. My review isn't that grand but please do read this book because it's so beautifully written. My review didn't did justice to the beauty of this book; even after days of finishing it, I still can't talk about it without giving away spoilers. I'll just tell you to please read this book. Jahnavi Barua is an excellent writer and she deserves to be read by every reader out there!
Recommended to everybody!
Here's a letter that I wrote to Kaberi...
Dear Kaberi,
Firstly, I should congratulate you for your debut book. It must have been a really tiring yet exciting journey to publish it. I hope your book find readers who will enjoy reading it. I don't know if I understood your story completely, but my heart found it really easy to connect with you. It was a matter of pages before I was another spectator to your story and was rooting for you. It was really poignant to read about your marriage with Ron. I believe that he never truly loved you, he was there just for the family's sake. I still don't know if you'll divorce him or live with him for your child's sake, but I wish that you find comfort in whatever decision you make. I loved to see how Sonia changed after that night. I always thought from the beginning that your relationship with Sonia was going to be one of formality and the unwillingness to see each other, but the way it changed was extremely nice. You found a sister in her! Joya was your best friend and her death must have shook you to the core. It must have been really hard for you to cope up with it, living with all those beautiful memories of the past, knowing that Joya has left you forever. After you, I found your mother to be another enigmatic character in the story. How heartbroken she was after your father's death, even after what he did to her. I didn't understood her completely as well, but my heart goes out to her. The poignancy in your story was maybe the thing that touched my heart. I'm all for happy stories, but still your story found a place in my heart. I finished reading your story before going to bed and I kept thinking about a possible ending to your story the whole time before I fell asleep. I don't know what happens after because your writer left the story upto the reader's imagination. But then, some stories are better left unfinished.
From another reader who's heart was touched by your story,
Ayati.
{ I've never felt as connected to a character as I've felt with Kaberi. Her story just touched my heart in a way I can't describe. Ever since I finished the book, I wanted to talk to Kaberi but that's not possible because she's fictional. So I just wrote out this letter to her. I hope you liked reading it. }
June 6, 2023
Mothers and daughters and the melancholy that binds them together, and the sisters at heart who share the same misery yet bring so much joy. For times and ages, women have been pitted against each other, made to believe they need to compete for love and affection yet in secrecy they've formed the most wholesome and satisfying friendships. Women of this powerful book has been written by a woman, reflecting the narrative of women in different subjects and themes.
You might ask me why did I begin this review with female friendships. Well, I was deeply affected by the women of this book. They're independent and fierce, yet sometimes indecisive and timid but they still preserve their wonderful might and spirit. They resonate so much with me and the lovely women I come across everyday.
The book begins on a rather melancholic note, in a first person narrative by the protagonist to her long awaited unborn child. Unaware of her pregnancy, her husband audaciously decides to leave her for not being able to bear him an offspring even after years of trying. In denial, she keeps waiting for the spiteful and violent man, whom she had adored all her life. Kaberi was sure he would come back once he knew about the baby yet deep down she questioned if it was ever love that she was holding onto.
Unapologetically middle class and achingly raw to its core, the plot pulls parallels from Kaberi's present and the water under the bridge. From the insurgency in Assam that left a gaping wound for her with Joya's demise, to her mother, aloof her entire childhood claims the silence of her alcoholic father to be love. Going back to the point of parallels, on the demise of her father, her mother divulged the fact of how she was walking on thin ice her entire life, of her own experience with violence, abuse, and being stuck in a marriage on society's demand.
With Brahmaputra gracing the plot throughout its course, and vivid descriptions of the seemingly mundane life around, an intense amount of comfort oozes out with every page turned. The chirping birds, blooming flowers, the changing seasons with ever changing life; from denial to acceptance and freedom, going out on dates with girlfriends, to laying down with them and talking about life, so mundane, so beautiful.
Rebirth is an ode to all the Kaberi's who flow through the course of life, dodging every other boulderstone thrown at them refusing to succumb, rather she flows to join the sea serving as the lifeblood to many. She's unaware of her glories, the sustenance and excellence. I have heard them talk about this book, the mastery and excellent craftsmanship of the author, the splendid ardour of our protagonist, even though I agree with each one of them but my heart goes out for the other women in the book. They are like the tributaries, adding the right amount of nutrients; themselves of substantial spirit, rather choose to confluence with Kaberi, giving her the vitality to come out mightier than ever.
You might ask me why did I begin this review with female friendships. Well, I was deeply affected by the women of this book. They're independent and fierce, yet sometimes indecisive and timid but they still preserve their wonderful might and spirit. They resonate so much with me and the lovely women I come across everyday.
The book begins on a rather melancholic note, in a first person narrative by the protagonist to her long awaited unborn child. Unaware of her pregnancy, her husband audaciously decides to leave her for not being able to bear him an offspring even after years of trying. In denial, she keeps waiting for the spiteful and violent man, whom she had adored all her life. Kaberi was sure he would come back once he knew about the baby yet deep down she questioned if it was ever love that she was holding onto.
Unapologetically middle class and achingly raw to its core, the plot pulls parallels from Kaberi's present and the water under the bridge. From the insurgency in Assam that left a gaping wound for her with Joya's demise, to her mother, aloof her entire childhood claims the silence of her alcoholic father to be love. Going back to the point of parallels, on the demise of her father, her mother divulged the fact of how she was walking on thin ice her entire life, of her own experience with violence, abuse, and being stuck in a marriage on society's demand.
With Brahmaputra gracing the plot throughout its course, and vivid descriptions of the seemingly mundane life around, an intense amount of comfort oozes out with every page turned. The chirping birds, blooming flowers, the changing seasons with ever changing life; from denial to acceptance and freedom, going out on dates with girlfriends, to laying down with them and talking about life, so mundane, so beautiful.
Rebirth is an ode to all the Kaberi's who flow through the course of life, dodging every other boulderstone thrown at them refusing to succumb, rather she flows to join the sea serving as the lifeblood to many. She's unaware of her glories, the sustenance and excellence. I have heard them talk about this book, the mastery and excellent craftsmanship of the author, the splendid ardour of our protagonist, even though I agree with each one of them but my heart goes out for the other women in the book. They are like the tributaries, adding the right amount of nutrients; themselves of substantial spirit, rather choose to confluence with Kaberi, giving her the vitality to come out mightier than ever.
April 26, 2021
Reading this book reminded me of a quote that I read many years back and still am in love with - 'Innocent people aren't stupid. They just believe that everyone has a heart.'
Our protagonist, Kaberi, is one such woman. No matter how much her husband betrays and beats her, she still believes that he will leave that other woman and come back to her. Why wouldn't he? Kaberi is pregnant with his child after all. He would definitely come running back to celebrate Kaberi's pregnancy and to pamper her, wouldn't he?
Rebirth is Kaberi's story, being narrated by her to her unborn child. She tells the child about her marriage, her childhood, her best friend - basically everything. Oh and how beautifully she tells it, straight from her heart - raw and bare.
Jahnavi Ma'am has literally given words to the beautiful bond of a mother and her unborn child and you need to read it! There is something relatable in this book for everyone.
Also, though I will never know what Kaberi's final decision was; I take solace in believing that she did what I wanted her to do all along.
Our protagonist, Kaberi, is one such woman. No matter how much her husband betrays and beats her, she still believes that he will leave that other woman and come back to her. Why wouldn't he? Kaberi is pregnant with his child after all. He would definitely come running back to celebrate Kaberi's pregnancy and to pamper her, wouldn't he?
Rebirth is Kaberi's story, being narrated by her to her unborn child. She tells the child about her marriage, her childhood, her best friend - basically everything. Oh and how beautifully she tells it, straight from her heart - raw and bare.
Jahnavi Ma'am has literally given words to the beautiful bond of a mother and her unborn child and you need to read it! There is something relatable in this book for everyone.
Also, though I will never know what Kaberi's final decision was; I take solace in believing that she did what I wanted her to do all along.
July 3, 2020
. Let me introduce you to this wonderful writer which is recommended by an Assamese friend. The story is about an Assamese lady based in Bangalore who has turmoiled marriage due to not having kids and when she finally conceived she talked to her unborn child to tell journey till his birth. The writer described the events and places beautifully specially the mesmerizing view of Brahmaputra.
Here not to spoil the pleasure of reading this book by explaining in detail. For me she is one of the best contemporary Indian writer alongwith Aanchal Malhotra.
Here not to spoil the pleasure of reading this book by explaining in detail. For me she is one of the best contemporary Indian writer alongwith Aanchal Malhotra.
January 12, 2022
A sensitive portrayal of a marriage on the brink of collapse and a new child on the way. A bit superficial and given to slipping into cliches at times but, everything considered, an enjoyable read.
March 12, 2012
I rate this like a 3.85, rounded up to a 4. I see that other people have noted that this book is only available in India; I went to Penguin India for my copy which was surprisingly cheap with very fast shipping. On my blog entry for this book, I appended a message to whoever gives a crap about availability of books nominated for international literary awards. If you're interested, go take a look. Now on with the review.
Rebirth is Jahnavi Barua's first novel, although in 2008 she also authored a book of short stories entitled Next Door. It is narrated by the main character Kaberi, and the narrative is addressed to her unborn baby, the type of thing I normally shy away from in my reading choices. No wait. I normally RUN from this type of thing. However, to be perfectly honest, and much to my own surprise, there are several features that elevate this novel from being just another book of women's fiction or chicklit. It has a vividly-evoked sense of place and time, quality prose that does not fall prey to overdone cliches, and the reader catches a glimpse into issues facing not only modern Indian women, but a bit of India's ongoing regional, political strife that affects people in all walks of life. There is also a nice, reflective symmetry at work that is well constructed: the story takes place over the few months between Kaberi's discovery that she is pregnant and the first pangs of labor contractions, and as Kaberi is patiently awaiting the baby's emergence, she is also on a path toward her own.
Kaberi is married to Ranjit (Ron) and lives a very middle-class existence in a nice flat in Bangalore. She has been working on a children's book for about a year, unbeknownst to her husband, and the book is now ready for her to begin the editing process. But despite her environment, upscale life and her happiness about being pregnant, things are not so great for Kaberi: Ron is having an affair and living with another woman, and has moved many of his things out of the flat. Ron's behavior toward Kaberi fluctuates erratically; often when Ron wants something from Kaberi, she usually acquiesces with little protest, but he is not above using physical violence on her from time to time. Kaberi hasn't mentioned the pregnancy to her husband; she wants him to return to her not because of the baby, but because he still loves Kaberi. Actually, Kaberi hasn't mentioned the pregnancy or Ron's absence from their home to anyone; the one friend in whom she may have confided early on was killed in a bus explosion during an insurgency in Assam, and Kaberi just lets on that Ron's company frequently sends him away on business. When Ron comes to her to ask for a divorce, he expects that she will give in to his request, but Kaberi realizes that now she is in a position of strength, one that is only bolstered by a trip home to Assam when an unforeseen event occurs. Obviously there's a great deal more to the story, but to say any more would be unfair.
Yes, yes, yes, I know it sounds like the standard women's fiction/chicklit kind of story, but there is an unusual amount of depth at work in this novel which lifts the premise of this story from what it could have been to something on a much higher plane. The sense of place moves the reader from modern city -- where even in the midst of the city's hustle-bustle an open verandah attached to a flat can be an isolating experience -- to muddy roads to the lush jungle near Bangalore and then to the scenic river views in Assam where people float on barges for parties, each with its accompanying wonders and vivid colors in terms of flora and fauna. Moving along, the author never feels compelled to document incidents of domestic violence in graphic detail, nor does her main character wring her hands, bemoan her fate in a "poor, poor, pitiful me" kind of way, take revenge or take a lover to spite her unfaithful husband. The spotlight is always on Kaberi, her sense of isolation and the slow realization of her empowerment that comes about as a result of her inner strength, and the prose moves steadily and is, if anything, quietly understated. Finally, the author manages to weave in some of the political and social issues of the agitation in Assam, where people took to the streets to make their voices and agendas heard, only to be betrayed in the long run.
Rebirth is a very fast read but a good one, and if this is Jahnavi Barua's very first novel, then she's off to a running start in her writing career. I did get a bit tired of reading through longish descriptions of different outfits the women wore in this book, and the colors and styles various people used in decorating their homes -- it was just too extraneous for me to really care about and added little to the overall story. But really, if that's the worst I have to say about this book, then that's a good thing! I'll look forward to more from this author in the future.
Rebirth is Jahnavi Barua's first novel, although in 2008 she also authored a book of short stories entitled Next Door. It is narrated by the main character Kaberi, and the narrative is addressed to her unborn baby, the type of thing I normally shy away from in my reading choices. No wait. I normally RUN from this type of thing. However, to be perfectly honest, and much to my own surprise, there are several features that elevate this novel from being just another book of women's fiction or chicklit. It has a vividly-evoked sense of place and time, quality prose that does not fall prey to overdone cliches, and the reader catches a glimpse into issues facing not only modern Indian women, but a bit of India's ongoing regional, political strife that affects people in all walks of life. There is also a nice, reflective symmetry at work that is well constructed: the story takes place over the few months between Kaberi's discovery that she is pregnant and the first pangs of labor contractions, and as Kaberi is patiently awaiting the baby's emergence, she is also on a path toward her own.
Kaberi is married to Ranjit (Ron) and lives a very middle-class existence in a nice flat in Bangalore. She has been working on a children's book for about a year, unbeknownst to her husband, and the book is now ready for her to begin the editing process. But despite her environment, upscale life and her happiness about being pregnant, things are not so great for Kaberi: Ron is having an affair and living with another woman, and has moved many of his things out of the flat. Ron's behavior toward Kaberi fluctuates erratically; often when Ron wants something from Kaberi, she usually acquiesces with little protest, but he is not above using physical violence on her from time to time. Kaberi hasn't mentioned the pregnancy to her husband; she wants him to return to her not because of the baby, but because he still loves Kaberi. Actually, Kaberi hasn't mentioned the pregnancy or Ron's absence from their home to anyone; the one friend in whom she may have confided early on was killed in a bus explosion during an insurgency in Assam, and Kaberi just lets on that Ron's company frequently sends him away on business. When Ron comes to her to ask for a divorce, he expects that she will give in to his request, but Kaberi realizes that now she is in a position of strength, one that is only bolstered by a trip home to Assam when an unforeseen event occurs. Obviously there's a great deal more to the story, but to say any more would be unfair.
Yes, yes, yes, I know it sounds like the standard women's fiction/chicklit kind of story, but there is an unusual amount of depth at work in this novel which lifts the premise of this story from what it could have been to something on a much higher plane. The sense of place moves the reader from modern city -- where even in the midst of the city's hustle-bustle an open verandah attached to a flat can be an isolating experience -- to muddy roads to the lush jungle near Bangalore and then to the scenic river views in Assam where people float on barges for parties, each with its accompanying wonders and vivid colors in terms of flora and fauna. Moving along, the author never feels compelled to document incidents of domestic violence in graphic detail, nor does her main character wring her hands, bemoan her fate in a "poor, poor, pitiful me" kind of way, take revenge or take a lover to spite her unfaithful husband. The spotlight is always on Kaberi, her sense of isolation and the slow realization of her empowerment that comes about as a result of her inner strength, and the prose moves steadily and is, if anything, quietly understated. Finally, the author manages to weave in some of the political and social issues of the agitation in Assam, where people took to the streets to make their voices and agendas heard, only to be betrayed in the long run.
Rebirth is a very fast read but a good one, and if this is Jahnavi Barua's very first novel, then she's off to a running start in her writing career. I did get a bit tired of reading through longish descriptions of different outfits the women wore in this book, and the colors and styles various people used in decorating their homes -- it was just too extraneous for me to really care about and added little to the overall story. But really, if that's the worst I have to say about this book, then that's a good thing! I'll look forward to more from this author in the future.
July 7, 2020
~ r e v i e w ~
•
Shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize and Commonwealth Book Prize, Rebirth is a hauntingly beautiful novel by Jahnavi Barua. This book came to my attention when I read Divya's (@divyashankar553 ) review of Rebirth few weeks ago and seconds later I decided that I had to read it. There are certain books that flourish from the very first line, giving the readers a hint about what's to come next. And then there are other books that start seemingly normal but elevate themselves as they reach the end. Rebirth falls under the second category and I was left with a sense of calmness after finishing it.
•
The storyline is very simple; that of a mother talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb. But what makes this book lovely is the ease with which Jahnavi weaves sentences. Kaberi lives in Bengaluru with her husband Ranjit in a quiet locality, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hailing from Assam, she often dreams of the green lands of Guwahati as she slips into reminiscing her childhood that she spent with her best friend Joya. Kaberi's was an arranged marriage and there was little love between the two to begin with. After trying for years to become pregnant, their relationship sees a deeper crack when Ranjit starts seeing another woman. To her pleasant surprise, Kaberi is finally able to conceive and she finds herself strong enough to withstand the separation.
•
There's no doubt that the protagonist carries an underlying sense of strength from the very beginning which she realises only as the days progress. She tells her child about her family both before and after she got married and peppers the story with references to the Assam Agitation that ultimately took her friend's life. Being married to a man who was indifferent to her, abandoning her and only choosing to come back because of her pregnancy - Kaberi highlights this all with a calm yet fervour filled voice. She draws strength from her womb and in more ways than one, she considers the opportunity of being reborn through her baby.
•
What I loved about this novel was the narration. Not only was it poignant but was also compassionate. There were other relationships that supported this storyline, be it friendships, family or just rekindled acquaintances. I enjoyed witnessing female friendships that were utterly unconditional, all the time acting as a soft cushion to protect Kaberi. I could hear the grass rustling, river gushing and Golapi Bai's fingers massaging my scalp in the same manner that Kaberi experienced. I believe that even the simplest of stories can do wonders to the readers if narrated in a wonderful way and this is what Rebirth is all about. A story of betrayal, love, friendships and above all, self worth; I enjoyed every word that this book had to offer. Contrary to popular opinion, I found the ending brilliant. Makes one think about this book hours after finishing it. I recommend this book.
•
Rating : 4.3/5.
•
Shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize and Commonwealth Book Prize, Rebirth is a hauntingly beautiful novel by Jahnavi Barua. This book came to my attention when I read Divya's (@divyashankar553 ) review of Rebirth few weeks ago and seconds later I decided that I had to read it. There are certain books that flourish from the very first line, giving the readers a hint about what's to come next. And then there are other books that start seemingly normal but elevate themselves as they reach the end. Rebirth falls under the second category and I was left with a sense of calmness after finishing it.
•
The storyline is very simple; that of a mother talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb. But what makes this book lovely is the ease with which Jahnavi weaves sentences. Kaberi lives in Bengaluru with her husband Ranjit in a quiet locality, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Hailing from Assam, she often dreams of the green lands of Guwahati as she slips into reminiscing her childhood that she spent with her best friend Joya. Kaberi's was an arranged marriage and there was little love between the two to begin with. After trying for years to become pregnant, their relationship sees a deeper crack when Ranjit starts seeing another woman. To her pleasant surprise, Kaberi is finally able to conceive and she finds herself strong enough to withstand the separation.
•
There's no doubt that the protagonist carries an underlying sense of strength from the very beginning which she realises only as the days progress. She tells her child about her family both before and after she got married and peppers the story with references to the Assam Agitation that ultimately took her friend's life. Being married to a man who was indifferent to her, abandoning her and only choosing to come back because of her pregnancy - Kaberi highlights this all with a calm yet fervour filled voice. She draws strength from her womb and in more ways than one, she considers the opportunity of being reborn through her baby.
•
What I loved about this novel was the narration. Not only was it poignant but was also compassionate. There were other relationships that supported this storyline, be it friendships, family or just rekindled acquaintances. I enjoyed witnessing female friendships that were utterly unconditional, all the time acting as a soft cushion to protect Kaberi. I could hear the grass rustling, river gushing and Golapi Bai's fingers massaging my scalp in the same manner that Kaberi experienced. I believe that even the simplest of stories can do wonders to the readers if narrated in a wonderful way and this is what Rebirth is all about. A story of betrayal, love, friendships and above all, self worth; I enjoyed every word that this book had to offer. Contrary to popular opinion, I found the ending brilliant. Makes one think about this book hours after finishing it. I recommend this book.
•
Rating : 4.3/5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2015
"Rebirth" by Jahnavi Barua is a book which takes you through different dimensions of all the relationships a woman has: with her parents, with her friends, with her in-laws, with her family-like-neighbors, and most importantly with her yet to be born baby, and herself. In the novel, while the protagonist, Kaberi, unknowingly goes on a journey to find herself, as female readers, we find ourselves too. The relation between a mother and a child is highlighted, and that part of the story is not just touching, its divine, like the relation itself.
July 19, 2013
Jahnavi Barua, yo are a genius. What a wonderful read. Recommended for all the literary lovers :-)
March 17, 2021
1st of all, heartiest congratulations 👏 to the effervescent author @jahnavibarua for #undertow bagging the award @autherawards in fiction category!! I loved it!
𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙤𝙬 is the author's 3rd book & my 1st interface with the author's work. I loved it so much that I had to get "Rebirth", author's 2nd book.
𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝 is the story of Kaberi. A homely girl, who leaves no stone unturned to make her marriage, a success. She yearns for a child, till the point when her husband leaves her for some other woman. She doesn't disclose her pregnancy to her husband, Ron coz she wants him to come back for her, for their love & not coz of the child..high hopes..!!
𝘒𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪 is a submissive wife who feels everything she does, everytime she adjusts, she is doing that for their love. Be it emotional abuse or physical, she bears it all.
She is a dreamer, a creative person who loves nature, reading & visiting her dreams..
She has gone through the loss of her best friend, Joya..she has felt the feeling of being an incomplete woman, w/out a child..she has yearned for her father's attention & mother's love..& now such a life partner.
𝙆𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 & 𝙢𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚..
She has only a few acquaintances, one being her neighbor, Preetha who is her confidante, her only friend. Joya, a free bird used to be the air beneath her wings..but..
The 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 in the story comes once Kaberi conceives. She starts feeling protective & responsible for her unborn child.. She communicates with her.. almost 3/4th of the book encompasses her conversations with her child, amongst a load of other things.
She writes a book & is bent of completing the editing etc before her child is born.
She finds her voice back & puts her opinion forth, with weightage & gravity.
She learns to stand up for herself.
Ron wants to come back & literally imposes himself on her but Kaberi is serious & leaves no stone unturned, to show her stance..although she stumbles but manages to pull up.
While all this is going on, she loses her father.. When she goes there, she mends cracked bonds with her mom..& gets to know..
Cntd.. more about her father..relives her own childhood..clarifies if there's any love left between her & Ron..meets her old friend, Joya's husband..& finds that the mutual affection & care is still the same. She spends time with her dear ones & is alive again. She shares her woes with her mom who is taken aback & asks her to keep mum but later supports her & promises her that she has her back. This brings Kaberi a new waft of fresh air & like a queen, did straightens her crown & becomes stronger. 𝙅𝙖𝙝𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙞 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙪𝙖 does it again with her trademark detailed narrative, an amazing writing style, simple language- with just a few new words for vocab. 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 i𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 & its very difficult to achieve. Her favorite places, Guwahati & Bangalore make their presence in this novel too with the majestic Brahmaputra River & descriptive recitation if the plants & flowers according to season. I loved every bit of it & like always, she leaves the end to the imagination of the reader. In this story, she explores love, sacrifice, childhood, friendships, supportive circle, women, abuse & strength of a mother. I would say, being financially independent or having a support base boosts the morale of a woman to a large extent & also influences how much abuse in the name adjustment, she will bear. Thankyouu for writing this. My next target would be your 1st book, am going backwards in the chronological order.
𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙤𝙬 is the author's 3rd book & my 1st interface with the author's work. I loved it so much that I had to get "Rebirth", author's 2nd book.
𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙝 is the story of Kaberi. A homely girl, who leaves no stone unturned to make her marriage, a success. She yearns for a child, till the point when her husband leaves her for some other woman. She doesn't disclose her pregnancy to her husband, Ron coz she wants him to come back for her, for their love & not coz of the child..high hopes..!!
𝘒𝘢𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪 is a submissive wife who feels everything she does, everytime she adjusts, she is doing that for their love. Be it emotional abuse or physical, she bears it all.
She is a dreamer, a creative person who loves nature, reading & visiting her dreams..
She has gone through the loss of her best friend, Joya..she has felt the feeling of being an incomplete woman, w/out a child..she has yearned for her father's attention & mother's love..& now such a life partner.
𝙆𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞 𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 & 𝙢𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚..
She has only a few acquaintances, one being her neighbor, Preetha who is her confidante, her only friend. Joya, a free bird used to be the air beneath her wings..but..
The 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩 in the story comes once Kaberi conceives. She starts feeling protective & responsible for her unborn child.. She communicates with her.. almost 3/4th of the book encompasses her conversations with her child, amongst a load of other things.
She writes a book & is bent of completing the editing etc before her child is born.
She finds her voice back & puts her opinion forth, with weightage & gravity.
She learns to stand up for herself.
Ron wants to come back & literally imposes himself on her but Kaberi is serious & leaves no stone unturned, to show her stance..although she stumbles but manages to pull up.
While all this is going on, she loses her father.. When she goes there, she mends cracked bonds with her mom..& gets to know..
Cntd.. more about her father..relives her own childhood..clarifies if there's any love left between her & Ron..meets her old friend, Joya's husband..& finds that the mutual affection & care is still the same. She spends time with her dear ones & is alive again. She shares her woes with her mom who is taken aback & asks her to keep mum but later supports her & promises her that she has her back. This brings Kaberi a new waft of fresh air & like a queen, did straightens her crown & becomes stronger. 𝙅𝙖𝙝𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙞 𝘽𝙖𝙧𝙪𝙖 does it again with her trademark detailed narrative, an amazing writing style, simple language- with just a few new words for vocab. 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨 i𝙣 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 & its very difficult to achieve. Her favorite places, Guwahati & Bangalore make their presence in this novel too with the majestic Brahmaputra River & descriptive recitation if the plants & flowers according to season. I loved every bit of it & like always, she leaves the end to the imagination of the reader. In this story, she explores love, sacrifice, childhood, friendships, supportive circle, women, abuse & strength of a mother. I would say, being financially independent or having a support base boosts the morale of a woman to a large extent & also influences how much abuse in the name adjustment, she will bear. Thankyouu for writing this. My next target would be your 1st book, am going backwards in the chronological order.
December 3, 2023
I have heard a lot about Jahnavi Barua and have wanted to read one of her books for a while now. She's one of the critically acclaimed writers from the North East, and her books have also been shortlisted for prestigious awards. The interesting blurb of this book titled 'Rebirth' coupled with the soothing cover made me pick this up a few months back.
Rebirth is the coming-of-age story of Kaberi, a young pregnant woman coming to grips with an uncertain marriage.
From the first few pages itself, I was enthralled by the mesmerizing prose. This kind of ornate, lyrical writing is something we hardly get to see in Indian fiction nowadays, what with the tendency of modern writers to employ restrained prose. The narrative was also beautiful - she speaking intimately to her unborn child - and I was impressed by the excellent introduction to the characters.
The characters, especially the protagonist Kaberi, are well-developed. With sufficient backstories and subtle exposition in dialogue, Barua expertly reveals the different traits of the characters. The relationships of Kaberi with her husband, her maid, her friend Preetha, her deceased childhood friend Joya, and her parents are weaved brilliantly. Kaberi's thoughts and emotions are also well conveyed, but I had a couple of problems with her character that prevented me from relating to her as much as I had hoped.
I am not quite convinced with the way Kaveri deals with domestic abuse. It is not prioritized enough in her thoughts - in fact, her husband's affair is given more importance - which doesn't seem natural or healthy. Also, she is shown to be too dependent on her husband. A stronger desire to have a job and be financially independent would have lent more strength to her character and thus would have made her more relatable.
The language is magical though, and for just that, Ms. Barua deserves the award nominations and the critical acclaim. The prose is poetic, the wordplay is exceptional, and the descriptions are marvelous. I love descriptive writers, and Ms. Barua is a master at that. I was blown away by the vivid descriptions; I could picture everything, right from the decor to the ambiance to the facial expressions to the natural beauty. However, like most Indian writers - and I'm not just referring to the commercial ones, even literary writers are guilty of this - I found punctuation errors in dialogue, especially the action tags.
The ending is well-written. It is decent and hopeful and does justice to the title of the book, but then again, the same issue of dependence on men comes up, diluting my appreciation somewhat.
Overall, I did enjoy reading Rebirth. The mesmerizing prose, the mouth-watering descriptions, and the wonderful supporting cast made this a worthwhile experience. If only the protagonist would have been portrayed in a stronger way, I would have enjoyed it much more.
3.8 stars from my side.
Rebirth is the coming-of-age story of Kaberi, a young pregnant woman coming to grips with an uncertain marriage.
From the first few pages itself, I was enthralled by the mesmerizing prose. This kind of ornate, lyrical writing is something we hardly get to see in Indian fiction nowadays, what with the tendency of modern writers to employ restrained prose. The narrative was also beautiful - she speaking intimately to her unborn child - and I was impressed by the excellent introduction to the characters.
The characters, especially the protagonist Kaberi, are well-developed. With sufficient backstories and subtle exposition in dialogue, Barua expertly reveals the different traits of the characters. The relationships of Kaberi with her husband, her maid, her friend Preetha, her deceased childhood friend Joya, and her parents are weaved brilliantly. Kaberi's thoughts and emotions are also well conveyed, but I had a couple of problems with her character that prevented me from relating to her as much as I had hoped.
I am not quite convinced with the way Kaveri deals with domestic abuse. It is not prioritized enough in her thoughts - in fact, her husband's affair is given more importance - which doesn't seem natural or healthy. Also, she is shown to be too dependent on her husband. A stronger desire to have a job and be financially independent would have lent more strength to her character and thus would have made her more relatable.
The language is magical though, and for just that, Ms. Barua deserves the award nominations and the critical acclaim. The prose is poetic, the wordplay is exceptional, and the descriptions are marvelous. I love descriptive writers, and Ms. Barua is a master at that. I was blown away by the vivid descriptions; I could picture everything, right from the decor to the ambiance to the facial expressions to the natural beauty. However, like most Indian writers - and I'm not just referring to the commercial ones, even literary writers are guilty of this - I found punctuation errors in dialogue, especially the action tags.
The ending is well-written. It is decent and hopeful and does justice to the title of the book, but then again, the same issue of dependence on men comes up, diluting my appreciation somewhat.
Overall, I did enjoy reading Rebirth. The mesmerizing prose, the mouth-watering descriptions, and the wonderful supporting cast made this a worthwhile experience. If only the protagonist would have been portrayed in a stronger way, I would have enjoyed it much more.
3.8 stars from my side.
January 8, 2022
Shortlisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize 2021 and the Commonwealth Book Prize 2012, Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua is a beautifully consuming book.
There are some books, though short and compact, that are heavy, nourishing our minds with the intricate creases of relationships presenting a mirror to ourselves. I wasn’t ready for the book, its narration, its emotion, its storytelling. Some stories are deep and invoke parts and scenes but there are others that magnify the most normal and mundane things in the world perhaps, inspiring someone to pen their stories on paper. Rebirth falls in the latter.
With a mature and delicate storyline of a would-be mother Kaberi, talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb.
The protagonist Kaberi lives in Bangalore with her husband Ranjit, Ron, in a quiet locality away from the city rush among the lush green surroundings. Formerly belonging to Guwahati Assam, the carrying mother weaves incidents vivid from her homeland- the story persistently shifting from present to the not-so pleasant past that is stained by loss of a darling friend and troubled relationship with parents and longing for the state.
There are certain things that I observed and I really don’t know how to place the thoughts, perhaps there can be more or less observations but I would still share them. When Kaberi talks to her unborn, she constantly uses the ‘your father’ to regard Ranjit but being a wife before being a mother, she could have just regarded Ron in a pretty informal way but she hadn’t used it ever. This shows how beautifully and respectfully Kaberi had always been with Ranjit. She has a sharp observation and is poignant at times with emotions showing gradual learning of human behavior. Kaberi, throughout the book remains raw, honest and truthful to her child and shares every weakness, little joys, fears and insecurity.
Barua’s storytelling is so glorious, visual and vivid that makes us feel the ordinary things, her relationship- the polite memories with her late friend Joya- the delicate mannerism of portraying death in one’s house. Kaberi’s introduction to side characters uplifts the plot so significantly.
I have heard unrest situations from Assam, Andolan from Assam and that part really shook me to the bottom. The author as always has presented her state, her city, Guwahati in a realistic yet imaginative way. Towards the end, the story becomes tender cocooned with creases of relationship and calmer.
A story of love, betrayal and friendship and the most significant ones individuality. I cherished this book and is that even a question now? I'm still smittened by the sheer charm of this book.
There are some books, though short and compact, that are heavy, nourishing our minds with the intricate creases of relationships presenting a mirror to ourselves. I wasn’t ready for the book, its narration, its emotion, its storytelling. Some stories are deep and invoke parts and scenes but there are others that magnify the most normal and mundane things in the world perhaps, inspiring someone to pen their stories on paper. Rebirth falls in the latter.
With a mature and delicate storyline of a would-be mother Kaberi, talking to her unborn child growing inside her womb.
The protagonist Kaberi lives in Bangalore with her husband Ranjit, Ron, in a quiet locality away from the city rush among the lush green surroundings. Formerly belonging to Guwahati Assam, the carrying mother weaves incidents vivid from her homeland- the story persistently shifting from present to the not-so pleasant past that is stained by loss of a darling friend and troubled relationship with parents and longing for the state.
There are certain things that I observed and I really don’t know how to place the thoughts, perhaps there can be more or less observations but I would still share them. When Kaberi talks to her unborn, she constantly uses the ‘your father’ to regard Ranjit but being a wife before being a mother, she could have just regarded Ron in a pretty informal way but she hadn’t used it ever. This shows how beautifully and respectfully Kaberi had always been with Ranjit. She has a sharp observation and is poignant at times with emotions showing gradual learning of human behavior. Kaberi, throughout the book remains raw, honest and truthful to her child and shares every weakness, little joys, fears and insecurity.
Barua’s storytelling is so glorious, visual and vivid that makes us feel the ordinary things, her relationship- the polite memories with her late friend Joya- the delicate mannerism of portraying death in one’s house. Kaberi’s introduction to side characters uplifts the plot so significantly.
I have heard unrest situations from Assam, Andolan from Assam and that part really shook me to the bottom. The author as always has presented her state, her city, Guwahati in a realistic yet imaginative way. Towards the end, the story becomes tender cocooned with creases of relationship and calmer.
A story of love, betrayal and friendship and the most significant ones individuality. I cherished this book and is that even a question now? I'm still smittened by the sheer charm of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2021
Rebirth
The narration is quite mesmerizing and wonderful where a to-be mother communicates with her unborn child in a fashionable manner. The monologue is engaging and beautifully put across. Kaberi’s story moves impeccably between Bangalore and Guwahati, she unravels her relationship with her cheating and abusive husband. She talks about growing up with an alcoholic father and a tolerant mother.
However, for most parts of the book, Kaberi felt like everything I advocate women to not to be, I was unable to connect to her. I got mad at her and I pitied her. Then it hit me, if we really look around us, there are many Kaberi(s); mothers, aunts, and maybe even some of our own peers.
Our country’s divorce rate is the lowest in the world. In no way, it signifies that our marriage system is flawless. Domestic violence is deeply and regrettably established in our nation. One in every third marriage has a Kaberi, giving her all and making it work at any cost.
I got attached to the book because I was cheering for her, I was waiting for the moment where she takes charge and turns her life around. When she says, “I have a vague feeling he has made his decision but now, this time, I had some decisions of my own to make”, I was filled with joy and pride. What I still feel sad about is that it took a child to make her realize her self-worth. She was reborn to give her baby a better and happy home. She and her baby deserve better.
I bow down to all the Kaberi’s in our lives. But I have something to say to her:
Kaberi, I am hoping you make some decisions just for your own sake. I hope you take more trips to Kaziranga and do things that fill you with joy. I hope you put yourself first, at times even before your child. I hope you keep sighting beautiful birds wherever you live and lastly I hope you find love.
The narration is quite mesmerizing and wonderful where a to-be mother communicates with her unborn child in a fashionable manner. The monologue is engaging and beautifully put across. Kaberi’s story moves impeccably between Bangalore and Guwahati, she unravels her relationship with her cheating and abusive husband. She talks about growing up with an alcoholic father and a tolerant mother.
However, for most parts of the book, Kaberi felt like everything I advocate women to not to be, I was unable to connect to her. I got mad at her and I pitied her. Then it hit me, if we really look around us, there are many Kaberi(s); mothers, aunts, and maybe even some of our own peers.
Our country’s divorce rate is the lowest in the world. In no way, it signifies that our marriage system is flawless. Domestic violence is deeply and regrettably established in our nation. One in every third marriage has a Kaberi, giving her all and making it work at any cost.
I got attached to the book because I was cheering for her, I was waiting for the moment where she takes charge and turns her life around. When she says, “I have a vague feeling he has made his decision but now, this time, I had some decisions of my own to make”, I was filled with joy and pride. What I still feel sad about is that it took a child to make her realize her self-worth. She was reborn to give her baby a better and happy home. She and her baby deserve better.
I bow down to all the Kaberi’s in our lives. But I have something to say to her:
Kaberi, I am hoping you make some decisions just for your own sake. I hope you take more trips to Kaziranga and do things that fill you with joy. I hope you put yourself first, at times even before your child. I hope you keep sighting beautiful birds wherever you live and lastly I hope you find love.
June 22, 2021
🌿REBIRTH is my second book by Jahnavi and I want to claim that I understand her writing - the ebbs and flows, the ragged edges and the uncertainties. However, long after I have turned the last few pages, parts of the story linger, shredding their old implications and emerging anew- a different angle, another explanation.
In ✨Rebirth✨, Kaberi- pushed out of her home in Assam into the hands of a well-established man by means of marriage, tries to make sense of the city (Bangalore). The clustered houses, traffic, the vastly different life from the one she was raised in. After years of living with a husband that has claimed someone else as his own, Kaveri drags herself out of bed for one reason only and that is the child she carries, one that arrived after a flurry of hospital visits, Injections and unsaid grievances.
Jahnavi emphasizes love throughout this book-love that is not given freely, love that is snatched away even before it can lay hands upon the recipient, and love that is unconditional (mother's love). Kaberi's longing for a husband she doesn't know how to live without teaches her the value of things she has and what to hold on to, in order to survive.
Backing Kaberi's tumultuous thoughts are the Brahmaputra, and the dangerous terrain of Assam- with memories etched in the waves and the rocks. As Kaberi remembers loss, she goes back to the familiar geography that has bestowed her with comfort and has taken away her closest companion. This story is about processing grief, one small memory at a time.
It broke my heart when Jahnavi mentioned that ✨Rebirth ✨ came and went slowly. A book like this deserves to be read and understood. A book like this deserves to be appreciated
In ✨Rebirth✨, Kaberi- pushed out of her home in Assam into the hands of a well-established man by means of marriage, tries to make sense of the city (Bangalore). The clustered houses, traffic, the vastly different life from the one she was raised in. After years of living with a husband that has claimed someone else as his own, Kaveri drags herself out of bed for one reason only and that is the child she carries, one that arrived after a flurry of hospital visits, Injections and unsaid grievances.
Jahnavi emphasizes love throughout this book-love that is not given freely, love that is snatched away even before it can lay hands upon the recipient, and love that is unconditional (mother's love). Kaberi's longing for a husband she doesn't know how to live without teaches her the value of things she has and what to hold on to, in order to survive.
Backing Kaberi's tumultuous thoughts are the Brahmaputra, and the dangerous terrain of Assam- with memories etched in the waves and the rocks. As Kaberi remembers loss, she goes back to the familiar geography that has bestowed her with comfort and has taken away her closest companion. This story is about processing grief, one small memory at a time.
It broke my heart when Jahnavi mentioned that ✨Rebirth ✨ came and went slowly. A book like this deserves to be read and understood. A book like this deserves to be appreciated
February 20, 2025
4.0 ⭐️
I had to take a while after finishing the book before I could come back and write this review. The main character coming from the same city (barely a city) where i was born and brought up in got me too attached to it to immediately put pen to paper and express my feelings cohesively.
Reading this book, I came to the slow realisation that maybe the sadness that I find so innate in myself is not particularly an individual thing but rather something that is intrinsic to the Assamese folk generationally who are brought up by the riverside in a conflict-rife town. Kaberi is nothing like me, the choices she made throughout the novel are none that I would probably ever make and yet the guilt and the sadness that haunt her are the same mirrored in me. And that is exactly what made this book so precious to me, the assurance it gave me that it’s not just me feeling this type of way.
Jahnavi Barua tells the story in a quiet voice, a voice that’s barely there. And that’s truly a delight. She trusts her readers and doesn’t hammer information about her characters and plot too hard. The reader is left alone to walk along with the characters and see the story unfold without any hustle.
I do have to point out a light anti-immigrant tone in her narrative, especially in the main character’s voice. While this is unfortunately a common sentiment among the Assamese population, so I understand an honest portrayal but I couldn’t quite tell if there was a distance between the narrator and such sentiments and that made me somewhat uncomfortable.
I had to take a while after finishing the book before I could come back and write this review. The main character coming from the same city (barely a city) where i was born and brought up in got me too attached to it to immediately put pen to paper and express my feelings cohesively.
Reading this book, I came to the slow realisation that maybe the sadness that I find so innate in myself is not particularly an individual thing but rather something that is intrinsic to the Assamese folk generationally who are brought up by the riverside in a conflict-rife town. Kaberi is nothing like me, the choices she made throughout the novel are none that I would probably ever make and yet the guilt and the sadness that haunt her are the same mirrored in me. And that is exactly what made this book so precious to me, the assurance it gave me that it’s not just me feeling this type of way.
Jahnavi Barua tells the story in a quiet voice, a voice that’s barely there. And that’s truly a delight. She trusts her readers and doesn’t hammer information about her characters and plot too hard. The reader is left alone to walk along with the characters and see the story unfold without any hustle.
I do have to point out a light anti-immigrant tone in her narrative, especially in the main character’s voice. While this is unfortunately a common sentiment among the Assamese population, so I understand an honest portrayal but I couldn’t quite tell if there was a distance between the narrator and such sentiments and that made me somewhat uncomfortable.
November 12, 2025
There are some books which take a while to sink in, books where you need to read a good number of pages before you find your rhythm and then there are books like Jahnavi Barua's "Rebirth", a book belonging to that rare selection of books which magically bind you with an unshakeable force and you cannot, must not stop until you have read the very last word in the book.
If I claim that I loved "Rebirth" it would be an understatement for it was beyond anything that I have read in the recent past. "Rebirth", narrated by Kaberi, a mother-to-be to her unborn child, feels so personal, so grounded and you are drawn into the world that the author has built here-familiar, uncertain, powerful and truthful. That the story traverses Bangalore and the north-east, my adopted city and my home, makes the book all the more relatable. Kaberi begins a new life in the mad yet mellow rush of Bangalore, stringing a life very different from her upbringing in the modest little town of Guwahati and learns, unlearns, navigates through life, deals with the pathos of an unloving husband, a marriage falling apart, forges new friendships, gathers herself and much like the mighty Brahmaputra which swells and subsides with seasons Kaberi traverses through life. You lament with Kaberi, you root for her, you are mad at her, laugh with her, cry with her and you wish her well.
Without a doubt the book was perfection-a sense of belonging, loneliness, perfection, traumas from the past, infidelity, giving up, rising up, shining again, are stringed together with a lyrical finesse that makes this story shine. It is surprising that the book hasn't found many takers yet-a gem hidden from the world.
If I claim that I loved "Rebirth" it would be an understatement for it was beyond anything that I have read in the recent past. "Rebirth", narrated by Kaberi, a mother-to-be to her unborn child, feels so personal, so grounded and you are drawn into the world that the author has built here-familiar, uncertain, powerful and truthful. That the story traverses Bangalore and the north-east, my adopted city and my home, makes the book all the more relatable. Kaberi begins a new life in the mad yet mellow rush of Bangalore, stringing a life very different from her upbringing in the modest little town of Guwahati and learns, unlearns, navigates through life, deals with the pathos of an unloving husband, a marriage falling apart, forges new friendships, gathers herself and much like the mighty Brahmaputra which swells and subsides with seasons Kaberi traverses through life. You lament with Kaberi, you root for her, you are mad at her, laugh with her, cry with her and you wish her well.
Without a doubt the book was perfection-a sense of belonging, loneliness, perfection, traumas from the past, infidelity, giving up, rising up, shining again, are stringed together with a lyrical finesse that makes this story shine. It is surprising that the book hasn't found many takers yet-a gem hidden from the world.
June 8, 2021
Rebirth
Jahanvi Barua
It is a different kind of narrative where a pregnant mother talks to her unborn child , considering all her relationships with her husband , parents and friends . The protagonist is Kaberi, who is a victim of domestic violence, with waxing and waning affairs of love , hatred, betrayal, expectations and dreams for her future( her unborn baby!). There is that misogynistic society which is impressed by the fact that time was same when her mother went silent at being hit by her husband and even today she is silent after similar treatment until the end where her family and friends show solidarity in whatever she decides. I personally feel that Kaberi is strong enough to know what she actually wants in her relationship with her husband (who was having an EMA)... she is not ready to share her consort... also she wants him back wholeheartedly.... loving HER, not just loving their kiddo.
I liked the strong headed Kaberi , very realistic... emotional.. weak at moments , getting carried away with deceptive looks and above all the motherly caring instinct and love for the unborn.
Though not very immersive to me, still ... A good one time read .
Jahanvi Barua
It is a different kind of narrative where a pregnant mother talks to her unborn child , considering all her relationships with her husband , parents and friends . The protagonist is Kaberi, who is a victim of domestic violence, with waxing and waning affairs of love , hatred, betrayal, expectations and dreams for her future( her unborn baby!). There is that misogynistic society which is impressed by the fact that time was same when her mother went silent at being hit by her husband and even today she is silent after similar treatment until the end where her family and friends show solidarity in whatever she decides. I personally feel that Kaberi is strong enough to know what she actually wants in her relationship with her husband (who was having an EMA)... she is not ready to share her consort... also she wants him back wholeheartedly.... loving HER, not just loving their kiddo.
I liked the strong headed Kaberi , very realistic... emotional.. weak at moments , getting carried away with deceptive looks and above all the motherly caring instinct and love for the unborn.
Though not very immersive to me, still ... A good one time read .
October 16, 2022
Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua
This is a beautiful story of redemption of a silently suffering mother Kaberi from her unfaithful, abusive husband.
Born and brought up in a simple Assamese family and married to a rich guy in Bangalore, the transition was slow for Kaberi and before she could settle, she endures the abuse, being left alone for a mistress.
She suffers in silence, lives for the few moments of normalcy with her supporting friend, a caring maid.
The book begins with Kaberi talking to her unborn child about their future and her past, how she came upto this position. The bond between a pregnant woman and her child, the mother's emotion is all written so beautifully!! The hope that we all cling on at the beginning of pain ( that things will go back normal or what we consider is normal) is written poignantly.
The story is not fast and has big revelations. It's a journey through lot of emotions and self awareness- Coming to terms with all the betrayal she has been given by life.
A short book that evoked so many emotions to me!! I really recommend that everyone read it, it's that beautiful, the raw emotions written could get anyone to love it!!
This is a beautiful story of redemption of a silently suffering mother Kaberi from her unfaithful, abusive husband.
Born and brought up in a simple Assamese family and married to a rich guy in Bangalore, the transition was slow for Kaberi and before she could settle, she endures the abuse, being left alone for a mistress.
She suffers in silence, lives for the few moments of normalcy with her supporting friend, a caring maid.
The book begins with Kaberi talking to her unborn child about their future and her past, how she came upto this position. The bond between a pregnant woman and her child, the mother's emotion is all written so beautifully!! The hope that we all cling on at the beginning of pain ( that things will go back normal or what we consider is normal) is written poignantly.
The story is not fast and has big revelations. It's a journey through lot of emotions and self awareness- Coming to terms with all the betrayal she has been given by life.
A short book that evoked so many emotions to me!! I really recommend that everyone read it, it's that beautiful, the raw emotions written could get anyone to love it!!
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