The Song Seekers

Set in Kolkata during the monsoon of 1962, a newly married woman named Uma uncovers family secrets and the haunting past of her husband's lineage as she reads traditional stories aloud.

The Song Seekers, the debut novel by Saswati Sengupta, unfolds in the vibrant city of Kolkata during the monsoon season of 1962. The story centers around Uma, who moves into the Chattopadhyay family's old mansion, Kailash, after her marriage. This new home is steeped in mystery and intrigue, particularly due to her husband's reticence regarding his family's dark past, including his mother's murder and a childhood tragedy. As Uma navigates her new life, she finds herself drawn to the secrets hidden within her surroundings, from the embroidered handkerchiefs tucked away in an old soap box to the enigmatic presence of her husband's elderly relative, Pishi.

As Uma begins to read aloud from the traditional Chandimangal, a text composed by her husband’s grandfather in honor of the goddess, she unwittingly unearths long-buried family stories. This act of reading becomes a catalyst for uncovering the complexities of her new environment and the people within it. Sengupta skillfully intertwines themes of history, mythology, and personal discovery, allowing Uma to connect the dots between her family's past and the broader socio-political landscape of Bengal during the 1960s.

Through Uma's journey, the novel explores the intersection of personal and collective histories, revealing how tales of the past can shape the present. As the narrative unfolds, the mansion's deep foundations symbolize not only the family's legacy but also the darker aspects of history that linger just beneath the surface, hinting at the struggles and resilience of those who came before. The Song Seekers invites readers to reflect on the power of storytelling and the ways in which it can illuminate both the light and shadows of our lives.