M. G. Vassanji Libri

Set against the backdrop of post-violence western India in 2002, the narrative follows Karsan Dargawalla, heir to a historic Sufi shrine. His story begins in the 1960s, revealing his internal struggle between familial duty and the desire for an ordinary life. While destined to lead the Shrine of the Wanderer, Karsan yearns for adventure and normalcy, captivated by the world beyond his shrine. His acceptance to Harvard offers him a chance to escape and explore a broader existence, challenging his identity and responsibilities.

The collection delves into the complexities of nostalgia and identity, highlighting the struggle between cherished memories of past homes and the quest for belonging in new environments. M.G. Vassanji, a celebrated author with multiple prestigious awards, weaves together poignant narratives that resonate with themes of displacement and the search for connection.

Two-time Giller Prize winner M.G. Vassanji returns with a powerful new novel about grief and second chances, tradition and rebellion, set in vibrant present-day Delhi. Munir Khan, a recent widower from Toronto, on a whim decides to visit Delhi, the city of his forbears. Born in Kenya, he has lost all family connections, and has never visited India before. While sitting in the bar of the Delhi Recreational Club where he's staying, an attractive woman joins his table to await her husband. A sparring match ensues. The two are from different worlds: Munir is a westernized agnostic of Muslim origin; Mohini, a modern Hindu woman. Utterly witty and charming, she's religiously traditional, but also a liberal and provocative newspaper columnist. Against her better judgment, Mohini agrees to show Munir around the city. As they explore the thriving markets and historical buildings of Old Delhi, an inexplicable attraction begins. What follows is a passionate love affair--uncontrollable yet impossible. This is a period of rising Indian nationalism in modern India that at times finds outlet in senseless violence. Constantly lurking at Munir's Club is the menacing and foreboding presence of a fanatical nationalist group. To them Munir Khan is simply a Muslim "love-jihadi" who has led the pride of Hindu womanhood, Mohini Singh, astray. At what cost, their passion?

The book offers a heartfelt tribute to East Africa, blending personal experiences with cultural insights. M.G. Vassanji, a celebrated author, provides a unique perspective on his homeland, capturing its complexities and beauty. Through vivid storytelling, he explores themes of identity, belonging, and the deep connections to one's roots, making this work a compelling exploration of both love and place.

Vikram Lall is an Indian man living on the shores of Lake Ontario, retelling his life story from 1953, when he and his family lived in colonial Kenya, to now. He describes how he and his sister Deepa tried to find their place in a violent and changing world, and then how he later found himself drawn into an orbit of corruption after the promise of the 1960's. While contemplating historical events that shaped him, his choices, and the tragedies that awaited him, he also recalls the friendships of his and Deepa's youth, with both British and African children, that would haunt them all their lives.

Set against the backdrop of America during the late sixties and beyond, the story follows Ramji, a student from East Africa, as he navigates a tumultuous landscape marked by anti-war protests and cultural upheaval. His initial dreams clash with reality, leading to profound disillusionment. Years later, after leaving a marriage and suburban life, an older Ramji confronts the haunting echoes of his past while pursuing a passionate new love, forcing him to grapple with unresolved issues and the impact of his earlier choices.

When Pius Fernandes, a retired schoolteacher living in modern day Dar es Salaam, discovers a diary of a British colonial administrator from 1913, he is drawn into a provocative account of the Asian community of East Africa, and the liaisons, feelings and secrets of its people, over the course of a century.

"The Magic of Saida "tells the haunting story of Kamal, a successful Canadian doctor who, in middle age and after decades in North America, decides to return to his homeland of East Africa to find his childhood sweetheart, Saida. Kamal's journey is motivated by a combination of guilt, hope, and the desire to unravel the mysteries of his childhood--mysteries compounded by the fact that Kamal is the son of an absent Indian father from a well-to-do family and a Swahili African mother of slave ancestry. Through a series of flashbacks, we watch Kamal's early years in the ancient coastal town of Kilwa, where he grows up in a world of poverty but also of poetry, sustained by his friendship with the magical Saida. This world abruptly ends when Kamal is sent away by his mother to live with his father's family in the city. There, the academically gifted boy grows up as a "dark Indian," eventually going to university and departing for Canada. Left behind to her traditional fate is Saida, now a beautiful young woman. Decades later, Kamal's guilt pulls him back to Kilwa . . . where we discovers what happened to Saida during a harrowing night of sinister rites. This complex, revelatory, sweeping and shocking book, is a towering testament to the magical literary powers of M.G. Vassanji.

Set in the Toronto suburb of Don Mills, the story follows Nurdin Lalani, an Asian immigrant from Africa, who faces false accusations of sexual assault. Despite his innocence, he grapples with cultural expectations and his own thoughts about purity. His friendship with Sushila offers a glimpse of freedom from his troubled marriage and the challenges of raising teenagers. Through a rich cast of characters, Vassanji explores the complexities of immigrant life, highlighting the struggle between traditional values and the desire for personal liberation.