One man’s search for marriage and happiness. ‘The Bengal Tiger's Silent Roar’ by Anil Nijhawan introduces us to Tarun, a twenty eight-year-old man who has some learning difficulties and suffers from epilepsy, but wishes for a wife and the family life his siblings and friends have. As a Hindu living in India, marriages are traditionally arranged by family members, and Tarun’s family and friends are reluctant. As he gets closer to his boss’ daughter, and falls for the married daughter of his family’s housekeeper, will Tarun overcome the obstacles he faces and find the match he’s looking for. This book explores the complexities around arranged marriages, identity, family and cultural dynamics in a relatively modern day India (it’s set in the early years of India’s independence from Britain). There’s an isolation and a loneliness to Tarun despite him being surrounded by family, his few friends and colleagues. I found him endearing and I thought that the plot was warm overall. There are cultural obstacles and plot twists that prevent Tarun from finding a wife throughout the storyline and, although I predicted the end point, the journey along the way was well-written. ‘The Bengal Tiger's Silent Roar’ is fast paced, easy to read in one sitting, and I would recommend it for fans of family drama.
Thirty-year-old Tarun, who has learning difficulties wants to get married. His family is horriefied. They consider him incapable of raising a family. This is a dramatic story of Tarun's struggle to find a wife in a society where families arrange marriages. His boss's daughter, Sangeeta, is trying to befriend him, while he has fallen in love with Manju, the daughter of his house cleaner. The problem is Manju is already married. The obstacle to his marriage are formidable. Will he succeed in overcoming them?
Born in India, Anil Nijhawan now lives in the UK with his wife Adarsh. Anil's career has embraced working in the computing industry and running his own business. A keep-fit enthusiast, he has run the London Marathon on several occasions. His hobbies include global travel and fine art painting in acrylics.
