An Unusual Tale of Motherhood

Book: Gumshoe Mania

Author: Manju Jaidka

Publisher: Vishwakarma Publications

Pages: 190

Price: ₹250

Rating: 4/5

Reviewer: Namrata Pathania

There is no dearth of novels being penned by the various creative writers that constantly inundate the world of readers. However, in the plethora of books being published, some make their mark. They shake the readers out of their complacency by challenging the accepted norms of behaviour or conduct. The new novel by renowned writer and academician, Manju Jaidka, with its intriguing title performs this task efficiently. Gumshoe Mania has been divided into twenty chapters, each with an interesting title.

The “Gumshoe” of the title makes us wonder if it is detective fiction. Not exactly. Though the protagonist, Seema, who christens herself as Reema in the pursuit of breaking all barriers, has a deep interest in detective fiction and eventually earns a Ph.D. in the genre, she is more of a mother than a detective or anything else. She is a perfect example of a post-modern woman who despite her modernity, unconventional lifestyle, diverse interests, and preoccupations, is a stereotypical mother. Like any other over-attached, over-protective, and over-possessive mother whose world revolves around the well-being and safety of her child, Reema too proves true to the ‘mother archetype’. Her only son, Picasso alias Pikachu alias Pico is her world, her primary concern with everything else relegated to the secondary position. Her unique condition as a single parent further reinforces her possessiveness and she is unwilling to let him explore the world lest she should lose sight of him. But despite all her efforts to hold on to him, he succeeds in escaping from her protective envelope in which he feels circumscribed.

She suffers from the intense pain of abandonment and then her detective genius, her “gumshoe mania” comes to her rescue. She successfully tracks him down, is face to face with him at Honolulu in the guise of a veiled woman, suppressing her desire to confront him and shower her eternal love upon him. Her “Find Pico” mission leaves her heartbroken when she discovers what her son’s problem is. Her final realization when she comes across the lines from Kahlil Gibran, “Your children are not your children. They are sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you. And though they are with you yet they belong not to you…” pacifies her. She let go of him and emerges a winner.

The novel does not just bring forth the theme of the parent-child relationship in the post-modern world but also the themes of ambition and abandonment, personal quest for identity, and personal choices, all set in a framework of mystery and suspense. It is, of course, a psychological study of the feelings of a conventional mother and an unconventional son. The novel poses certain questions for the readers to think about. What made Pico abandon his mother is a crucial question that needs to be pondered upon. Is it just a realization that he is different and needs a hideout or is it the callous attitude that most of the youngsters flaunt nowadays, claiming to be different from the herd? Is the concept of family where parents and children can connect out of vogue? Can we accept individuals with different choices with all our hearts and brain?

Coming specifically to the title of the novel, the connotation is clear and striking. “Gumshoe” refers to a sleuth or a detective. The protagonist, Reema is obsessed with the life and work of a detective. Her “mania” drives her to study all-be-it Byomkesh Bakshi, Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes, or any other celebrated detective. To top it all, she does her Ph.D. in detective fiction. However, everything remains in theory and not in practice and she is unable to fulfill her dream of becoming a detective. She gets the chance to become a gumshoe in the quest of her only son.

The novel is also brilliant in its poetic allusions which are apt and illustrative. The author’s literary background and in-depth knowledge of literature are evident through the poetic references to Wordsworth, Coleridge, Alexander Pope, Shakespeare, Dylan Thomas, etc., which make the book a kind of novel in verse. There are also ample references to the old Bollywood songs that make one nostalgic for the golden era of Hindi songs. Notwithstanding one or two political allusions such as ‘Abki Baar Modi Sarkar’, the novel is apolitical in nature. One pertinent issue raised and discussed in detail is the absolute necessity of computer literacy. One may be of any age group or strata but to be tech-savvy is the need of the hour. At the same time, the novel also warns against cybercrime and its consequences. There is also a reference to the mass hysteria being generated through the braid chopping incident in “Rape of the Lock” chapter based on the real-life incidents that took place in the year 2017, reminding the readers that mass delusions are not new. Similar incidents like ‘Monkey Man Attacks’ have been plaguing societies time and again.

The appeal of the novel is not only for the middle-aged or the elderly but also for the youth who have their peculiarities and eccentricities. Though the plot may be predictable at times and Reema’s memory loss a little uncalled for, the novel is unique in many ways. It awakens the readers from their slumber and forces them to introspect upon diverse issues. In this respect, Gumshoe Mania is an interesting and thought-provoking novel that makes it a must-read.

About the Book Reviewer

Namrata Pathania is working as an Assistant Professor in the department of English at Govt. College, Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. She has been schooled from St. Mary’s Convent Kasauli, attained her Graduation from MLSM Sundernagar, Post-Graduation, and M.Phil. from HPU, Shimla, and is currently pursuing a PH.D. from CPU, Kota. She has been serving in the college cadre since 2009 and has presented and published research papers in journals of national and international repute. She has a keen interest in Creative Writing, Poetry, and Dramatics, besides Conducting stage and other Co-Curricular activities. Above all, she is an avid reader and tries to judiciously analyze the new works published in the category of fiction.