Jareela: The Castrato by Bhalchandra Nemade

Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
Author: Santosh Bhoomkar
Language: English
Pages: 354
Binding: Paperback
Edition: 2017
ISBN: 9788126040629
Dimensions: 21.5 cm × 14 cm
Weight: 470 gm

About the Book:
Jareela (The Castrato) is the third novel in the celebrated Changdeo tetralogy by eminent Marathi writer Bhalchandra Nemade, presented here in English translation by Santosh Bhoomkar. Set in a remote mountainous tribal region, the novel follows Changdeo, a young teacher who takes up a job in an isolated town and gradually becomes immersed in its primitive yet deeply human way of life.

When an explosion at a nearby power station plunges the town into nightly darkness, the absence of electricity transforms both the physical environment and Changdeo’s inner world. The tribal community adapts naturally to scarcity, relying on sensory experience and traditional rhythms of life, while Changdeo confronts profound loneliness and existential questioning. In the enveloping darkness, suppressed memories and emotional scars resurface, forcing him to face unresolved experiences from his past, including haunting childhood memories symbolized by the tragic fate of a beloved bull.

The novel explores themes of isolation, identity, freedom, and self-discovery, portraying loneliness not merely as absence but as a transformative psychological space. Nemade’s powerful narrative blends realism with philosophical reflection, making the work a significant contribution to modern Indian fiction.

Bhalchandra Nemade, a pioneering figure in Marathi literature, is known for ushering in a new literary era with his landmark novel Kosla. A distinguished novelist and critic advocating cultural rootedness in literature, he has received numerous honours including the Sahitya Akademi Award, Padma Shri, and the Jnanpith Award. Translator Santosh Bhoomkar, an accomplished poet and scholar, brings clarity and literary sensitivity to this English rendition.