The Last Color
Vikas Khanna, a renowned chef with a Michelin star, published his debut work of fiction, The Last Color, in 2018 through Bloomsbury India. The book's theme deals with societal brutality toward women, the underprivileged, in general mankind. The book discusses societal stigmas against widows, transgender people, and powerless, underprivileged people. It paints a vivid image of the day-to-day battles for existence on the streets of Varanasi, a historic city. A heartwarming tale of love, promises, steadfast loyalty, bravery, friendship, and shattering the taboos of Indian society with both achieved as well as unmet dreams.
A feature film based on the novel was later directed by Vikas Khanna and released in the USA and India in 2019. He is the creator of the Holy Kitchens documentary series and Kitchens of Gratitude.
My friend had recommended the movie ‘The Last Color,’ and while I was researching it online, I learned that it was based on a novel (If the movie is based on a book, I never watch the movie first). A few days later, I went to a mall where a book exhibition was being held. The bookkeeper advised me to read ‘The Last Color’ as I was browsing through the stack of books. Well, I was already aware of the premise of the book by Vikas Khanna, a world-famous chef who had written a fictional story about very real societal issues.
I was tempted!
Varanasi! a place where life and death dance on the Ganges ghats, blazing pyres, and lighted fires of the ‘Havana.’ In this sacred city of Varanasi, the ghats and the streets provide the settings for the narrative. The protagonist of the story is a nine-year-old tightrope walker named Choti who is full of life, innocent, loving, caring, and compassionate.
Choti befriends widowed Noor, a humble woman who lives a restrained life at an ashram in Varanasi. Choti is a young child who lacks societal understanding. All she wants to do is save enough money to go to school. She has a keen mind and creative solutions. Choti is protected by Anarkali, a transgender individual who begs on the streets of Varanasi. Choti and Noor had a special kinship that the rest of the world did not approve of. Against all odds, Choti promises Noor to play Holi with her. However, Choti's life soon experiences a devastating and terrifying tragedy when her friend Anarkali is brutally murdered by a corrupt police officer.
As the pivotal episodes pit them against societal conventions that are brutal for both of them, their lives are in turmoil.
A nationwide Supreme Court ruling against a long-standing custom of social injustice against the widows of India—to whom even the simple joys of color were denied—was issued after twenty years. A promise that was made 20 years ago, was that fulfilled? What happened to Choti and Noor? It was interesting to see their story unwind.
Three frighteningly stunning and menacingly terrifying intertwined stories of women told against the background of Varanasi. Choti's innocence, Anarkali's fragility, Noor's simplicity, Rani's helplessness, and Rekha’s courage are brilliantly put forth. All of the characters given life by Vikas Khanna succeeded in making an impression on me and will last a lifetime. For an emotional journey and thought-provoking reading, I heartily suggest this book. We all are well aware of the problems that plague our society, yet we never pause to consider them. The novel has a few loose ends that should have been further explored, but overall it's an entertaining read.
In addition to being a wonderful cook, Vikas Khanna is a captivating storyteller.
“Wherever you begin, wherever you end, we all return to the river…”
The first line of the novel effectively plants a thought in your head. Our final rites take us to the sacred river in accordance with Hindu tradition. We have no influence over how our story ends, regardless of our plans or actions in life.
Certainly gives you food for thought, doesn't it?
For a few days after finishing this book, I struggled with a weird kind of persistent feeling. A tiny shift in perspective, gratitude for the life we have and awareness that we are in a better position than many others.
This story features an unconventional relationship, vows kept, taboos broken, and the triumph of the human spirit.
The book cover of my edition has a picture of the actress Neena Gupta clad in a white saree covered in pink ‘gulal’ (color). I haven't watched the feature film yet so can’t really comment on it.
The book is available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and kindle editions. I recommend it to anyone fond of emotional stories. The book explores prejudices towards widows, transgender individuals, and helpless, disadvantaged people that are rooted in culture.