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- ISBN: 978-9386797360
- Genre: Literary Fiction
- Publisher: Simon and Schuster India
- Year of Publishing: 2019
About the Book
In an elite all-boys’ boarding school run by a Hindu monastic order in late-twentieth century India, things aren’t what they look like on the surface… Anirvan, a young student, is fascinated by the music and silence of spiritual life. He dreams of becoming a monk. But as he seeks his dream, he finds himself drawn to a fellow student, and they come together to form an intimate and unspeakable relationship. The boys sweat at cricket and football, crack science and mathematics in pursuit of golden careers, and meditate to the aroma of incense and flowers.
It’s a world of ruthless discipline shaped by monks in flowing saffron. A sceptical teacher mentors Anirvan and reveals his suspicion of this vigilant atmosphere. Does the beating of the boys reveal urges that cannot be named? What is the meaning of monastic celibacy? What, indeed, holds the brotherhood together? Against himself, Anirvan gets sucked into a whirl of events outside the walls of the monastery, in the midst of prostitutes, scheming politicians and the impoverished Muslims of the villages surrounding the school. When the love of his life returns to him, the boys’ desire for each other push them towards a wild course of action. But will that give them a life together in a world that does not recognize their kind of love?
About the Author
Saikat Majumdar is the author of two novels: Silverfish, and the widely acclaimed The Firebird (published in the US as Play House), featured in The Telegraph’s Best Books of the year and a finalist for the Mumbai Film Festival Word-to-Screen Market and the Bangalore Literature Festival Fiction Prize. He has also published a book of nonfiction, College: Pathways of Possibility, and a book of literary criticism, Prose of the World. He lives in Delhi and teaches literature and creative writing at Ashoka University.
Review
The Scent of God by Saikat Majumdar is a searing exploration of desire, faith, and identity, set against the cloistered backdrop of a Hindu monastic boarding school in late-twentieth-century India. At once intimate and expansive, the novel interrogates the silences and contradictions that shape institutionalized religion, adolescent longing, and the pursuit of personal freedom.
The story centers on Anirvan, a young student captivated by the allure of monastic life, where silence and incense weave a seductive spell of spiritual promise. Yet, amid the austere saffron-clad monks and the regimented rhythm of daily life, Anirvan discovers a yearning that transcends the divine—a magnetic and forbidden pull toward a fellow student. Majumdar crafts their relationship with tenderness and restraint, allowing the complexity of their emotions to bloom in the shadow of an institution that denies their existence.
Through lush, evocative prose, the novel delves into the rituals and hypocrisies of the monastic world, revealing its cracks and undercurrents. The saffron robes that symbolize purity become a paradoxical cloak, hiding the human vulnerabilities and repressed desires that pulse beneath. Anirvan’s internal conflict is mirrored by the school’s rigid discipline, which masks a darker, unspeakable truth: the violence and suppression that often accompany institutional celibacy.
Majumdar’s narrative transcends the immediate setting, reaching into the socio-political landscape of rural India. The school’s insulated world brushes up against the harsh realities of impoverished Muslim communities and the machinations of local politicians, creating a stark juxtaposition between spiritual detachment and the grit of lived experience. These external forces act as a counterpoint to Anirvan’s inner turmoil, underscoring the tension between the individual and the collective, the sacred and the profane.
This is a profound work that expands upon his established narrative style and thematic interests, which span the intersections of identity, desire, and societal constraints.
At its heart, The Scent of God is a meditation on love in all its forbidden forms—love for the divine, love for another, and the love that dares to defy societal norms. Majumdar does not shy away from the painful realities of unaccepted love, nor does he romanticize it. Instead, he offers a nuanced portrait of two boys trying to carve out a space for themselves in a world that denies their truth.
Majumdar’s writing emerges as a daring exploration of desire, repression, and the complex interplay between personal longing and institutionalized belief.
The novel follows Anirvan, a young student at an all-boys’ school run by a Hindu monastic order, who becomes enraptured not just by the spiritual practices of the monastic life but also by the sensuality and intimacy that quietly simmer beneath the surface. His immersion in meditation, the smells of incense, and the spiritual atmosphere are contrasted sharply with his deepening attraction to his classmate, Kajol. Majumdar doesn’t just paint a portrait of monastic life; he meticulously dissects the emotional and psychological fissures it creates, raising uncomfortable questions about the boundaries between spirituality and human desires.
What sets The Scent of God apart is its exploration of the 'why' behind celibacy, particularly in the context of a monastic order. While many books might revel in the forbidden allure of same-sex attraction within such a repressive environment, Majumdar goes deeper. He doesn’t merely present Anirvan’s desires as an act of rebellion against the rigid structure of the monastic order; he probes into the reasons behind those desires. The novel presents a paradox: a system designed to suppress desires, yet one where those very desires find expression, forcing us to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature, spiritual discipline, and emotional connection. This nuanced exploration compels readers to examine not only the nature of celibacy but also the inherent tensions between desire and institutionalized purity.
The discomfort that the novel evokes is a testament to Majumdar’s skill in addressing taboo subjects with sensitivity and sophistication. As a nation, India is still grappling with issues surrounding sexuality, identity, and the acceptance of non-normative relationships. Majumdar taps into this socio-cultural tension, laying bare the contradictions of a society that outwardly promotes asceticism and spiritual purity, while secretly nurturing desires and attractions that defy its rules. The Scent of God doesn’t just question the dynamics of celibacy; it also probes the hypocrisy embedded in the systems that seek to control and suppress human connection, challenging the very structures that claim to shape moral and spiritual lives.
At its heart, the novel is a study in emotional intimacy. Anirvan’s journey is as much about discovering his own desires as it is about understanding the limits and possibilities of connection in a world where the rules are rigid and the stakes are high. Majumdar’s writing is tender, yet brutally honest, enveloping readers in the quiet beauty of his prose while leading them into the discomfort of the questions that lie underneath. The sensuality of the scenes, especially those involving Anirvan and Kajol, are portrayed not with salaciousness but with an unsettling tenderness—an intimacy that speaks to the emotional isolation of the characters as much as it highlights the profound and often painful contradictions inherent in their relationships.
Saikat Majumdar’s The Scent of God is as much a lament as it is a celebration—a hymn to love and its enduring scent, which lingers even in the most inhospitable spaces. This is a deeply affecting and courageous novel, one that deserves a place among the finest explorations of the human heart and spirit.
A profound meditation on the intersections of spirituality, desire, and human connection, this book is deep and lingering, haunting the reader with its questions long after the final page.
What does it mean to dedicate oneself to a life of spiritual celibacy when the body rebels? Can love exist untainted by societal condemnation? And, perhaps most poignantly, what price must one pay to be true to oneself in a world that seeks to erase such truths?
Saikat Majumdar’s literary dexterity is evident in his ability to handle complex themes with subtlety and insight. The novel raises questions about human nature, societal expectations, and the boundaries that govern our lives—questions that are uncomfortable, yet necessary.
In doing so, Majumdar opens up a conversation about the spaces where spirituality and desire meet, and where the rules of both can be both confining and transformative. This is a book that doesn’t just leave you with answers but invites you to sit with the questions it poses, making it a deeply thought-provoking read.
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