Dr Enakshi Sengupta’s The Silk Route: The True Story of an Indian Double Agent is a historical fiction inspired by true events. The book celebrates the life, adventures, and sacrifices of Nandlal Kapur. Nandlal is a young Punjabi youth who is recruited by the British as an informant but decides to attack the beast from within by becoming a double agent and supporting India’s struggle for freedom. The author has a personal connection – Nandlal Kapur is her husband’s grandfather, and the events of his life were narrated by him to his grandson.
The author has meticulously woven events into a silken tapestry, transporting you to a bygone era. The reader visits the 1920s as distant parts of the world come alive – be it Amritsar or the streets of Rangoon, the aristocratic Shanghai club or the bustling markets of Calcutta, culminating this journey in Kobe in Japan. The author has meticulously researched and recreated the food, vibrant streets, attire, and even the dialect.
A young Nandlal craves adventure, but he needs a paying job to fulfil his duties as the eldest son of the family. He grabs an opportunity by signing up as a British informant. A chance meeting with a group of Indian revolutionaries changes his outlook. He resolves to join India’s freedom struggle while working for the British, hence gaining access to classified information. Soon, he gets opportunities to travel abroad as a silk trader. He is often confronted by danger and escapes by a hair’s breadth.
The book not only chronicles Nandlal’s adventures, but it also delves into his psyche, as he faces moral dilemmas and conflicts. He is on tenterhooks to avoid exposure while carrying out clandestine trysts. He also endeavors to protect his loved ones, shielding them from the consequences of his perilous vocation. There are many tense moments as he flees to avoid detection and capture.
To nitpick, some loose ends left me wanting for more. While the book is very fast-paced in terms of detailing, I wanted to know Lily’s backstory and her fate in Shanghai. I felt the same with Aiko’s love story as well, because the events leading to her wedding were quite sudden.
This book would be great for an on-screen adaptation as it has all the elements of a potboiler – intrigue and drama with aspects of nail-biting suspense. Read this one to uncover an unheard chapter and appreciate an unsung hero!
