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The path laid down before Shakuntala by destiny – or call it the vicissitudes of life– was dark, even very dark. She falters but along it she struggles on, in the process discovering the lightwithin herself. She cries, but there are moments when you the reader may realise, a bit latethough, that you too had cried with her – the spell of the narrative having obliged you toidentify with her predicament.Indeed, the novel unfolds before us the stark realism in its several dimensions. We meetcharacters that are familiar, yet at a sudden turn of denouement they reveal their unsuspected faces; we come across situations that are not unknown to us, but then theyreveal a significance that reminds us – alas – how little we know of “mice and men”! Shakuntala’ daughter, Bharati, becomes the symbol of the protagonist’s growing courage and will. The sweet and smart little creature will plant her tender grip on your arm and lead youthrough filth and mire to a bright dawn. In silence we will realise that even out of filth andmire there can grow the wonder that is a lotus. Love and empathy still holds humanitytogether. Ashok K. Mohanty is a translator, columnist and critic. He has published around twenty books that have been translated from Odia to English. After retiring as a professor of Business Administration from Berhampur University, he is currently working as a professor at Srusti Academy of Management, Bhubaneswar.