कथा यात्रा
कुसुम नारायण "नारायणी"
Her Works
Ek Aur Humayun
A collection of twelve short stories. This includes 'Ek Aur Humayun', which has been commended for its delicate exposition of the rise of communal distances following the partition of the country in 1947. It is told from the viewpoint of a young Hindu girl who is very fond of the Muslim family next door, and who struggles to reconcile the strong ties that bind the two families with the bitterness and rancor that partition has brought.
Arghya Usi Chaand Ko
Published in 2005, this collection of twenty two short stories (in her words) aims to bring out "the joys and sorrows of the daily lives of ordinary folks with an occasional touch of humor - no twists in the tale, no complex subjects, no stunning climaxes and no fancy words - just plain and simple everyday stories".
Neela Lifafa Gulaabi Kagaz
This collection of sixteen of her short stories presents many facets of human interaction within the broad framework of the family, with the title story making a poignant examination of the role of mutual respect in the everlasting bonding of marital relationships over just romance and passion.
Gyarhavan Medal
This compilation of 18 published stories touches delicate themes like remarriage, the treatment of elders in the nuclear family, and the challenges of retirement. The title story presents the perspective of a small child as he struggles to comprehend the actions of his idol, a war hero, who commits a heinous crime.
Rahene Do Reporter
This compilation of 14 stories pictures the protagonists in their attempts to deal with complex social situtations. The lead story brings out the impact that overzealous news media can have on people in its relentless quest for human interest stories, and of the hypocrisy of the readers, who laud stories of social awakening but are not willing to transform in their own personal spheres.
Mohdansh
Published in 1988, her first novel Mohdansh draws on the author's own life experiences. It is the saga of a middle-class family that returns to New Delhi (the country's capital city) after forty years in Benares. The changes that have taken place in the metropolis provide the background in which changes are taking place in the family, whose members are torn between imbibing modernity and preserving tradition.
Ret Ke Mahal
Through its depiction of how stresses arise in marital relations, the novel examines whether the world has really changed for women in India, mired as they are in the confines of the expectations of their family identities and social roles. The novel, simple in style and narration, was serialized in 1989 in Sarita to wide acclaim
Suryamukhi
This novel explores her favorite theme of the trials and tribulations of a middle-class family struggling to come to terms with rapidly changing norms in society. The main character is a young widow who seeks to challenge her lot in life while maintaining her relationship with her family that wants her to accept it.
Anubandh / Bhari Dupahari Ret Par
In these novelettes, the author explores the delicate nature of close family relationships and offers deep insights into how they are ruptured - and how they can be healed.