RR#28: Bombay Balchao

Wherever I may be, my heart always lies in Bombay. Having lived there in my formative years, across two stints, I yearn to head back. There is a sense of comfort for me amidst the fast-paced nature of life, the culture and heritage that acts as a backdrop to the city even as it grows, and a constant beckoning that things happen here. This feeling doesn’t get replicated anywhere else.

Jane Borges’ Bombay Balchao is an ode to the residents of Cavel (originally Kolwar), a South Bombay neighbourhood predominantly occupied by Koli Christians and Goan migrants. Cavel has a life of its own, a sheltered existence from the typical Bombay hustle and bustle. Its characters, full of life yet fallible, are wrapped in shades of grey. A non-linear narration of the story, with multiple jumps back and forth, revolves around the lives of the people residing on D’Lima street. Familial drama, courtship, affairs, dhanda, food, miracles, and disasters occur and wrap up the folks in equal measure. All of this with a good amount of Goan lingo and the quintessential “men” thrown into their day-to-day speech. Their lives intermingle heavily as we move across the years. The author does a lovely job of curating the settings in which all of this occurs, Bombay in its true spirit – raw, in your face, and yet surprisingly warm. The backdrops range from Kyani and Co., JJ College of art to the fish market at Chirabazaar, apart from the usual appearances of VT and Marine Drive. The author, lending into her own background as well as some impeccable research, does a great job of charting out the history of Goan migrants in the city as well. It’s your classic Bombay novel and meets every expectation in that sense.

The read: Despite the slight surprise at floating narrative, this reads like a charm. A slice of life read laced with humour and conversational delight, each of the characters in Bombay Balchao has a unique tinge to them. There’s the love triangle trope, a married couple who have a love-hate relationship, a spinster who swears off romance, a seeming underdog who has a complete makeover, and so on. Each of these stories, across the 12 chapters in the book, possess a consciousness of their own. Almost ready to envelop you with their warmth and charm. The final chapter, which relies on the creation of the titular prawn balchao as the overarching narrative, is a lesson in creative writing perhaps. Beautifully crafted, it is a remembrance of things past. I wish I had some pickled prawn to dig into, men.

28/365.

Trivia: Sources state that Balchao was introduced as a result of Portuguese colonization, having originated in Macao (also once a Portuguese colony), where it is called Balichao. Here’s how you can make it.

Documentation:
Book: Bombay Balchao

Author: Jane Borges

Year of Release: 2019
Publisher: Tranquebar