Unbroken | Book Review

 Review of Indrani Mukerjea's memoir - Unbroken: The Untold Story

 

• Title - Unbroken
• Author – Indrani Mukerjea
• Year published – July 30th, 2023
• Publisher - Harper Collins India
• Pages - 422
• Genre – Memoir
• Format - Paperback
• Buy book on Amazon

You've seen the headlines and heard the rumours. Now hear the story from the woman who was at the centre of it all.

25 AUGUST 2015 was to be a happy day for Indrani Mukerjea-a birthday celebration had been planned in the family. But everything changed when she was accosted by a group of officers of the Mumbai Police in plain clothes as she exited Anand Ashram that day. The charge: the murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora.

As the news spread and more details unravelled, Indrani found herself in the middle of a sensational murder investigation. A fast-expanding list of suspects, the beginnings of a sinister plot, and the strong whiff of scandal-the media had smelt blood. And, soon, Indrani was under the merciless glare of journalists and television anchors, making her a household name. Accusations of filicide, broken marriages, a mighty business empire, the gilded lives of the rich and famous, powerful politicians, and a complicated family-this case had it all. As a constant feed of images and updates from the trial bombarded television screens across the country, people across the country grew more and more curious about this woman who was at the very heart of the controversy and stories swirling around.

In her memoir, Unbroken, Indrani doesn't hold back. From her childhood in Guwahati, the time she spent in Calcutta in the 1980s to her meteoric rise as a media baron in Mumbai, the city of dreams, and finally, the 2460 days she spent in Byculla jail as prisoner number 1468-this is her journey, in her own words, for the very first time.

Told with unflinching honesty, Indrani's memoir speaks to the fragility of human relationships, the devastating aftermath of betrayal and grief, and the power of human resilience, of a woman who despite it all remains unbroken.

This memoir by Indrani Mukerjea is a compelling account of her life, including the high-profile case involving her daughter, Sheena Bora's murder. Prior to reading this book, I had limited knowledge of Indrani and the case itself. However, after reading her memoir, I gained insights into the origins of the case and its subsequent developments. Indrani Mukerjea provides her perspective, spanning from her childhood in Guwahati to her eventual release from prison more than six years later.

What sets this book apart is its unique structure, with chapters alternating between recounting events from the past and her experiences during her time in prison. This narrative style adds depth and intrigue to the storytelling.

While it's common knowledge that she was with Peter Mukerjea and the ensuing legal case, this narrative approach introduced us to various individuals in her life who displayed empathy and support, acknowledging her challenging circumstances and the trauma she endured.

Throughout the book, Indrani maintains a straightforward and candid tone, making her narrative relatable and engaging for readers as she forthrightly shares both her professional and personal life experiences.

Numerous elements in her account proved deeply unsettling. From the harrowing experiences of childhood abuse at the hands of her father to her mother's dismissal of these events, taking away her own children and forbidding her from visiting them, and the grim conditions of prisoners, the weight of these incidents was profoundly overwhelming. However, in the midst of it all, she displayed remarkable resilience and transcended these challenges, ultimately forging a path to establish her own reputation.

Love, betrayal, heartbreak, profound grief, and happiness; this memoir encompasses a spectrum of human emotions. It was only during her time behind bars that she could finally unravel the intricate tapestry of events that had given rise to each of these intense feelings and complex circumstances surrounding the facts that decided her fate.

In addition to sharing insights into her professional and personal life, she has provided a window into the realm of prison, delving into its rituals, the psychology of the inmates, the dietary and dress codes, and various other aspects. Her narrative also offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the legal system and the intricacies of life within the prison system.

Furthermore, it sheds light on the compassionate prison personnel, empathetic legal advocates, and supportive medical professionals, and, most significantly, it unveils the unvarnished reality of friends and family, exposing their true colors in the process.

While she was released, her daughter is said to have been sighted in the Guwahati airport, and with no conclusive DNA evidence on the remains of the supposed victim, the book leaves us hanging with a quote from “Life and Fate”. Though the day was a subject of much speculation and rumors, she mentions that she cannot elaborate on what actually happened on April 24^th, 2012 due to legal binding.

The author is portrayed as an indomitable woman who waged an unwavering battle against seemingly insurmountable odds, emerging victorious from the myriad of trials and tribulations that plagued her life, starting from a tender age.

The cover is simple yet striking, and it seems to depict Indrani as a person who has come to terms with her past and present and is at peace with herself and the ones she loves.

In all, this memoir is a candid version of Indrani’s side of the story that talks about a lot of issues in her life and how she overcame them all, made a path for herself, and became resilient in spite of all the hurdles that were thrown at her, the ultimate one being accused of murdering her own daughter! A 4/5 star read.

However, there are certain thoughts that left me a bit perplexed. While she avoids outright accusations or finger-pointing, there's an underlying tone that suggests almost everyone in her life, be it family, friends, or relatives, cannot be fully trusted and has, in one way or another, betrayed her.

One puzzling aspect centers on Sheena's presence. Given that Sheena was alive when Indrani was arrested, it raises the question of why she didn't step forward to advocate for her mother's release, even if not immediately, at some point during her mother's six-plus years of imprisonment. The book remains conspicuously silent on Indrani's guilt or innocence and provides no explanation for Sheena's fate during her mother's time behind bars.

Within the pages of this memoir, Indrani mentions her daughter’s literary work, one that she says is slandering, titled “Devil’s Daughter”. It was then that I recalled having a copy on my shelf. I will be reading that one soon and sharing my views here. 

Indrani Mukerjea is an accomplished Indian-born British media baron. From founding INX Services Private Limited in Kolkata to co-founding and leading INX Media in Mumbai, Indrani's entrepreneurial spirit and exceptional achievements propelled her to great heights.

As the regional director for the Asia Pacific region at IMD International Search Group, she garnered recognition for her expertise and leadership abilities. The Wall Street Journal acknowledged her remarkable contributions by including her in their prestigious list of ‘50 Women to Watch'.

Mukerjea has also embraced philanthropy and is actively engaged in improving the lives of prison inmates in undertrial prisons. She has become a beacon of hope for prison inmates, working tirelessly to provide them with easy access to legal aid and teaching them their rights. Her commitment to promoting fairness, justice and rehabilitation within the prison system is unwavering, as she strives to break down social and legal barriers faced by incarcerated individuals. She can be found at@indranimukerjea on Instagram.

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This post is for the Blogchatter Half Marathon. And this also marks the final post of the Half Marathon. I was hoping to write a few more bookish posts apart from book reviews. Hopefully, will get down to writing them soon. 

Until then...