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Story summary
- The novel "Saraswati" by Gurnaik Johal (author) chronicles descendants of a 19th-century intercaste marriage in Punjab.
- Its narrative spans India, Svalbard, and British Columbia and includes Punjabi folktales.
- The opening image shows water returning to a dry well, symbolizing melting Himalayan glaciers.
- This event is manipulated by India's Hindu nationalist government, which seeks to revive the Saraswati river.
- Critics note the prose lacks distinct character voices and relies heavily on symbolism, a critique that coexists with Johal's evident ambition.
