The Moment of the Banyan by Armin Wandrewala. Published in 2025 by Vakils, Feffer and Simons Pvt Ltd, Industry Manor, 2nd floor, A. Marathe Marg, Prabhadevi, Bombay 400025; email: info@vakilspublications.com; website: www.vakilspublications.com. Pp: 504. Price: Rs 700.
The narrative begins with the central protagonist Alamai Ardeshir Readymoney’s thoughts on January 21, 1995, a day before her 100th birthday. She ruminates over her long life as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother while dwelling on myriad events — the vicissitudes of her existence, moments of joy and sorrow, struggles and victories. She is metaphorically the banyan tree of the title,......