Paro: Dreams of Passion — Namita Gokhale

Set amidst the elite circles of Bombay and Delhi in the 80s, Paro: Dreams of Passion follows the enigmatic protagonist as she navigates a labyrinth of desire, ambitionand betrayal. Through the sharp and observant eyes of Priya, a keen diarist and confidante, we witness Paro's magnetic allure and the casts of characters drawn into her orbit, each one ensnared by her charm and complexity. Both literary fiction and a scandalous romp, Paro broke boundaries and raised eyebrows when it was originally published in 1984.

Written at the cusp of India's tryst with economic liberalization, this darkly funny novel is a social satire and an unflinching portrait of its elite classes. At its heart is an unforgettable female protagonist who is yet to meet her literary match. Namita Gokhale does not apologise for Paro who is insatiable, incorrigible, and larger than life. Her choices ask a thorny question, one that is as universal and pressing todayas it was when the novel was written - what does it take for a woman to be truly free?