Review of Bandaged Moments

By Nabanita Sengupta and Nishi Pulugurtha (Eds.)

Published by Niyogi Books, 2025

ISBN: 978-8119626151 (Paperback)

Price: 373 INR

Language: English, pp. 392

-Priyanka Adhikary

There are books that offer the meaning of life; some pages carry us through varied emotions, some let us introspect, while there are certain books that settle into human consciousness and stay for a longer time, allowing us to remain silent, pause, and question the emotional weight carried by ordinary lives on a daily basis. Bandaged Moments is one such anthology, edited by Nabanita Sengupta and Nishi Pulugurtha, which is a collection of 26 short stories by women writers in 17 Indian languages centred on mental health, emotional suffering, deep-rooted pain, psychological distress, trauma, social neglect, the horrors of the patriarchal system, and the stigma that centralizes the brittle internal lives of individuals across India — often unheard and unseen by the majority.

What makes the book unique is its honest approach, which does not romanticize pain. It makes readers face the complexity and sensitivity of human emotions, deep-rooted trauma, and mental health turbulence that is often referred to by a fragmented society as "madness," "craziness," or simply as being a "psycho" or "crackhead." Additionally, this book covers both clinical and non-clinical perspectives of mental health, which leads readers towards awareness.

This anthology depicts mental health issues often hidden inside the corridors of a home, or a clogged mind that doesn't know how to portray the disparity between reality and the illusion of hallucination. Though the stories are written originally by women authors, the protagonists are not all women, and clearly this book talks about mental health across genders, not about one particular gender. Additionally, stories coming from different languages and cultures serve as the right amount of icing on this collection.

A title like Bandaged Moments depicts deep wounds in people's lives. A bandage can cover a wound so neatly that it begins to heal in time. But often, when bandages are pulled away without giving the wound enough time to heal, that is when the real struggle begins and the pain strikes back once again, exposing the wound beneath. The stories in this collection are such that bandages are repeatedly pulled away, or in some cases, there are no bandages to be found to hide the internal wound at all.

The first short story of the anthology, "Ferns in the Moonlight," written by Moushali Kandali, begins with a portrayal of a woman with a very low self-worth, struggling with loneliness, emotional loss, and a sickening sadness, concluding with her standing all alone like the snowman at the end: "Silent, desolate. And — how strange!" This complexity of mental turmoil cannot be ignored once shown so profoundly within a fictional story, through the surreal image of ferns hidden under moonlight — and yet this fiction is the new reality of the mental condition of a large population in a country like India and worldwide. Loneliness is surely brutal.

The most noteworthy aspect of the collection is its panache in showcasing every story as a real moment caught in an individual's life, minimizing perfection in the plot and exposing more vulnerability with an added measure of complexity — almost every story culminating without a proper happy ending, thus creating more space for thought and for the reader to embrace silence.

In this anthology, there is a noteworthy story, "Borderline," written by Trishna Basak, that offers a mental picture of a woman struggling with obsessive-compulsive behaviour and emotional instability, where her condition clearly affects her married life, leading to visible isolation and suffering.

Another story, "Didiya," written by Sandhya Sinha, portrays a woman whose silent emotional suffering and mental anguish are ignored within her family and society.

Additionally, the short story, "Flying Fish," written by Najma Mukherjee, reveals a poet who suffers from schizophrenia, whose life becomes deeply affected by loneliness, emotional pain, and fragmented thoughts, highlighting how loneliness is experienced by a person with mental illness.

"Story of Laughter," written by Sebanti Ghosh, portrays how outer cheerfulness, giggling, and external happiness can become a mask — a disjointed image created from within to battle inner mental chaos, isolation, or simply emotional pain. In this scenario, a face that smiles externally while suffering inwardly is something to be concerned about. This story is a reality for the majority, in truth.

From a very young age, I myself have been told that I am different or unique in most cases. There were times when I was externally forced to fit into shoes that obviously did not fit my internal mental size. Because my internal, mindful size has always been unconventional — my brain simply works in a different way.

Moreover, throughout my entire life, I have always been called cheerful, someone with a constant smiling face. This is the part where I relate to "Story of Laughter." I am not ashamed to reveal that I myself have bandaged it beautifully in the past, without exposing my internal wounds — putting on a smiling face in front of the world while, internally, there were times I was breaking down into pieces, isolated, screaming internally, and often crying for help without literally asking for it. And I am not alone here. I have an entire community of individuals who understand what I am trying to say. But I have stood up and fought it without accepting this as a lasting weakness. So, I, along with the majority of individuals, can relate well to all the stories in Bandaged Moments. This anthology gives us a picture of a brutal reality within the mainstream. This book is not a piece of solace, nor can it offer us peace, but it certainly gives us a rooted sense of awareness that forces us to question: what are we doing to create awareness and challenge this stigma? What are we doing for future generations, and also for ourselves and our community? What more can we do about it? Instead of carrying the shame of mental illness, can't we talk about it and expose our vulnerabilities, helping others voice their stories as well? Yes, this anthology gives us that sacred space to sit in silence with unanswered questions and the questionable brutality of mental illness that demands answers.

In Bandaged Moments, the stories, shaped by different cultures and varied Indian languages, also clearly show the significance of the linguistic and cultural aspects of mental health issues in India.

Editors Nabanita Sengupta and Nishi Pulugurtha clearly fulfilled the drive of the book by bringing all women writers together and further shaping the stories in translation to give this anthology meaning and purpose. This intentional ambition behind the book is what makes it even more special, carrying readers together to help them look at the issue of mental health as a reality through fiction, culture, and distinct languages. Furthermore, the unapologetic and fearless rhythm that flows through this anthology is something we can look forward to. This book gives us meaningful silences and a clear discovery of depth, while disclosing pain through purposeful storytelling by the voices of women writers. Conversations on mental health issues can no longer be linked to any taboo. It must be spoken about and voiced out, even with a shaking voice. In this book, readers are allowed to connect to their own minds without any shame, bias, or fear. They can even reflect on their own surroundings, taking a closer look at the realism this book offers, and let go of ignorance in their consciousness. This honest anthology does not strengthen the comfort zones we prefer to live in, but takes us straight to the root of rough self-realization, giving us a clear picture of our own and others' minds — to be looked at with empathy, honour, and grace.

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About the Reviewer

Priyanka Adhikary is a teacher, poet, storyteller and a writer. She has worked in Education, Research, Arts and the Development sector. She has participated in a number of national literary festivals and her poems have been published in various journals, magazines and anthologies. Her interests lie in ensuring mental-health for children and adults, child rights and self-realization.