Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of The Journey of a Mother by Sagarika Chakraborty

Have you ever read a story so raw and real that it makes you pause and question the world we live in? The Journey of a Mother is exactly that kind of book. It’s not a fictional drama written for shock value—it’s the lived, painful truth of Sagarika Chakraborty, a mother whose battle wasn’t just against a foreign government, but against a deeply flawed system, a crumbling marriage, and her own breaking point.

Sagarika, born and raised in Kolkata, India, never imagined that her life in Norway would unfold into an international custody case. But life, as we all know, rarely sticks to the script. While this is her debut as an author, Sagarika is no stranger to resilience. Her voice is one that needed to be heard—and finally, she’s telling her side of the story.

At its core, The Journey of a Mother is a heartrending tale of a woman torn apart by a system she barely understood. After moving to Norway with her husband, Sagarika's world crumbled when the Child Welfare Services (CWS) abruptly took her two young children away—claiming neglect based on cultural differences and questionable observations.

The book walks us through her devastating fight to reunite with her kids, while also navigating a difficult marriage and the trauma of being labeled an unfit mother in a foreign land. It’s the real-life story behind the Bollywood film Mrs. Chatterjee vs. Norway, where Rani Mukherjee portrayed Sagarika’s role with remarkable depth.

Sagarika writes not as a seasoned author, but as a mother bleeding her truth onto the page. The prose is emotional, personal, and often urgent—like a cry for justice you can feel echoing off each word. While the writing occasionally struggles with grammar and structure, its sincerity is undeniable. You’re not just reading her story; you’re sitting across from her, listening to her recount it, eyes wide with disbelief.

The “characters” here are real people—Sagarika herself, her children, her husband Anurup, and the system that turned their lives upside down. The emotional complexity of Sagarika’s character stands out—she’s broken, fierce, confused, determined, all at once. And the central idea—how cultural bias and systemic overreach can destroy families—is not only original but essential in today’s global context.

This is where the book stumbles a bit. The narrative often jumps back and forth in time, making it hard to follow the legal timeline. Some events are repeated, and certain details—especially related to her husband’s abuse—crop up multiple times without fresh perspective. A tighter structure and better editing would have given the story more clarity and emotional punch.

The Journey of a Mother is packed with powerful themes—maternal love, cultural alienation, systemic injustice, and the strength women summon in their darkest hours. It’s also a scathing critique of child welfare systems in some Western countries that may overlook cultural nuances while exercising rigid authority. The message is clear: motherhood looks different across cultures, and that difference isn’t a deficiency.

This book got under my skin. As a parent (or even if you’re not), the idea of children being taken away so suddenly is gut-wrenching. There were moments I had to put the book down just to breathe. You feel Sagarika’s helplessness when she’s labeled mentally unstable or when her parenting is misjudged based on cultural norms. You can’t help but root for her, cry with her, and rage at the unfairness of it all.

One of the biggest strengths of the book is its honesty. Sagarika doesn’t try to paint herself as a perfect mother or victim—she tells it like it was. The courage it must’ve taken to lay her trauma bare for the world is commendable. The subject matter is deeply relevant, and the story itself is unforgettable.

But yes, there are flaws. The book could have used a stronger editorial hand. The grammar and repetition can be jarring at times, and the flow suffers as a result. Also, the legal parts can feel dense if you’re not familiar with court jargon. Still, if you push through, the heart of the story shines.

This book shook me. It reminded me of how easy it is for systems to fail people—especially women, especially immigrants, especially mothers. I found myself thinking of all the silent battles so many women fight, and how very few of them are ever told. This one is. And I’m glad I read it, even if it left me a little heavy for days after.

The Journey of a Mother isn’t a polished masterpiece—it’s something more important. It’s a true account of resilience in the face of unimaginable odds. For anyone interested in human rights, motherhood, or cross-cultural misunderstandings, this book offers a raw and revealing perspective. I hope Sagarika continues to write, because the world needs more voices like hers.

If you've ever doubted the strength of a mother’s love or the lengths a woman will go to for her children, this book will make you believe again.

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