Disclaimer: This is a work of historical
fiction – and if some of it has any basis in facts, I, the reviewer, am not aware of
them {insofar as they pertain to underlined word}
MY RATING :
As a Fiction Book : 4.5 Stars…
As a work of Historical Fiction : 2-2.5 Stars…
Why
this difference? Because I am an amateur historian, and a researcher on the
Indian Colonial Period in particular, having studied well over 40 authentic
books and manuscripts from all possible viewpoints in a research study that is
into its 9th year now, and will in all likelihood continue for at
least another few years to come. The
increasing penchant to study the INA is welcome, as its contribution is not
known to us Indians. But the rising popular belief that it was only the
INA that got us independence does not have basis in the facts so far as I am
aware; basis my long study. And that is why I don’t welcome fiction works on
the INA, it is way too important a subject.
THE FACTS AS PER MY RESEARCH, IN
SHORT
The
INA was a key factor in Independence, that much is historical fact. But it wasn’t the only factor; a complete
explanation is beyond the scope of this review article. The other factors
were, rising feeling of nationalism courtesy The Mahatma and the INC, the rising factor of communal tensions, and the
Linlithgow-Jinnah duplicity or what I like to call the Anglo-Pakistani pact were just some
of the other factors. It was the INC and its mass movements that drove the
message of “India” into the people – a comparison of writings from the 1700s,
1800s and the 1900s brings that out in finality; further, by the mid-1940s,
India was almost ungovernable by the British. The final nail in the Raj’s
Coffin was the INA – and it is the INA which hasn’t got the credit it so richly
deserves.
THE BOOK
The
book is a heart-rending story of love, betrayal and strong characters dominated
by ambition, desire and outright greed, set in the backdrop of the Second Great European War of
1939-1945. It is the story of three people : a complete bastard, a wayward and
hopeless misbegotten hero/anti-hero, and a nice but tough girl with her
priorities set right. It is the story, above all, of one man, and one man only
: Debraj Mukherjee, a man with too many mistakes to count, a man with few redeeming
qualities – and how he changes, or rather is buffeted by circumstances to
change into what he becomes.
Cirucumstances
force Debraj to abandon home & family, where he stumbles onto the INA – and
doesn’t betray them. From there he starts changing as he meets his future best
friend, Nishonko Mitra; a complete bastard with no redeeming qualities, a swine
who loves his kid sister {Pg 109 – specific reference to sister as relationship[}
amorally & sexually – but a patriot all the same. This man is easily by far
and away the most reprehensible and ugly character I have ever read in my life.
These,
then, are the three principals : Debraj, already on the run; gets deeper and
deeper into the INA – and likes what it is all about, as he slowly overcomes
his faults and rises like a phoenix; Nishonko, the evil bastard, as he sinks
from the high perch of a patriot into a hell-hole of incest, as he “loves” {God forgive me} his own kid
sister {moonh-boli, but so what?};
and the inimitable Aditi, the frontispiece of the book, the charming and
delightful, near-flawless lady who carries the story and ALL the accolades.
One
of these three will fall; one of these three will betray India, the INA, and
the other two… who will it be? Will it
be the incestuous Nishonko? Or will it be Debraj – the former anglophile, who
once aspired for all things British, a man who joined the INA as last resort, whose sister is still in danger in the Raj? Or
will it be the Lady Aditi – the poor, poor Aditi, chased by her Brother {though
in his mind only}, separated by war from her lover? For two of these three rise
to become close to The Netaji, as the war progresses and The INA reaches
Kohima, set for its pivotal battle against The British… Who will fall – the one who was already a fallen man at the start of
the story, or the one who was already an established beacon of patriotism,
nationalism and impeccable personal character – or The Lady?
THE ANALYSIS
As
a work of fiction – this book deserves a standing ovation; I give it 4 stars,
but it can easily merit 5 stars even. Let us settle for 4.5 Stars as a
compromise – this is a superb, unputdownable book of astounding skill. This is
a book of action, raw pumping action; at the same time, it is a book of
passionate love that blossoms into a mature and stunning love story; it is a
book of incest & dark one-sided passion; all at the same time, all in one
book. That is a remarable achievement.
A
special mention of the characetarisation : each character and supporting character
has been developed with consummate skill. You can see Debraj growing into a
decent man with each page; you can see and agree with the changes. You can see
the fall shattering fall of Nishonko into Evil; you can see Aditi growing into
a patriot and a great Lady. Even the supporting staff has been adequately
developed, and along completely logical lines.
The
book is not a fast read, as it is a highly involved and complex story. Yet, it
is a riveting tale, skillfully told. The action seems realistic, the characters
abosorbing – and they tend to stay with you even after you close the book and
put it down. All in all, great book –
one you should definitely read!
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