Written in the form of diary pages , newspaper articles , letters and transcripts of conversations , Shashi Tharoor's 'Riot' qualifies for a good one time read.The book through it's interwoven narration of the riot that rocks the Zalilgarh district of UP , through the eyes of different people like the dutiful district magistrate , the Sikh Superintendent of police, a local Hindu fanatic and a Muslim professor throws light on the social structure, family life and diversity in India. It is a novel about the ownership of history, love outside marriage, religious fanaticism, life of women in India and the impossibility of knowing the truth.
Storyline :
The novel begins with the newspaper article reporting the death of Priscilla Hart , a 24 year old American volunteer with a Non governmental organisation , that works for 'population control awareness' among the women of India, in a riot between the Hindu and Muslim community.Her divorced parents travel together to India accompanied by a journalist of a New York journal, to gather information on their daughter's work, life and finally death in India.
It proceeds with the excerpts from Priscilla's scrapbook and letters that she writes to her friend back in her country about her life and work in India.Interspersed are the transcripts of conversations that the journalist has with different people which gives the reader an insight into the diversity in India and how people of different religions and faiths own as their own the rich cultural heritage of India.In Lakshman , the District Magistrate of Zalilgarh , the author portrays an unsatisfied and confused husband, a responsible father and a dutiful officer.In Geeta, Lakshman's wife , we see a typical Indian wife.
The author chooses to let the Question of 'who killed Priscilla' unanswered .It may be the Muslim mob that took refuge in the abandoned cottage after they attacked the procession which included the enraged husband of a Muslim woman, whom Priscilla had taken to a clinic to get her eighth child aborted , as part of her work.Or It may be the Hindu fanatics who wanted to take revenge on Lakshman for having let the Muslims go unscathed after the riot ...Or may be it was just Geeta's prayer answered....
Storyline :
The novel begins with the newspaper article reporting the death of Priscilla Hart , a 24 year old American volunteer with a Non governmental organisation , that works for 'population control awareness' among the women of India, in a riot between the Hindu and Muslim community.Her divorced parents travel together to India accompanied by a journalist of a New York journal, to gather information on their daughter's work, life and finally death in India.
It proceeds with the excerpts from Priscilla's scrapbook and letters that she writes to her friend back in her country about her life and work in India.Interspersed are the transcripts of conversations that the journalist has with different people which gives the reader an insight into the diversity in India and how people of different religions and faiths own as their own the rich cultural heritage of India.In Lakshman , the District Magistrate of Zalilgarh , the author portrays an unsatisfied and confused husband, a responsible father and a dutiful officer.In Geeta, Lakshman's wife , we see a typical Indian wife.
The author chooses to let the Question of 'who killed Priscilla' unanswered .It may be the Muslim mob that took refuge in the abandoned cottage after they attacked the procession which included the enraged husband of a Muslim woman, whom Priscilla had taken to a clinic to get her eighth child aborted , as part of her work.Or It may be the Hindu fanatics who wanted to take revenge on Lakshman for having let the Muslims go unscathed after the riot ...Or may be it was just Geeta's prayer answered....
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