The book raises more questions than it answers. The style of writing is quite distinct from what usual books are like. Instead of narrating a story the author pulls out entries from the diaries and scrapbooks of the main characters.
The story is centered around an American girl (Priscilla Hart) who comes to India as a worker for an NGO working in India and who dies in the midst of a communal riot. The entire book revolves around the circumstances leading to the death and of the girl’s last days. The girl falls in love with a local bureaucrat (Lakshman/Lucky) who is in love with her too but is not willing to leave his own world for her. In addition to the turmoil in his life, Lucky has to deal with a religious riot in the town under his administration. The trouble is being fomented by some religious fanatics who plan to build a temple at the birthplace of their deity. The problem is, there is a mosque already standing at this place and according to the fanatics, this mosque was built after an existing temple was razed to the ground 200 years ago.
The novel also details the past of Priscilla – when she was a kid and her father came to India as an executive for Coke. As an adoloscent, she’s very much affected by the “real” Indians – not the one’s who frequent the embassy cocktail parties, etc. During their stay in India at this time, Priscilla’s father is facing a rough time in both his professional and personal life. The government is on the verge of banning Coke from the country and he’s facing a bleak future professionally. On the other hand, he’s started an affair with his secretary and is caught in the act by Priscilla. Priscilla’s parents finally split.
The thought provoking book raises a lot of questions about the reasons for and problems caused by communal riots in India. The helplessness of the common people and the government officials in the face of a populist government and religious bigots is potrayed beautifully in the novel. The death of a totally innocent person as the result of the riot kind of touches your heart.
Finished Reading on – 16th March 2006