Annie Zaidi's A City of Incident: A Novel in Twelve Parts

 

Title: A City of Incident: A Novel in Twelve Parts
Author: Annie Zaidi
Publisher: Aleph Book Company
Genre: Literary Fiction
Pages: 145

 

‘Now, he likes to say that he was born free. Free! At least, he was not wrapped in a black plastic bag, knotted tight so that he would chock to death before being discovered by some rag-picker like himself. At least, his mother gave him a chance to live. Who knows? Maybe she had even wanted him to live.’  

City of Incident by Annie Zaidi, is an entrancing novel in twelve parts – interlaced characters and interlinked lives – sets in Mumbai: An infectious city that stands on dreams, its each corner depicts a facet of character; every street hides an enigma of life.  

City of Incident is an intimate portrait photograph of the ordinary people, yet it tells stories in the most extraordinary way. The basic plot breathes on longing, solitude, and desire – more than that it illustrates the feeling of being dumped, as you are not a legitimate child, feeling of being left alone cause an unsolved puzzle exists between unmarried girl and the unborn, feeling of being paralytic as too much alone time in one’s hand that sits like a heavy-limbed beast – sits on the chest.

City of Incident is a documentation of complexities of everyday life. With flawed and unsound characters, author depicts an unconventional observation, for instance, ‘There is something to his posturing, the languor of his backside as he stands on the footboard, one knee bent, the wind in his hair, and his rifle standing in the corner.’ Have you noticed the style of prose?  Exactly. It absorbed me the most – crisp sentences with clear perspective – minimal words, short paragraphs as if author wants you to experience the scene without any cacophony and that too intentionally.  

City of Incident speaks about the dynamics of relationship and its corrosive nature, how it takes shape and vanishes. Each section is pretty amazing, still would love to mention two most adored titles - ‘A Beggar recalls babies in plastic bags and makes furtive love’ and the other one is ‘A bank teller sees a happy baby on the street, and wants to die’ – apart from that, you get a glimpse of few troublesome happenings in a train. It begins with a security guard, and touches various slices including the struggles of a working class woman in a so-called sophisticated city, underprivileged  society and patriarchy.

Annie Zaidi is a much needed voice of Indian literature. I wish more readers could get their hands on this stunning novel.

‘So many accidents happen these days. But that word ̶ accident ̶ it belongs to the vocabulary of innocent. For him, there are only incidents. Some incidents are followed by investigations, which are followed by pleadings, cautionings, offerings. A link chain of unfolding incident. What was that old song? This city is a city of incident. Yes, that’s just what it is.’

About the Author

Annie Zaidi is the author of Gulab, Love Stories # 1–14, and Known Turf: Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales which was shortlisted for the Crossword Book Prize (non-fiction). She is the editor of Unbound: 2,000 Years of Indian Women’s Writing. She won The Hindu Playwright Award in 2018 for her play Untitled 1 and the Nine Dots prize in 2019 for her essay ‘Bread, Cement, Cactus’. Her novel Prelude to a Riot won the TATA Literature Live! Book of the Year Award—Fiction in 2020.

 

P.S. Thank you Vivek Tejuja for sending the review copy in an exchange of unbiased review.

 

Book Review: Udbhav Agarwal's A For Prayagraj: A Short Biography of Allahabad

 

Title: A For Prayagraj: A Short Biography of Allahabad

Author: Udbhav Agarwal

Publisher: Aleph Book Co.

Genre: Biography

Pages: 116

 

Books about the cities are my comfort soul reading. A for Prayagraj is a nostalgic portrayal of Allahabad. Udbhav Agarwal knows how to tell a story. Maybe, it’s his writing style, beautiful and clear that makes this biography easily readable, fun and gripping.

I devoured this book, in two long reading sessions and started writing about it immediately. Perhaps, it is an interesting anecdotal look at the old city, ‘Before the city had a name, before it was even a city, it was the place where the rivers met.’

It succeeds in conveying the different pools of city’s pasts, as they appear in the present, mirage-like. Udbhav skillfully takes reader to the streets of his beloved place. He added personal stories to make this biography even more layered.

A young writer decides to return to his hometown to reclaim many facets of his city. He loves Allahabad, and its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb that clearly transpires while reading the book. He writes about his personal experiences, his curiosity of other writings on Allahabad, as well as his reflections. The very personal touch is given from the beginning where he shares his childhood visit of Kumbh Mela. I think the best way to depict his emotion is to include that part here as well.

‘It was the year of Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation of in the world. New designs were spread all over the canvas of the city. My last Mela had been twelve years ago, when I still lived in Allahabad. I remember staying in Tent with Baba for two months; my cousins and I would make balls, out of the river loam. We’d stop by the Shaktiman weighing machines and keep score.

Twelve years later, entering the Mela was like, entering an ‘Exhibition centre, multiplex, Mega mall’ at peak hours. The same religious motifs- bright Om signs – etc were up alongside Pepsi advertisements. Speakers blared pre-recorded Ram-Kathas.’  

Udbhav divides his book into easily separated chapters, so the reader doesn’t lose the charm of reading. Each section focused on theme based setting.

In the first sections, ‘McAloo Tikki in Allahabad’ Udbhav recollected his childhood impressions. He talks about his school and friends and how would look for mentions of the city in their history books. He also mentions Sunday evenings in coffee house where he grew up, and movie days in Gautam talkies. Udbhav certainly awed by the Chowk Ki Holi, it was famous for its booming possessions and rowdy play, and the Chowk masjid delivered the most teeming morning prayers in Allahabad.

In the second section, Udbhav discussed Saam Daam Gun Bed, about crime, strategies of survival, and the crucible of street law. The way author was drawn to Balu Raja’s story not only for details on administrative hierarchies but also for its craftiness.

In another section, titled ‘Baikaiti’ he talks about the ‘Allahabadiyat’ in different intellect personalities. While talking with Dr. Chopra, he brings out many stories of big writers and big politicians, such as Purshottam Das Tandon and Madan Mohan Malviya. They all are full of confidence, kind of fakkadpan and that was magical. Here, Dr. Chopra shares a moment of the time of emergency ‘If Mahadevi Verma and Firaaq Gorakhpuri gave an impromptu speech, people would run across town for them.’

Also, Udbhav showed concerned on the Writings on Allahabad, ‘Perhaps the truest tragedy of the city was the sqandering of its creative persona.’ He spoke about many books including Vimal Chandra Pandey’s Ii Ilahabad Hai Bhaiyaa and Nasira Sharma’s Zero road.

‘Apna Time Ayega’, it is a fourth section of this book. A quick read as it is played on miseducation and joblessness in small cities. ‘If the outsiders were impressed, the insiders wanted to get away.’ This sentence alone makes it all clear. He mentions a most favourite watch here, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s film Haasil, watching this movie is like to have the dirt of Allahabad beneath your fingernails.

And last section ‘F for Fyaar and F se Firaq’ is dedicated to romance. Although the characters revealed in the book are interesting but I feel lost here and there, maybe it is an absence of single compelling narrative.

Udbhav ends this book with an emotion that echoed throughout the journey ‘What is it about this place, a centripetal force that spools you back? After a decade of planned and unplanned returns, I am still not sure. Ye Shehar Kasturi Re…’

It is definitely not a perfect read yet colourful one. Adding to that, it is a good warm-up if you are making a visit to your own hometown. Don’t expect that this short biography will make you aware about the historical aspects of Allahabad. Yet it will leave you yearning to explore more about the city.

About the Author

Udbhav Agarwal is a PhD candidate in Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. He was born in Allahabad and has studied at the Doon School and Vassar College. His writings have appeared in the Economic and Political Weekly and Journal of Narrative Politics. This is his first book. 

P.S. I received this review copy by publisher in exchange of an honest review. Also, Thank you Vivek Tejuja,  

Raza Mir's Murder at the Mushaira : Rediscovered the art of storytelling

 

‘What! Who? How?’ Mirza realized he was babbling, but the news had hit his ears like a ringing slap. A Murder at the Mushaira? That was a first. Who had been killed? This was his community, his people.

‘Murder at the Mushaira,’ is an enthralling and unpredicted period drama. Raza Mir recasts Mirza Ghalib, poet laureate of the realm as detective, he is simply appointed as the chief investigator in horrific murder case of Janaab Sukhan Khairabadi.  

Basically, the story of this historical fiction, set against the backdrop of the revolt of 1857. After celebrating a grand Mushaira at Delhi Haveli, a poet found stabbed to death, he was a nobleman. The cleaner found his body around the time of the Fajr prayer. It was not that distressing until the participation of high British officials, mutated it into preferential case.  

Once our protagonist, Mirza Ghalib called for help, he initiated the investigation, and the world of all attendees of Mushaira, turned upside down. First it seemingly impossible to resolve the mystery, as there was many mistakes, and long list of suspects. By the time you think you have caught up to puzzle, it’s already fades away. The narrative of conspiracy entwines with myriads of secret and lies skyrockets this conundrum into compelling, entertaining and believable tale.   

 

‘Murder at the Mushaira’ is a pleasure rush with an ambitious record of world we once knew. With enigmatic language, Mir managed to capture the shades of vibrant life of Delhi in 18th century.  It is so rich with metaphors and words that shape the story in plausible ways. Mir’s fresh perspective offers an instant connect to reader. In spite of web of sub-plots and motifs, the story entrances you in the same way that theatre does. The writing is genius and scrupulous, especially witty dialogues and hidden insights, able to suck you in and creates an absorbing environment around.

At times, this book behaves as delicacy for admirers of Urdu poetry without dulling its thrill element. Raza Mir begins each chapter with Ghalib versus along with apt translations; after all, words were his weapon. It resonates so deeply within readers’ psyche that you feel breathing among those character. With amazing cadence Raza Mir succeeds in illuminating an experience profoundly.

 Bas ke dushwaar hai har kaam ka assaan hona

Aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahin insaan hona 

It’s impossible for all tasks to be facile, that’s all

People find it so tough to answer humanity’s call

Mir’s eloquent prose style tugs at the heart. Apart from the unusual plot, what stands out this novel, is amount of distinctive detailing. Raza Mir captured the meditating photographic reproduction of an era. I think, mere review is not enough to bottle the kindling ambers.  Here, I have been drawing your attention to this piece, ‘Ramchandra was surprised to see how young Ratna Bai was. Hardly 30 years old, she was beautiful, but in a classical way, with none of the flamboyance that one would associate with a tavern owner. She was very fair skinned, giving further credence to rumors of British parentage of medium height with a dancer’s build, she was dressed simply in white Chudidaar Kurta with a brilliant multi color Chunni that must have been 8 feet long and 4 feet wide.’  

In ‘Murder at the Mushaira, characters come to life, are kind and suspicious as well, the landscape is author’s mind while he pines to rediscover the pleasure of storytelling, Mir brilliantly shows  how strongly interlaced anxieties and love can be, ‘Their nervous expressions dissolved into relief at the site of Mirza. He had always been a favourite of the domestics as he treated them with kindness unlike other members of the Ashraaf. Now he spoke to them with brusque kindness.’

One can judge ‘Raza Mir’s Murder at the Mushaira’ by its cover, a real pristine beauty. Yet, I genuinely suggest you to pick this phenomenal read, it would be an intoxicating experience. I loved this book to eternity and beyond. Recommended! 

Qaid-e-Hayaat –o-Band-e Gum asl main donon ek hain

Maut se pahle aadmi gham se najaat paaye kyon.

 

About The Author

 

Raza Mir teaches management at William Paterson University, USA. He is the co-author of Anthems of Resistance: A Celebration of Progressive Urdu Poetry and the author of The Taste of Words. 

Can't thank you enough, Vivek Tejuja and Aleph Book Co. for the review copy. 

Book Review: The Demon Hunter of Chottanikkara: A Supernatural Thriller by S. V. Sujatha

Title: The Demon Hunter of Chottanikkara 

Author: S. V. Sujatha

Publisher: Aleph Book Company

ISBN:  9789386021090

Genre: Fantasy, Indian Mythology

Pages: 188

Source: Flipkart Review Program

Rating:  4/5

INTRO

Before expressing my views on The Demon Hunter of Chottanikkara by  S. V. Sujatha, I need to confess that it is my first supernatural thriller read. And I am glad I picked the debut work of Sujatha. It was quite tough to put down the book, once you get started. How story evolved around a good and evil makes it interesting read. Author maintained the fluency in language and well crafted dialogues. Characters are powerful yet interesting that makes it enjoyable read. The way author narrated the story, It is hard to believe that it is her debut novel. I found it interesting and spent two nights surrounded with demons only. Ha!

STRUCTURE

Basically The Demon Hunter of Chottanikkara by  S. V. Sujatha  sets in Chottanikkara, a village in Kerela, that is infested with hair-raising Demons. And then there is a demon hunter, Devi, a brave girl with her lion, Ugra. It was interesting to know the sole purpose of her life is to slay the demons and save her village from horrifying situations. She is bold yet kind. She values the relationship yet knows what is needful. She is skilled in art of war and disciple of  Parshuram, who had taught her the very art of exorcism. There are various monsters Brahmaraksha, Jalpishacha, present near village, She usually binds the demons and traps them into a sacred tree, Aristha Vriksha. The twist comes into the story when Devi, realized that something happening in her village, which is beyond her power.

Although Villagers have faith in her, they know she will save them and protect them from blood-sucking demons, Yet they are in fear, cause the new demon, named Yakshi was not that usual one. How this horrible Demon closely connected with the Demon-Hunter and what happened in her past that made her so powerful, that’s the main theme of the novel. It is really thrilling to know, at what price Devi gets rid of Yakshi. It is supernatural thrills, still you get emotional. Here, I want you to know The Demon Hunter of Chottanikkara by  S. V. Sujatha  is a teen-read, due to its well woven characters and mytho-background, it grabs the attention of reader of any age. If you want to explore supernatural thriller genre,, You can give it try. READ!

In an interview with Deccan Chronicle Sujatha said “I happened to visit Chottanikkara temple eight years back, and was very much moved by the divinity the main dieted radiated. I was amazed by an exorcism ritual, I witnessed. On enquiring more about it, I came to know that there are two forms of Devi, the deity. One was meant to provide prosperity and other would clear of the most monstrous demons that possessed people. The legends caught my interest and I tried to know more about it and ended up as a novel.”

READER's MOMENT 

He was strong, Kannappa. Intelligent, too, for he was a priest when he was alive.” Devi stopped herself from telling him about the demon’s dying words. She did not want to worry him.

Her father snorted. “But not smart enough to stay in the marubhoomi. They never learn, do they, these demons?” he said. “We have forbidden them to come into our land, yet they do not listen...You hunt them down, Devi, show them they are not welcome in our lands, yet they keep coming, one after the other, each more reckless and foolish and stubborn than the one before it. Why do they not heed our warning?”

Devi smiled sadly. “I suppose we will never be rid of them because they were once like us...men and women who had hopes and dreams. But when they died prematurely and violently, they could not go peacefully into the next cycle of their lives, but had to return to this one as abominations filled with evil. We know they can’t stay away because they lust for what we have, and they also want to exact revenge for the injustices done to them when they were still among the living. They desire not only our flesh and blood but are driven by forces beyond their comprehension, which will allow them no rest, no peace, until they are dispatched once and for all. And their nature being what they are, they will kill and maim, they cannot help themselves.”

“These demons are not too different from me, then,” Kannappa muttered uneasily. The lines on his face were growing more prominent, as he spoke. “I was like them too. I took what I wanted, I killed and ruined lives, revelled in the power I held over people. I was a demon too. Just as abhorred, just as feared, just as savage.”

His eyes went to the face of Meenamma he had drawn on the wall above the cot. It had been there ever since Devi could remember, before she was even born. She had always woken up looking at it, the face of Kannappa’s daughter, the girl who would have been her sister. Meenamma’s face was painted with charcoal. Kannappa would often darken the portrait with moist soot from the kitchen stove so his daughter’s face would never fade from the walls of his hut.

“She never did like that I was a bandit. She used to plead with me to stop. But I never listened. Then, she left me,” he whispered, his eyes welling up with tears of pain and regret.

Note: Just a request from a sincere reader to Publisher (ALEPH): Text is too small to read, I almost considered an eye sight check-up. Please improve this into your upcoming beauties. Thank You!

ABOUT AUTHOR  S. V. Sujatha was born in Madras, the land of filter coffee and elaborate meals and wonderful temples. She is a graduate of the Warwick Writing Programme where she eventually found her calling as a writer and storyteller. She currently lives in the United States of America and is a full-time writer. This is her debut novel, born out of her love for the Mother Goddess and passion for Indian mythology  

BUY ONLINE: The Demon Hunter of Chottanikkara (Flipkart)