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Journalism of Courage
Saraswati,a school librarian,dies at work on a Thursday evening. This gives her time till Mondaywhen her body will be discoveredto play sutradhar for Pinki Viranis first novel Deaf Heaven. Saraswatis spirit watches over all the persons she holds dearher sister Damayanti,wife of a superstar; Tisca,heroine spurned by a rising star; Qudsia Begum,Bangalore beautician and wise mother; Czaerandhari,erstwhile maharani and SMS-addict; hard-talking journalist Nafisaover the weekend. With that the narrative moves across India and its canvass keeps expanding. And despite the quirky setting,the novel,true to the journalist-turned-writers oeuvre of work,delves into serious social and national concerns.
Its an extension of my previous books and the issues I have tackled, says Virani,author of Arunas Story,Once was Bombay and Bitter Chocolateall non-fictions. But she switched to fiction with Deaf Heaven as getting enough funds for non-fiction projects isnt very easy. In the case of Bitter Chocolate (which talks about child sexual abuse in middle and upper-class homes),I had sponsored my research and travelling, says the author about the book which went on to win national and international accolades.
The idea of the novel came about with Virani wanting to write on protection of children and women. Soon she realised that she cant ignore men and the national issues. So these became part of her novel where the forces of old Bharat battle with India.
With the book,Virani will score a firstDeaf Heaven is set to be the first literary cell-novel and adult audio-mobile book. They are meant for those who never pick up a book as well as avid readers, she says.
Even before the novel reaches bookstands,the author started working on her second novelBloody Hell,a literary diptych to Deaf Heaven as well as a stand-alone novel. From the brief teaser that she allows us to this novel,its clear that the book will retain her trademark tone.
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