Journalism of Courage
Recently released book India Was One quotes an author who chooses to be known as ‘an Indian’,and imagines an India divided into two countries North India and South India
A tricolour with a barbed wire in its foreground,a title that reads India Was One and an author who chooses to call himself ‘an Indian’ – all cues that will make anyone curious enough to pick up this tome and run through the blurb. The ochre pages of the book are peppered with words in italics,indicating Hindi words and MTI pronounciations,as well as some simple pencil sketches. At the heart of the narration are two lovers,Jai and Kaahi,whose lives takes a turn for the unimaginable when India is divided into two different countries North and South. India Was One was launched in Cypress,USA,in March this year and in India in August. It has garnered good reviews and a strong fan following on its Facebook page.
There is an amalgamation of nationalistic and romantic strands in the book,mixed with obvious references to expat lifestyles. “I realised after coming to the US that though we are all Indians,we are so different. A non-Indian would put us in the same category as Indians. But they dont know the difference. I wanted to highlight that fact. True,we are very different,but we love India in our own way. And this is not just limited to Indians in the US. It is also true for Indians all over the world.” And the response to the book has gladdened the author. “The book is well-received in the western countries. No one has commented on my being anonymous. To them,its a good story. And thats what I wanted to convey.”
In spite of the grim fictional premise of the book,the author maintains positivity about India and the direction in which it’s heading. “I am very hopeful about the future of India but it pains me,and scares me,to see the fundamentalist attitude of some,” he says.
