The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor
First Published: 1989
Silver Jubilee Edition Published: 2014
When Ganapathi was hired by Ved Vyas (Spoiler Alert), little did he know that he was to be a part of the "most important" literary exercise undertaken- an "ancient" rendering of Modern India ( Yes, you read it right).
Shashi Tharoor's The Great Indian Novel, written nearly 30 years ago revolves around Ved Vyas narrating the story of modern India to Ganapathi, who writes it down ( Ring a bell, anyone?). The novel, set between post-1857 British India and mid-1980s, is about the royal family of Hastinapur, their history and how they became an integral part in the pre-Independence struggle and post-Independence administration.
Applause to the author for the effort taken to combine two of the most important episodes in Indian History- the Mahabharata and Modern Indian History- into a single work, rendering a rethinking of both ancient and modern Indian history. He has made minor yet welcome tweaks in the ancient story to blend with its modern setting. Influences and wordplay are visible throughout the book- the title "Great Indian" is the English translation of the Sanskrit word "Mahabharata", "Maha"(great) and "Bharata"(Indian). Parallels could be drawn between the characters of the novel and the real-life personalities or institutions they represent. Each of the characters, both fictional and otherwise, plays a vital role in the plot. Almost all incidents of the real-life parallels, be it rumours, controversies or facts, are explored in the novel. Every character is portrayed with their flaws along with their strengths and not as overpowered, untouchable (not in the derogatory sense) people. Humour blends well into the story, providing comic relief in the midst of an otherwise tense tale.
The only drawback for the novel is that the author uses a high-level flowery language in it. Words, rarely used in common parlance are used in the novel, mandating a dictionary next to the reader. If you are ever looking for a quick read, this is NOT your book. The reader would have constantly switch between the novel and dictionary, losing track of the story. Though these words may convey the right mood or sense, for an average reader with a respectable command over English, constantly going back and forth between the novel and the dictionary is irritable.
Despite its flaws, The Great Indian Novel is an enjoyable read, even after 30 years and deserves a sequel in every respect. ( Maybe from post-1991 to 2019. I just gave a timeline, perhaps the author might take it up)
+ : Tight-knit story
+ : Identifiable parallels
+ : Humorous
+ : No- OPed Characters
- : Flowery Language
Verdict: 9.7/10
Comment: Enjoyable (but with a Dictionary!)
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