Skip to main content

Go read Shoes of the Dead


There are books I recommend. Then there are books of which I would, you should read them. But then there are books I say, u got to read them. Now. 

Kota Neelima's Shoes of the Dead belongs to the last category. Of late, Indian authors are churning some amazing stuff. But Kota Neelima steers us into a brand new world. A world which the journalists and the media avoid. It is the world of farmers and farmer suicides and the  politics that plays around it.

You know, Agriculture in India is an amazing business. It is tax-free, heavily subsidized and yet one of the most regulated industries in India. You won't believe the extent of red tapism involved. Despite being one of our largest employers, it sends us the maximum cases of malnutrition, poverty, and suicides related to the work place.

A seasoned journalist, Kota Neelima not only grasps the intricacies of this lifestyle, but also manages to weave it together with the posh, glamorous world of power politics in the Indian Capital. And that is what, makes this story a hell of a story. It is almost a story that is never told before. So you give up trying to guess what will happen next for nothing is what it seems. Yet the story is so real, so close to us. We just never want to venture into this world. Just like no one wants to check out their nearest garbage dump. They are just comfortable with the knowledge that it exists.  

Let me give u a brief snapshot of the story. No, I won't write any spoilers here. Just a brief snapshot. Keyur Kashinath is a first time MP and son of a powerful politician. His promising career might tumble off as farmer suicides are on the rise in his constituency. The numbers are up; for a farmer, Gangiri has now got himself appointed on the suicide committee that decides which deaths happened due to farmer distress and which happened due to other causes. Now, Gangiri is upset for his brother had killed himself due to overwhelming debt and crop failure, but the government did nothing for his brother's family. So unknowingly he is on the path to become Keyur's biggest rival. Hence, starts a great ride that this story is. The other interesting character to this drama is an enigmatic and fearless journalist Nazar Prabhakar. He writes reports which ultimately cause a lot of damage of Keyur’s image. He seeks inputs and co-operation from Dr. Videhi who too is a mysterious character and a social analyst.  

Folks, this book is a must read. The guys at Rupa Publications even got a hardcover version of this book which is so regal and awesome. This is one golden opportunity especially for the urban readers to get to know a real picture of what rural life is becoming in India.
This review is a part of the biggest <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2011/05/04/indian-bloggers-book-reviews" target="_blank"> Book Review Program </a> for <a href="http://www.blogadda.com" target="_blank">Indian Bloggers.</a> 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Also read

Why do we crave bookshops when life falls apart? A deep reading of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

This article reflects on Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum, a gentle novel about burnout, healing, and second chances. Through Yeong-ju and her quiet community, the book reminds you that meaning often returns slowly, through books, people, and ordinary days that begin to feel like home again. Why do so many of us secretly dream of walking away from everything? At some point, usually on a crowded weekday morning or during yet another meeting that could have been an email, you wonder if this is all there is. You did what you were told. You studied, worked hard, built a career, stayed responsible. And yet, instead of contentment, there is exhaustion. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop begins exactly at this uncomfortable truth. Hwang Bo-reum’s novel does not shout its intentions. It does not promise transformation through grand revelations. Instead, it sits beside you quietly and asks a gentler question. What if the problem is not that you failed, but that you nev...
Post a Comment
Read more

Spill the Tea: Noor and the Silence After Doing Everything right

Noor has done everything she was supposed to do — moved out, built a life, stayed independent. Yet beneath the neat routines and functional success lies a quiet emptiness she cannot name. Part of the Spill the Tea series, this story explores high-functioning loneliness, emotional flatness, and the unsettling fear of living a life that looks complete from the outside. The verandah was brighter than Noor expected. Morning light lay flat across the tiles, showing every faint scuff mark, every water stain from old monsoons. The air smelled of detergent from a neighbour’s washed curtains flapping overhead. On the table, the paneer patties waited in a cardboard bakery box I’d emptied onto a plate. A squeeze bottle of ketchup stood beside it, slightly sticky around the cap. Two cups of tea, steam already thinning. In one corner, a bamboo palm stood in a large terracotta planter. Thin stems. Too many leaves. Trying very hard to look like it belonged indoors. Noor sat down and pulled the chair ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...
1 comment
Read more