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

Spill the Tea: Ira and the quiet exhaustion of being watched

Ira comes for tea and slowly reveals a life shaped by emotional surveillance. Loved, watched, and quietly evaluated by her parents, she lives under constant explanation. Through food, posture, and confession, she names the exhaustion of being known too well and finds nourishment not just in eating, but in finally being heard. Ira arrived  five minutes early and apologized for it. The way people do when they are used to taking responsibility for time itself. She said it lightly, as if time itself had offended her. She wore a white A-line shirtdress, clean and careful, the kind that looks chosen for comfort but ends up signaling restraint. When she sat down, she folded herself into the chair unconsciously. One leg rested on the floor, the other tucked underneath her, knees visible. It was not a pose meant to be seen. It slipped out before her body remembered how to protect itself. I noticed the brief softness of it, the quiet vulnerability, before she settled and forgot. I was still...
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

Punjab’s stilt-plus-four real estate rule 2025: Game changer or urban chaos? | circle rate hike explained

When the Punjab Cabinet approved the Unified Building Rules 2025, allowing stilt-plus-four floor construction across 40-ft-wide roads, it sparked both celebration and anxiety. For homeowners, it opened a new chapter of vertical prosperity. For urban planners, it may have unlocked Pandora’s box. Add to that a steep rise in circle rates up to 67% in Mohali and you have the perfect cocktail for a cityscape revolution. Is Punjab’s stilt-plus-four policy a game changer or a warning sign for urban chaos? Punjab’s 2025 building rule reforms are rewriting its urban DNA. With stilt-plus-four floors now permitted on 250 sq yd plots and higher circle rates in force, Punjab’s real estate market is at a crossroads. Is this the dawn of new opportunities or the slow death of livable cities? The answer lies somewhere between ambition and chaos. Urban transformation often begins with good intentions and ends in gridlocks. Punjab’s new stilt-plus-four policy and simultaneous circle rate hike hav...
Post a Comment
Read more