Author: M D Arif
Publisher: Prakashan Sansthan
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 324
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8177140809
Description
A moving saga of Indian life at the crossroads, seen through the eyes of a confused Muslim youth. A memorable debut.
4th December, 1992, Two days before the Babri Masjid was razed and rubbled, a Muslim youth is traveling on a train full of Ayodhya-bound Karsevaks. The story begins with the ordinary hassles of a train journey- the platform, the coolies, the late coming trains, the ever-vigilant ticket collectors and the Rambhakta co-passengers, including Sumitra and Chowdhari. And also Sughakar. As the journey progresses, minor incidents and the common Mandir- Masjid talks lead to astonishing revelations about half truths and half lies, unraveling in the process many secrets of an adolescent mind.
Written from the heart, and boldly, this is the unforgettable account of that fateful journey, of a stagnant provincial town and an upwardly mobile roadside Muslim village. Set in the backdrop of the Ayodhya debacle, it explores the minoritiness of the Muslims afresh.
The last thing I would fancy in a journey is to travel incognito, in somebody else’s name. But sometime concealing the name, though extremely awkward and painful option, helps.