People Unlike Us: The India That is Invisible
June 26th, 2004 | by Digvijay Lamba |This is a collection of essays on contemporary India’s hidden truths.
While they are well written, for a well read person there is nothing new
to offer.
Personally, I liked only two essays. Siddhartha Deb’s “Fragments From a
Folder” is an excelling overview of the north-east problem. It clarifies
many issues for the people and offers a good insight.
Then there is a look into the tribal people. Before I read the essay, I
had no understanding of the tribals, their reasons, their culture and
their welfare. Randhir Khare, in “Do Rats Have Rights?” analyzes the issue
with an angle that I came to agree with. More than that, he understands
them and their motivations.
The other essays, are ordinary. A Kashmiri village in the midst of
terrorism, the issue of sati, the life of domestic maids, the naxalite
problem, untouchability, the orissa cyclone. All issues that contemporary
India deals with everyday but which do not come into the limelight are
written about here. All are written from the perspective of the
participants.
Over all, the compilation has its merits. An OK book.
