A
disturbing scenario, an engaging story, a mysterious plot and an usual
style of narration greets the readers of Riot. The back-cover of the
paperback I read, promptly posed a question as the first line about this book:
who killed 24-year-old Priscilla Hart? The answer is not a straight forward
one. Mr. Tharoor lets the reader be the judge! There are many whose actions
might have led to the unfortunate event. There were few, who had motivations
for the same. But then, who really did it?? Think, think, draw your own
conclusions, cajoles the author. But, don't expect your answer to be right /
perfect because the scenario / story may have a flip side.
The
story, as indicated earlier, is about the death Ms. Priscilla Hart and the
events preceding and following this unfortunate incident. Ms. Hart is an
idealistic American student who comes to India as a volunteer for women's
health program and is due to return to New York after finishing the field work
for her doctoral research. Having survived a disturbed childhood, Ms Hart's
idealistic views take a tumble when hit with the reality that exists in the
by-lanes of the 'ghettos' of Zalilgarh. Amidst these blossoms an illegal affair
that turns to be true love for Ms Hart and her 'spineless lover'! The love that
blossomed in that dilapidated 'sunset room' of the abandoned mansion - Kotli,
eventually ends in the death of Ms Hart at the same place. It is almost
prophetic when Ms. Hart, in her letter to Cindy Valeriani, writes "it's the only place I love in Zalilgarh, and
I'll rather die than give it up.....”
As
for setting up the background, the author uses the riots that exploded between
the Hindus & Muslims over the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. The plot of Ms Hart's
death and the reason(s) thereof is interleaved with the riots itself. The events
also introduce and reveal the characteristics of the various protagonists
involved. Mr. Tharoor uses a unique style of story-telling through the use of
'flashbacks' personal diary notes, scrapbook entries, personal correspondences,
interview transcripts, newspaper clippings, etc. Through these mediums, the
author provides his reader a view of American sensibilities, their paranoia,
the 'classic Indian mentality', the way of 'Indian life' among its poor, the moral
sensibilities and objectives of India's middle-class, the ideologies of 'the
rare and very few existent' bureaucratic officers, a police-officer's real
reason to be a cop and continue as a cop, the corrupt mindset of India's
fanatical politician, the factual errors of the so-called spineless
think-tanks, the personal views intermingled with personal agenda of academic
scholars, to name a few.
Riot also illustrates malevolent tensions
between Hindus and Muslims in India and events that eventually ends up in a
riot. The book also paints a very graphic picture of the ensuing mayhem which gives
the rioters a license to kill and avenge and the very little that a state-administrator
and a top-cop can do in such situations. Riot
also questions the Indian citizen for his/her sensibilities, responsibilities
and priorities. It also questions the ‘common man’ as in where do his
ideologies and beliefs truly lie. Although the back-cover of the paperback describes
the book as fiction, it’s hard to believe it to be one. Mr. Tharoor in fact
acknowledges the contributions of Mr. Harsh Mander, IAS for his accounts on
riots in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh; Prof. Shahid Amin of Delhi University for
his work on Ghazi Miyan and Mr. Kisan Mehta for his efforts on Coca Cola in
India. But, as a reader I couldn’t stop myself from comparing the protagonist District
Magistrate Mr. V. Lakshman and the author himself.
Riot
displays a Rashomon-effect storytelling, but doesn’t
entirely convince the approach. Certain diary entries and personal
correspondences don’t seem to be entirely in a format that is expected to that
form, but rather appears as an edited one. All things said, the book is a
good-read and certainly one for the shelf; although not recommended for a reader
who is on the look-out for a straight who-dun-it! On another note, being a
Mumbaikar, the book brings out the disturbing memories of 1992, when my Mumbai
burnt.
