In its broad strokes of probing modern Indian history, the book, however, is wanting in rigorous scrutiny of the ideal of secularism in the Republic. The writer has spent more time on making the case of how the politics of India—as it has unfolded over the years—has excluded the Muslim community, and with the Hindu Right controlling the reigns
Not only were Raina and Safdar friends, and feature in each other’s life stories as significant characters, they were part of a post-Independence generation of Indian theatre makers and other artists who were deeply inspired by anti-imperialist movements such as the war in Vietnam
Anita Bharti’s ‘Nayi Dhar’ foregrounds the question of feminist solidarity. She raises pertinent questions pertaining to ways in which upper caste, middle class women have appropriated feminist concerns, taking away Dalit women’s right to politically represent themselves.
The language of the novel is deeply evocative, with vivid descriptions and a reflective tone that captures the emotional and psychological depth of the characters. Mishra employs a narrative technique that interweaves dreams, memories, and present experiences
Written in the form of a letter addressed to God, the narrator’s experience of her traumatic train journey and her narration of the events unfolding after that constitute the plot of Vampire. Like many modernist novels, there is the depiction of the inner world of the main character and the use of dream sequences, nightmares, and foreshadowing of events in the narrative.
Sood wants to make it extremely clear to his readers that the global networks of war, money, arms, oil are stronger than ever. Even as he highlights the proliferation of conspiracy theories and subterfuge advertising, Sood hints at the need to cultivate discernment among a country’s citizens.