THE ASSASSINATION OF INDIRA GANDHI

Book Details

• Author: Upamanyu Chatterjee

• Publisher: Speaking Tiger

• Language: English

• Edition: 2022

• ISBN: 9789354470899

• Pages: 352

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.0 inches

About the Book

The Assassination of Indira Gandhi and Other Stories by Upamanyu Chatterjee is a remarkable collection of long stories that dive into the absurdities and tragedies of the human experience. For nearly four decades, Chatterjee has proven to be an utterly distinctive literary voice, and this volume further cements his place among contemporary fiction's finest writers.

Opening with a satirical story set in 1615, the book introduces Thomas Roe, the self-important English Ambassador to the court of Jahangir. As he stumbles through a vast subcontinent that overwhelms his narrow worldview, the narrative sets the stage for the diverse lives and situations that follow. In the title story, set in 1984, a young Sikh recovering from jaundice in Mussoorie reacts indifferently to the shocking news of Indira Gandhi's assassination and the subsequent massacre of Sikhs.

Between these two stories, Chatterjee weaves a series of compelling narratives: a middle-class Delhi family grapples with discoveries about Shakespeare, race, wealth, and its youngest daughter; mystery killings in the small town of Madna offer a civil servant harsh lessons about the Indian state; the brutal murder of a thirteen-year-old girl shocks her classmates; a boy seeks revenge on a sexual predator, while another fights to escape the humiliation of cleaning a school latrine. Other stories feature a single man in Bombay who brings home a pair of sparrows, and a chilling tale of 130 children who vanish from a German village visited by a rat-catcher.

With his characteristic wit and depth, Chatterjee examines the human condition in all its dark comedy and grand horror. This volume is a powerful and evocative collection that is a testament to the richness of Indian storytelling, offering readers a profound exploration of identity, violence, and society.