Two and a Half Rivers (P.B)

Book Details

• Author: Anirudh Kala

• Brand: Niyogi Books

• Edition: First Edition

• Binding: Paperback

• Number of Pages: 236

• Release Date: 05-10-2021

• EAN: 9789391125202

• Languages: English

About the Book:
In "Two and a Half Rivers", Anirudh Kala presents a gripping narrative that intertwines the personal with the political, exploring the consequences of armed insurgency and the societal divide it creates. The story follows two central characters whose lives are torn apart by the forces of religion, violence, and discrimination.

A recently divorced doctor, seeking seclusion, relocates to an isolated house on the banks of a river, hoping for peace. However, the peace is shattered when dead bodies begin to surface in the river, on city roads, and even in trains. The media and the authorities call it the ‘Punjab Problem’, a term that fails to capture the chaos and devastation unfolding. The doctor soon finds himself in the crossfire, kidnapped twice—once by terrorists for aiding the police and once by the police for aiding the terrorists.

Parallel to this, the story introduces a young Dalit couple, a girl with dreams of becoming a dancer and her soulmate, Bheem. They leave their caste-ridden existence in search of better opportunities in Bombay, where they face the harsh reality that the preached oneness of their religion does not extend into the real world.

Kala's novel explores the turmoil of Partition, the complexities of religion and terrorism, and the human cost of living amidst violence. The title, referencing the two and a half rivers that India inherited from the land of five rivers post-Partition, serves as a powerful metaphor for the fractured connections and the lasting legacy of conflict.