During the turn of the last century, Bombay was a sort of El Dorado. It saw a huge influx of migrants who swarmed the city in search of jobs and a new life. Slums or ‘chawls' mushroomed across the port city. They grew as colonies where people of one community sticking together in blocks. From these quarters comprising mainly migrants workers, the underbelly of the city, arose an organised body of criminals - Bombay's underworld, the mafia.
The influence of the mafia on the city turned into a stranglehold. It spread its tentacles across the city. Bombay saw the emergence of underworld ‘dons.' Their lives, operations, became the theme of many a Bollywood film and numerous works of fiction.
‘Strike Point' (Publish America, Baltimore) the debut novel of Babu Menon is also about the Bombay of this time. Of the underworld, the powerful dons, of goons, killings, money and more. But more importantly this work talks about how this mafia has spread to other parts of the country, finding safe havens, luring unsuspecting youngsters into organised crime.
“I spent many years in Bombay during this infamous period. South Bombay at that time was notorious for its gang wars. I worked for a transporting company in the beginning and later even owned one. It was first-hand experience of all this. I knew some of the gang leaders, as my business brought me into contact with them. But then ‘Strike Point' is not autobiographical,” says the author whose chequered career brought him in touch with people from various walks of life, enriching his experience.
Relevant
The novel centres on Aslam Sher, a youngster from Kerala who is drawn into a web from where he finds it difficult to escape. Through Aslam the novelist traces the workings of the underworld, its link with terrorist outfits, fuelling of religious fundamentalism and how unsuspecting youngsters fall an easy prey. “Though I completed the novel in 2008 I waited for a year before I got it published. One reason for this was that no one would have accepted the story I was trying to say then. One year and now we have evidence of how impressionable young men are being drawn into all kinds of unlawful activities. I thought the time was right now, my story was relevant even in Kerala.”
There is a very positive streak about the novel. It shows how the protagonist, who is misled into organised crime and terrorism, manages to break away from its powerful clutches and helps law prevail. “No religion preaches violence. In fact, every religion can help youngsters when they are in such a confused state. I think, and I have said that in my novel, the elders of every community need to think about how to develop the right approach to religion among their children.”
The novelist understands and recognises the hiss of the venomous serpent. “This is a serpent that spreads communal passion among the youth. You need to strike it at the right point (so the title). And for this the seniors of a family, community and religion should take the lead.”
After years of work in various fields, ranging from journalism to commodities market, a short stint in West Asia , Babu Menon has retired to the quiet of his home town, Ottappalam. “Writing is relaxing, rewarding. I'm doing only this these days.”
He has translated Poonthanam's ‘Jnanappana' into Tamil and is working on a new novel. “I have submitted the Tamil translation to the Guruvayur Devaswom. Maybe I'll try and get it published or even have an audio album made. My new novel is on a corporate conglomerate. I have just started work.”
