“By gnawing through a dike, even a rat may drown a nation,” remarked famous British statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke. Edmond's words seem to apply to the current condition of the Indian nation. ‘Unity in Diversity' endorsed by India for long has become a misnomer. The only thing left, some would say, is diversity, dissent and discrimination.
Pradeep Saurabh, known for his hard hitting novels like “Munni Mobile” and “Teesri Tali”, offers his take on this situation with his next release, “Desh Bheetar Desh”. Saurabh says, “Through my book, I have tried to address the issue of anti-nation sentiments in the lesser developed corners of India. It is a love story in the backdrop of insurgency in the North-East. It is the story of a man who belongs to the mainstream society and goes to the neglected region of theNorth-East where life throws many disturbing questions at him.”
The veteran journalist states in this novel that the demand for Nagaland dates back to the time when the Simon Commission visited India, making it one of the oldest insurgencies on Indian soil.
Apart from war and turmoil, he promises that the book also provides an interesting travelogue for those interested in the north-eastern part of the country.
Issues of discrimination against people from the North-East make headlines regularly, , especially in Delhi.
Saurabh agrees, “The main reason behind writing the book is to show that Delhi is not the only state we should talk or worry about. It is common knowledge that the seven states of the Northeast are not anywhere remotely in the mindscape of the rest of India. They are treated as aliens in their own country. The book is my effort to bridge this cultural, geographical and economic gap.”
The author adds, “Apart from the conflicts within the states, my story is also about human conflict and relationships. The protagonist Vinay is forced to make many choices. His character is a complicated one that is disturbed by the people's secessionist mentality. He goes through self-doubt that affects his relationship with others.”
Set to receive the International Indu Sharma Katha Samman 2012 in London for his novel “Teesri Tali”, on eunuchs, Saurabh beams, “I am confident people will like my work as I believe such a story treatment has never been done in Hindi literature before.”
