When a tree shook Delhi….
By Manoj Mitta and H S Phoolka
Book review
Rating 3/5
Non fiction and political….
So this is what happens when a journalist whose heart is in the right place and when an advocate who had a personal experience with this tragedy come together to give an actual heart moving rendering of one of the biggest riots ever.
The deep dark truth when unfurls through the pages sends shiver down your spine and then some.
The book starts with the viewpoint of Mitta who was personally involved in the coverage and accounting of the 1984 riots. The cold blooded murder, arson, rape, rioting, burning, lynching of all males; you name it and the truth will blow your mind harder than fiction!
Add to it the extreme callousness of the protectors that is the police, army and the C##gress leaders is just too much to digest.
Then the second half of the book takes you though the personal eyes of the one who was in the midst of it all and lived to tell the truth. On top of it he was also the advocate who spearheaded the commissions who were appointed to look into the excesses of the riots. The despair and the might of the political arm twisting has been revealed with truth and nothing else.
Close to 3000 Sikhs slaughtered, burnt, raped or chopped in a period of three days all in conniving with the cops and workers. With lots of clues pointing out to planning and execution and not just a spontaneous out burst as it’s viewed till now.
Many tragic incidents have been narrated in a factual manner would melt even a stone. The levels to which humanity can stoop is just sad.
Few silver linings have also been penned and noted for good measure so that at least some hope remains. All humans are not the same is the final message.
All in all an eye opener on all counts; this one is sure to give many restless nights and days and I hope it’s for the right reasons.
ramadocblog 