Otherwise, one just won't get the joke.more Pray note that this book is a work of political satire, therefore it only makes sense that the reader be fairly knowledgable about the Mahabharata as well as major events in India's political history. Highly recommended & a must read for every Indian who doesn’t mind having a laugh at those we usually revere. 'The Great Indian Novel' is without doubt a great Indian novel & I'm certainly in agreement with those critics who have hailed this book as arguably one of the finest works of fiction as far as post-modern Indian literature is concerned. As a result, a few liberties were unavoidable but that can be overlooked when one considers the final outcome that this magnificent novel is. Of course, the author doesn't have to do much with the characterization aspect - for almost every character of this novel usually stands for a character from the Mahabharata or a figure from India's political history, but he does well to remain faithful to his inspiration by incorporating as many attributes as possible. No, I really can't find fault with this book, for there is not a boring moment throughout the course of the plot. Tharoor also indulges in exploring the relevance of the Hindu concepts of dharma & karma in today's world, questions the writing of our official history books & leaves the small matter of the motto 'Satyamev Jayate' (Truth Alone Triumphs) open to discussion. Also, credit must go to Tharoor for making brilliant use of prose as well as verse as a literary device, which pays homage to the epic itself. 'The Great Indian Novel', Shashi Tharoor's debut work of fiction, is essentially a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata, but it falls in the realm of political satire by drawing parallels with major events in India's political history during the freedom movement as well as in the post-independence era.įirst up, I'd like to applaud the author for deciding to reinterpret & present Indian history in a different light and his courage (yes, in a country where many people seem to lack a sense of humour when it comes to 'culture') in assuming an irreverent attitude towards some of India's greatest political leaders throughout the narrative.
Well, the moment I felt I should write a long review for this book has passed (besides the fact that no one read the one lengthy review I've written till date), so I'll spare the reader who has incidentally stumbled upon this one. 'The Great Indian Novel', Shashi Tharoor's debut work of fiction, is essentially a retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata, but it falls in the realm of political satire by drawing parallels with majo And that, I suppose, completes my Goodreads annual reading challenge. And that, I suppose, completes my Goodreads annual reading challenge.
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