This is a monumental literary work by Khushwant Singh. It took more than 20 years for him to write this novel. For me, it took many weeks to read. Initially I was reading few pages a day, only to put it down and get something else to read. It went on like this for some time, until I got into the groove. Then pages just flipped and I was gripped feverishly till end.
This book
is written in first person where the narrator tells the plot in autobiographical tone.
It moves back and forth between history and current times with each chapter.
One must tolerate the adultery and erratic behavior of the narrator in this
book as everything else here is a great piece of work. Not sure adding ample erotic
scenes were necessary for the plot, but that is the style of this author.
Delhi has
been the seat of power for many centuries. Many kings have looted it and
destroyed it. Many others made it their home and built monuments making their names
permanent in the history of Delhi. There were few kings who got destroyed by
Delhi for the comforts it did provide. They all have many interesting stories to
tell. This novel makes use of the opportunity to recreate the life and
livelihood of people who lived during different times in the same town.
What is
more interesting to observe in this book is, author’s deep understanding of the
religions – Hindu, Muslim and Sikh. The characters in this book depict the
conflict and cooperation among these religions during different times.
If the reader appreciates the knowledge and style of Khushwant Singh, this book is a treat. Also, one gets a perspective on how the city of Delhi got shaped and evolved over many generations.
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