Our Friends in Good Houses by Rahul Pandita
My take on the book:
Neel and his parents moved to Delhi after the 1990s exodus in Kashmir, but from then on Neel could never feel at home, neither in Delhi nor in the United States during his brief stint at Yale University. A writer and a journalist, ironically Neel found comfort and belonging in conflict zones when he stayed there to report the ground realities. The dangerous Dandakaranya forest gave him a greater sense of home than the snuggly bed in his Delhi apartment.
From covering the kidnapping and release of a district collector by the rebels, staying with the Naxals in Dandakaranya, making the circumambulation of the Arunachalam hill while staying in the Tiruvannamalai ashram of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Neel literally travels the length and breadth of the country, while forever searching for the meaning of home.
The author narrates the reality of conflict zones, especially about those who turn rebels towards the administration, the factors that lead to their decisions, their sense of mission and how their families silently suffer for years. The author also describes the communication channels used by them to evade the constant surveillance the state has for them.
More than judgement or taking sides, the author takes a humane look at the life of such rebel groups. The author has critical observations of life around us and every statement made has deep emotional connection. This is not your typical novel around a set of characters and their life, rather the author’s commentary on social issues and human behavior. Neel’s journey feels like the author’s autobiographical account adding authenticity.
The main drawback of the story is the slow narration in the starting pages as the author keeps moving between Delhi, Yale and Kashmir and only after the initial 50 pages or so, the reader will get a hang of the writer’s narration style. Even characters related to Neel that the author narrates keep shifting from Annie to Adaa to Aarani to Gurupriya to M; this shift initially can confuse the reader. Neel’s attempt at finding home in a person is a reason why he finds it difficult to settle down with any of the women he came across.
A riveting tale of displacement and belonging, Our Friends in Good Houses is a must read for fans of literary fiction and those who like to read characters with depth.
My rating:
4/5.