Sethji
Shobhaa De
Penguin
2012, pp 290 Rs. 250
This is one more in the kitty of Shobhaa De's many works of fiction, with the difference being that it focuses on a politician, known throughout the novel as Sethji. Shobhaa starts her narrative by dedicating it "To Our Beloved Politicians, May their Tribe Decrease!" The salutation makes very clear what De thinks of politicians. The book is divided into three parts, whilst the chapters continue chronologically. Each part starts with a quotation from Kautilya, though their connection to the main story does not always come through. With the Lok Sabha elections looming in 2014, the author has chosen a good time to write a book on political machinations.
The reader is introduced to Sethji, as the head of ABSP, which is a vital coalition partner of the government in power. With the country now in the thick of coalition politics, the character of Sethji, who is described as "shrewd, ruthless and an inveterate fighter", could easily be identified as someone from real life. In her acknowledgements, De has thanked the late Sitaram Kesri for giving her the germ of the idea for the creation of Sethji, but other prototypes in present day politics appear closer in character to this manipulating politician. Actually, the book is replete with characters from the fields of politics, business, cinema and the media, who bear similarities with real people, but presumably the resemblance is purely coincidental.
The story is racy, as it moves from one chapter to another, with newer and newer characters being introduced in each one, some of whom disappear like bit role players, never to be seen again. The author's desire to pack into the story all manner of characters, representative of the murkiest depths of humankind, can shake the reader out of any sense of complacency about how people in power operate. It is difficult to identify with any character in Sethji, as none of them seems to throw up any possibility of redemption. When it comes to power and money, even the immaculately dressed, polished and well-spoken men who cross Amrita's (the daughter-in-law of Sethji) path are not above chicanery. Sethji despises their accents and their modus operandi, and the choicest of Hindi abuses emerge from his tongue, when speaking of this class of people.
It is possible that the author is showing the deep divide between the English-speaking movers and shakers, and the rustic politicians, even as she cynically brings out their similarity when it comes to a no-holds-barred approach to getting what they want.
De has always shown a bias towards women in her writing. In this book too, Amrita is portrayed as the pivot around which the whole family revolves, and also the one member whom the aging politician trusts implicitly. But it is not possible to identify with her, as there is nothing about Amrita that one can sympathise with, despite the author's attempt at portraying her as a victim of exploitation, which includes bringing in a botched romantic interlude. Yet the fact remains that Amrita is the heroine of the novel. Though it is titled Sethji, the protagonist seems to be more his daughter-in-law, as Amrita is at the helm of all the action, and the rescuer of Sethji and herself, from a kidnap attempt. A good part of the politicking that happens is in the backdrop of the rescue attempt.
Besides politics, Shobhaa tries to touch upon other Indian characteristics, thereby drawing limitations to what money and power can buy. She makes one of her characters say, "...Netagiri was all very well — a business, a dhandha, like any other. But caste was God-given. For all his money, Sethji could never buy a higher caste. ...A nhai he was at birth, and a nhai he would die!"
One thing that De ensures throughout the novel is a liberal dose of sex and sleaze, which gets kinkier and kinkier in some of the descriptions. Every chapter seems to have some aspect of it, and one is almost reminded of the new trend of 'item numbers' in Hindi films.
They may or may not have any relation to the plot, but they are there, and eagerly anticipated. The author has ensured herself good sales by this ploy, but it can, at times, turn out to be too much of a 'good thing', since it appears to take away from the plot because of the inopportune appearances. Shobaa De's language is full of Hindi words, and this novel includes a liberal sprinking of gaalis. They are used so much that, after a while, even one who is not used to them will become immune to their usage.
The book has been planned well to ensure successful sales, but if given a choice, I would any day opt for the writing of Shobhaa De in her newspaper and magazine columns.
Shobhaa De
Penguin
2012, pp 290 Rs. 250
This is one more in the kitty of Shobhaa De's many works of fiction, with the difference being that it focuses on a politician, known throughout the novel as Sethji. Shobhaa starts her narrative by dedicating it "To Our Beloved Politicians, May their Tribe Decrease!" The salutation makes very clear what De thinks of politicians. The book is divided into three parts, whilst the chapters continue chronologically. Each part starts with a quotation from Kautilya, though their connection to the main story does not always come through. With the Lok Sabha elections looming in 2014, the author has chosen a good time to write a book on political machinations.
The reader is introduced to Sethji, as the head of ABSP, which is a vital coalition partner of the government in power. With the country now in the thick of coalition politics, the character of Sethji, who is described as "shrewd, ruthless and an inveterate fighter", could easily be identified as someone from real life. In her acknowledgements, De has thanked the late Sitaram Kesri for giving her the germ of the idea for the creation of Sethji, but other prototypes in present day politics appear closer in character to this manipulating politician. Actually, the book is replete with characters from the fields of politics, business, cinema and the media, who bear similarities with real people, but presumably the resemblance is purely coincidental.
The story is racy, as it moves from one chapter to another, with newer and newer characters being introduced in each one, some of whom disappear like bit role players, never to be seen again. The author's desire to pack into the story all manner of characters, representative of the murkiest depths of humankind, can shake the reader out of any sense of complacency about how people in power operate. It is difficult to identify with any character in Sethji, as none of them seems to throw up any possibility of redemption. When it comes to power and money, even the immaculately dressed, polished and well-spoken men who cross Amrita's (the daughter-in-law of Sethji) path are not above chicanery. Sethji despises their accents and their modus operandi, and the choicest of Hindi abuses emerge from his tongue, when speaking of this class of people.
It is possible that the author is showing the deep divide between the English-speaking movers and shakers, and the rustic politicians, even as she cynically brings out their similarity when it comes to a no-holds-barred approach to getting what they want.
De has always shown a bias towards women in her writing. In this book too, Amrita is portrayed as the pivot around which the whole family revolves, and also the one member whom the aging politician trusts implicitly. But it is not possible to identify with her, as there is nothing about Amrita that one can sympathise with, despite the author's attempt at portraying her as a victim of exploitation, which includes bringing in a botched romantic interlude. Yet the fact remains that Amrita is the heroine of the novel. Though it is titled Sethji, the protagonist seems to be more his daughter-in-law, as Amrita is at the helm of all the action, and the rescuer of Sethji and herself, from a kidnap attempt. A good part of the politicking that happens is in the backdrop of the rescue attempt.
Besides politics, Shobhaa tries to touch upon other Indian characteristics, thereby drawing limitations to what money and power can buy. She makes one of her characters say, "...Netagiri was all very well — a business, a dhandha, like any other. But caste was God-given. For all his money, Sethji could never buy a higher caste. ...A nhai he was at birth, and a nhai he would die!"
One thing that De ensures throughout the novel is a liberal dose of sex and sleaze, which gets kinkier and kinkier in some of the descriptions. Every chapter seems to have some aspect of it, and one is almost reminded of the new trend of 'item numbers' in Hindi films.
They may or may not have any relation to the plot, but they are there, and eagerly anticipated. The author has ensured herself good sales by this ploy, but it can, at times, turn out to be too much of a 'good thing', since it appears to take away from the plot because of the inopportune appearances. Shobaa De's language is full of Hindi words, and this novel includes a liberal sprinking of gaalis. They are used so much that, after a while, even one who is not used to them will become immune to their usage.
The book has been planned well to ensure successful sales, but if given a choice, I would any day opt for the writing of Shobhaa De in her newspaper and magazine columns.