The great indian novel pdf

ISBN Author Shashi Tharoor. Publisher Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. Release 01 September Subjects Fiction Literature. Search for a digital library with this title Search by city, ZIP code, or library name Learn more about precise location detection.

View more libraries Only Indians could have devised a method of political bargaining based on the threat of harm to yourself rather than to your opponent…As a weapon, fasts are effective only when the target of your action values your life more than his convictions— or at least feels that society as a whole does. So they were ideally suited to a non-violent, upright leader like Gangaji. Oh fatal flaw! The British offensive is about to begin— And I think of the wrong kind of penetration!

You have just succeeded in putting your international border through the middle of the market, giving rice fields to Karnistan and the warehouses to India, the largest pig-farm in the zilla to the Islamic state and the Madrassah of the Holy Prophet to the country the Muslims are leaving.

Democracy, Ganpathi, is perhaps the most arrogant of all forms of government, because only democrats presume to represent an entire people: monarchs and oligarchs have no such pretensions. But democracies that turn authoritarian go a step beyond arrogance; they claim to represent a people subjugating themselves.

India was now the laboratory of this strange political experiment. Our people would be the first in the world to vote on their own subjugation. Rachel Brown. Author 18 books followers. Very funny, very clever, scathing and intricate, this irreverent mash-up of the Mahabharata with the Indian Independence Movement may not be the Great Indian Novel, but it's certainly a great Indian novel.

I'd actually give this book 4. I only give 5's to books I'm certain I will want to read again. While this is an excellent read, it does require an investment of time so I probably won't be able to revisit it. This story is based on the Mahabaratha, a classic epic of Indian mythology , and is quite a journey: Intense, heartbreaking, beautiful, hilarious. Just like India herself. It encompasses the entire history of modern India, since the struggle for independence.

In the midst of all the tragedy and violence, the author has a knack for silly puns and a bit of parody. Google it if you don't get the joke. Oh and there's the bit where our picaresque narrator intones, "Rule Brittania, Brittania waive the rules! Sadly, few of my acquaintances seem to know of it and that's odd, since I teach English for a living. It is definitely a journey I recommend.

I will most likely be looking up some non-fiction resources on South-Asian history, since this truly has me intrigued. Please check out the Wikipedia summary, as it gives concise details of the mythology the story is based on, and how the events and characters are related to it. Sai Kishore Kanagiri. It's never that easy to be a king And rule a populace; For popularity's a fickle thing Which might easily gobble us. A king must always make it clear That in his realm he's boss; Nobody else, though near and dear, May inflict on him a loss.

A king must always show his might Even 'gainst kith and kin; It doesn't matter if he's right But he must be seen to win. There's not much point in being strong If no one sees your strength; A tiger shows power all along His striped and muscular length. Any weakness must be concealed As a tortoise hides his head; A king must never be revealed Quaking under his bed.

Stealth and discretion are the means To employ in making plans; A clever king, though, never leans In trust on another man's.

Find out! These are the vital things; Maintain a cheerful outer crust But permit no rival kings. Keep your intentions to yourself Don't reveal them on your face; Purchase silence with your pelf And pack a knife in case.

Give orders only when you're sure Of their effective execution; Make certain you are seen as pure -Innocent of persecution. Eradicate the slightest threat! Don't forget the thinnest thorn Embedded in your flesh, might yet Fester; and this I warn: A small spark can start a forest fire- No enemy's too minor- Before the danger gets too dire Don't make the fine points finer There never is a genuine need To issue an ultimatum; Before a rival does the deed- Simply eliminate him.

Do it sharp, and do it quick! But never let him catch on. To be safe, keep a big stout stick And always sleep with the latch on. When angry, smile; Speak soft; then strike to kill; Then weep-oh, never show your bile- And mourn your victim still. Amass all the wealth you can; Cash, jewels, humans too; Resources are needed for every plan, And any means will do. Remember it's said a crooked stick Serves just as well as a straight one When it's fruit from a tree you wish to pick An early plum, or a later one.

So employ your own crooked men To gather information; From the market and the gambling den Let them take the pulse of the nation. Regarding enemies, I only wish You'd learn from the fisherman's book; He traps and slits and strips his fish, And burns what he dosent cook. That's the only way to treat all those Who pose a threat to you; They may genuflect, and touch your toes- But don't let them get you.

This of the future; it's time to start To anticipate the threat; If you don't grow callouses on your heart You might just bleed to death. There is ofcourse the question of expectations. This story is like that of our country, is a story of betrayed expectations, yours as much as our characters. There is no story and too many stories; there are no heroes and too many heroes. Well, this quote from the novel pretty much sums up this novel.

The blurb of the book is simple. Take characters from Mahabharata and place them in Indian Nationalism. But the execution is not that simple. We can see all the courtroom drama and tensions in Mahabharata playing out in the Indian Nationalism. I will definitely recommend this book to fiction, cultural lovers. Your Rating:. Your Comment:. Read Online Download. Great book, The Great Indian Novel pdf is enough to raise the goose bumps alone.