Shantaram - a review

OK, I did read a novel after avoiding them for donkey’s years.. And Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts (GDR) it was.

I had picked up my copy mid June, but was so intimidated with the voluminous book, running into almost 950 pages, I just could not let myself to begin reading it for months…

In the words of a gent who reviewed it “Books that can double as pillows or sitting stools almost invariably scare the hell out of me. The fear of being buried under a tower of words, lines and pages can be quite overpowering” So true…

To those who haven’t read it – the story in brief.

The narrator is a man called Lindsay (GDR himself), who escapes an Australian jail and arrives in Bombay on a fake passport. Here he befriends tour guide Prabakar Khare, who becomes his best friend, shows him the good and bad side of Mumbai, takes him to his village in rural Maharashtra and when he is robbed of his money, Prabu (as Lin calls him affectionately) finds him a place to live in a slum away from the eyes of the law. This slum is to be the home of Linbaba, as Lindsay is called, for the next few years. While he runs a makeshift first-aid center in the slum, he also engages in criminal activities like smuggling and counterfeiting, and eventually starts gun-running to Afghanistan. Lin’s experiences in Bombay range from falling in love with the beautiful Karla, who introduces him to the world of prostitutes, to meeting the motherly Rukhmabai of Sundargaon, who christens him “Shantaram”, or man of peace. Interspersed amid the numerous characters are the sweat and grime, dirt and squalor, disease and fire and extreme poverty - all narrated with genuine affection, passion and generosity. This love and generosity towards the characters and circumstances is what sets Robert’s work apart. What could have been a mere narrative of poor people’s lives is transformed into an extraordinary piece of fiction.

For more: visit the official site www.shantaram.com

The book is being made into a movie to be directed by Mira Nair and the lead role of Lin will be played by Johnny Depp. (Amitabh plays the role of Kader Khan, the then Don of Mumbai underworld).

The book does not mention the name of the Slum – its Ganesh Murthy Nagar. (CNB right???) Having stayed in Navy Nagar around the time – 1982-84, I do vaguely recall the fire mentioned in the story. Do remember that many people lost lives when a huge portion of the slum was gutted. Also, remember the blue men with bear who would emerge from the adjoining (and legal) slum of Geeta Nagar to entertain people around Gateway, Marine Drive, VT, Chowapatty etc. I had a few friends in Geeta Nagar, and they in turn, had a lot of enemies in Ganesh Murthy Nagar. (Is depicted in the novel as a fight scene)

During the end of the decade (1989 to be precise), I had returned back to Bombay and that’s where the novel ends… I would often pass through this slum, pick up a cigarette on way to Afghan Church bus stand on my way to college, and had a couple of friends from there studying in our college. The sounds and sights of the long seafront adjoining Ganesh Murthy Nagar came alive while I was reading the novel! And so did the areas behind Sasoon Dock (where my school was located in the early 80s)…

And yeah, who can forget Leopold! (Though I preferred visit Gokul, in the lane behind Leopold for the ‘quarter’ system and cheaper rates, till a friend told me it was a gay pick-up adda.. ha ha ha ha ha)

Especially liked the way the author picked up the otherwise very Indian habits! Like nodding the head he learnt as a gesture and used it so effectively during his train journey from Bombay to Sunder Village. Or the habit of simply telling friends, “Come with me” without informing where we are actually headed, and the friends ‘trust’ you and just come along!

Also, enjoyed reading the takes of Khader Khan and later Lin (Now GDR’s philosophical teachings – Revolutionary ) on philosophy and religion. Mixing with wise words from various religions with science – quantum physics to astronomy needs a rare skill and understanding that the author has shown. (Though, I should admit, these narratives slowed down the pace of the book whenever they appeared).

Here's what fellow blogger Chandra had to say... thought, should add it here since he has met GDR personally!

http://freegeek.livejournal.com/tag/shantaram...

The link also goes to say - "Kishore aka Prabhakar is alive and kicking... Good to know! Though, gives me some nasty ideas on how the author and Kishore would have actually met!! NOW NOW.. LOL

khamoshi

mein yaadon ke mazar per
ik jalte bujhte diya sa
timtima rah hoon
yeh jante huye ki
hawa ka ik tez jhonka
mujhay bhi ik yaad bana kar
gujar jay ga
phir bhi
jale ja rah hoon mein
aur khamosh unn yaadon jaise
jo seene mein dafn hain ab