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CHAPTER-3

CITYSCAPE AND WORKPLACE: GLITTERING VISION OF

COSMOPOLITANISM IN VIKRAM CHANDRA

3.1 VIKRAM CHANDRA: AN INTRODUCTION

Vikram Chandra is an Indian-American Writer. He was born in New Delhi

in 1916. His father Navin Chandra worked as a business executive and leads a

retired life. His mother Kamna Chandra has written several Hindi films and plays.

His sister Tanuja Chandra is a film maker and screen writer. She has directed

several films. His other sister Anupama Chopra is married to Vidhu Vinod Chopra,

a film director. She herself is a film critic and a consulting editor for India’s

NDTV. Vikram Chandra is married to Melanie Abrams, who is a fiction writer.

They both teach creative writing at the University of California, Berkeley.

Vikram Chandra received his high school education from Mayo College in

Ajmer, Rajasthan. He attended Xavier’s college in Mumbai and then as an

undergraduate student, he shifted to the United States. He graduated from Pomona

College, Claremont, California, with a B.A. Magna cum laude in English

(concentration in Creative Writing). He attended the film school at Columbia

University leaving halfway through, to begin work on his first novel. He received

his M.A. from writing seminars at John Hopkins University in 1987. He has taught

at George Washington University and lectured at the University of California,

Berkeley. His first novel Red Earth and Pouring Rain (1995) was inspired by the
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autobiography of James Skinner who was a legendary nineteenth century Anglo-

Indian soldier. The novel is named after a poem from the Kuruntokai, an anthology

of classical Tamil love poems. The story begins with an element of surprise – a

monkey who can type and who has to tell tales in order to survive. The audience

includes Lord Yama, Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesha, a small group of youngsters

and the family which is home for the animal. There are many stories tied around

and interfused with violence and passion.

While writing the novel, Chandra taught literature and writing and was also

working as a computer programmer & consultant. It was published by Penguin

Books in India, by Faber & Faber in the U.K. and by Little Brown in the United

States. The book received critical acclaim. It won both the Common Wealth

Writers’ Prize for Best First Book and also the David Higham Prize for Fiction.

Since much of the novel deals with nineteenth century it has not been made part of

the study. In 2000, Chandra along with Suketu Mehta served as a co-writer for a

Bollywood movie ‘Mission Kashmir.’ It was directed by his brother-in-law, the

Bollywood director Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

His other book Love and Longing in Bombay is a collection of short stories

published in 1997. It has different characters portrayed in five stories which are

loosely interconnected. Each story is set in a different social milieu revealing a

broad spectrum of modern Indian life. The storyteller Subramaniam tells his stories

to the regulars of the Fisherman’s Rest. They are then transmitted to more people

by one of Subramaniam’s listeners, the narrator Ranjit Sharma.

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The novel was published by Penguin India in 1997. It won the

Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book (Eurasia region). It was shortlisted

for the Guardian Fiction Prize and was included in the Notable Books of 1997 by

Outlook magazine (New Delhi). The story ‘Dharma’ was awarded the Discovery

Prize by the Paris Review & was included in Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror story

(St. Martin’s Press, 1998).

Sacred Games was published by Penguin India in 2006. It is a nine hundred

page epic story which focuses on a Sikh police inspector- Sartaj Singh and his

investigation into the suicide of mafia kingpin Ganesh Gaitonde. Ganesh dies but

he tells his story to Sartaj Singh in alternating chapters, confessing his deep

emotions and his mobster lifestyle. The character of the city is developed as

Chandra concentrates on other characters in the story.

It was published by Harper Collins in U.S in 2007. It won the Hutch

Crossword Award for 2007. It was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle

Award for Fiction.

His non-fiction work about the culture of computer programming and

classical Indian aesthetics was published in 2013 by Penguin India as Mirrored

Mind: My Life in Letters and Code. It was published by Faber and Faber as Geek

Sublime: Writing Fiction, Coding Software. The book is published in US as Geek

Sublime: The Code of Beauty.

In June 1997, Vikram Chandra featured in the New Yorker photograph of

India’s leading novelists. His work has been translated into nineteen languages.
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Chandra believes that there is no such thing as single story. It has seeds for other

stories. In an interview with Ranjan Ghosh, Chandra claims the writer looses to be

the owner of the story the minute it gets written, “In his or her encounter with your

story, the reader constructs a new story. Each reader’s narrative is a unique one,

related to the one you constructed but not quite the same”(n.pag.).

Some critics have opposed Chandra’s notion of authenticity by sharing the

view that he is selling, the feel of being Indian as a commodity to sell his books but

Chandra insists on judging the work on their relative achievements and not by the

notion of Indianness and their assimilation by the West.

The stories narrated defy the conventions of their respective genres. They

sustain our hope but none of them provide expected and comforting solutions. The

protagonist tries to construct a coherent picture of the events but the vastness and

multiplicity is so huge and perplexing; and to add to it, there are unresolved and

unsolved issues where the reader is left to his own interpretation.

Chandra uses Bombay(Mumbai) street slang in his writing, which at times

sound harsh. Thus, Chandra stresses on multiplicity and diversity to narrate the

timeless topics of love, death and redemption.

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3.2 LOCALE

The two novels under this study deal with metropolitan Mumbai, the City

of dreams. Mumbai has truly charmed many people inside and outside India. Be it

the tourism, be it Bollywood or the scenic beauty or the trade practices, it is the

most favoured capitalistic hub of India. Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra

located in Central India.

It is the collection of seven islands on the west coast of India. The

archipelago of seven islands includes – Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Women’s Island,

Wadala, Mahim, Parel and Matunga Sion. Initially, there were these seven islands

separated by swamps. In 1845 the city’s swamps were filled and the separate

islands turned into one large island.

The Kolis, a Marathi fishing community were the earliest known settlers of

the islands. Then, Mauryan Empire gained control of islands and transformed it

into a centre of Hindu and Buddhist culture & religion. Later, it passed on to

various dynasties and was ruled by the Gujarat Sultanate. It became a Portuguese

possession in 1534. They established a trading centre in the city. That is why, they

called the place Bom Bahia, meaning the good boy, which in English was

pronounced as Bombay & hence the name settled. The products which were traded

included silk, muslin, rice, cotton and tobacco. By 1626, there was a great

warehouse, a port and a ship building yard in the city. By the time, East India

Company took charge of Bombay, it completely transformed the city. In 1687, the

company made Bombay as their headquarters. By the end of 1700, it was the

Gateway of India. The first Indian railway began its operations between Mumbai &
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Thane in 1853. In 1854, the first cotton mill was opened. The Bank of Bombay, the

oldest bank in city was established in 1840. The University of Bombay was

established in 1857. Bombay stock Exchange was opened in 1875.

During the freedom struggle, it became the centre of the Rowlett

Satyagraha of 1919 and the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of 1946. After

independence, the territory of Bombay was structured into Mumbai state. In 1960,

it was incorporated into the dominion of the newly created Maharashtra state.

Mumbai is a composition, multi-cultural city and is the centre of India’s

entertainment industry; it is the fourth largest populous city in the world. One can

witness posh areas like Cuffparade and Juhu and also the poverty stricken slums of

Dharavi, one of largest slums in the world. It is home to the corporate

powerhouses, RBI, BSE, NSE. It is the store house to rich & glorious classical

heritage in Elephanta caves, Siddhivinayak temple, Museum etc. It is to be noticed

that the name of the city was changed to Mumbai by the ruling party in 1996. So,

both the names have been used for explorations in the chapter.
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3.3 THE ISSUES

There are five stories in the collection- Love and Longing in Bombay. Each

is titled by a Sanskrit word which refers to some principle or theme to which the

story relates. Each story is framed by the works of an elderly man Subramaniam, a

retired civil servant. He sits down at the bar and recounts his stories to all those

present in the bar. He manages to captivate the imagination of Ranjit Sharma, who

is the main narrator and a skeptic, belonging to contemporary Bombay. The

common narrator throughout the work binds the stories with Hindu concept. It is a

fine example of storytelling and fable weaving and then one sees a range of

Bombay life and flavours and tastes of the city. The readers witness dreamers,

workers, gangsters and the vast assortment of issues and struggles they face; some

of the issues reveal the vast array of forces which are prevalent in the modern

world.

The first chapter of the book ‘Dharma’ deals with proper conduct. It is the

story of Jago Antia a soldier, who comes home to his parents’ house to find that it

is haunted.

Army Lifestyle: The army is maintained by the country which is a well trained

and well equipped military service which play useful role in the defense of the

country. They lead a life of discipline and are self reliant to instill in others, a

desire for national service. They are given a tough training as Jago Antia had been

following a hard regimen with his cadets. He was taken to be a man of exemplary

courage who had lost his leg in the battle field. He was hurt in a mine attack and

his right knee was twisted. He knew he had to command his cadets and there was
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no time to waste. He chopped off his leg bearing all the pain. He had won many

combats and many medals. He was respected by his fellow soldiers as they said,

“That is why his politeness, his fastidiousness, delicate way he handled his fork

and knife, his slow smile, and these Jago quirks were imitated by even the cadets at

the Academy”(6).

Superstitious Beliefs: Some beliefs have been practiced in Indian culture from

past times. It is largely attributed to the lack of education. Astrology plays an

important role in the lives of people in India. India, being the hub of diverse

cultures and traditions, is also home to myriad superstitions. Sacrifices,

horoscopes, religious discourses are practiced and followed in Indian society. The

belief in supernatural elements forms the crux of the story. Jago Antia comes back

to his house in Bombay after experiencing an acute pain in his amputated leg. He

discovers ghost stories surrounding the house. The neighbours are sure about the

house being haunted. They steer clear of it out of fear. His companion and servant

is afraid to follow him into the house. Finally, a person who understands about

spirits and supernaturalism is called for handling the matter. He informs Antia that

ghost could be some relative and Antia does what is necessary so that the ghost can

rest in peace.

The second chapter is titled ‘Shakti’ which depicts the ability of the

feminine creative force to establish her identity. It deals with the story of Bijlanis

and Boatwallas. It gives a glimpse of complexities of love. Sheila is a very

beautiful woman who comes to love a short, dumpy and an unattractive man. She

has an unquenchable thirst to defeat Dolly Boatwalla who suffers from superiority
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complex. The narrative discourse leads to their fights, parties, lifestyle, business,

children and finally Sheila overpowering the Boatwallas into an understanding or

settlement. It also serves to highlight the ego clashes in the elite gentry which form

the root cause of friction.

Kitty Parties and Club Culture: A Kitty party is usually a gathering of

housewives, where the party is held in one lady’s house or in a hotel. It includes

food, fun and gossiping. The trend has shifted now to clubs which had been earlier

restricted to the elite class. Now, the individuals who belong to the middle class are

seeking the membership of the club. They provide ultra modern facilities like

swimming pools, dance parties, various sports to play, food and drinks. The

membership of the clubs is open to the whole families. The trend reflects the

intermixing of both the groups where the distinctions of caste and colour are wiped

out.

In the narrative, Sheila started throwing cocktail parties and lunches where

she invited her special guests from elite gentry including, Dolly Boatwalla which

was a grand success but Dolly Boatwalla stayed aloof. Then, Bijlanis wanted the

membership of Malabar Gymkhana as their son wished to play there but they were

denied permission which resulted into Bijlanis opening up of a new club, which

was called the Shanghai club. It was much sought after club but then, Boatwallas

were not given membership. The club culture has been increasingly accepted in the

modern cities as they provide recourse to busy individuals to enjoy their life, the

way they want.

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Womanly Cat Fights: The fights between Bijlanis and Boatwallas form the centre

of attraction in the story. Sheila, who is a part of the higher echelons of society

wages her battle to stay at the very top at all times. She is determined not to be

bowed down by the games played by the other woman surrounding her. Bijlanis

diversified their resources and invested into transportation and plastics besides

mixies. Bijlanis think of taking over the business of Boatwallas. The children of

both the families are in love while Dolly is against the relationship but Sheila

through her conniving and cunning efforts, manages to become the most important

woman of high society. The marriage of the children is fixed and both the families

are finally together.

Domestic Help: Domestic help these days are hard to find. They come from the far

off villages where living conditions are difficult. In the cities also, they face a

tough life which is strenuous and devoid of charms. Like in the text, the maid

Ganga, worked in a dozen houses without any break. She reached back home by

7:30p.m. Then she was busy with her household affairs. She used to live in a small

Kholi and had her daughter to take care of. When she was buying a new Kholi, she

took a loan from her mistress, which she had to pay back in installments. She was a

widow but very courageously, handled all situations; even she married her

daughter in a well to do family.

Bijlanis helped her to great lengths to ensure their maid is satisfied. In the

modern scenario, double income households and large families require full time

domestic help. The elite class supports the servants to maintain their standards.
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Dolly Boatwalla had her servants dressed in a proper uniform. She had the habit of

showing off, which was influenced by her adoption of western ideals.

Love Pangs: Love pangs are essentially felt by the youth of today.

Notwithstanding the urges and frequent requests by the parents, these youngsters

do not pay any heed. Sheila’s son Sanjeev and Dolly’s daughter Roxanne fall in

love during the course of the narrative. The families are not interested in the

relationship especially, the Boatwallas. Dolly takes her daughter to London, while

Sanjeev loses interests in life and falls into depression. If the demands of the

couple are not met, they take recourse in love marriages or run away with the

partners. In many societies, love marriages in some of the communities are banned.

Even, the families punish the couple who bring disgrace to the family reputation by

running away. There are new cultural traits visible in society which forges a set of

new relationships and also, the traditional system and taboos are still very much a

part of Indian culture. Nevertheless, there is a spurt of love marriages in the present

times.

The next chapter is ‘Kama’ which deals with sensual pleasures. A

policeman has discovered a crime and is not satisfied with the investigation, so he

takes upon himself to resolve the case. It puts him into danger as his actions are

frowned upon by the superiors and also lead him towards unknown territories,

where some startling discoveries are made.

Strained Relations: Matrimonial disputes have become a common phenomenon in

the present century. The unfulfilled needs and desires in an unhealthy relationship

becomes the cause of dispute which can ruin one’s life.

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Sartaj Singh, the protagonist uncovers the tangled tale of love and betrayal,

which exists between husband and wife. He discloses the secret of Chetan Bhai

Patel’s private life. In the process, Singh also encounters his own demons of desire

when his ex-wife re-enters his life. One feels the ache of Sartaj Singh over the

breakup of his marriage as he is not able to sign the divorce papers.

Sartaj Singh recalls his past. Sartaj was a hero in his college days; while

Megha, his estranged wife was rich and beautiful. They got married but Megha

could not understand the nature of his job while Sartaj lacked patience in making

her understand; so the differences crept in. While solving the case, Sartaj realises

his mistakes which has ended his relationship with Megha. He understands that

they are not made for each other and finally signs the divorce papers.

Elite Lifestyle: Elite is the section of society who is the most influential. They

bear the resources of wealth, power and prestige. They are generally educated and

enjoy a superior status.

Chetan Bhai Ghanshyam Patel belonged to the elite section of the society. He

owned a Rolex watch valued rupees 218000/-. His flat, the sixth floor apartment

looked lavish as if it was a haveli with elephant parked outside and durbans on

sofas. The drawing room was large with brass lamps, furniture and hangings on the

wall. There was a life size statue of an Apsara(an idol)pouring water made of

marble. He owned a red Contessa car. He went for outings on weekends and had

his own set of pleasures and luxuries.

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Sensual Encounters: Abuse and assault have become quite common in the

society. It is an involuntary act in which a person is threatened or forced to engage

against his will. This amounts to the torture of victim. There is a spurt of these

kinds of incidents in modern society.

The story presents, an inhibited life of Chetan Bhai Ghanshyam Patel who

was murdered. His neighbours and friends shower their praises on him but he had a

hidden life which is supposedly the cause of murder. He had a ‘shoukeen’

(enjoying and carefree) kind of lifestyle as is put forward by Mrs. Khanna. He

alongwith his wife went to Daman, a hotel during weekends. He used to practice

all sort of indecent activities with his wife. Sartaj Singh comes to an understanding

that some things happen between husband and wife and they can’t be explained.

This is what happened in the Patel household.

The next story is titled ‘Artha’ which is a reflection of purpose or

prosperity. It deals with the gay relationship between Iqbal and Rajesh. Sandhya is

a computer programmer, who experiences painful relationship with her ex-husband

and has supposed lover. Both Sandhya and Iqbal are highly individualized, turning

up into close friends while facing professional ups and downs.

Gay Relationship: Homosexual love is explored in the story. It is a sort of

romantic or sexual attraction between members of the same sex or gender. In the

story, Iqbal and Rajesh are depicted to be in a gay relationship. Iqbal recalls that he

had met Rajesh on a New Year Eve. Afterwards, they met again and fell for each

other. They had fights, patch-ups and meetings in the whole year but then suddenly

Rajesh is gone. Iqbal misses his company and is tormented. He tries hard to get a
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trace of his partner which he eventually does, but is not elaborated in the narrative.

Iqbal understands that lost time never comes back. He could not confess his

relationship to anybody as the Indian society does not accept it. He remains alone

with certain hollowness in his heart.

Many countries have accepted the notion of gay rights while in India also,

many quarters demanded for gay rights but honourable Supreme Court of India has

upheld Section 377 which criminalizes homosexual love. Gay relationships are

quite uncommon in India but under the impact of western values and liberal

culture, Indians are also coming out in the open. They are not shy about disclosing

their identity and their preferences.

Infidelity: Infidelity or breach of faith violates the basic assumption of life trust. It

can be a heartbreaking experience when the betrayal is detected when a spouse is

emotionally or sexually involved with someone outside marriage. When the

expectations are not met, it leads to a feeling of rage and betrayal, lowering of

personal confidence and damage to self image. There are certain norms which are

to be followed in a marital relationship but if these rules are not adhered to, the

violation can be full of torment.

The story portrays entangled relationships. There is Iqbal, who confronts a

horrible truth about his lover Rajesh, his connections with the underworld. He is

shocked and lost while Sandhya, Iqbal’s co-worker and friend discovers and

effectively eliminates the infidelities of her artsy beau Anubhav.

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Gang Operations: Rajesh had lied about his working in a post office and also

about the gym. He had been involved with Ratnani, a rich businessman who had

underworld connections. Police and Rajesh’s brother also confirm Rajesh’s

involvement with the Bhailog (gangsters). Iqbal tries hard to trace the whereabouts

of his partner but all his efforts come to nothing. He gets a warning from a gangster

that he should not follow up Rajesh, otherwise he would also be wiped out and

nobody would come to know.

Gang workers operate their network through slum areas. The poor people

like Rajesh are made the scapegoats as they are the easy targets. They are made to

do the operations for meager amount. If they are caught, they have to undergo the

torture in police custody. The elite or business people have their own security

guards and connections for their protection as is visible in the case of Ratnani.

Computer Generation: In the present world, it is almost impossible to imagine

that someone can live without computers. The most that any industry has gained

from the discovery of computers is the business industry. They have improved the

efficiency and productivity of the quality of the work done. It can help businesses

by making the staff efficient and also saving the valuable time. The interest is

getting bigger and faster every day. In the discourse, Sandhya and Iqbal are

software programmers. It is the source of their income and livelihood. The

programme which they develop catches a snag. They work on the system, the

hardware problem and also create a faster and improved version of the programme.

Naturally, the money pours in and eventually, they get a new office.
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Empowered Women: Sandhya is an example of modern, independent woman,

who understands what she feels for, does what she really believes in, and lives true

to her own terms and values. She has her own office at her flat, and looks out for

herself. She is independent at all levels. She can make her own money, follow her

own path and be her own best friend. She is divorced from her husband and has a

son to take care of. She is very friendly with Iqbal, who is also her colleague. She

is a little spendthrift as she has tastes for art and painting. She buys a painting

worth rupees twenty two thousand. She has a very stylish drawing room. She is in

relationship with Anubhav who is a painter but when she comes to know about his

infidelity, she throws him out of the house. She is disturbed by the presence of her

ex-husband but manages out well. She challenges herself with a better software

programme and is successful in her efforts as she creates a better and faster

programme.

Corruption at Workplace: Sandhya and Iqbal have created a software

programme which has developed problems. Iqbal went to check the system in the

office where it was operational. When he investigated he found that somehow the

plugs were intentionally pulled out. He found the two officers – Raunakji and

Manishji working late at night. There were ledgers and safe in the accounts room.

The safe was with its coverings of Gods and Goddesses and there was an empty

space in the middle as if something was missing. When he went to check the

cables, he touched upon a jumbo, which was taken away from the safe. Iqbal could

make out, that files were corrupted because of the mishandling of the two officers
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while they continued with their slips and forgery in the accounts room but they

were caught and fired from their jobs.

The last story bears the title ‘Shanti’ which means peace. Through the story

we reach Subramaniam, a character who makes his presence felt throughout the

narrative. The story deals with the quest of young woman for her Air Force

husband lost in World War II combat mission. It narrates the love story of the

protagonist who sees the woman at the railway station. She is a frequent passenger

and her repeated visits to the station serve only to intrigue him and increase his

obsession with her.

Cultural Riots and War: Cultural riots and World War II have been portrayed as

the backdrop of the narrative. These political leaders excite the passions of people

and they are the ones who get the maximum benefits out of war. The Hindu mob

snatched away the life of Hari, the twin brother of Shiv Subramaniam. The World

War II made Shanti lose her husband who was a pilot in the Air Force.

The political leaders like Nehru envisaged a new order in India – a secular

and socialist India, where all religions have freedom and equal say but the

contemporary political leaders have destroyed the spirit and feel of secularism and

socialistic principles by creating differences in the people of varied cultural

identities. The cultural riots and mobs further promote segregation in society which

is a stumbling block in the hopes and aspirations of an egalitarian society.

Widow Remarriage: Shanti was a widow as there was no news of her husband

whose aircraft was put on fire in the World War II. She had been struggling to find
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her lost husband but was ineffective. While on her visits to the army headquarters,

she happened to meet Shiv. Shiv gets attracted towards her and wishes to marry her

but his parents and relatives do not support him. Finally, they elope and get

married. They get settled in Bombay.

Indian society has incorporated and sustained the positive impact of the

new culture. Widows are no longer suffering alone; they have been given a

platform where they can restructure their lives. Many pension schemes and

monetary benefits are provided to them. They can plan their future and remarry

which is not considered a taboo in metro cities. The problems associated with

widow remarriages are markedly visible, as the elders in the story are not ready to

support them.

Thus, in the stories we meet the two narrators, one who is near the end of

his life, the other one in the prime of his own. Chandra reels before the readers the

two visions of megapolis; one is ageless and the other which is ever changing.

Subramaniam evolves a vision of an older and haunted Bombay and Ranjit Sharma

represents Bombay of the new information age, materialistic, pragmatic and

incredulous.

The next novel Sacred Games is a crime thriller where Bombay’s police

officer Sartaj Singh seeks an opportunity to nab a criminal warlord-Ganesh

Gaitonde. Chandra starts with the character of Sartaj Singh taken from previous

work- Love and Longing in Bombay. We observe two man plot stands in the novel.

Sartaj Singh’s quest to discover himself is interfered with Gaitonde’s memories of

his established career. The book moves through various channels. It is a deep
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introspection of the changes visible in megapolis which caters and supports many

activities simultaneously. Some of the issues which form an important part of the

study are discussed below:

Nuclear Terrorism: The narrative is planted in the backdrop of nuclear threat.

Gaitonde comes to know about Guruji’s plan of nuclear bomb and builds a cubicle

for him to protect from nuclear possibility while Sartaj Singh and Anjali Mathur

follow up the leads of the terrorists groups executing a plan to blow up Bombay.

Their findings lead them to a virtual nuclear holocaust keen on destroying the

humanity.

Nuclear terrorism in India will remain a potent threat as long as there are

terrorists seeking to gain access to nuclear material and technologies for malicious

purposes. The activities during the past years are a witness to significant rise in the

profile of a security threat involving terrorism and nuclear weapons. The

September 11, 2011 attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in New

York and the Pentagon is a clear testimony to the fact. Terrorists have made it clear

their intention to get nuclear weapons. Many Islamic nations through various

means are posing a threat as they have procured deadly weapons and nuclear

armament which they can use to unleash the terror.

The book describes the presence of militant outfit Hizbuddeen. It is the

army of the final day. They talk of the destruction of India starting from Bombay.

It also deals with Kalki Sena which is getting ready for war. They wanted to set up

a perfect nation according to Hindu principles, the Ram Rajya.

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Infidelity and Domestic Violence: In metros, there are many more reasons,

which lead to marital-discord and forms of domestic violence. These include more

income of a working woman than her partner, her absence from the house till late

night, being more forward socially than the males; working women are quite often

subjected to assaults at home or in office.

In cities, marriages don’t offer a lifetime warranty anymore. With more and

more women joining the workforce, the traditional barriers are collapsing to give

way to a new westernized culture. Women are aiming high, working longer hours

and travelling outside for work. With both the partners working between office

deadlines and house hold chores, couples have barely any time to invest in a

marriage. As a result, there are more instances of extra-marital affairs in the

corporate sector. Both males and females succumb to these pressures. If they are

not satisfied in their marital relationship, they find options outside marriage.

The character Kamala Pandey, a representative of elite section faces

domestic violence at the hands of her husband but she is bold enough to give it

back in the same coin. She also attacks Mr. Pandey and gives him a fine beating.

The husband is skeptic, that his wife is having an affair. Kamala Pandey is an

airhostess and Mr. Pandey believes that she has been hosting the pilots at

stopovers. Mr. Pandey’s doubts indeed, turn out to be true as Kamala Pandey is

involved with a pilot Umesh who later blackmails her.

Aparna and Amrit Rao, living in small Kholis, in slum areas are always

fighting it out. Amrit Rao has extr -marital relations with a lady from whom he had

children.
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The elite and the slum dwellers, both are facing the same kind of issues, be

at home or workplace.

Political Corruption: It is the use of power by government officials for

illegitimate private gain. In Politics, corruption undermines democracy and good

governance by flouting or subverting formal processes. Corruption in public

administration results in the inefficient provisions of services. Government

regulators and police share in bribe money which they receive from people in order

to get their work done. Earlier, bribes were paid for getting wrong things done, but

now bribe is paid for getting right things done at right time. Political machinery is

bottom necked involved in corruption. The major source of corruption in police is

the vast power vested in a police officer in day to day working. They enjoy wide

powers while discharging the core functions of police, which includes the

maintenance of peace and order and prevention and detection of criminal activities.

In the narrative, Bipin Bhonsle, the Rakshak candidate for the constituency

of Morwade comes to meet Gaitonde, the ganglord. He wants to win an election in

his favour. When Gaitonde specifically asks him about their endeavour to root out

corruption, he replies, “When the whole world is dirty, bhai, you have to get dirty

to do any cleaning. We can’t fight their money without tricks. Once we are in

power, it will all be different. We will change everything”(244). He is ready to

squander all his money to secure a win, while Gaitonde provides him the essential,

man power. This is the state of affairs of politicians in India where power matters.

Later on, during the course of the novel, the Rakshaks form new

government in the state. They are trying to become a party of statesmen as is

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portrayed when a character states,“As state ministers and cabinet secretaries, they

had toned down their ranting nationalism, but they would not give up their battle

against cultural deprivation and western assumption. They promised to reform the

nation”(17). People like them, have their own philosophy to project. They are

much concerned about the degradation of Indian culture and values by western

influence, and not about the upliftment of poor sections of society and

development of nation as a whole.

Some instances of corruption amongst police force have been clearly

indicated in the novel. Police collect money to be distributed among the members

and to maintain for the budget of police station. They take bribes to issue a no

objection certificate in case of accidental deaths. Parulkar, the Deputy

Commissioner has got repairs done at his house for free. A ganglord convicted of

murder, was out on parole and the police records say that he is absconding while,

he is going on with his malicious activities in Bombay. They have monthly

arrangements with dance bars and clubs. It is quite evident that Parulkar has been

getting money from Suleiman Isa, the ganglord to carry on his nefarious activities.

The system has become altogether corrupt.

The Partition Saga: The partition of India was the process of dividing the Indian

subcontinent. India gained independence from the British rule in 1947. The

northern, predominantly Muslim sections of India became the nation of Pakistan

while the southern & majority Hindu sections became India.

The land of the Punjab was fertile and wealthy. There were Hindus &

Muslims in equanimity in Punjab. Neither of the side, wanted to relinquish the

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valuable land. The border was drawn right down the middle of the province

between Lahore & Amritsar. So, people had to move from one side to another but

that turned out to be a painful exercise. Trains full of refugees were set upon fire

by militants from both sides and many people were killed.

The struggle and torture of partition was faced by the family of Prabhjot

Kaur (Nikki), Sartaj Singh’s mother. They were deceived by Prabhjot’s father’s

friend Khudabaksh Shafi, who was a Muslim. He wanted to own the house and

land of his friend, so he planned an ambush. The rest of family reached the Indian

side while the elder sister of Probhjot Kaur, Navneet was taken away by the

Muslims. The family had to face a lot of hardships in re-establishing themselves.

Inter-Caste Marriages: Inter-caste marriage is mostly caused by love. In India,

different religions have their own rules relating to marriage. When two people

from different social groups marry, it is the case of an inter-caste marriage. If the

parents do not approve the marriage, they cut off the social relations with their

children. In the present times, when the youngsters go to colleges & make friends

from different communities, they get along well with each other, their chances of

falling in love also gets higher. There are still taboos followed in Indian society

against inter-caste or love marriages. Honour killings are quite prevalent in India.

Honour killings are directed mostly against women & girls. The parents & relatives

believe that the victim has brought dishonor upon the family or community by

marrying on her choice. Even in the twenty first century, the mentality of people

has not changed and they just cannot accept that marriages can take place outside

their castes.
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In the novel, Paritosh Shah, Gaitonde’s friend and money lender, has

daughter Dipika who wanted to marry Prashant Haaralkar. He was a dedicated

student, had gone to the night college. He had a permanent job & lived is Chembur

and supported his mother and younger sister. Paritosh Shah was unhappy with the

proposal as the father of the boy used to work in the sanitation department. She

was married off to some other guy but after two months she killed herself.

Defensive Machinery: The Research and Analysis wing (RAW) is the primary

foreign intelligence agency of India. The main function of RAW is gathering

foreign intelligence and counter-terrorism. It is also involved in the security of

Indian nuclear programme. It is also responsible for analysing information about

foreign policies to give advice to Indian policy makers.

DCP Anjali Mathur has been dealing and investigating the case of

Gaitonide. She is an officer in the RAW wing. The case is of national security. She

asks Sartaj Singh to help her as the mission is to be kept a secret. They had a

generalized threat perception that some militant group could use a portable weapon

in an urban area. She discusses about Kalki Sena and Hizbuddeen. They are

working on the possible role of Gaitonde and his Guruji. She comes to know that

the group has already acquired the nuclear material, the payload, which is big

enough and can be used anytime. Finally, following one lead after another they

manage to destroy the holocaust.

The Glamour World: The world of glitz and glamour mesmerizes all but the

shimmer appears to be only on the surface while the underbelly seems to have dark

and ugly side. Modelling, film world and fashion industry, all have attracted the
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young girls but the path is not as easy as it seems. They have to win their ways by

making many compromises in their lives. They have to bear the unnatural advances

of the glamour people in order to grab their chances. The glamour industry has

underworld connections. Some of the girls are able to set a foot in the film industry

because of the links between the cinema and the underworld. Many lesser known

actresses get caught in the underworld after the gangsters take a fancy to them.

It is not easy to break into the modelling and film world, if you are not born

into a powerful and influential star family. There is a need to develop the

connections, the need of a godfather who will help in the smooth ride to top. The

young aspirants throw themselves at their mercy to win their favour.

The character of Jojo Mascarenas, was a model coordinator, who

recommended models of various agencies. She used to send the young, beautiful

and needy girls to rich aspirants. She herself wanted to become an actor. She went

for many assignments and tried her luck in television world but she was exploited

on the pretext of a role.

Similarly, Zoya Mirza had to struggle herself to excel in the film world.

She ran away from her house to try her luck in Bombay. She came in contact with

Jojo, who sent her to Gaitonde. Gaitonde slept with her and in return, she was

funded by him. Gaitonde helped her in enhancing her beauty and body by getting

surgeries done on her. He later produced a film for her as well. Many of the girls

used to work in dance bars in order to earn their livelihood. Some of them made

connections with high profile people, who offered them small roles in television
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soaps or advertisements, like the Delight dance bar girl Kavita got a chance to act

in a serial.

The exploitation of women have been continuing for long but now, since

they are working, a change is expected but the exploitation and abuse has taken

myriad forms. Exploitation at work place, domestic violence, psycho-sexual abuses

have reached alarming levels.

Fake Spiritual Saints : India is the land of many spiritual leaders or the ‘Godman’

whose motive in life is to show the right path. While some of these people

possessed supernatural powers and performed miracles while others shot to fame

owing to the charity work they did for the society. Many saints like Sai Baba, Guru

Nanak Dev led a very humble life but the present age gurus have cheated their

audiences at some point in their lives. They are engaged in the business of

prostitution, sex rackets, arms dealing, the use of drugs etc. Asaram Bapu, Guru

Rampal- to name a few can be projected as saints who just wanted to serve their

own purposes and accumulate as much wealth.

The Guruji in the narrative is destined with the power of vision. He is using

his energies in sinister objects than serving the humanity. He is involved in nuclear

terrorism and wants the Hindus to rule. He wants everything to be destroyed and

believes in the formation of a new statehood based on idealistic principles.

The World of Gangsters: Gangster operations are quite active in metro cities

especially in Bombay. Bombay or Mumbai is a witness to bomb blasts in 1993 and

further terrorists attack on 26 November 2008. Many innocent people lost their
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lives in those attacks. The cause behind the attack is to spread terror. Gangsters,

while sitting outside India have been operating in India since, they have an easy

access to the coastal route. They wish to excite communal hatred in people so that

peace and harmony is disturbed. They wish to harm people, be it rich or poor,

without any fault of theirs. They extort money, commit kidnappings and murders

and serve their own ends. They want to rule the world their own way. Many

Afghan and Muslim militias are overactive in propounding terror in the whole

world.

In the present novel– G-company and S-company have their own networks.

Both wish to extend their supremacy in their territories. They have connection with

political groups and police force which make their task easier. The new advanced

technology and weapons have made their systems easy to operate. They have

advanced gang-arms, weapons, bombs which they can exercise of their will at any

time.

The improved tools and technology are to be used for the betterment of

humanity but presently, it is being used for its destruction. After the easing of

restrictions worldwide, on the use of arms and ammunition, its impact has cast its

dark shadows on the whole world.

The Plight of Widows: For long, Indian societies have blamed, the women

responsible for the death of the spouse and hence they are ostracized from the

families. They are forced to take shelters in various ashrams and centers. They are

made to lead their lives with the stigma of being a widow and hence can’t have

access to common forms of luxury like coloured clothes, accessories, going out
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and having enjoyment. Her life becomes a living nightmare but very slowly, the

women are trying to come out from the tragedy of their lives. They earn and stand

on their feet and carve their own niche.

In the text, Shalini Katekar’s world turns upside down when her husband

Katekar dies in a police encounter. She has to bear the loss and take care of her two

children. The relatives instead of helping her try to extract the money or criticize

her for her modern approach. She finds satisfaction in emancipating the poor

women about general hygiene and health measures. She regains composure and

confidence and tries to catch up with the changing times.

Thus, Indian society, as explored in the novels, is full of examples which

reflect the coming changes in the modes and manners of people. Some changes

which are for the betterment of the society need to be readily accepted but when

they are retrogressive and harmful, they are to be shunted out. Indian culture boasts

of tradition and custom like faith in God, superstitious beliefs, fasting rituals, but

again, those practices which are detrimental and further promote the divisions in

society, need to be avoided and instead, meaningful and healthy traditions like

respect of the elders, domestic bliss, need to be glorified. The individuals need to

focus on those set of principles which are acceptable and justified.

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3.4 NOVELWISE ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERS

Compelling and credible characters are essential for a successful work of

art. A disturbance threatens the well being of the character, thus upsetting or

undermining the thought process. The problem must carry a sense of urgency that

compels the character to act. The way one reacts to the situation, the traits he

reflects, the behaviour patterns which are distinguishable reflect the character's

struggle or predicament or how he overcomes the opposition. The modern

sophisticated guns, explosions, murders, phobias leave one totally dumb founded

emotionally-wanting and in state of deep loss. The relationship which the

characters express help in understanding the nature and problems prevalent in

metropolitan society.

Jago Antia: Jago Antia is fifty years old and forms part of the story ‘Dharma.’ He

is an army man who has lost his leg in the battle field. It has been twenty years

since he lost his leg but as the story opens, he is experiencing a twisting ache, two

inches under his plastic knee. Everybody believed that Jago Antia was invincible.

"He was famous for his stare, for the cold blackness of his anger, for his tactical

skill and his ability to read ground, his whole career from the gold medal at

Kharakvasta to the combat and medals in Leh & NEFA" (5).

The younger generation respected him for his politeness, for his courage.

His real name was Jehangir Antia. He was so confident and labourious that he

could shame people who were younger to him. He used to rise up early for practice

and hence he was named as Jago Antia (early riser). He was never interested in
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celebrations but the cadets celebrated his birthday on the pretext of regimental

battle day.

He tried to take medication for the severe pain which he experienced in his

knee but to no avail. Finally, Jago Antia had to relieve himself from the command

for medical reasons and went back from Calcutta to his house in Bombay. It was

an old house, looked after by the keeper, Amir Khan. His parents were dead. He

decides to sell his house but somehow he comes to understand that nobody is

willing to take the house as some ghost stories are doing the rounds. Jago Antia

discourages the thought. In his dreams, he recollects the battle scene when he lost

his leg. He had himself chopped off his leg with a khukri. Then, he sees the

apparition, the shape of footprints and hears voice in the house.

A priest is called to ward off the ghost who tells him that it is the ghost of a

child and is very strong. It is looking for something. Only one who knows about

him must go up naked and ask what it seeks. Jago Antia goes upstairs all alone and

he recollects his childhood, his parents and his elder brother Sohrab. They used to

play and fight together. He recalls the incident, when Sohrab was flying a kite,

Jahangir pressed on Sohrab to let him fly the kite, but Sohrab did not let him do it.

Jehangir tried to hold the string but in the process, Sohrab lost his balance and fell

down from the roof and was dead, Jehangir was left alone. Then, Jahangir

recollected his seventh birthday which was after his brother's death. The parents

asked him for presents and he demanded an army dress.

Jago, at this stage sees the vision of a small child wearing the olive green

uniform bearing the name J. Anita. The vision questions him where he should go,
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to which Jago replies "Jehangir, you are already home"(31). He realises that he had

lost himself, his childhood, his mis-shapen and magnificent life because of his guilt

factor. He refurbishes himself and at that moment, the vision vanishes. The story

ends on a note of comfort and satisfaction as Jago Antia is a relieved man.

Sheila Bijlani: The strory ‘Shakti’ deals with the protagonist Sheila Bijlani. Her

father was a chemist. She was very beautiful and glamorous. Right from the school

days, she arranged her hair tastefully, wore a short skirt. She was a quick learner.

When she grew up, she became an air hostess with Air France. Going abroad was a

big thing during those times and many proposals from rich men came her way, but

she married Mr. Bijlani, a USA returned electrical engineer. He was a plump and

sober man. There were rumours that she married him from his money. They

worked together with patience and steadiness, and earned a reputation for

themselves. Sheila wanted to be admired in big circles so she started throwing

cocktail parties and lunches where she invited her special guests, the so called high

gentry including, Dolly Boatwalla but Dolly never attended her parties.

When Sheila joined the lunch club, Dolly was forced to go to Sheila's

house. Everybody praised Sheila for the upkeep of the house but Dolly didn't

praise her. The ladies were wonderstruck at the painting of Hussain at Sheila's

place but Dolly didn't give any reaction. Sheila shut the door at her and it was the

beginning of the enmity between them.

Sheila felt very bad at the treatment meted out to her by Dolly. She made

up her mind that she would defeat Dolly. Bijlanis diversified their resources and

invested in different industries, in addition to the mixies which was their original
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source of income. Sheila & Dolly had been waging war politely for so many years.

The Bijlanis had applied for the membership to the Malabar Gymkhana but they

were denied the permission as per the directions of Dolly's husband. Then, Sheila

came up with the Shanghai club. The women waited for the coveted membership

but Dolly did not receive any invitation. The animosity remained between them.

Sheila's son, Sanjeev came back to Bombay after completing his education

and various courses in Photography and Art & History from USA. He fell in love

with Roxanne, daughter of Dolly Boatwalla. Sanjeev shared his decision, to marry

Roaxanne with his mother. For the sake of his son, Sheila tried to contact Dolly but

she took away her daughter to London. Sheila waited for the right opportunity to

strike back. She handled Sanjeev who was under severe depression. When she

learnt about Dolly coming back, she went to meet Dolly. Dolly didn't meet her but

Sheila, devised that she would buy Dolly's mansion. They would buy the

Boatwallas-stock, shop and house completely. Bijlanis gathered all the shares,

wealth and assaulted for Boatwalla Shipping International but the takeover was

pretty difficult. Still, they carried on as the source of inspiration was their son for

whom they were making all efforts. Finally, they overpowered the Boatwallas by a

tip given by Ganga, their common maid. Then, the matters get settled. The

marriage is solemnized. A new company is floated out- Bijlani Boatwalla Bombay

International Trading Group.

Dolly Boatwalla: Dolly was long, sallow woman and wore old jewellery. She was

arrogant and rude. Dolly and Sheila were introduced at a party but Dolly never

took Sheila seriously. She lived in a mansion that was rough and patchy. All her
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maids were dressed in uniform. The maids were French mostly Keralites. Dolly

had domineering attitude and the habit of mimicking others. Dolly did not treat

Sheila very well when she went to the latter's house at the party. This was the start

of war between the two ladies. Dolly was married to Freddie Boatwalla, owner of

the Boatwalla Shipping international. Under his wife's influence, Freddie denied

the membership of the Malabar Gymkhana to the Bijlanis. Then came, the

Shanghai Club to which Dolly was not invited. Dolly behaved as if the Shanghai

club did not exist. She maintained her composure and remained magnificent but

later enquired from Sheila about the membership of the club.

All her ruthlessness and roughness is dashed to the ground when she comes

to know about her daughter’s love for Sheila’s son Sanjeev. She takes her away to

London but all her efforts are fruitless as Sheila relaunches her attack on

Boatwallas with renewed vigour. Finally, Dolly has to make a compromise and

give her acceptance for the matrimonial relationship.

The cat fight between the ladies for supremacy is a common phenomenon

in high bred society. There are ladies who are fighting to establish their hold; also

there are poor people like the maid Ganga who are working out day and night to

make the both ends meet. Money is not an issue for these higher strata of society;

they need just to refurbish their brand image. They squander their money on kitty

parties and clubs totally relegating the needy. This Indian culture is an import of

the western world and it is one of the reasons that Bharat, representative of weaker

class is lagging behind the high culture of India as they are completely ignored in

the society.
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Sartaj Singh: The character forms a part of story ‘Kama.’ He is a police inspector

who is in charge of investigating the case of murder of Chetan Bhai Ganshyam

Patel. The body was found in a ditch. The death had occurred because of a stab

wound. The blade had pierced his heart. Singh came to know that Chetan Bhai was

wearing a gold Rolex watch. Shankar Ghorpade, a drunkard was arrested with the

watch. He did not confess his crime and said, if he opened his mouth he would be

killed.

Sartaj Singh visited the home of Chetan Bhai. It was a luxurious apartment.

Chetan Bhai was a textile trader. He exported to Middle-East and America. He was

passionate about his red Contessa. He along with his wife went for a drive on

Saturdays. His son Kshitij was blunt and had unflinching iron in him.

The leads take Sartaj Singh to Jankidas Publishing Company and further to

Daman where the Patels used to stay in a boarding house. Sartaj traces the picture

of a naked woman and other proofs and comes to an understanding, that the

licentious nature of Chetan Patel led to his death. He realises that Chetan Bhai's

wife had to make compromises and he forced her to do certain acts and there is no

justification of that.

Sartaj Singh was a fiery Sikh gentleman. His father retired as a senior

inspector in police force before his death. His mother lived alone in Poona taking

care of her house and garden. His wife Megha is estranged from her. She wants a

divorce but Sartaj could not come to terms in accepting it. Sartaj was a hero in his

college days. He had the reputation of a casanova in the college. Megha was rich

and beautiful; together they presented a handsome couple but ultimately they
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realize they could not live together and seek divorce. He closes the file of Chetan

Bhai Patel by implicating Ghorpade who is dead by then.

Kshitij: He is the son of Chetan Bhai Ghanshyam Patel, whose murder case was

investigated by Sartaj Singh. Kshitij was nineteen years old. He was quiet by

nature and an intelligent boy who got first rank in the exam. The mother doted on

her son. He and his friends belonged to the Rakshak group. The Rakshaks were a

cultural organization who used to distribute pamphlets. They attacked those who

destroyed their culture.

Sartaj meets Kshitij as a part of his investigation. He was the only son of

his parents, a pre-medical student and wanted to specialize in neurology. There

was some sort of rudeness or iron in him which Sartaj could feel about the boy.

Sartaj discovered that Kshitij had dumped the papers and other garbage from his

house to the other side of the wall twice. Sartaj carried on his investigation and

came to know about the sensual nature of Chetan Bhai Patel. Sartaj reached the

place, owned by Mrs. Khanna where Chetan Bhai used to spend his weekends. The

lady informed Sartaj Singh that Kshitij had threatened her about divulging any

details.

Sartaj Singh takes Kshitij to police station and questions him about the

indecencies committed by his parents. Kshitij remains silent and inert. Sartaj is

eager to know the details but he also feels sympathetic towards the boy. Finally,

Sartaj closes the file and Kshitij is let off. Kshitij had to experience torture and

pain for what his father had done. He filtered out only that his father was not a

good man. He did not want to destroy the family reputation and did not divulge
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any details. Sex crime rate has increased in the modern society. The limits have

been crossed but it is not an individual but the whole family have to bear the

repercussions.

Again, the narrative shifts to Fisherman's Rest and Subranamanian narrates

a new story titled ‘Astha.’ It deals with Iqbal and Sandhya who were working

together as software programmer.

Iqbal: Iqbal worked with Sandhya. Together, they had developed new software

and it was accepted by Mr. Das against the bid of bigger companies. The software

was giving trouble and both Sandhya and he had been working to improve the

program by removing the snag. Iqbal had been in a gay relationship with Rajesh.

Rajesh had a body builder personality and worked in post office.

Iqbal was not liked by Sandhya's mother as he was a Muslim but Sandhya

completely trusted him. He knew all about Sandhya and her family. When

Sandhya, Iqbal and Rajesh go to an arty party, Rajesh confronts Ratnani, a big man

but Ratnani refuses to recognize Rajesh. Rajesh goes missing after the party. Iqbal

tries hard to trace Rajesh. He along with Sandhya visit Rajesh’s house where they

come to know about the missing complaint lodged in police station. Iqbal visits

Bhaiyya gym where Rajesh used to train but he learns that Rajesh has stopped

coming to the place since long and had joined the body building club. He also

learns Rajesh is not employed in post office and has been in contact with criminals.

He goes to the club and Ratnani's house to enquire about Rajesh but all results into

nothing. Rather, he confronts Rajesh's reality and his contacts with the gangsters.
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Meanwhile, Iqbal is enduring the pain of a missing partner and he is

engrossing himself in his job. He goes to Accounts Branch for system repairs and

he realizes the wrongs done by Munishiji and Raunakji being responsible for the

system getting corrupt. He duly informs Sandhya and the culprits are removed and

system is rectified of its anomalies. Meanwhile, he also helps Sandhya in arranging

the party at her house. He is loving and caring towards Sandhya's son also.

Iqbal is a true friend and a guide to Sandhya. He supports and helps her but

also informs her when she is wrong. He doesn't approve of her relationship with

Anubhav, the painter. He arranges for the party, and gets things from the market

when Sandhya desires so. Whenever Sandhya is overworked and exhausted, he

comforts her. When the system crashes out, he goes all the way at night for repairs.

He misses Rajesh, his partner. His relationship with Rajesh is pure and tranquil

which is devoid of religious biases. He says, "When we told each other our full

names we looked at each other for a moment and noted and dismissed the

difference in our religions in one smile,that was all"(198).

It is narrated in the concluding stages of the story that Rajesh is traced out

but the details are not provided. Iqbal understands that lost time never comes back

and he survives with a void in his heart and life.

Sandhya: She is a software programmer, friend to Iqbal. She is divorced from

Vasant. She lives with her son Lalit and her mother. She has a taste for stylish

living. She has Swedish sofas and couches, glass-topped coffee table, blue carpet

etc. Nobody is allowed to enter the drawing room. She is in relationship with
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Anubhav Rajadhakshey, who is a painter and has uncertain income. He uses one of

her rooms as his studio.

Sandhya's ex-husband Vasant does not approve of her relationship with the

painter. He threatens Sandhya that he would prove in the court that she is an

immoral woman and not fit to raise their son Lalit. He further says that he would

snatch her father's property and their son from her. Her mother who is a traditional

woman also wishes that she should endure her relationship with her ex-husband

however painful it may be. She endures all the pain and struggles of her life with

patience and with the true support provided by Iqbal.

She is disturbed by the error in the programme, strives hard, rectifies it with

the help of Iqbal and develops an improved version of the programme. She realizes

about Anubhav's relationsip with Viveka Gupta and throws him out of her house.

As a true friend, she also supports Iqbal, goes all out with him to Rajesh's house to

find him. When Iqbal is drunk, she carefully takes him to the car and makes the

driver to take him to his house.

She is an epitome of smart and independent lady who can carry on her own

with élan. The system improves and recovers and fetches her money. She gets a

new office but she is still dating Anubhav, a future hope. The modern westernized

woman of today is ready to chalk out her own territory.

In the last story of Love and Longing in Bombay – ‘Shanti’, the reader once

again meets Subramanium who narrates his own story about falling in love with a
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woman whom he sees as a passerby. She is a frequent passenger and her repeated

visits to the station serve only to intrigue him and increase his obsession with her.

Shiv Subramaniam describes about the year 1945, when he was just twenty

years old. He had a twin brother Hari, who was killed by a Hindu mob in Delhi.

Shiv had been under depression, so he was sent to his sister’s place who was

married to a station master at Leharia. Shiv had done his B.Sc. and loved to read

novels but after his brother's death, he grew silent. He used to visit the railway

station regularly and he became friendly with Frankie Furtado, the assistant

station-master. On his visit to the station, he got attracted to a woman who was

wearing a grey saree. She was simple and a young woman, not wearing any

ornaments. “The eyes were large, there was a thick plait falling over a shoulder and

now she looked down and put a hand over her mouth"(233). He comes to know

that her name was Shanti Chauhan and she was looking for her Air Force husband

who got lost in World War II combat mission.

Whenever Shiv came home, he would "feel his self, his soul turn and turn

inwards, again and again, until it was as thin drawn as a wire, shiny and

brittle"(239). He did not realize what was happening to him. Gradually, he waited

for Shanti to come back. She came and exchanged stories which she gathered from

meeting various people in search of her husband. They develop a bond. Ultimately,

Shiv proposes her but Shiv's family is against him marrying a widow. Shiv is bent

on it and with the help of Frankie Furtado, marches towards Bombay where they

get married. They start this new life leaving behind all the negativity and pain.
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Then, the narrative shifts to the present where an old Shanti comes into the picture

and offers the narrator to have dinner.

Sacred Games is a delightful study of various characters and their traits, it

has moments of intense feeling, the loss, the pain, the betrayal – but it provides a

reconciliation that losses and betrayal are part of the gameplan and the struggle has

to be continued.

Ganesh Gaitonde: Ganesh is a small time crook, who becomes the biggest Hindu

mob boss in India. His father was Raghavendra Gaitonde who was a poor Brahmin

married to Sumangala. Raghavendra along with his wife went to Nashik where he

was installed as the priest of Lakshmi Narayan temple with the help of a cousin

named Suryakant Shenoy. The cousin used to help the family whenever he got the

chance. Then, Kiran was born who was a bright child from the very beginning. As

he grew up, he felt contempt for his father who was a weak man, pitied by others.

Later on, he comes to know that his father had murdered Suryakant and fled. Their

family was shunned by the village. The village men came to Kiran's mother and

bestowed gifts on her and became her clients. Kiran could not take the insult

anymore. When he was twelve, he left his home and boarded the train to Bombay.

He changed his name from Kiran to Ganesh – the survivor who always lives. He

got his training from Salim Kaka and when he was nineteen years old, he killed

Salim Kaka and ran away with his gold. He sold the smuggled gold to Paritosh

Shah who asked him to invest his money in business.

Gaitonde ably acquires the land of Gopalmath. He builds a basti in

Gopalmath where spacious and pucca kholis are built up. All sorts of people live in
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Gopalmath. He gathers money from shopkeepers, traders and in return provides

them security. He has good relations with police. Local people come to him to

settle their matters and thus the G-company is originated. He comes in

confrontation with Cobra gang and S-company. He destroys the Cobra gang but S-

company and Suleiman Isa threaten him throughout. Thus, a street kid with no

resources but his own wits evolves into a violent, moral, spoiled man who is

protected and catered to by his band of dependent henchman.

Gaitonde knows that he would be killed sooner or later. There is no escape.

So, he wants to reign like a King. Fear was part of his reign. With the passage of

time, Paritosh Shah becomes close friend and confidante of Gaitonde but he is

killed and Gaitonde is shattered. He marries Subhadra Pevalekar because his friend

Paritosh Shah wanted him to. He becomes a father. He escapes attempt on his life

twice but his wife and son die.

While in prison, he comes in contact with various persons who mould his

lifestyle and personality. He meets Mr. Kumar who worked for certain part of the

government (RAW). He wants Gaitonde to settle out of India and carry on his fight

with Suleiman Isa. He comes in contact with Guruji whom he supplied arms. He

becomes a follower of Guruji, as Guruji guides him on various occasions, even

about an attempt on his life. He also, comes in contact with Jojo Mascarneas, a

model coordinator and producer. She recommends many girls to Gaitonde and his

fellow prisoners. She also instructs him to follow Yoga and follow a healthy

lifestyle.
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On the orders of Mr. Kumar, Gaitonde has to stay on a yatch in Thailand.

Mr. Kumar has given all the security training to Gaitonde and in return Gaitonde

has to provide information about Suleiman Isa and his operations. He develops a

life-long friendship with Jojo, sharing, fighting and enjoying but they meet only in

the concluding pages of the novel. Gaitonde carries on his brutal tasks and

becomes more vigorous. He comes in contact with Zoya Mirza through Jojo. He is

completely smitten over by the girl. Gaitonde supports her. They meet in a flat at

Singapore. Gaitonde finances her rise as a model. She wanted a perfect body and

figure, Gaitonde supplies her resources for her medical toning and sculpting of her

body. She turns out to be a diva. Gaitonde became notorious and was a regular

feature in media :

Gaitonde regularly appeared in newspapers; dallied with bejewelled

starlets, bankrolled politicians and bought them and sold them his

daily skim from Bombay’s various criminal dhandas was said to be

greater than annual corporate incomes and his name was used to

frighten the recalcitrant.(30)

Gaitonde becomes fascinating for his acts of unthinking bloodshed and

revenge and also for his keen sentimental generosity. He lives under the delusion

that he can produce the perfect Bollywood action movie for Zoya Mirza, as he is

prompted by his blind devotion to a renowned holy man. He also gets a face

makeover done in order to live in disguise.

While carrying the shipment of Guruji, his men develop serious

complications and die. Gaitonde becomes inquisitive and wishes to question

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Guruji. Guruji goes missing. Gaitonde searches for him at various places and

makes it, his mission. His search culminates in Bekanur Farms near Amritsar.

There, he finds a secret chamber with missing links. He finds lots of dollars in the

chamber and runs away with it. After the episode, Guruji calls him and he

discovers Guruji’s plan about a nuclear bomb. Guruji excites him with the idea,

“every story needed a climax, and a big story needed a big climax”(838).

Gaitonde is not convinced. He builds a nuclear shelter for himself in

Kailashpada and settles there. He thinks of his trusted friend Jojo who has never

betrayed him. So, in order to protect her, he asks her man to transport her to his

new shelter. Jojo seems disnterested and is infuriated. In a fit of rage, Gaitonde

kills her but later repents. He calls Sartaj Singh, informs him of the presence of the

don of G-Company. As the police party reaches the spot, he kills himself. The

leads are followed by Sartaj Singh who undergoes the quest to discover why

Gaitonde blew his own brains rather than those of someone else. The search is

interspersed with Gaitonde’s memories of his criminal career.

Sartaj Singh: The character Sartaj Singh is in continuation with the writer’s

portrayal of the Inspector Sartaj Singh in the story ‘Kama’ in Love and Longing in

Bombay. Sartaj Singh is the Sikh police officer in Mumbai, used to being identified

by his turban, beard and the sharp cut of his trousers. He is forty plus, has gone

through a failed marriage and his career prospects are on the slide. Others from his

batch had climbed past him but he is just pedaling away. When he gets an

anonymous tip about the secret hide out of the don of G-Company, he is

determined to catch the prize. Singh becomes the unwilling ear to Gaitonde’s last
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words and dealing with the discovery of Gaitonde’s body following his bizarre

suicide. Singh is dragged into Gaitonde’s sphere as Gaitonde posthumously

recounts his autobiography. Singh tries to determine how Gaitonde’s influence has

grown in India from grossly criminal to an internationally threatening don. Sartaj

Singh is a good detective like his father but he is no angel. When an ambitious

social worker requests help with a rival; he takes the money and beats up the target

as requested. The local social worker is then able to assist him with setting up of an

encounter, one of those Indian police methods where criminals are lured into a trap

and then eliminated.

He helps out Kamla Pandey when she is blackmailed by her so called pilot

boy friend, Umesh. He doesn’t feel like helping the lady but then he yields to the

orders of her mother who had asked him to help her out in her crisis.

Sartaj Singh and his assistant Katekar had known each other for a long time

and he had come to rely on him but Katekar’s death during the investigation tore

him away. He held himself responsible for Katekar’s death. He missed the family

life, so he used to go to his friend Majid Khan’s house for passing his time. He

loved old songs and movies.

He has a wonderful chemistry with Parulkar,the Deputy Commissioner for

Zone 13. He considers Parulkar as his mentor. Sartaj thinks that Parulkar is the best

player of the political game. “He was a grandmaster of the subtle art of contact and

double contact and back channel, of ministers and corporate cultivated and kept

happy”(9). Parulkar had connections with Suleiman Isa – the underworld don
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which brings about his downfall and Sartaj Singh has a prominent role to play in

his downfall.

Through his investigations, he has the chance to meet the RAW officers

like Anjali Mathur and others who order him to carry on his investigations on

Gaitonde till further orders, as it involves the matter of national interest. On

account of it, he meets Mary Mascarnes, the love interest of his life. He discovers

information about the life of Jojo, Mary’s sister and the dead girlfriend of

Gaitonde. He also learns about the mechanizations of one Guruji, who was a

known figure and the source of guidance to Gaitonde. Guruji was involved in some

nefarious activities dealing with nuclear plans to destroy Bombay. Singh

understands the plan and with great efforts traces the location of Guruji and finally

gets him punished through Commando Operation. He saves his country and its

people. He gets the much deserved promotion but the secret about the nuclear

material is not revealed as it would lead to chaos and confusion. Sartaj Singh is the

undisputed hero in the novel where all characters are painted pale grey against him.

Guruji/Shridhar Shukla: Sridhar Shukla was born in Sialkot on 14th February

1934. His father was an aircraft technician and an asthmatic patient. After the

partition, they settled in Jodhpur and then, Pathankot. He was a famous sportsman,

the captain of Cricket team. Before his eighteenth birthday, he had borrowed his

father’s bike to go to cinema. On his way, he had an accident and he lost function

of the lower part of his body. After the accident, he was visited by the visions. He

saw the past and the future and he started his journey inwards, deep within his self.

He believed that, “in my injury I found myself, from the outside I was brought to
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the inside”(609). He read about scientific boons, computers, had a wheel chair,

which could climb stairs by itself. He disliked Muslims dominating the world and

believed in the coming of cataclysms, the end of Kaliyug.

Sridhar Shukla was an international swami. He had lunches with famous

personalities. He was often on TV, sitting on the wheel chair and smiling. He was a

good looking man with his thick white hair sweeping back over his head. He had

centers in one forty two countries. He had made predictions, many of them turned

out to be true.

He called up Gaitonde in connection with arms business, Gaitonde used to

supply guns in the country for Guruji. He discussed religion and philosophy with

Gaitonde. He tried to convince Gaitonde about the use of weapons as it was also

used by Lord Rama and Lord Krishna to destroy the evil. He was sixty four years

old but still alert and active.

He had formed a party Hizbuddeen, the party of the final day. This was the

fake group, essential to Guruji’s future plans. The party was funded by Muslims

and used by Guruji to fuel his activities. Some of the money went to Kalki Sena

which needed money for arms and recruitment. He believed that “there are choices

we can make at every minute. We are bound by our pasts, by the consequences of

our action”(737). Gaitonde finds a spiritual power in Guruji and gets attracted

towards him and follows him blindly. In Gaintonde’s view:

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He was so enlightened, so far advanced that he was somewhat

removed from the world of men and women. I knew that he valued

cleanliness that he liked gardens and greenery, that he had vast

amounts of knowledge about arcane subjects, that he liked to learn

about the latest advances in technology as soon as they happened.

But still he hovered a little above the earth. (738)

When Gaitonde’s men fall to radiations, Gaitonde searches for an answer

from Guruji but Guruji goes missing. He traces him to various places from North

to South and locates his farm house. Guruji calls him and details him about the

coming of acocalypse and destruction when he says:

Every golden age must be preceded by an apocalypse. It has always

been so, and it will be again. For more than fifty years we have put

off the fight on our borders and suffered small humiliations and

small bloodshed every day. We have been dishonoured and

disgraced and have become used to living with this shame. We will

fight. The battle is necessary.(838)

But Gaitonde is not convinced. Finally, the sham Guru is traced out by the

efforts of Sartaj Singh and given due punishment.

Jojo Mascarenas: Her real name was Juliet. She had a sister and mother. Her

father was in merchant navy and died early. When she was fifteen, she came to

stay in Bombay with her sister Mary who had been married to John. They lived in

Goregaon. In six months, she became a Bombay girl. She took dance and acting
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classes and very soon got modelling assignments. When she came to Bombay, she

only spoke Konkan and some Tulu but she quickly learnt English. She was

intelligent and picked up all by watching TV. John took her to meet some people in

MTV who were his friends. She met producers and directors. Then, Mary caught

her red handed with her husband. She took away her sister’s husband who

prostituted her. She had to make compromises and then she left John. She had her

ways and became a model coordinator and producer. She recommended models to

various agencies and put the girls in the videos. She owned a TV production

company and sent the young, beautiful and needy to the rich and demanding. She

was very laborious. She had her office in her house crammed with files. She had

love for variety of shoes. She kept the apartment clean and was methodical in her

work.

She was rough in speech. She was very rude with Gaitonde but developed a

bonding with him. She was not ready to accept Gaitonde’s viewoint of nuclear

fallout and wished to go back to her work. Gaitonde fearing her safety took her to

the nuclear shelter but as the circumstances transpired, she was killed at the hands

of Gaitonde.

Anjali Mathur: She is a DCP in CBI and attached with RAW and is incharge of

investigating the Gaitonde case. She was the daughter of Jagdeep Mathur who

worked for Intelligence Bureau. He went missing while following the leads of an

informant. She was virtually adopted by Mathur’s close friend and colleague, K.D.

Yadav. Right from the childhood, she had the knack of reading and Yadav brought

books for her.

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She was married to a Kannadiga boy against the wishes of her family. The

husband had studied economics, went on to make a career in IAS and had left her

after four years of marriage. He complained about Anjali’s obsession with her

work.

She carries herself neatly, wearing suits and carrying dupattas. She is

investigating and handling the issues of national security. When she was first of all

assigned the Gaitonde case, her officials and colleagues criticized her that being a

lady she could not handle the serious issues but she has proved everyone wrong

through her sincere efforts and hard work. She contacts Sartaj Singh and makes

him investigate all the details gradually passing and closing up from one lead to

another. She even takes the help of her uncle K.D. Yadav, who is ill and suffering.

She is at his bedside during his last days and understands the pain and struggle

which he was going through. All her hard work is fruitful as she averts the possible

nuclear disaster with the help of Sartaj Singh.

She has been portrayed as a lady of substance who is ready to undertake the

challenges thrust on her. She is not weakened by the criticisms meted out to her.

She remains firm and sticks to her job with K.D. Yadav as her pillar of strength.

Parulkar: He was the Deputy Commissioner for zone 13 in Mumbai. He had

sloping shoulders and a pear shaped body and his uniform used to be crumpled. He

was a sub-inspector under Sartaj’s father but he overtook Sartaj’s father and had

risen through Maharashtra State Police Service. He had an astonishing and

unparalleled career. He used to visit Sartaj’s home along with his father for dinner

but Sartaj’s mother never liked him as she thought him to be an opportune seeker.
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Parulkar had become Sartaj’s mentor and guide. Parulkar had made a leap into

Indian Police Service. As Sartaj called him “he was an aficionado of the subtle

sport, he was simply the best”(9). He loved reporters and had a knack of

convincing others by being jovial with them. When in his elements, he would

discuss a successful operation by polishing and improving the story.

Parulkar was facing tough time with the government but he settled the

issue. It was recounted that he had paid twenty crore rupees to the Chief Minister

and much else to various functionaries to save himself. His unofficial earnings

were handed over to Homi Mehta by Sartaj Singh who would funnel it to a Swiss

account. He had links with Suleiman Isa’s company. Many of Gaitonde’s men had

been killed and encountered by Parulkar on the basis of information given by S-

Company. Big politicians and ministers had been after him due to his links with S

Company.

Gradually, the government changed, Parulkar sided with the Rakshak

government and back-trapped the S-company men and encountered them.

Suleiman Isa got furious and trapped him via Sartaj Singh. His phone call with

Suleiman Isa was tapped and leaked. He lost his reputation and committed suicide.

Kamala Pandey: When one flips through the pages of the novel, the first character

to be introduced is Kamal Pandey. She is married to Mr. Pandey and is seen

having a fight with her husband. She is an airhostess. The husband suspects her to

be having an affair with a pilot. His doubts are very much confirmed in the

following chapters, when she meets Sartaj Singh in connection with a case.
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She was having an affair with a pilot Umesh Bindal who flew for Sahara.

They had met at a party in Versova three years ago. The affair had begun a year

after their first meeting and she had also broken off with him six months ago.

Someone was blackmailing her on account of it. She had already paid them one

lakh and fifty thousand rupees and they were demanding more. She had kept a list

of numbers from which they had called her. She had burnt all the video tapes they

had sent her.

Umesh was very attractive and handsome. Naturally, she fell for him.

Although, they had a break up she was still, involved with him. Sartaj investigates

and traces the case through Cozy Nook Guest House where they used to meet. His

investigation leads him to Umesh Bindal who confesses his guilt. Kamala was the

single spoilt child of her parents. Her parents were very rich and she maintained

her own separate accounts. Umesh wanted to extract money from her.

When Kamala comes to know about the deception of Umesh, she realizes

her mistake. She loves her husband and doesn’t want to leave him. She gathers

herself and is guilt-ridden that she has cheated her husband.

Shalini Katekar: Shalini had been married to Katekar for nineteen years. Katekar

was a sub-inspector and assistant to Sartaj Singh. Shalini had a clean efficiency of

keeping the things stacked. The Kholi was small and clean. They had two children

Rohit and Mohit. She used to clean one house only because she wanted to be home

when her sons were back from school. She had a younger sister Bharati who was

married to a scrap metal dealer. Shalini was thrifty as she first of all thought of the

family against her own pleasures.

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She had to bear the pain of losing her husband who died during an

encounter. She had to manage her household and her two sons. It took around nine

and half months, for the relief amount to be released after her husband’s death. His

Provident fund and his savings were also small. To add to it, Bharati demanded

money from her, as her husband wanted to start a travel agency but she very wisely

tackled the situation and did not part away with the money. With the passage of

time, Shalini joined a family welfare group and became a volunteer. She informed

the poor women about health and cleanliness. Bharati’s husband did not approve of

her task of enlightening women about family planning measures. She was

criticized but remained unperturbed. Her son Rohit joins the computer class, while

Mohit bears a grudge against Sartaj Singh. Shalini transforms herself from the role

of a dutiful wife to a working woman. She dresses smartly and elegantly and

infuses confidence.

Zoya Mirza: She represents the leading film star of Bollywood. She is very pretty

and beautiful almost 5 feet 9 inches tall. Her real name was Jamila. She belonged

to an orthodox Muslim family in Lucknow. Her father was a small man who

owned a small restaurant. While discussing with her brothers and father, she came

to know about the fashion world. She was taller than her brothers. So, she decided

and left her home and came to Bombay, where she came into contact with Jojo.

Jojo recommended her to Gaitonde. They used to meet in Singapore at a flat. The

flat belonged to Gaitonde’s associates Arvind and Suhasini. They stayed in the

upper half in the penthouse. Gaitonde spent a lot of money on her body reshaping

procedures and surgeries. She was very much like Gaitonde who could change the
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world through their energy. So, Gaitonde sponsored a movie for her. Then she won

the coveted Miss India contest. When she became Miss India, the frequency of

their meetings declined because of her professional commitments and finally, it

was altogether stopped.

Sartaj meets Zoya Mirza in connection with her links to Gaitonde. Zoya is

perplexed initially, but then maintains her composure. She supplies the information

about Gaitonde, his telephonic conversations with Bunty, Trivedi, Sharmaji and

Guruji. She also discloses that Gaitonde used to talk about Kaliyug and the

approaching end of the world.

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3.5 CONCLUSION

Vikram Chandra in his novels explores a range of Bombay life

commanding with immense skill a city crammed with vitality and life. It is full of

chaos and confusion. Virginia Crompton in Literary Review comments about the

book of short stories, “Love and Longing in Bombay is very much set in Bombay

and in the twentieth century – the nostalgic poise of the prose is blended with the

sweep and chaos of modern Indian City Life.”(n.pag.)

The five stories portrayed in Love and Longing in Bombay are all love

stories but they present strange mysterical quality. ‘Dharma’ points towards the

author’s interest in ghost stories. An old soldier comes home to his parent’s house

to find that it is haunted. ‘Shakti’ deals with high society, the battle between two

society hostesses, each one trying to overpower and snuggle the other. ‘Kama’ is a

detective story which deals with a murder investigation. Sartaj Singh handles the

inquiry and takes unknown paths and leads which make him understand how the

victim came to die, but also about his own life and his understanding of marital

relationships. The next story ‘Artha’ deals with the love of a gay couple and the

drives of a gifted programmer for perfection in her code while the gang operations

form the backdrop of the story. The final story ‘Shanti’ stands apart from the

others. Subramaniam invites the narrator to his house, to hear a story which in fact,

turns out to be the story, how he met and married his wife Shanti.

The protagonist Subramaniam is the connecting link who is at the

beginning and the end of the book. There are two set of narrators, very different

from each other but surviving in the complex megapolis. Subramaniam represents
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the image of mysterious and knowledgeable. He evokes a vision of old, difficult

and intricate Bombay which is mature and sensible to handle any situation while

Sharma represents the new information age- rash and impulsive, materialistic,

pragmatic and lacking in defensive mechanisms. The blending of traditional and

modern ideals is very much prominent in the stories. Many of the stories are left

deliberately incomplete by the novelist. Characters look to find answers to the

mysteries but many of the key elements are left unresolved and unexplained.

The writer by the employment of ordinary protagonists presents a very

modern setting of his narrative. The changes coming in society, the distinctive

changes in thought process, behaviour, club, parties, sexual-encounters, marital-

disputes, widow remarriage are indicative of the modern trends in the society but it

also reflects that old concepts have still, their roles to play. The faith in

superstitious beliefs, horoscope-matching, non acceptance of widow remarriage

and love affairs is a testimony to the fact. The firm base is still traditional which

leads to friction and differences in approach.

Sacred Games is a crime thriller. A seasoned Bombay police officer gets a

life time opportunity of catching his bait – the powerful Ganesh Gaitonde, the

criminal warlord of the G-Company. The confrontation between Sartaj Singh and

Ganesh Gaitonde lies at the heart of the novel. Sartaj tries to seek the knowledge of

his prey but it becomes clear that the game the two players thought they were

playing is in fact, a part of much larger plan, one that expands beyond the city and

implicates the planet.

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The novel moves through various landscapes, love life of a police officer, a

widow battling poverty and urban pressures, young woman’s struggle for filmdom,

a woman who prostitutes other woman and ironically produces TV shows about

women’s sufferings, a right wing religious leader conducts an enormous sacrifice

for the safety of citizens, a gangster who leads his company to victory but

discovers the strange emptiness of getting what it wants, the wrenching violence of

the 1947 of India, to the spectacle of nuclear terrorism.

The main storyline makes up a small fraction of nine hundred marathon

pages of the books. There are numerous stories within the story. There are some

chapters which are termed as insets by the author which portray characters which

may not be directly integral to the plot but have an interesting back story. The

novel moves along and presents a confusing plot structure. The Indian words are

used in the text, although, author has provided a glossary in the international

edition of the book for the readers. Still, it poses a difficulty to flip through the

pages to understand the contextual meaning. Some of the subplots could have been

avoided. They certainly add to the pages of the book and if discarded could have

made it much more readable.

The book works at multiple levels. It is a deep introspection of the amazing

megapolis which breeds, nourishes and nurtures all sections of people. Religion,

underworld, weapons of mass destruction are all covered by the broad canvas of

the novel. Gaitonde is drawn into the unholy world of local politicians and

communal tensions. His wealth increases and his connections carry him to
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Bollywood. He stumbles upon Zoya Mirza whose face and body isn’t genuine but

he enjoys her all the same.

All the digressions from the ideal are very much visible in the novel but

still all the lives, ordinary and extraordinary flow around each other to weave a

complex web which holds the last words, reach for only the ‘life itself.’ The fourth

chapter of the study also elaborates and explores the complexities of living in the

city of dreams- Mumbai.

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1997. Print.

---, “Bombay Dhamaka.” Rev. of Sacred Games, by Garth Risk Hallbery. M. M.

Millions.com. MM, 28 Aug. 2007. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.

---, “Gangstar Raj.” Rev. of Sacred Games, by Paul Gray. New York Times 7 Jan.

2007, late ed.: E5. Print.

---, Red Earth and Pouring Rain. Winchester, MA : Faber, 1995. Print.

---, Rev. of Love and Longing in Bombay, by V. Shankar Aiyar. Indiatodayin.

Indiatoday, 15 May 1997. Web. 10 Aug. 2013.

---, Rev. of Sacred Games by Ahmad Saidullah. Quarterly Conversation 2012 : 12-

14. Print.

---, Sacred Games. Boston : Faber & Faber, 2006.

Crompton, Virginia. “Love and Longing in Bombay.” Vikramchandra.com. N.p.

2004. Web. 10. Aug. 2013.

Dhawan, R. K. Ed. “ The New and the Old : Indian Writing at the Turn of the

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Geetha, B. “Vulnerable in Virtual Space.” Tribune 7 Nov. 2014 : 9. Print.

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Ghosh, Ranjan. “Critical Perspective.” Britishcouncil.org. British Council

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Nagindrappa, Manikamma., and M. K. Radhika. “Women Exploitation in Indian

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3.2(2013). Print.

Prasannarajan, S. “Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra.” India Today 7 Aug. 2008 :

26 – 28. Print.

Sangari, Kumkum. “The Politics of the Possible.” Interrogating Modernity:

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Seagull Books, 1993. Print.

Sarda Rajshree. “Successful yet Scared.” Tribune 27 June 2011 : 8. Print.

Sharma, Sagar. “Gender Based Violence is Part of a Continuum.” Spectrum 1 Apr.

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Uppal, Mehak. “Grand Central.” Spectrum 30 Nov. 2014, city ed.: 9. Print.