Blurb: Ri – Homeland of Uncertainity – “People from
this state sacrificed their lives for the sake of freedom for India but who
knows about them? These selected chronicles of selected parts of the country,
India, has always excluded us, and it hasn’t become self-sufficient yet. For
half a century, independent India has only waited for some miracle to happen…
and you still have hope?”
Trapped in the limbo
between ideology and conscience, Manbha finds himself part of a terror outfit.
An unexpected opportunity, anger, squalor and disillusionment –followed by
armed combat and injury lead to the soul – searching that form the substance of
this moving tale.
Verdict: ‘Ri –
Homeland of Uncertainty’ is the adaptation of the national award winning film Khasi
flim RI, written by Paulami Dutta Gupta. This book has no desperate attempts to
make it entertaining and the authoress has concentrated on maintaining the
theme strictly.
The cover has been taken from the movie poster where the faces
of the main two leads with their uncertain impression indicate the dark
content. The whole black color on the cover creates the perfect atmosphere for
the reader to start a book like that. The word ‘Ri’ is a Khasi word, which
means Homeland and this book says only about it. Nothing can suit the book
better than this name.
The book is small and can easily be completed in one go. It starts
very wonderfully with the description of the North east which maximum of us are
still unaware of. From the beauty of the states in the north eastern region to
the growing amount of terrorism in those states gives the book a head start.
The book tells about a character Manbha, a talented young blood, who is leading
a terrorist group for a mission which is assigned to him by his boss Steve, to
free Meghalaya as a separate state from India. There is one more character Kyndiah,
a dedicated police officer, who has sacrificed his family to serve his country.
Framed in the backdrop of a terror struck Meghalaya and the
Bangladesh-India border, this story goes around the contradiction on the philosophy
of Manbha and that of Emika, a journalist, in whose house Manbha was hiding
after getting ditched by one of his team mates. The way the author has written
the whole conversation is commendable. This book will force the readers to
think from a terrorist’s point of view. The readers will certainly find their
answers at the end which might throw them in a state of shock and will love the
message lying inside the story.
The narrating style is lucid and effortless. Though I feel,
some more descriptions at a few scenes will make this book more interesting.
The chosen words are effective yet simple and helps to maintain the flow.
I loved the characterizations that will definitely take this
story to a new level. But I felt that the author could have concentrated more
on describing the characters. Those who have not seen the movie would surely
face a hard time visualizing Manbha, Kyndiah or Emika. Though their
characteristics are very much visible from their ongoing conversations which is
a sign of a matured writer. The rich content will undoubtedly reach the hearts
of the readers but the to the point descriptions might not entertain the mass.
Final Words: The
author has done a creditable job in highlighting the life in the north eastern
region and have penned down a gripping tale which will leave a lasting message
amongst the readers.
Title: Ri – Homeland
of Uncertainty
Author: Paulami Dutta Gupta
Publisher: Fablery
Page Count: 127
My Rating: 4/5
Author: Paulami Dutta Gupta
Publisher: Fablery
Page Count: 127
My Rating: 4/5
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