SIDDHARTHA TAGORE, the protagonist of this novel, becomes an ?accidental? politician (read prime minister) after a sudden turn of events. He is not from either of the two major political parties. His is a fascinating journey from Harvard to 7 Race Course Road in the backdrop of menacing politics, mostly traversed alone, sometimes lonely. In many ways, the book takes the reader to the heart of the current political scenario, when a new political alternative is changing the face of the country?s politics for the better (or worse?). As the country gears up for its next, big elections?touted to be one of the most interesting and keenly-watched political contests in the nation?s modern history?the timing of the book couldn?t have been more appropriate.
The book may remind the reader of Jeffrey Archer?s classic novel, First Among Equals (1984), which follows the careers and personal lives of four fictional British politicians, with each vying to become prime minister.
But Tabrik C?s Prisoner, Jailor, Prime Minister is a ?political thriller?, so readers can expect a lot of twists, turns, thrills, suspense, love and lust apart from politics. The novel starts when a mysterious person from across the border plants a nuclear bomb in Pokhran in a futuristic India (December 2016, to be precise) around the same time when Tagore is elected to the prime minister?s office. Tagore?s headache is compounded when an internal revolt by opposition leader Rukmani Devi, an iPad-generation, Nobel-laureate economics professor who wants to alter the country?s Constitution, begins to haunt him.
Readers are then transported back and forth, from his reckless, sometimes dangerous, past in the hallowed halls of Harvard, where he studied music, to the corridors of power in the nation?s capital. In between, narrated in the first person and third, are some memorable characters like Rubaya aka Ruby, the love of his life; Karisma or K, Ruby?s identical twin sister; his arch rival Rukmani Devi and her son Kabir; Gregory Templar, his half-Punjabi-Muslim-Pakistani, half-Ango-Saxon American Catholic roommate at Harvard; and Shanti and Vikram Jaykar, Ruby?s and Karisma?s parents.
For the sake of providing a spoiler warning, the rest of the plot is best left to the imagination of the readers, much like the characters themselves.
Tabrik?s writing is detailed and lyrical, and written in an easy, smooth-flowing language. Readers may find the initial part of the book a bit slow and dull, but it picks up pace after the first few chapters. It may also take some time to acquaint oneself with Tagore?s idiosyncrasies, but once that happens, the character grows on the reader.
It takes a lot of observation, analysis and an eye for detail, not to forget a deep interest in the subject, to write a ?political thriller?, especially when the author comes from a background as varied as industrial perfumes, website designing and restaurants. And in that, Prisoner, Jailor, Prime Minister doesn?t disappoint.
Kunal Doley