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Kalyug
He looked at his gun once more. The helplessness left him, in its place was a hardened resolve that he would still have the final say. A third option. The middle-finger to the middlemen who had driven him to this. A few moments later, Major General Iqbal Qureshi fired the shot that shook the nations conscience.
The death of a decorated war veteran, one of India's foremost military officials, triggers a chain of events that threatens to spiral out of control. The democratically-elected government is overthrown and a new one is formed in its place.A fierce and pure regime that promises it's people the kind of governance they have been deprived of. Just. Fair. Unyielding. Operation Kalyug has begun.
Caught in the middle is Bala Murali Selvam, a writer who is still tormented by the memories of his persecution at the hands of the erstwhile-establishment. As the new government battles factions fighting for control, international intervention, personal agendas and incompatible motives, Selvam is swept along, a bewildered-pawn in a high-stakes game. Forced to question everything he has believed so far, even his innate sense of justice, Selvam struggles to choose sides. Will his instincts fail him when he needs them the most?
The death of a decorated war veteran, one of India's foremost military officials, triggers a chain of events that threatens to spiral out of control. The democratically-elected government is overthrown and a new one is formed in its place.A fierce and pure regime that promises it's people the kind of governance they have been deprived of. Just. Fair. Unyielding. Operation Kalyug has begun.
Caught in the middle is Bala Murali Selvam, a writer who is still tormented by the memories of his persecution at the hands of the erstwhile-establishment. As the new government battles factions fighting for control, international intervention, personal agendas and incompatible motives, Selvam is swept along, a bewildered-pawn in a high-stakes game. Forced to question everything he has believed so far, even his innate sense of justice, Selvam struggles to choose sides. Will his instincts fail him when he needs them the most?
388 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 28, 2014
So it starts with a theory and the theory culminates into a full-fledged plan, to achieve something that no one can imagine witnessing in the world's largest democracy. What starts like an orchestrated effort by an agency never heard of before by anyone in the world; results in so many people getting involved right from the president of USA to the intelligence agencies of Unites Kingdom. Are they scared of the situation or do they want to use the chaos to their advantage?
What happens next is a clash of egos and show of power by the secret wing of Indian intelligence, a direct warning attack on the POTUS, through his direct aid. Leaving the most powerful person on the face of earth, in a state of disdain.
A few of my favorite quotes lines from the book are:
“Gone are the days when Bush said jump and Blair asked how high."
“This was Kalyug, but I am no Kalki. I don’t need the hassle."
You have everything here, a storyboard that keeps you glued and an array of events, that keeps you thinking and wanting you to read the last chapter directly, but rest assured even if you read the last chapter midway you will be intrigued more to go back and read everything that has lead to the events that happen towards the end.
At the end I would like to congratulate the author Mr. R Sreeram, for the great story telling skills shown by him in his first Novel; looking forward to more Novels coming out from him in the near future.
What happens next is a clash of egos and show of power by the secret wing of Indian intelligence, a direct warning attack on the POTUS, through his direct aid. Leaving the most powerful person on the face of earth, in a state of disdain.
A few of my favorite quotes lines from the book are:
“Gone are the days when Bush said jump and Blair asked how high."
“This was Kalyug, but I am no Kalki. I don’t need the hassle."
You have everything here, a storyboard that keeps you glued and an array of events, that keeps you thinking and wanting you to read the last chapter directly, but rest assured even if you read the last chapter midway you will be intrigued more to go back and read everything that has lead to the events that happen towards the end.
At the end I would like to congratulate the author Mr. R Sreeram, for the great story telling skills shown by him in his first Novel; looking forward to more Novels coming out from him in the near future.
June 15, 2015
A pacy thriller which is unique in its own . A Book with an idea of coup in the largest Democracy of the world, Republic Of India . I believed in a simple principle that " Learn everything that you get because one day it'll definitely gonna be in use " So the same lies with this book which gives brief idea of a possible coup in a Democracy .
FRONT COVER ~>
On a contaminated white cover lies shoe pair . A typical old one as What Army men used to wear . Especially the Special forces . Shoes shown are quite old and the soles of the shoes are laced with blood . This picture of Shoes completely resembles with the story inside the book . And Front cover always held importance while picking book , so Its apt . Beneath the shoes lies the name of the book KALYUG in Red and black colour symbolising the blood shed and The evil . Shadow of Soldiers are made as background to the name . 5/5 for front cover .
BACK COVER ~>
Back cover too hold the same contaminated white design . A brief is printed with Black colour on left and with Red on right portion .Beneath the left text lies a photograph of The Front view of The Rashtrapati Bhawan . And The right side shows blood shed ! 5/5 for back cover too .
" He looked at his gun once more. The helplessness left him, in its place was a hardened resolve that he would still have the final say. A third option. The middle-finger to the middlemen who had driven him to this. A few moments later, Major General Iqbal Qureshi fired the shot that shook the nations conscience.
The death of a decorated war veteran, one of India's foremost military officials, triggers a chain of events that threatens to spiral out of control. The democratically-elected government is overthrown and a new one is formed in its place.A fierce and pure regime that promises it's people the kind of governance they have been deprived of. Just. Fair. Unyielding. Operation Kalyug has begun.
Caught in the middle is Bala Murali Selvam, a writer who is still tormented by the memories of his persecution at the hands of the erstwhile-establishment. As the new government battles factions fighting for control, international intervention, personal agendas and incompatible motives, Selvam is swept along, a bewildered-pawn in a high-stakes game. Forced to question everything he has believed so far, even his innate sense of justice, Selvam struggles to choose sides. Will his instincts fail him when he needs them the most? "
WRITING ~>
Book is narrated in 3rd person (Major Part ) and Ist person as Balamurali Selvam who is portrayed as author of a book on a possible coup which result his defamation and Hangout in Jail and court rooms . Plot revolves around Operation Kalyug which is a codename for a coup in India which triggered after death of an Army Major -General . Major General sucide , a man who had his principles always at top and like a true soldier , is accountable to his fellow soldiers and the men he's leading . In past , 17 soldiers left the camp for higher altitudes of himalyas and the comoflauged suits that were issued to them succumbed to the cold when fabric started to rip . Major-General wants to bring his out in open but is targeted by pressure around him . Coup was basically managed by Jagannath , Nelson and Raghav under the name of INSAF , a group formed in 2007 from the result of scams and corruption hiking in the government . PM was detained and President on commands of Nelson takes over the government . Stances that I love in plot includes Ist part of National address which is to-the-mark one and the act when Indian men intruded inside White House after a deadly attack on Indian President Convoy makes the book more riveted and a true SPINE-CHILLER KALYUG & MUST-READ .
FRONT COVER ~>
On a contaminated white cover lies shoe pair . A typical old one as What Army men used to wear . Especially the Special forces . Shoes shown are quite old and the soles of the shoes are laced with blood . This picture of Shoes completely resembles with the story inside the book . And Front cover always held importance while picking book , so Its apt . Beneath the shoes lies the name of the book KALYUG in Red and black colour symbolising the blood shed and The evil . Shadow of Soldiers are made as background to the name . 5/5 for front cover .
BACK COVER ~>
Back cover too hold the same contaminated white design . A brief is printed with Black colour on left and with Red on right portion .Beneath the left text lies a photograph of The Front view of The Rashtrapati Bhawan . And The right side shows blood shed ! 5/5 for back cover too .
" He looked at his gun once more. The helplessness left him, in its place was a hardened resolve that he would still have the final say. A third option. The middle-finger to the middlemen who had driven him to this. A few moments later, Major General Iqbal Qureshi fired the shot that shook the nations conscience.
The death of a decorated war veteran, one of India's foremost military officials, triggers a chain of events that threatens to spiral out of control. The democratically-elected government is overthrown and a new one is formed in its place.A fierce and pure regime that promises it's people the kind of governance they have been deprived of. Just. Fair. Unyielding. Operation Kalyug has begun.
Caught in the middle is Bala Murali Selvam, a writer who is still tormented by the memories of his persecution at the hands of the erstwhile-establishment. As the new government battles factions fighting for control, international intervention, personal agendas and incompatible motives, Selvam is swept along, a bewildered-pawn in a high-stakes game. Forced to question everything he has believed so far, even his innate sense of justice, Selvam struggles to choose sides. Will his instincts fail him when he needs them the most? "
WRITING ~>
Book is narrated in 3rd person (Major Part ) and Ist person as Balamurali Selvam who is portrayed as author of a book on a possible coup which result his defamation and Hangout in Jail and court rooms . Plot revolves around Operation Kalyug which is a codename for a coup in India which triggered after death of an Army Major -General . Major General sucide , a man who had his principles always at top and like a true soldier , is accountable to his fellow soldiers and the men he's leading . In past , 17 soldiers left the camp for higher altitudes of himalyas and the comoflauged suits that were issued to them succumbed to the cold when fabric started to rip . Major-General wants to bring his out in open but is targeted by pressure around him . Coup was basically managed by Jagannath , Nelson and Raghav under the name of INSAF , a group formed in 2007 from the result of scams and corruption hiking in the government . PM was detained and President on commands of Nelson takes over the government . Stances that I love in plot includes Ist part of National address which is to-the-mark one and the act when Indian men intruded inside White House after a deadly attack on Indian President Convoy makes the book more riveted and a true SPINE-CHILLER KALYUG & MUST-READ .
April 13, 2015
Jojo needs a little time. Review of KALYUG
*
It is Mrs Pandit, one of the political characters in the book (or should I say, political caricatures) who says, ‘Jojo needs a little time before he takes on more responsibilities. I think by the time the next elections take place, he will be ready for a more… significant leadership role.’ The caricatures don’t end with this one character but go on and try and ape the sort of scenario that most of us have been seeing India step into.
So we have the fact that ‘the controversy over any scam these days revolved not around the core issues but the number of zeros in the figures calculated by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India…’ and the umpteen other instances ranging from political inconsistencies to the fact that ‘the rot in our systems is more than skin-deep – it requires us to clean it inside-out, top-to-bottom,. We have to change the way our blood thinks; no longer should we accept mediocrity, never in others nor within ourselves.’ As one reads further one feels the India that is around us. Frankly, as I read some of these passages and chapters I felt it would have been better for R Sreeram, the author to have stuck to a telling tale of the sort of democracy that India has evolved into. But no, he was bitten by the bug of writing a thriller and so he had to bring in disconcerting diversions like an army revolting, a coup, terrorists, creation of organisations like INSAF or the Indian Securities Agencies’ Federation and all the mess that happens when a writer mixes the volatile nature of a thriller, the sedate meandering of chronicling history, and jocular innuendoes that a reader’s can easily attach to. This mess is almost similar to if a sniper is sighted when a stand-up comedy is going on. People laugh as real bullets fly around, thinking taking them to be rubber bullets and escape because the sniper had a terrible aim anyway!
Kalyug is a book that spent over three hundred and eighty pages to find out what it wants to be and surprisingly remained where it was, unsure and probably a trifle guilty of pushing in this sort of bloody political drama on an unwary India. This isn’t America, and this doesn’t happen in India, to India, is all I can say. And believe me, I half expected the book to conjure up UFOs and a few super heroes too while the author was hell-bent imitating the sort of plots that the western readers love.
Not to say that the reader in me totally disagrees with the writer of Kalyug… I smiled when I read what he writes about our media: ‘When was the last time you read an article in any of the major newspapers or sites without wondering about the political affiliations of the editorial board? When was the last time you saw a channel treat all its guests fairly – at least, in your opinion?’ I almost guffawed at this… and said, ‘Hey! This author can beat anyone if he decides to write the India that he sees around him.’ But well, this author had to go in search of ‘a trigger for everything. Even a coup. Or rather, should I say, especially a coup. There is some incident that captures the public imagination, that fires up the violence in the soul, that is a call to arms and to action.’ And I know, dear Mr Sreeram, that the trigger in your story is the way India is being treated by the political and the administrative classes, the netas and the babus, so to say. I know that you are probably as frustrated by the fact that ‘as long as you have two hundred and seventy-seven members backing you, you can run this country. You can change whatever laws you want. Change the constitution too, and make an officer of the party as unimpeachable as the prime minister or the president.’ But you opted to create characters who believe that ‘absolute powers, Mr Selvam, without any absolute majority’ is the right recipe for a thriller that piggy-backs on politics. The novel does debate the easy logic of detractors and the potential dictators that there are now in India ‘no majority governments – it’s all coalitions. Every ally is a safeguard against the kind of runaway governance you are worrying about. Plus, you’ve got an active judiciary, a powerful – if flawed – fourth estate…’
The novel is all about a wayward cartel called ‘powerhouse’ with all its unheard of bargaining power, already has a hold on the functioning of the nation and just wants to finally raise its head. It was indeed disconcerting to read about what only runs as rumours not just in the corridors of power but also in literate and semi-literate alleyways and on kerbsides. Don’t a lot of us whisper about imaginary cartels that have ‘already bought a lot of influence across the political spectrum. What if they are the ones remotely running the government and dictating its policies?’ Obviously, if you’re the sort who gets excited reading fiction which places all these imaginary thoughts onto the pages and weaves a thriller out of them, you are going to love the book. You’ll love to read how these cartels are so much into snooping of all sorts (and we have the papers talking all about snoopgate these days!) and has ‘scandalous information on family members. Influence with foreign governments. Labour unions. The ability to make or break the lives of you and your descendants…’ Yes, this sort of mixing of what makes the headlines and what tickles imagination is what this book is made up of.
But let me warn you that I did not see any vision or a futuristic verity on the pages of this novel and so all I can say is that this isn’t real fiction! And yet, as I am finishing writing this review, I am re-reading the title I’ve chosen and chuckling: ‘Jojo isn’t ready yet to take command, madam!’
*
Read more posts and reviews on my blog: www.passey.info
*
Read this review on my blog as well:
http://passey.info/2015/04/jojo-needs...
*
*
It is Mrs Pandit, one of the political characters in the book (or should I say, political caricatures) who says, ‘Jojo needs a little time before he takes on more responsibilities. I think by the time the next elections take place, he will be ready for a more… significant leadership role.’ The caricatures don’t end with this one character but go on and try and ape the sort of scenario that most of us have been seeing India step into.
So we have the fact that ‘the controversy over any scam these days revolved not around the core issues but the number of zeros in the figures calculated by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India…’ and the umpteen other instances ranging from political inconsistencies to the fact that ‘the rot in our systems is more than skin-deep – it requires us to clean it inside-out, top-to-bottom,. We have to change the way our blood thinks; no longer should we accept mediocrity, never in others nor within ourselves.’ As one reads further one feels the India that is around us. Frankly, as I read some of these passages and chapters I felt it would have been better for R Sreeram, the author to have stuck to a telling tale of the sort of democracy that India has evolved into. But no, he was bitten by the bug of writing a thriller and so he had to bring in disconcerting diversions like an army revolting, a coup, terrorists, creation of organisations like INSAF or the Indian Securities Agencies’ Federation and all the mess that happens when a writer mixes the volatile nature of a thriller, the sedate meandering of chronicling history, and jocular innuendoes that a reader’s can easily attach to. This mess is almost similar to if a sniper is sighted when a stand-up comedy is going on. People laugh as real bullets fly around, thinking taking them to be rubber bullets and escape because the sniper had a terrible aim anyway!
Kalyug is a book that spent over three hundred and eighty pages to find out what it wants to be and surprisingly remained where it was, unsure and probably a trifle guilty of pushing in this sort of bloody political drama on an unwary India. This isn’t America, and this doesn’t happen in India, to India, is all I can say. And believe me, I half expected the book to conjure up UFOs and a few super heroes too while the author was hell-bent imitating the sort of plots that the western readers love.
Not to say that the reader in me totally disagrees with the writer of Kalyug… I smiled when I read what he writes about our media: ‘When was the last time you read an article in any of the major newspapers or sites without wondering about the political affiliations of the editorial board? When was the last time you saw a channel treat all its guests fairly – at least, in your opinion?’ I almost guffawed at this… and said, ‘Hey! This author can beat anyone if he decides to write the India that he sees around him.’ But well, this author had to go in search of ‘a trigger for everything. Even a coup. Or rather, should I say, especially a coup. There is some incident that captures the public imagination, that fires up the violence in the soul, that is a call to arms and to action.’ And I know, dear Mr Sreeram, that the trigger in your story is the way India is being treated by the political and the administrative classes, the netas and the babus, so to say. I know that you are probably as frustrated by the fact that ‘as long as you have two hundred and seventy-seven members backing you, you can run this country. You can change whatever laws you want. Change the constitution too, and make an officer of the party as unimpeachable as the prime minister or the president.’ But you opted to create characters who believe that ‘absolute powers, Mr Selvam, without any absolute majority’ is the right recipe for a thriller that piggy-backs on politics. The novel does debate the easy logic of detractors and the potential dictators that there are now in India ‘no majority governments – it’s all coalitions. Every ally is a safeguard against the kind of runaway governance you are worrying about. Plus, you’ve got an active judiciary, a powerful – if flawed – fourth estate…’
The novel is all about a wayward cartel called ‘powerhouse’ with all its unheard of bargaining power, already has a hold on the functioning of the nation and just wants to finally raise its head. It was indeed disconcerting to read about what only runs as rumours not just in the corridors of power but also in literate and semi-literate alleyways and on kerbsides. Don’t a lot of us whisper about imaginary cartels that have ‘already bought a lot of influence across the political spectrum. What if they are the ones remotely running the government and dictating its policies?’ Obviously, if you’re the sort who gets excited reading fiction which places all these imaginary thoughts onto the pages and weaves a thriller out of them, you are going to love the book. You’ll love to read how these cartels are so much into snooping of all sorts (and we have the papers talking all about snoopgate these days!) and has ‘scandalous information on family members. Influence with foreign governments. Labour unions. The ability to make or break the lives of you and your descendants…’ Yes, this sort of mixing of what makes the headlines and what tickles imagination is what this book is made up of.
But let me warn you that I did not see any vision or a futuristic verity on the pages of this novel and so all I can say is that this isn’t real fiction! And yet, as I am finishing writing this review, I am re-reading the title I’ve chosen and chuckling: ‘Jojo isn’t ready yet to take command, madam!’
*
Read more posts and reviews on my blog: www.passey.info
*
Read this review on my blog as well:
http://passey.info/2015/04/jojo-needs...
*
March 8, 2015
Kalyug ! This is the first Review copy I got , so wanna dedicate this to my Bestie because ....... Read my Book soon , You'll gt to know ;)
I'll say that the name is apt as the book's contents are .
Truly a pacy thriller and I admit a unique in its own . A Book with an idea of coup in the largest Democracy of the world , Republic Of India . I believed in a principle that " Learn everything that you get because one day it'll definitely gonna be in use " So the same lies with thia book which gives brief idea of a possible coup in a democracy . But To be honest, Author skipped some major infos . I also felt Lack of research while portraying the PM and the President . Biggest skip that I felt was the description that PM's Security detail include NSG . OMG . I was really shocked . Its SPG -Special Protection Group solely responsible for the security of PM , President, Vice President . Research also lacked in while describing the scene of coup because what described is very brief which is expected only while watching a Movie not in A book .But I'm giving 4/5 because :- Debut , Writing about Coup is really difficult ( Imagining what is next to impossible is always difficult ) , No. of stances that really make me say ' Yay - That's the power of an Indian Citizen'
Now coming to 3 Level Declaration( Term I used while reviewing book in 3 levels )
Beginning with Front cover :- On a contaminated white cover lies shoe pair . A typical old one as What Army men used to wear . Especially the Special forces . Shoes shown are quiye old and the soles of the shoes are laced with blood .I'll say it-is-a-front-cover . This pic completely resembles with the story inside the book . And Front cover always held importance while picking book , so Its apt . Beneath the shoes lies the name of the book KALYUG in Red and black colour symbolising the blood shed and The evil . Shadow of Soldiers are made as background to the name . 5/5 for front cover :)
Back cover :- Back cover too hold the same contaminated white design . A brief is printed with Black colour on left and with Red on right portion . Beneath the left text lies a photograph of The Front view of The Rashtrapati Bhawan . And The right side shows blood shed ! 5/5 for back cover too .
Many of my Friends ask Why Reviewing back cover is imp ?
For that I always say & so do writing here , last year a survey was done on How readers pick a Book in a Book Store . And the Result revealed that A Reader devotes 7 seconds to front cover , 13-14 seconds to back cover and so 20-21 seconds decide the fate of the book ! Ok ! Enough academics :)
Coming to most Important - Writing section
Here I wanna start with the description about Author . It really patch a smile to any reader if he/she picks up . Now !
Book is narrated in 3rd person (Major Part ) and Ist person as Balamurali Selvam who is portrayed as auhor of a book on a possible coup while result his defamation and Hangout in Jail and court room . Plot is about Operation Kalyug which is a codename for a coup in India which triggered after death of an Army Major -General . Major General sucide , a man who had his principles always at top and like a true soldier , is accountable to his fellow soldiers and the men he's leading . In past 17 soldiers left the campm for higher altitudes of himalyas and the comoflauged suits that were issued to them succumbed to the cold when fabric started to rip . Major-General wants to bring his out in open but is targeted by pressure around him .At last he suicide and let the trigger of Kalyug very next day . Coup was basically managed by Jagannath , Nelson and Raghav under the name of INSAF , a group formed in 2007 from the result of scams and corruption hiking in the government . PM was detained and President on commands of Nelson takes over the government . Ist part of National address is also to-the-mark one .
For Readers :- PICK this thriller , unique in its own
For Author :- Expecting your IInd book soon but make sure to research it well . And Nice Debut .
I'll say that the name is apt as the book's contents are .
Truly a pacy thriller and I admit a unique in its own . A Book with an idea of coup in the largest Democracy of the world , Republic Of India . I believed in a principle that " Learn everything that you get because one day it'll definitely gonna be in use " So the same lies with thia book which gives brief idea of a possible coup in a democracy . But To be honest, Author skipped some major infos . I also felt Lack of research while portraying the PM and the President . Biggest skip that I felt was the description that PM's Security detail include NSG . OMG . I was really shocked . Its SPG -Special Protection Group solely responsible for the security of PM , President, Vice President . Research also lacked in while describing the scene of coup because what described is very brief which is expected only while watching a Movie not in A book .But I'm giving 4/5 because :- Debut , Writing about Coup is really difficult ( Imagining what is next to impossible is always difficult ) , No. of stances that really make me say ' Yay - That's the power of an Indian Citizen'
Now coming to 3 Level Declaration( Term I used while reviewing book in 3 levels )
Beginning with Front cover :- On a contaminated white cover lies shoe pair . A typical old one as What Army men used to wear . Especially the Special forces . Shoes shown are quiye old and the soles of the shoes are laced with blood .I'll say it-is-a-front-cover . This pic completely resembles with the story inside the book . And Front cover always held importance while picking book , so Its apt . Beneath the shoes lies the name of the book KALYUG in Red and black colour symbolising the blood shed and The evil . Shadow of Soldiers are made as background to the name . 5/5 for front cover :)
Back cover :- Back cover too hold the same contaminated white design . A brief is printed with Black colour on left and with Red on right portion . Beneath the left text lies a photograph of The Front view of The Rashtrapati Bhawan . And The right side shows blood shed ! 5/5 for back cover too .
Many of my Friends ask Why Reviewing back cover is imp ?
For that I always say & so do writing here , last year a survey was done on How readers pick a Book in a Book Store . And the Result revealed that A Reader devotes 7 seconds to front cover , 13-14 seconds to back cover and so 20-21 seconds decide the fate of the book ! Ok ! Enough academics :)
Coming to most Important - Writing section
Here I wanna start with the description about Author . It really patch a smile to any reader if he/she picks up . Now !
Book is narrated in 3rd person (Major Part ) and Ist person as Balamurali Selvam who is portrayed as auhor of a book on a possible coup while result his defamation and Hangout in Jail and court room . Plot is about Operation Kalyug which is a codename for a coup in India which triggered after death of an Army Major -General . Major General sucide , a man who had his principles always at top and like a true soldier , is accountable to his fellow soldiers and the men he's leading . In past 17 soldiers left the campm for higher altitudes of himalyas and the comoflauged suits that were issued to them succumbed to the cold when fabric started to rip . Major-General wants to bring his out in open but is targeted by pressure around him .At last he suicide and let the trigger of Kalyug very next day . Coup was basically managed by Jagannath , Nelson and Raghav under the name of INSAF , a group formed in 2007 from the result of scams and corruption hiking in the government . PM was detained and President on commands of Nelson takes over the government . Ist part of National address is also to-the-mark one .
For Readers :- PICK this thriller , unique in its own
For Author :- Expecting your IInd book soon but make sure to research it well . And Nice Debut .
March 15, 2015
KALYUG - A review
How about a benevolent dictatorship in India? Or is that an oxymoron? The fast paced page turner by Selvam, sorry, R Sreeram, Kalyug, published by Westland Ltd, tackles this question.
The story is set in current day India, where an author called Selvam has written just such a book, the story of a coup in current day India, thus giving rise to controversy, notoriety, and political vendetta. Wonder if this is wishful thinking by the author? Anyway, the story develops two years after the publication of the fictional book on the same subject, when a coup occurs and the discredited author is invited to witness firsthand the coup he had predicted firsthand. Could this be some more wishful thinking?
The country is governed by a rubberstamp Prime Minister and his very corrupt coalition government, riddled with scams and scandals, controlled by an iron woman called Mrs Pandit, who is the party chief and actual source of all power. Doesn’t this ring a bell somewhere? There is more to come. The ruling party came to power with overwhelming majority when the then Prime Minister, a scion of the ruling family of the country, dies suddenly while on national television creating a huge sympathy wave for the family. The lame duck PM is keeping the seat warm for an incompetent crown prince called Jojo. The President is an erstwhile politically ambitious party man who has been kicked upstairs to eliminate competition for Jojo but is subservient to Mrs Pandit. All this seems strangely familiar somehow, doesn’t it? The opposition is equally venal and disunited, together only to loot the polity. The forces of Law and Order, the Judiciary and the Media, the so called guardians of the common man are all part of the system, maintaining status quo and sharing in the spoils. And the whole unholy mess is controlled by an uber rich family controlled business house. In brief, it is an all too familiar scenario.
The flashpoint occurs with the suicide of a much decorated and upright army general, who is hounded, discredited and is forced to make immense personal sacrifice for trying to unveil a scam that leads to death of our soldiers and exposing our defence.
A secret and powerful group of patriotic intelligence, army and security force officers and a few honest government officials and civilians unleash a plan to take over the country and slowly bring back a democracy that actually works, with all the safeguards necessary to make it workable.
The venal business conglomerate, the CIA, the ousted politicians, the ISI, terrorist groups, all jump into the fray to prevent this loss to their partisan interests, and a violent racy cat and mouse game begins. Selvam has a ringside view, or does he? He is ambiguous about the morality of overthrowing democracy, even temporarily, and is a reluctant member of the party. The love interest is a pretty young journalist who had been gagged earlier when trying to expose the defence scam, now revived by the coup masters.
The structure is that of the classic American thriller, jumping from scene to scene and moving back and forth in time, building up suspense, throwing in action and gore, and it works. I read it practically at a sitting.
The end is classic too, with the action packed climax, a surprise twist, some mysteries explained, and a little left unresolved, perhaps leaving room for a sequel?
I think a new suspense and action writer has arrived. I recommend that you give it a try guys.
How about a benevolent dictatorship in India? Or is that an oxymoron? The fast paced page turner by Selvam, sorry, R Sreeram, Kalyug, published by Westland Ltd, tackles this question.
The story is set in current day India, where an author called Selvam has written just such a book, the story of a coup in current day India, thus giving rise to controversy, notoriety, and political vendetta. Wonder if this is wishful thinking by the author? Anyway, the story develops two years after the publication of the fictional book on the same subject, when a coup occurs and the discredited author is invited to witness firsthand the coup he had predicted firsthand. Could this be some more wishful thinking?
The country is governed by a rubberstamp Prime Minister and his very corrupt coalition government, riddled with scams and scandals, controlled by an iron woman called Mrs Pandit, who is the party chief and actual source of all power. Doesn’t this ring a bell somewhere? There is more to come. The ruling party came to power with overwhelming majority when the then Prime Minister, a scion of the ruling family of the country, dies suddenly while on national television creating a huge sympathy wave for the family. The lame duck PM is keeping the seat warm for an incompetent crown prince called Jojo. The President is an erstwhile politically ambitious party man who has been kicked upstairs to eliminate competition for Jojo but is subservient to Mrs Pandit. All this seems strangely familiar somehow, doesn’t it? The opposition is equally venal and disunited, together only to loot the polity. The forces of Law and Order, the Judiciary and the Media, the so called guardians of the common man are all part of the system, maintaining status quo and sharing in the spoils. And the whole unholy mess is controlled by an uber rich family controlled business house. In brief, it is an all too familiar scenario.
The flashpoint occurs with the suicide of a much decorated and upright army general, who is hounded, discredited and is forced to make immense personal sacrifice for trying to unveil a scam that leads to death of our soldiers and exposing our defence.
A secret and powerful group of patriotic intelligence, army and security force officers and a few honest government officials and civilians unleash a plan to take over the country and slowly bring back a democracy that actually works, with all the safeguards necessary to make it workable.
The venal business conglomerate, the CIA, the ousted politicians, the ISI, terrorist groups, all jump into the fray to prevent this loss to their partisan interests, and a violent racy cat and mouse game begins. Selvam has a ringside view, or does he? He is ambiguous about the morality of overthrowing democracy, even temporarily, and is a reluctant member of the party. The love interest is a pretty young journalist who had been gagged earlier when trying to expose the defence scam, now revived by the coup masters.
The structure is that of the classic American thriller, jumping from scene to scene and moving back and forth in time, building up suspense, throwing in action and gore, and it works. I read it practically at a sitting.
The end is classic too, with the action packed climax, a surprise twist, some mysteries explained, and a little left unresolved, perhaps leaving room for a sequel?
I think a new suspense and action writer has arrived. I recommend that you give it a try guys.
January 29, 2015
Kalyug is a political thriller and has been named after the Operation Kalyug in the story that is the premise of the plot. Following the death of an honest war veteran, the existing government is thrown out of power, and a new one takes its place. The new regime promises a government that will get back things on track for India and on to a new path to success. Amidst politics, struggle for power, conspiracy and safe house attacks, is an author who is a pawn in this political game.
If you are someone who is interested in politics, this is the perfect thriller for you. The book delivers a perfect score on the elements of an action, detailing and the way all the dots are connected to lead to the story. This is Sreeram’s first book and while I was reading it, I can say that no amount of thorough research can match this one. Unlike the modern-day authors, Sreeram seemed to be extremely patient in penning this book down. Whether it is relating to how insensitive media can be at times when they telecast live, or how political decisions impact stock markets or what eligibility criteria should politicians come on board with, the author had ensured that he covers all aspects possible. The way the technology set is up, blast scenes, travel etc. are described is also unique, well researched and commendable. The choice of words strikes a perfect balance between what is a mere detail vs. what’s critical to help the reader visualize the scene and go on an entirely different level of imagination.
Coming over to language and English, it’s easy to read and exhibits the command over the language. The place where I finally thought I have found a typo was a text message language and relevant to the context. The elements of humor also added a lighter note to the serious story. India wants to know and Mensa membership notes were a couple that were my favorite. Usage of some wonderful quotes added icing to the cake for me.
Read the detailed review here - https://happinessandfood.wordpress.co...
If you are someone who is interested in politics, this is the perfect thriller for you. The book delivers a perfect score on the elements of an action, detailing and the way all the dots are connected to lead to the story. This is Sreeram’s first book and while I was reading it, I can say that no amount of thorough research can match this one. Unlike the modern-day authors, Sreeram seemed to be extremely patient in penning this book down. Whether it is relating to how insensitive media can be at times when they telecast live, or how political decisions impact stock markets or what eligibility criteria should politicians come on board with, the author had ensured that he covers all aspects possible. The way the technology set is up, blast scenes, travel etc. are described is also unique, well researched and commendable. The choice of words strikes a perfect balance between what is a mere detail vs. what’s critical to help the reader visualize the scene and go on an entirely different level of imagination.
Coming over to language and English, it’s easy to read and exhibits the command over the language. The place where I finally thought I have found a typo was a text message language and relevant to the context. The elements of humor also added a lighter note to the serious story. India wants to know and Mensa membership notes were a couple that were my favorite. Usage of some wonderful quotes added icing to the cake for me.
Read the detailed review here - https://happinessandfood.wordpress.co...
March 11, 2015
If you ask me what is fiction.
I would say fiction is a piece of literature in which the author picks up a plots which could be a folklore, a myth or a real incident. Now to this plots, he adds many layers of innovative possibilities (based on his/her imagination) to make a story out of it.
An awesome fiction is that which blow out your mind with brilliant mosaic of the possibilities composing an amazing story to read and tell.
But this novel is not an awesome fiction but a good one.It compels you to finish it to the end.
It talks about a coup happening in India just like its "dear neighbour". A very good plot, period.
The story line up was also good. It kept me interested till the last page but reading all through it, i find something missing, something which is left out, some things is ignored. I want to mention these points. If the author had kept in mind these possibilities also, in the way he had taken care of rest of the plot, it would have been an awesome fiction.
#1 : I know they are rare but there are still some non-corrupt politicians which may not like the emergency imposed on them. Do they not protest ?????
#2 : Indian have lot of civil societies and social activist, they are totally absent in the novel & also the famous "Aam aadmi" which is so active these days.....
#3 : Novel talks about only 2 sides - one who believes in coup and other who are fighting against it because of wrong reason like corruption.
I think there would be a third category of people who would be against the coup for right reasons like suspension of democracy and their fundamental rights.
#4 : Army (we have air force and Navy as well but they are nowhere in the picture) personnel supports coup with the exception of MJ Quereshi who consider it as treason. I think very high of Indian Military forces and it is hard for me to digest (in fiction only ) that they would ever be involved in Treason.
My Rating : 3 out of 5.
I would say fiction is a piece of literature in which the author picks up a plots which could be a folklore, a myth or a real incident. Now to this plots, he adds many layers of innovative possibilities (based on his/her imagination) to make a story out of it.
An awesome fiction is that which blow out your mind with brilliant mosaic of the possibilities composing an amazing story to read and tell.
But this novel is not an awesome fiction but a good one.It compels you to finish it to the end.
It talks about a coup happening in India just like its "dear neighbour". A very good plot, period.
The story line up was also good. It kept me interested till the last page but reading all through it, i find something missing, something which is left out, some things is ignored. I want to mention these points. If the author had kept in mind these possibilities also, in the way he had taken care of rest of the plot, it would have been an awesome fiction.
#1 : I know they are rare but there are still some non-corrupt politicians which may not like the emergency imposed on them. Do they not protest ?????
#2 : Indian have lot of civil societies and social activist, they are totally absent in the novel & also the famous "Aam aadmi" which is so active these days.....
#3 : Novel talks about only 2 sides - one who believes in coup and other who are fighting against it because of wrong reason like corruption.
I think there would be a third category of people who would be against the coup for right reasons like suspension of democracy and their fundamental rights.
#4 : Army (we have air force and Navy as well but they are nowhere in the picture) personnel supports coup with the exception of MJ Quereshi who consider it as treason. I think very high of Indian Military forces and it is hard for me to digest (in fiction only ) that they would ever be involved in Treason.
My Rating : 3 out of 5.
May 11, 2015
Kalyug is a rare animal in the menagerie that is Indian fiction - a political thriller. A brief synopsis of the plot is as follows.
Following the death (suicide/murder?) of a highly decorated war veteran, the existing government is overthrown in a military coup. The new government, backed by a Big Brother like organisation, promises to get India back on track - now where have we heard that before? A rival organisation run by a well-connected industrialist plans to sabotage the new government. And amidst all the power struggles and conspiracies, an author Bala Murali Selvam enacts the role of a visionary pawn on the political chess board of India.
Sreeram takes a lot of pointers from the current political fabric of India and isn't afraid to draw references even though most of them are indirect. He asks questions from his readers if only to tantalise them and to make them salivate for the ending. He takes veiled potshots at the media and at some of our prominent politicians and industrialists while adding several "massy" elements (technology, blasts, etc.) for his readers. The research done is impeccable and half of the fun lies in identifying who is actually who and what is actually what in real life.
Having said that, the book has its share of flaws. The track of the female journalist is straight out of a corny Bollywood movie and doesn't play up the strong feminist angle if that is what the author intended it to do. The writing is such that you feel that the author wants the reader to take a stance even if the latter doesn't want to do so. The back and fro trajectory of the narrative often slows down the narrative making it more political but less thrilling.
Nevertheless it is a surprisingly good read even if you do not want to consider it as high art. Kalyug isn't exactly All The President's Men but I do hope it succeeds and ushers in more esteemed members of its kin into Indian literature.
Following the death (suicide/murder?) of a highly decorated war veteran, the existing government is overthrown in a military coup. The new government, backed by a Big Brother like organisation, promises to get India back on track - now where have we heard that before? A rival organisation run by a well-connected industrialist plans to sabotage the new government. And amidst all the power struggles and conspiracies, an author Bala Murali Selvam enacts the role of a visionary pawn on the political chess board of India.
Sreeram takes a lot of pointers from the current political fabric of India and isn't afraid to draw references even though most of them are indirect. He asks questions from his readers if only to tantalise them and to make them salivate for the ending. He takes veiled potshots at the media and at some of our prominent politicians and industrialists while adding several "massy" elements (technology, blasts, etc.) for his readers. The research done is impeccable and half of the fun lies in identifying who is actually who and what is actually what in real life.
Having said that, the book has its share of flaws. The track of the female journalist is straight out of a corny Bollywood movie and doesn't play up the strong feminist angle if that is what the author intended it to do. The writing is such that you feel that the author wants the reader to take a stance even if the latter doesn't want to do so. The back and fro trajectory of the narrative often slows down the narrative making it more political but less thrilling.
Nevertheless it is a surprisingly good read even if you do not want to consider it as high art. Kalyug isn't exactly All The President's Men but I do hope it succeeds and ushers in more esteemed members of its kin into Indian literature.
December 5, 2014
In Kalyug, the author has attempted an out-and-out political fantasy in a format that is inherently metafictional because their simple existence provides commentary on the story telling process. This style though is currently on indefinite hiatus; but I believe there is plenty here to read about and learn from. He lets his imagination run a reckless riot. It’s like a car let loose at break-neck speed on a not too congested highway interspersing through mind-blowing hair-pin bends, unimaginably dangerous blind turns and a treacherous landscape. To be more precise, a Formula 1 race with some occasional pit stops, though not enough to let you heave a sigh of relief, for he is soon on to the next lap.
In stretches, a political satire, a contemporary one at that; the story weaves through the narrow corridors of a live and vibrant democracy, re-kindling some of the finest moments of Indian economy, though a dreaded one for the politicians and the democracy as such. The story does not let go of the opportunity to dwell on some serious blood clots in the arteries of an economy, the rampant corruption perpetrated by the power-usurping politicians.
Add to the brew some streaks of Macbethian gory, voila, you have a thriller in your hands. However, it tends to get loud at places, which the author will do well to avoid in his future creations. A must-read for all political science scholars researching more on political coups, rather than military coups. Apparently the author has burnt a lot of midnight oil, gathering facts on the functioning of the largest democracy in the world.
Finally, it is easier to review than create an original story. Kudos to the author on his first venture.
All in all, a great going for a debutant writer with fertile imagination. May his tribe grow.
In stretches, a political satire, a contemporary one at that; the story weaves through the narrow corridors of a live and vibrant democracy, re-kindling some of the finest moments of Indian economy, though a dreaded one for the politicians and the democracy as such. The story does not let go of the opportunity to dwell on some serious blood clots in the arteries of an economy, the rampant corruption perpetrated by the power-usurping politicians.
Add to the brew some streaks of Macbethian gory, voila, you have a thriller in your hands. However, it tends to get loud at places, which the author will do well to avoid in his future creations. A must-read for all political science scholars researching more on political coups, rather than military coups. Apparently the author has burnt a lot of midnight oil, gathering facts on the functioning of the largest democracy in the world.
Finally, it is easier to review than create an original story. Kudos to the author on his first venture.
All in all, a great going for a debutant writer with fertile imagination. May his tribe grow.
March 12, 2015
The very first thing about the book is it’s unique and great cover. Now-a-days books are coming with fabulous cover designs and this one is one of them which is very intelligently designed keeping the storyline in mind. It’s simple yet convincing and that’s where the beauty lies.
Blurb talks about the death of a war veteran that triggers a movement that is a part of a operation called ‘Kalyug’. A writer Selvam is somehow related with this mass movement. Story of the book talks about a political coup happening in our country that is being controlled by a group of people that promises to drag India back on its track. The best thing about the book is that it opens up with a question and takes you through lots of twist and turns and then in the midway produces a hell lot more questions and finally able to answer all of them in the end.
The only drawback I think in the book is that is never talks about a third opinion. We hear only two parties, i.e., the one who are with Kalyug and other who are not. The book which is written in so much detailed pattern should talk about the third opinion as well.
All in all, this book is a fast paced political thriller and if you have a slightest interest in political scenario, you just can’t miss this one. Read, think and debate or simply just enjoy a thriller that is bound to give you goosebumps in the end.
FULL REVIEW AT 'THE AUTHOR'S BLOG'.
Blurb talks about the death of a war veteran that triggers a movement that is a part of a operation called ‘Kalyug’. A writer Selvam is somehow related with this mass movement. Story of the book talks about a political coup happening in our country that is being controlled by a group of people that promises to drag India back on its track. The best thing about the book is that it opens up with a question and takes you through lots of twist and turns and then in the midway produces a hell lot more questions and finally able to answer all of them in the end.
The only drawback I think in the book is that is never talks about a third opinion. We hear only two parties, i.e., the one who are with Kalyug and other who are not. The book which is written in so much detailed pattern should talk about the third opinion as well.
All in all, this book is a fast paced political thriller and if you have a slightest interest in political scenario, you just can’t miss this one. Read, think and debate or simply just enjoy a thriller that is bound to give you goosebumps in the end.
FULL REVIEW AT 'THE AUTHOR'S BLOG'.
March 8, 2015
It’s a fast paced, political thriller. Nice and very interesting book to read. You will get everything in this book suspense, conspiracy, Indian army, politics etc to glue you for further thinking, what will happen next. The author has very well portrayed the mindset of Indian politicians and politics. Also while reading the book one can know how the political decision affects to general public, economy, media etc. The language is easy and the story line is so perfectly woven which keeps readers hooked up till the last page.
It’s an extensive research on Indian politics and democracy. A gripping story with perfect plotting and excellent character build up. It’s a brilliant work by debut author. You can’t predict this novel by R. Sreeram.
I highly recommend this book to political and thriller lovers, even those who are pursuing carrier in politics.
What I liked:
On page 195 our current position in the world and
what we were in past perfect said by the author. Also I don’t know what our constitution is but the suggestion given by author between pages 208 to 219 is mind-blowing like there should be qualified politician who must have cleared local governance test.
It’s an extensive research on Indian politics and democracy. A gripping story with perfect plotting and excellent character build up. It’s a brilliant work by debut author. You can’t predict this novel by R. Sreeram.
I highly recommend this book to political and thriller lovers, even those who are pursuing carrier in politics.
What I liked:
On page 195 our current position in the world and
what we were in past perfect said by the author. Also I don’t know what our constitution is but the suggestion given by author between pages 208 to 219 is mind-blowing like there should be qualified politician who must have cleared local governance test.
March 13, 2015
There haven't been many mature attempts by Indian writers in the political thriller spectrum. As a result, most of us are more aware of the US government's workings than we are of India. Kalyug addresses this rather large niche, and does it well.
The good things: Well paced, logical and a cast of characters that are well etched. Their motivations, actions and events they become a part of, are well depicted. The cardinal sin of telling rather than showing never occurs- something which Indian authors are often accused of. The inner workings of our political system, and how it interacts with the other institutions- the army, the judiciary etc. are well cooked.
The not so good things- The dialogue between characters is stilted in most cases- they speak as if someone is written it for someone to read, not as they would speak. This is common across all encounters, and it was difficult not to go ugh, as people speaking to each other for the first time use sentence structures that are rather grand, as if they have been practising this drama for years.
The main villain, Gyandeep, has a character arc that is all too predictable, and as a cat and mouse game goes, leaves you a little cold.
Overall, a much needed attempt in the genre, and a decent read overall.
The good things: Well paced, logical and a cast of characters that are well etched. Their motivations, actions and events they become a part of, are well depicted. The cardinal sin of telling rather than showing never occurs- something which Indian authors are often accused of. The inner workings of our political system, and how it interacts with the other institutions- the army, the judiciary etc. are well cooked.
The not so good things- The dialogue between characters is stilted in most cases- they speak as if someone is written it for someone to read, not as they would speak. This is common across all encounters, and it was difficult not to go ugh, as people speaking to each other for the first time use sentence structures that are rather grand, as if they have been practising this drama for years.
The main villain, Gyandeep, has a character arc that is all too predictable, and as a cat and mouse game goes, leaves you a little cold.
Overall, a much needed attempt in the genre, and a decent read overall.
March 12, 2015
It's fast. It's furious. It's kickass. Kalyug is a glimpse into the darky, dingy, dirty corridors of power. Power corrupts. We know that. But if you want to know how much, read this book. For a politics enthusiast, this book is orgasmic. If however, you'd prefer the prettier side of the world, don't go here.
A writer wronged. A war veteran interrupted. A government on shaky feet. A secret mission. A master coup that promises to rewrite history. What more can one want in a political potboiler? I could visualise some famous politicians who could be inspired by this book. :)
The story is fast-paced, galloping at breakneck speed at certain parts. The author has etched each character with the finesse of a sculptor. The end seemed to fit into a predictable pattern. However, I must admit it kept me at the edge of the seat despite me figuring out the climax.
A big round of applause to debut writer R. Sreeram. You can tell that this is only the beginning. He has raised the bar for all other wannabes. I'll not be surprised if movie producers are lined up outside his door.
A writer wronged. A war veteran interrupted. A government on shaky feet. A secret mission. A master coup that promises to rewrite history. What more can one want in a political potboiler? I could visualise some famous politicians who could be inspired by this book. :)
The story is fast-paced, galloping at breakneck speed at certain parts. The author has etched each character with the finesse of a sculptor. The end seemed to fit into a predictable pattern. However, I must admit it kept me at the edge of the seat despite me figuring out the climax.
A big round of applause to debut writer R. Sreeram. You can tell that this is only the beginning. He has raised the bar for all other wannabes. I'll not be surprised if movie producers are lined up outside his door.
March 6, 2015
This books works on so many levels.
1. Fast paced
2. Well Written
3. Detailed information regarding political protocols.
4.Realistic
and the list goes on.
So what is this KALYUG about,
A story with thinly veiled references to politicians and their tactics used in the field. A group fighting against corruption, reservation, terrorism, nepotism in India . Using Emergency in India as a way to fight corruption induced by Corporate. The things that are day dreamed by a common man to save the nation from the scams has produced this fictitious tale.
There is no designated Hero or Heroine in this story so the burden of taking the story forward lies with a secret society that stands for Corruption fulfilling the need of villainy. In doing so, the story lacks convictions that does not explain actions of both the good guys and the bad guys.
It is a good read , fast paced and the suspense keeps you on your toes. Go for it if you want to experience some desi political thrillers.
1. Fast paced
2. Well Written
3. Detailed information regarding political protocols.
4.Realistic
and the list goes on.
So what is this KALYUG about,
A story with thinly veiled references to politicians and their tactics used in the field. A group fighting against corruption, reservation, terrorism, nepotism in India . Using Emergency in India as a way to fight corruption induced by Corporate. The things that are day dreamed by a common man to save the nation from the scams has produced this fictitious tale.
There is no designated Hero or Heroine in this story so the burden of taking the story forward lies with a secret society that stands for Corruption fulfilling the need of villainy. In doing so, the story lacks convictions that does not explain actions of both the good guys and the bad guys.
It is a good read , fast paced and the suspense keeps you on your toes. Go for it if you want to experience some desi political thrillers.
February 4, 2015
A man who lives by his country is betrayed by the system.. And an organisation which claims to clean up the system.. But is it really the system they want to clean up or is it part of a bigger plan? Is it a real coup or a puppet regime? A gripping tale of powerhouse, money and politics in India and how it embroils politicians from across the world..the parallels drawn from real life politicians make the story so come alive..The tactics were probably too detailed for my interest but nevertheless an interesting story narrated well
June 8, 2015
A great debut by a promising new writer.
My first thought when I finished reading Kalyug was: this can't be the work of a first-time writer!
R. Sreeram's language is very good, and yet he ensures that he doesn't send readers scrambling for their dictionary apps. The unraveling of the plot, the build-up of tension, the characterization, the action sequences, have all been handled with finesse. The pace is pretty good, and once you get hooked on, it's a nice ride till the end.
I recommend Kalyug to everyone and hope to see more work soon from this author.
My first thought when I finished reading Kalyug was: this can't be the work of a first-time writer!
R. Sreeram's language is very good, and yet he ensures that he doesn't send readers scrambling for their dictionary apps. The unraveling of the plot, the build-up of tension, the characterization, the action sequences, have all been handled with finesse. The pace is pretty good, and once you get hooked on, it's a nice ride till the end.
I recommend Kalyug to everyone and hope to see more work soon from this author.
March 9, 2015
Quite a nice book, imagining a situation where a bloodless coup results in the country being plunged into President's Rule. Kudos to the author for having imagined this situation and backing it up with quite a believable and interesting narrative.
However, I stop short of praising the book to high heavens due to a few things which I wasn't entirely convinced about. Will detail those in my review on my personal blog.
However, I stop short of praising the book to high heavens due to a few things which I wasn't entirely convinced about. Will detail those in my review on my personal blog.
January 15, 2015
Amazing political thriller. The language is splendid and every chapter in the book is intricately woven with the other which kept me hooked to the book till the last word of it. A must-read for those who love the beauty of language, suspense and political ideals!
March 28, 2015
Brilliant work. It's not an easy thing to choose a political thriller as a debut novel. Kalyug is gripping, believable and no nonsense novel that sticks to its plot throughout. R Sreeram's attention to details is very sharp. Looking forward to his next novel.
January 25, 2023
Interesting plot that has the potential for lot of intriguing moments. The non linear way of story narration was too confusing especially when the places and timeline kept changing every few pages. The last few chapters were very interesting and the pages turned quickly. There were a few logical blunders in the book as well (I'm not talking about the possibility of such a story really happening but there were a few instances where a character was in two different places at the same time) Seems like a book hurried to publication without proper review.
September 28, 2017
Gripping read.
Nice gripping tale. Hard to leave once you have started reading it. Good scenario building for the future of the nation.
Nice gripping tale. Hard to leave once you have started reading it. Good scenario building for the future of the nation.
May 5, 2019
Need more clearity
Unclear thought
Unclear writing
No serious plot
Purly friction
Need to know more about indian political system and method
Keep on.
Unclear thought
Unclear writing
No serious plot
Purly friction
Need to know more about indian political system and method
Keep on.
March 29, 2015
A political thriller which started well but the plot lost out somewhere near the middle. The author has tried to develop the story around a seemingly impossible scenario in India- A coup. There is no doubt on writing capability of the author but the plot fails to captivate the reader.
Indian army revolting on a suicide of a major general is a far fetched scenario which however can be digested but further incidents in the story are just do not plausible. Where the plot fails is when the author tries to give it a constitutional angle-a coup in the form of an emergency as it happened in 1975. If the story would have detailed the army( including the navy and air force which were totally missing in the story) taking over the country or the the prime minister himself taking over the administration of the country after declaring emergency( Yes, the President has no constitutional right to declare or suspend the constitution without the approval of the cabinet and the cabinet too cannot just impose emergency short of armed rebellion) the story would have been more plausible. Instead here an obscure organization just kidnap the prime minister( what was SPG or NSG doing?), take all the parliamentarians hostages( what about MLA,s of state government? Just because president says there is emergency will they all fall in line?). Then there is CJI thinking whether to declare the emergency unconstitutional and TV anchors debating on the validity of the emergency is just not fallacious but childish.
There are many instances which completely fails the to justify the plot. The writing style of the author however is good.
Hope we see more captivating plot next time.
Indian army revolting on a suicide of a major general is a far fetched scenario which however can be digested but further incidents in the story are just do not plausible. Where the plot fails is when the author tries to give it a constitutional angle-a coup in the form of an emergency as it happened in 1975. If the story would have detailed the army( including the navy and air force which were totally missing in the story) taking over the country or the the prime minister himself taking over the administration of the country after declaring emergency( Yes, the President has no constitutional right to declare or suspend the constitution without the approval of the cabinet and the cabinet too cannot just impose emergency short of armed rebellion) the story would have been more plausible. Instead here an obscure organization just kidnap the prime minister( what was SPG or NSG doing?), take all the parliamentarians hostages( what about MLA,s of state government? Just because president says there is emergency will they all fall in line?). Then there is CJI thinking whether to declare the emergency unconstitutional and TV anchors debating on the validity of the emergency is just not fallacious but childish.
There are many instances which completely fails the to justify the plot. The writing style of the author however is good.
Hope we see more captivating plot next time.
August 10, 2015
Fast-paced and interesting. Defi worth a read.
June 4, 2016
concept was good.... but something was amiss..
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