Fragments Against My Ruin: A Life

by Farrukh Dhondy

Farrukh Dhondy has done it all. No, really. Rallying for the rights of Indian workers in England; joining the British Black Panther Movement; participating in anti–Iraq War protests; meeting the Beatles, Oprah Winfrey, Allen Ginsberg and John Berger; reporting on Pink Floyd before they were famous. And more: an odd association with serial killer Charles Sobhraj, Bollywood lessons with Subhash Ghai, an Oscar outing with Mira Nair, a documentary shooting that put him in the midst of a gunfight in Jamaica. Then there are his friendships, most famously with the literary giants V.S. Naipaul and C.L.R. James.

Born in pre-Independence India, Dhondy’s Parsi family moved from Quetta to Pune during Partition in a train guarded by armed soldiers. While his childhood years are an intimate sketch of a small community dealing with the hopes and trials of a newly independent India, Dhondy’s youth is a portrait of a man finding his political centre, his forays into teaching and journalism, and the chance encounters that led him to becoming a pioneering Indo-Anglian writer as well as producing breakaway content as Channel 4’s commissioning editor.

This spirit of adventure and the zeitgeist of an ambitious generation which Dhondy embodies makes his life read like a movie script—with impossible twists and turns, an eccentric cast of characters, witty as hell and wearing its erudition lightly, as the man himself has always done.

312 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2021

About the author

Farrukh Dhondy is an Indian-born British writer, playwright, screenwriter and left-wing activist of Parsi descent. He is well known not only for his writing, but also for his film and TV work.

Reviews

[reading_ gurl_ hermione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some titles tell the tales. Fragments against my ruin is one such. A stanza from the beautiful poem by Eliot, holds very deep meaning. So does this book. You start reading and by the end you realise how this stanza is relevant to story of Farrukh. It's not a book, it's a journey to one's mainland. One of the best books I came across. All thanks to My Secret Bookshelf book-club.

[Vaj Vijaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW
BOOK - "Fragments against my ruin "
AUTHOR - " Farrukh Dhondy "
GENRE - " Memoir "

Farrukh Dhondy - a author, playwrighter, screenswriter and an activist - shares his life tales very candidly in jis latest memoir "Fragments Against my Ruins".
Farrukh was born in pre-independence India in 1944. The book starts off with some of his childhood memories from spending time in Quetta (now capital of Balochistan, Pakistan) & his family's horrific ordeal of crossing the border in 1947 post independence.
He remains true to his commitment towards his readers by sharing his exclusive life stories in "Fragments Against my Ruins", his life stories which are not available anywhere else but only in this book.
Farrukh shares about his college life in Bombay & Poona (now Mumbai & Pune respectively). He started college at the age of 14 in Chemical Technology in Bombay University but he quit just after 6 months realising it's not a career of his choice. Then he took up a bachelor's degree in Physics at the Nowrosjee Wadia College, Poona. This is where he first meets Mala Sen, the love of his life. Farrukh, very generously, shares with the readers about his love affair with Mala Sen, whom he subsequently marries sometime in 1968 and later parts way around 1976. But they chose to stay very good friends till Mala passes away in 2011.
Farrukh's life takes a full 180 degree turn when he joins Pembroke College, Cambridge to study Natural sciences.
Farrukh Dhondy bares it all in his latest memoir Fragments Against my Ruins".

[Shirley Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the age of eight, Farrukh Dhondy lived with his grandfather and observed the elderly man's daily routine with horror. Farrukh writes that, after spending each morning with his stamp collection, Grandpapa "would have his lunch, take a nap in his large four-poster bed and go for a walk in the evenings. Then dinner and bed.

It was a lesson in getting on--the loss of ambition and any manner of conquest, even everyday ones. Life was done with, and there was now the routine and the waiting. It terrified me, and I resolved never to follow in those sterile footsteps."

Now at the age of 78, Farrukh recalls his colorful and energetic life to date. It's amply clear that he has been true to this resolution. And he's most likely just getting started!!

[Gorishaa Mehta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking at the cover, one thing I felt that why should I read a book written by a convicted man? But what could stop a book lover like me? A dive into this amazing biography and I never found my way out! Mudt read! Highly recommended! Amazing book.

It satiates me in every way. Thanks My Secret Bookshelf book-club for such an amazing book of the month.

#mysecretbookshelf #farrukhdhondy #novemberbotm #fragmentsagainstmyruins

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[Artistic Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a biography of a controversial person? Fragments Against My Ruins will not disappoint you. Amazing amalgamation of words and life experiences with windows to many controversies of his life. Farrukh Dhondy has been out of the box in terms of writing, his book is one such. Being a part of My Secret Bookshelf book-club, I read this and now I'm drooling over it. Can't stop bragging though.



⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[Aiman Arfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narration is amazing for this book. Finished it back in November. Reading with members of a bookclub is amazing. An experienc worth holding on to. The meet-up was one of a kind. Farrukh Dhondy sir and his stories, all are amazing. You can listen to him all day and you won't be bored even for a second. Perfect must read biography. Hope we see a movie on it too.

mysecretbookshelf #farrukhdhondy #novemberbotm #fragmentsagainstmyruins

[Komal Kumari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real are those who can explicitly make jokes on their own selves. Farrukh Sir, is one such gem. His recent work, really is mesmerizing. 300 pages of sweet salty moments is what Fragments Against My Ruins is about. I read this masterpiece back in November. Being a part of My Secret Bookshelf book-club had me acknowledge this amazing biography.

4/5 ⭐

[Stephiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most of the Dhondy's work, this one got published in India, really glad for that. Books from Westland and its subsidiaries really are impeccable. This one is more that just an out of the box work. You'll feel the need to know more about this man and his life. Every plot, every incidences are extremely interesting. This was the book of the month November for My Secret Bookshelf book-club.

[Achu Aswathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished reading this amazing biography written by Farrukh Dhondy. Fragments Against My Ruins, the name tells a story in itself. Every chapter inside this book is a unique tale. Obsessing over such biographies. All thanks to My Secret Bookshelf book club. Such an amazing collection lined up here.

[Moksha Sheth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won't say that I haven't came across a biography like this. An interesting writing style makes it work at all levels. Perhaps it's the cover that had my attention in the beginning. Content was flattering by all means. However, I won't say it was verryy fresh in all terms. The man and his chores had me though. Loving the introductory!

[SIDDA RAVITEJA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book 2 months back as a part of this amazing bookclub from My Secret Bookshelf. This is gem of all. Fragments Against My Ruins is a must read book written by Farrukh Dhondy, a renowned screenwriter. Loved the reading experience.

[Sim White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. A great life. A sense of humour. He makes it sound so easy, but it was anything but...

[Almas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish. A decent read. Enjoyed bits and pieces.