wodehousing

A story of a true Indian entrepeneur, told in a series of letters to the Prime Minister of China upon his visit to India. Balram Halwai tells the story of how he managed to escape the Darkness (from the villages near the Ganges) and rise up in life. From the first page, he admits he is a murderer, unrepentant and amoral. And yet, he’s extremely endearing.

This is, I think, the first book by and Indian author I’ve read. I loved it! I was completely transported to India, which is a completely foreign place to me. I enjoyed how gritty and real it all felt. The author made no excuses, and didn’t romanticize anything. It was a very compelling read, and it stuck with me for a very long time.