Book details
Title – Men and Dreams in The Dhauladhar
Author – Kochery C. Shibu
Genre – Fiction
Publisher – Niyogi Books
No of pages – 283
Main characters – Nanda, Khusru and Rekha
Other characters – Aayesha, Katarina
The blurb
A Hydel
project in the remote HImalayas- three people brought together by fate.
Nanda an
engineer from Kerala at the dam construction site, hiding from his past, from
the law, torn between the love for his dear ones, and the kalari code of
revenge.
Khusru, a
youth displaced from his native village in Kashmir, a gambit in the terror plot
that threatens to blow up the dam, working as a labourer at the site.
Rekha, a
kathak dancer at heart, a doctor by profession, arrives at the campsite as the
consort of Khusru.
A village
that accepts the dictates of modernity with a heavy heart, its population
steeped in superstitions and religious beliefs.
All throng
the campsite like moths to a flame, some escape untouched,successful;some miss
a step and perish. each has a story to tell and a dream to realise. Men and
Dreams in the Dhauladhar is about the aspirations of these people, with their
cares and worries woven to the site life. The fury of nature and hardships of
project life have no mercy for the weak and no time for the dead.
Like an
eternal spectator the Dhauladhar watches as men risk their lives and limb in
the quest to fulfil their dreams.
My review
The book
blurb gives an idea that it’s a story of 3 main characters and the whole novel
has been woven around them. No, not this book has one story to tell but dozens
of characters and their stories, their dreams, aspirations and more. I would
say author Kochery C. Shibu has done a wonderful job by writing his first-ever
novel.
His detailing
in each character, their background, the geography of each place shows that the
author is well-read, well-travelled and extremely knowledgeable. Definitely,
writing a novel of 283 pages has taken a mountain of work for him but the
outcome is really impressive.
Just like
any other writer, the author starts his story with a suspenseful beginning that
keeps intriguing you why Nanda, the first protagonist of Men and Dreams in the
Dhauladhar is hiding and running from one place to other.
In Men and Dreams
in the Dhauladhar, prime characters like Nanda, Khusru and Rekha play an
important role but its very impressive that the author has taken a lot of
efforts to build the historical background first before introducing the
character.
Each character
has its own story to tell. Be it Rekha, Khusru or Nanda, one can relate with
their own life. I would not spoil the joy by telling the end of it. Overall, I am
impressed with the author’s multi-faceted knowledge but I could not keep up the
pace with the story as the author continues to introduce too many new
characters in between that I used to lose my interest in between.
While I appreciate
the author’s efforts and the story is nice but giving too much information and
introducing so many characters can make an interesting novel a drag one.
Writing style
It’s simple,
detailed and it reflects that the author was well-prepared while writing his
drafts. His writing shows his observatory skills and reflects immense knowledge
of everything.
The good Part
The well-written
descriptions of the people and places!
The not-so good part
Too many
characters can wear you out while reading it.
The book cover and the title
The cover
is intriguing and thoughtful. The sight of snowy mountains is desirable. These mountains
represent a man’s tall aspirations and raising expectations from life. The cover
makes you ponder about what it like to be inside the pages. Yes, the title is
also very apt. men and their dreams go with Dhauladhar. The range of mountains
that keep attracting throngs of people to live, struggle, and learn so many
things from the mountains. But at the same time, the mountains are hard rock
and they don’t have time to think to mourn or share sorrow but stand tall
against all odds when men hammer them with no mercy!
My Rating 4/5
It is
recommendable to all the readers who love to go high or looking up at the
mountains!
About the author
Kochery C.
Shibu graduated from the prestigious National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, in
1981. He has served in the Indian Navy and commanded two warships. Men and
dreams in the Dhauladhar is his debit novel. The technical content of the
novel, namely the setting up of a hydro-project is drawn from his experience in
these projects, as are many of the characters inspired from those whom he
encountered on site.
Kochery C.
Shibu was born in Kochi and now lives in Bangalore with his wife and daughter.
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