Monthly Archives: February 2020

Book review: Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman

Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman, the book by author Mehool Parekh, is the latest murder mystery cum detective fictional novel to have come out on Indian book shelves.

Over the years or decades we have been exposed to murder mysteries in various mediums like books, movies, short stories, plays, etc. Hence, a story in this genre needs to be completely convincing in today’s times because of this much exposure.

This holds true for me all the more since I have feasted on plenty of James Hadley Chase novels and read all of Satyajit Ray’s Feluda stories in the past. So, how much impact did debutant author Mehool Parekh’s quirkyly titled Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman have on me? Let’s first find out what it is about.

This is the story of the army man cum detective Bartaman Bhowmick aka Batty, who lives in Pune. He teams up with his female friend Robin to solve criminal cases. They spring into action as soon as they come to know about the gruesome murder of the beautiful Rupali Jadhav in her apartment. She was stabbed as many as 16 times.

The lazy police inspector Lokhande, who doesn’t give a damn about truth, is eager to pin the blame on either Rupali’s husband or servant and close the case in a jiffy. However, Batty and Robin realize that the case isn’t as simple as it looks, much to the frustration of Lokhande.

To come straight to the point, Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman majorly succeeds in keeping you hooked, engaged and interested despite the genre being done to death. This is no mean feat. Of course, it is the basic story that is the most responsible for this. Although you can guess where the story is heading, the finale does take you by surprise. This point alone is enough to make this book worth your time.

An interesting bit about Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman, which is hardly seen in most murder mysteries, is that the victim isn’t shown to be a helpless person who deserves the readers’ sympathy. The author goes on to the bold path by not shying away from giving grey shades to the character of Rupali right from the start of the story. The use of flashback over here is smart which makes the tale more layered.

Parekh’s writing isn’t rich but it is something that the average Indian reader can connect with. He has maintained the balance of being creative but at the same time kept it simple enough for readers from any walk of life to feel comfortable.

Also read: Book Review: Murder In Mahim by Jerry Pinto

Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman also comes with a common negative point. There are incidents that are stretched without need. The book should have ended before 317 pages. Also on a couple of occasions the author has generalized negative behaviour of males and females which should have been avoided as it’s unfair.

Overall: Bhoot Bhavish Bartaman is an interesting murder mystery cum detective saga that leaves you impressed.

Author: Mehool Parekh

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Publishers: Leadstart Publishing

Pages: 317

Additional reading:

Short story: The Orange Garlands Of Bharatpur

An Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal

7 Replies

Dear Mr Arvind Kejriwal,

Firstly, congratulations for winning the Delhi Assembly Elections by a huge margin and becoming the Chief Minister of India’s capital yet again. Another feat you have achieved with this victory is that you have indirectly compelled me to do something I never thought I would – to write an open letter.

I have always admired you for showing guts when it comes to standing up against wrongdoers. But my opinion about you has always hanged between you being the best politician and way better from the lot we have [big difference between both]. But the one thing that has remained constant is that you have always proven me wrong.

I have been observing you ever since Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption (IAC) movement. Like scores of youngsters, I too took part in it. It was only through this movement that I started taking interest in something like politics out of the blue. Trust me, before 2011 I didn’t even know the meaning of an MP and MLA and also the difference between both.

After nothing much happened due to the agitations and protests, you decided to form a political party in 2012. I completely disagreed with this decision and my interest in the movement started by Anna with able support from you diminished. The fact that Anna himself didn’t support the decision of forming a party was also responsible for this.

But you proved me wrong in 2013 by gaining people’s trust and winning 28 out of the 70 seats in your political debut in the Delhi Assembly Elections. But I again disagreed with your decision of forming the government with the help of Congress MLA’s since your entire IAC movement was against the corruption carried out by the leaders of their party.

But I was still happy to see you Mr Kejriwal at the helm of affairs in Delhi as the CM and appreciated the few decisions you made then. However, your resignation after 51 days came as a blow to a lot of Indians, including me. Then your party’s stint in the 2014 General Elections where you won only four seats despite contesting in the entire country forced me to accept that the new wave of Indian politics has come in danger so soon.

But interestingly, you worked hard to gain people’s trust yet again and bounced back like never before in the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections. Your party winning 67 out of the 70 seats came as a pleasant shock as no political pundits had predicted such a result.

The result coupled by your period of self-introspection before the elections made me your fan yet again. However, the post-results period of 2015 was when my feelings for you took some beating. The entire controversy regarding Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan following which they quit the party didn’t go down well with me and many others who admired you.

This was followed by your drubbing in the 2017 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections where you won only 49 out of the 272 seats, which would have come as a shock to you too Mr Kejriwal. This was enough to make me feel that your time is slowly getting over.

From here onwards, surprisingly, we saw a changed Kejriwal. Your harsh and negative criticisms against the Centre and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular [‘coward and psychopath’ as you called him], which was a regular feature in the previous few years, was hardly to be seen. I don’t disagree with your views against the BJP or Modi but I just feel that a CM like you should let his work speak.

Fortunately, this is what you and your government in Delhi have been doing since close to last three years. Your turnaround in government schools has been revolutionary to say the least. Your efforts in giving free water and electricity to the Delhi citizens have also been praiseworthy. [I didn’t think much of the Lok Sabha Election results of 2019 as that was mainly contested to choose the Prime Minister for the next five years.]

Following this, your victory in 62 out of the 70 seats in the recent Delhi elections is another proof of how much the people of the city are pleased with your work. And hence, you proved me wrong yet again and I don’t mind this at all.

But this also reminds me of the controversial period that started for you and your party just after the huge 2015 victory. I really hope such a thing isn’t repeated and you continue your good work and show the kind of maturity you have been showing in the last few years.

The reason why I am writing to a politician for the first time is because I have hopes only from you Mr Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. It was you who made me and many others realize that one should not bury politics under the carpet believing it’s a place only for the crooked and the wicked.

Also read: To choose Gandhi or Godse: Confusion of a Bhakt

More importantly, the stakes are very high this time around. The Right Wing fascism has escalated tremendously in recent months. And I see you as a major force that can stand up to it. As we can see, the Congress party is hardly any force to reckon with now.

I don’t know whether you should now go national as you have better knowledge than me. But my only advice for you would be to look at long-term goals for Delhi and slowly and unhurriedly make your way to the rest of India.

From here on, it is you who will decide the future of Indian politics. So, please take each step carefully.

I hope, for a change, you will prove me right this time. Wishing you all the very best as you start your third term as the CM.

Yours fellow Aam Aadmi,

Keyur Seta

(Additional reading: How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters)

To choose Gandhi or Godse: Confusion of a Bhakt

1 Reply

Ever since Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister, he has shown tremendous respect towards Mahatma Gandhi. He started the nationwide Swachh Bharat Abhiyan dedicating it to him. The PM has also spoken highly of the father of the nation during his numerous speeches. But senior members of his party have been showing support for Nathuram Godse, the person who cold-bloodedly murdered Gandhi.

The one person that immediately comes to our mind is MP Pragya Thakur [Sadhvi for some]. She hailed Godse twice last year. In one statement, she went onto say “Nathuram Godse was a patriot and will remain so. People calling him a terrorist should introspect. They will be given a befitting reply in these elections.” She is also someone who hailed the death of cop Hemant Karkare at the hands of terrorist Ajmal Kasab but that’s another story. (See the video below)

Just last month, BJP leader Amitabh Sinha, during a debate with Kanhaiya Kumar, refused to answer whether he is against Godse. But when Kanhaiya persisted with the question, Sinha openly said, “He is not against Godse.” (See the video below)

Similarly, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said in an interview that Godse was a nationalist but then quickly made a U turn. (See the video below)

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, also defended Godse’s act of killing Gandhi. (Read it in detail HERE.)

Shockingly, members of a Right Wing group recreated Godse’s murder of Gandhi. The ‘event’ was attended by BJP leaders, including the ex-Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan. There was an uproar in the nation and social media over the event but none of the BJP leaders even criticized it, leave alone taking action against them. (See the video below)

And just today, BJP’s senior leader Anant Kumar Hegde said that Gandhi’s freedom fight was just a ‘drama.’ (See video below)

These aren’t small-time karyakartas of the party who can be ignored. CMs and MP’s are chosen as the representatives of the people of India and if they are openly showing support to the murderer of Gandhi, it raises several questions on PM Modi’s unending praise for the Mahatma.

Also read: Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir on CAA and NRC

If not for us, at least clear the dilemma for your Bhakts. They defend PM’s sweet words for Gandhi. But on some days they are forced to defend Godse, the diametrical opposite of Gandhi, to support the statements of the aforementioned leaders.

Jokes apart, this clearly looks like a clear strategy to keep the supporters of Gandhi as well as Godse happy. If only the people of India can see the bluff.

Additional reading:

How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters