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The Competent Authority
A couple of decades from now, India is not shining. The Chinese have nuked large parts of the country; Bombay has been obliterated; Delhi is in the throes of rigorous reconstruction; Bengal has seceded and is now a protectorate of China; the Maoists have taken over much of what remains. The southern states are a distant and tranquil place that nobody has visited in years.
The most powerful person in the country is a deranged bureaucrat called the Competent Authority, who has used his official position as the head of the Bureau of Reconstruction, to subvert all forces of governmental authority. Cloaked in anonymity, his identity known only to his terrified minions, the CA rules the remnants of India with an iron fist.
Although, in theory, the government and the armed forces still exist, the Prime Minister, who looks very familiar, and the General, who commands the Army, are mere puppets in the hands of the Competent Authority. All they can do is watch in horror as he tries to put in motion a fiendish plan to annihilate everyone in the country, for reasons that are completely logical.
The only person who can stop him is Pintoo, a mutant twelve year old from Shanti Nagar, where all the poor people live. Determined to thwart the CAs plan and save the country from disaster, Pintoo employs three reluctant henchmen to help him: Pande, a corrupt and vicious policeman, Chatterjee, a pessimistic but determined CBI officer and Ali, the last surviving member of Al Qaeda. And then there's also the matter of the hand that has a mind of its own.
The most powerful person in the country is a deranged bureaucrat called the Competent Authority, who has used his official position as the head of the Bureau of Reconstruction, to subvert all forces of governmental authority. Cloaked in anonymity, his identity known only to his terrified minions, the CA rules the remnants of India with an iron fist.
Although, in theory, the government and the armed forces still exist, the Prime Minister, who looks very familiar, and the General, who commands the Army, are mere puppets in the hands of the Competent Authority. All they can do is watch in horror as he tries to put in motion a fiendish plan to annihilate everyone in the country, for reasons that are completely logical.
The only person who can stop him is Pintoo, a mutant twelve year old from Shanti Nagar, where all the poor people live. Determined to thwart the CAs plan and save the country from disaster, Pintoo employs three reluctant henchmen to help him: Pande, a corrupt and vicious policeman, Chatterjee, a pessimistic but determined CBI officer and Ali, the last surviving member of Al Qaeda. And then there's also the matter of the hand that has a mind of its own.
462 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2013
19 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Shovon Chowdhury
4 books28 followersBio
Shovon Chowdhury is a Delhi-based amateur humourist. His blog, India Update has been widely condemned. He is also the creator of The Trilokpuri Incident, a research project on Facebook which is investigating something no one can remember.
He has completed one novel, The Competent Authority. It took him eleven years, because he can only type with one finger.
In his spare time, he does advertising work for clients who cannot find anyone cheaper. His work as co-author of the Very Rich Whitebook for the National Council of Applied Economic Research has left him deeply prejudiced against the very rich. His grandfather ran away from Dhaka to escape Japanese bombing in 1945, not realizing that the war was about to end, and arrived in Calcutta just in time for the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946. These shared family experiences have left him deeply averse to sudden movement, which is why he has lived in Delhi for the last twenty years.
He is too old to immigrate, but too young to give up.
Biblio
India Update, ongoing. A news site dedicated to giving the true picture.
http://shovonc.wordpress.com
The Trilokpuri Incident, ongoing. A research report on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tri...
The Competent Authority, a novel.
A Suitable Girl, short story.
Shovon Chowdhury is a Delhi-based amateur humourist. His blog, India Update has been widely condemned. He is also the creator of The Trilokpuri Incident, a research project on Facebook which is investigating something no one can remember.
He has completed one novel, The Competent Authority. It took him eleven years, because he can only type with one finger.
In his spare time, he does advertising work for clients who cannot find anyone cheaper. His work as co-author of the Very Rich Whitebook for the National Council of Applied Economic Research has left him deeply prejudiced against the very rich. His grandfather ran away from Dhaka to escape Japanese bombing in 1945, not realizing that the war was about to end, and arrived in Calcutta just in time for the Great Calcutta Killings of 1946. These shared family experiences have left him deeply averse to sudden movement, which is why he has lived in Delhi for the last twenty years.
He is too old to immigrate, but too young to give up.
Biblio
India Update, ongoing. A news site dedicated to giving the true picture.
http://shovonc.wordpress.com
The Trilokpuri Incident, ongoing. A research report on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tri...
The Competent Authority, a novel.
A Suitable Girl, short story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 10, 2015
I came across this book in a review by the respected blogger/reviewer/writer Jai Arjun Singh and picked it up because hey, it's a dystopian comedy. Firstly are there any bad books in the dystopia genre ? Ok maybe there are. But in general, I find the good ones in the genre really, really good. Maybe it appealed to my erstwhile, extreme cynicism. (Marriage has truly changed me) And secondly, I'll pick up anything that is marketed as a comedy. No, seriously. If you handed me a copy of Kapil Sibal's poetry and told me it was comedy, I would read it. (What's that you say ? I wouldn't be far off the mark in categorizing it that way?)
Does it live up to the praise in that review? (well, the review was actually for the author's latest but the praise was for the earlier book - http://jaiarjun.blogspot.in/2015/06/b...) Yes and no. The story is set in a not so different India in the not so distant future where nuclear explosions (and the resulting side effects) are pretty common. Where Bengal has seceded from the Indian state and is now loyal to China. (Heh)Where an all-powerful, trigger happy, mostly crazy bureaucrat (the competent authority of the title) now holds sway over what remains of India and of it's never ending reconstruction and is obsessed with fighting a war with China. Where the poor and their body parts are regularly parted and kept in "Body banks" to be used for the rich who can afford to pay when they need replacement parts. One such poor child, whose arm has been forcibly credited into the bank’s coffers, turns out to have special powers and decides to use those powers to change the world by changing the past, “back to the future” style. What follows are bits of time travel where one character is sent back to save Gandhi, another to prevent Pokhran-2, a third to prevent Direct action day, to change the future. There are also some very funny bits with a holy charla…man, named Dharti Pakar, who runs art of breathing™ courses and cavorts around with super models while minting money selling honey produced by spiritually uplifted bees, and others involving the chairman of the Bank of bodies and his no.2. No, no, not his bowel movements. Just his No.2 assistant. Are there are hilarious, witty bits? Oh, this book is a chock a block with them including random insults at Bengali cricketers, Rajasthani puppets (an area where I have very strong opinions on), Shri Shri YoYo (who now sings about religion and not rape, after having been to jail and experiencing it), Monty constant and Ahluwahlia equilibriums being used to reduce poverty, the auxiliary mouse corps from Bangalore, hilarious Chinese letters to the competent authority and more. But does it all come together satisfactorily? Not entirely. Some of the characters are too real to be funny. Others are just plain unfunny. Oh and there are too many characters doing too many things (including the PM and an army general). And the finale is a bit of an anti-climax. Still, there are enough moments of humor, intelligence and a good story to make it worth reading.
Does it live up to the praise in that review? (well, the review was actually for the author's latest but the praise was for the earlier book - http://jaiarjun.blogspot.in/2015/06/b...) Yes and no. The story is set in a not so different India in the not so distant future where nuclear explosions (and the resulting side effects) are pretty common. Where Bengal has seceded from the Indian state and is now loyal to China. (Heh)Where an all-powerful, trigger happy, mostly crazy bureaucrat (the competent authority of the title) now holds sway over what remains of India and of it's never ending reconstruction and is obsessed with fighting a war with China. Where the poor and their body parts are regularly parted and kept in "Body banks" to be used for the rich who can afford to pay when they need replacement parts. One such poor child, whose arm has been forcibly credited into the bank’s coffers, turns out to have special powers and decides to use those powers to change the world by changing the past, “back to the future” style. What follows are bits of time travel where one character is sent back to save Gandhi, another to prevent Pokhran-2, a third to prevent Direct action day, to change the future. There are also some very funny bits with a holy charla…man, named Dharti Pakar, who runs art of breathing™ courses and cavorts around with super models while minting money selling honey produced by spiritually uplifted bees, and others involving the chairman of the Bank of bodies and his no.2. No, no, not his bowel movements. Just his No.2 assistant. Are there are hilarious, witty bits? Oh, this book is a chock a block with them including random insults at Bengali cricketers, Rajasthani puppets (an area where I have very strong opinions on), Shri Shri YoYo (who now sings about religion and not rape, after having been to jail and experiencing it), Monty constant and Ahluwahlia equilibriums being used to reduce poverty, the auxiliary mouse corps from Bangalore, hilarious Chinese letters to the competent authority and more. But does it all come together satisfactorily? Not entirely. Some of the characters are too real to be funny. Others are just plain unfunny. Oh and there are too many characters doing too many things (including the PM and an army general). And the finale is a bit of an anti-climax. Still, there are enough moments of humor, intelligence and a good story to make it worth reading.
June 7, 2016
I would have liked this book a lot more had I been a politically inclined Dilliwalla. Ideally, I should have been one of those political-scientist-cum-intellectuals of the armchair variety, whose life begins and ends with the Dilli Durbar. Or a failed political activist.
Before I give the wrong impression, let me say that it is a pleasure to come across an Indian novel from a thinking author where the story/plot is original. Heaven knows they are in short supply. This novel is a satirical take on Delhi politics and its bureaucracy, that seem to be written by a Delhiite for Delhiites. It is sometimes witty, sometimes crude, sometimes original and sometimes stale. The pages are full of satirical allusions that are often unbecomingly direct.
Somehow, few of the ‘jokes’ brought a smile, and (almost) none made me laugh. I am not sure why. Was it the talking-down style of narration and the deliberate ridicule? Or the dismissiveness of things non-Delhi? Perhaps it was the nature of the author's mind (that comes through in any writing effort). Maybe it was the crassness. For all I know, it may have been me and my own cynicism.
Whatever it was, I appreciated the wit and the original effort from an intellectual viewpoint, but failed to enjoy it. The writing got tiring beyond a point, and lack of a story and strong characters made me lose interest. In the absence of either of these crucial elements, the book should have been smaller. It would have left a nicer aftertaste.
Having said all this, I would recommend this book to two groups of Indian readers: (1) the politically inclined, and (2) the not-so-picky ones. It’s a pretty good book, actually, and is from an obviously sharp author. It’s just that I didn’t enjoy it very much.
More reviews here.
Before I give the wrong impression, let me say that it is a pleasure to come across an Indian novel from a thinking author where the story/plot is original. Heaven knows they are in short supply. This novel is a satirical take on Delhi politics and its bureaucracy, that seem to be written by a Delhiite for Delhiites. It is sometimes witty, sometimes crude, sometimes original and sometimes stale. The pages are full of satirical allusions that are often unbecomingly direct.
Somehow, few of the ‘jokes’ brought a smile, and (almost) none made me laugh. I am not sure why. Was it the talking-down style of narration and the deliberate ridicule? Or the dismissiveness of things non-Delhi? Perhaps it was the nature of the author's mind (that comes through in any writing effort). Maybe it was the crassness. For all I know, it may have been me and my own cynicism.
Whatever it was, I appreciated the wit and the original effort from an intellectual viewpoint, but failed to enjoy it. The writing got tiring beyond a point, and lack of a story and strong characters made me lose interest. In the absence of either of these crucial elements, the book should have been smaller. It would have left a nicer aftertaste.
Having said all this, I would recommend this book to two groups of Indian readers: (1) the politically inclined, and (2) the not-so-picky ones. It’s a pretty good book, actually, and is from an obviously sharp author. It’s just that I didn’t enjoy it very much.
More reviews here.
November 14, 2022
A hilarious and whimsically satirical book on present day India. Set in a moribund future dystopian India, nuked by the Chinese, it pokes fun at all the holy cows – bureaucrats, religious gurus, the police, politicians, doctors, historical figures, the army, caste arrogance and parochialism etc. The convoluted plot takes recourse to the handy tool of time-travel and is too long, hence the four stars. There are some genuinely comical bits
Entertaining and hysterical, just wish it was shorter.
The bananas were bright purple, and perfectly straight. Robbed of their curvature, glistening purply, they looked like tanned and fit brinjals. Each had a little sticker on it. Banani picked one up and examined the fine print. ‘Hanuman Brand Super Banana,’ it read.Fish has to be mentioned if the author is a Bengali
If he actually met one too many people who were affected by his decisions, it would affect his decisions.
Rich, pungent and briny – with a hint of decay. This was not the mild, innocent fish that was tandooried every evening by his neighbourhood kebab vendor. This was formidable fish, fish that boldly declared its presence, fish that once consumed, would stamp itself on you at a cellular level and define your character in strange, unpredictable ways. This was fish whose odour could transform, cleanse and purify you.Slums and another Bengali meme - poets
…odd gentleman of leisure with no particular goal in life. Most of them were poets. They were painfully thin, with concave chests, thin, scrawny necks, and disproportionally large heads. It was like living in the middle of a lollipop convention. Ennui was rampant. Eyesight was poor. Tuberculosis was widespread.The Shakahari Sena (SS) – a playful but morbid reference to the Nazi SS or the indigenous Shiv Sena)
The organization was able to do all this because it was a religio-poliitcal organization, and hence the normal principles of law and order did not apply.At the risk of nit-picking, there are two inaccuracies that I would like to point out: It is potassium iodide (for the iodine moiety) that is administered as a prophylactic for thyroid cancer in case of a nuclear fallout and not potassium; it is imperforate anus and not unperforated anus.
Entertaining and hysterical, just wish it was shorter.
November 9, 2015
What I don't get about this book, is the fact that why the fuck aren't more people talking about it.
This is a book which through heavy comical satire takes us on a ride forward in time where half the country is nuked and is ruins, with political instability; and then in the past where we realize that not much has changed really. And while the plot leaves a lot wanting, it is executed in a brilliant manner. Shovon has this uncanny ability to express many grave, immoral issues with a original witty humor that just hits home.
This is a book which through heavy comical satire takes us on a ride forward in time where half the country is nuked and is ruins, with political instability; and then in the past where we realize that not much has changed really. And while the plot leaves a lot wanting, it is executed in a brilliant manner. Shovon has this uncanny ability to express many grave, immoral issues with a original witty humor that just hits home.
August 25, 2013
The first thought that would pop up in your mind when you read Shovon Chowdhury's The Competent Authority is - 'How did he get away with this?'
The author has not spared anyone from satire which gradually encroaches your mind as you deal with the blows struck by every sentence.
For more visit: sudeepanair.wordpress.com
The author has not spared anyone from satire which gradually encroaches your mind as you deal with the blows struck by every sentence.
For more visit: sudeepanair.wordpress.com
August 19, 2016
Very funny: and the surrealism is truer than most realistic reporting.
Incidentally, the frequency of jokes at the expense of Bengalis made me flip to the author's bio and — sure enough — he's a Bengali exile in Delhi. The smaller, simultaneous https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., is even funnier about Chinese rule there.
Incidentally, the frequency of jokes at the expense of Bengalis made me flip to the author's bio and — sure enough — he's a Bengali exile in Delhi. The smaller, simultaneous https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..., is even funnier about Chinese rule there.
August 30, 2013
Wickedly funny, bitingly real, and chillingly probable. Great speculative fiction! Must read!
February 28, 2021
Wonderful book. Shovon's imagination, wit and language make this a delightful book. Highly recommended.
October 24, 2021
The Competent Authority, written by Delhi based Late Shovon Chowdhury, is a satire of modern India and is a great read that is so close to reality while being far far away from it. People who love satire and dark humor will definitely love it!
Set in India in 2030s, where a nuclear war with China has destroyed most of northern India, Connaught Place is now Dead Circle, Delhi is being reconstructed as New New Delhi, Bengal is now under Chinese Protectorate while most of southern India was spared from the effects of the nuke attack. The nuclear attack was a response from China to India’s erstwhile PM, the Man of Steel, feeding publicly a child, who is supposed to be a reincarnation of Dalai Lama, some dhokla.
After being attacked, the country is secretly governed by a shadow figure known as The Competent Authority or the CA, while PM is only a face to the nation. Plastic Surgery is in high demand and the technology has touched new heights which allows replacement of body parts (sourced from poor people for the rich ones) with great ease by Bank of Bodies whose next area of growth is based on religion. The wealthy are all the more wealthier with their own standards of luxury, the poor live in a place in the outskirts which is not visited by the rich, police is corrupt and violent, Arnab Goswami still exists and is looking for answer on behalf of ‘janta’, influence of gurus prevail though only rich are allowed to meet them, India’s fighter planes use cheap Russian parts helping the planes self-destruct within seconds of flight, sparing the enemy any effort to shoot them down. While this modernistic tale has sci-fi elements of mutants, telepathy, and time-travel, it is firmly rooted in reality and it feels very close to present!
The CA is shown as an all-powerful lunatic whose considers himself to be ‘Competent’ and with ‘Authority’ and hence, someone the entire country should be afraid of. His idea of dictating his own biography, forever tapping PM’s phone, punishing people by twisting their nipples clockwise and counterclockwise is simply dark yet hilarious.
The story revolves around 12-year-old Pintoo who gets some magic powers (as a result of mutation) to ‘push’ things and people back in time. He is passionate to use his powers to fix major incidents in the past like Gandhi assassination, Direct Action Day and Pokhran test which, by the way, he shortlists basis his interesting discussions with people in the current timeline. He is supported by a corrupt police officer, an honest and low rank government clerk and an Al-qaeda operative who are pushed back in different points of time and are assigned duties to stop these major events.
Shovon’s writing is full of wit and the readers are bound to chuckle at the silliness. There are some ‘not to be forgotten’, though sorry, elements in the book which have been beautifully captured. Like the one around changing the metric to measure poverty:
“….if we use the Monty Constant to redefine poverty, poverty line reduces by 10 per cent every year and in the fifth year, we should achieve the Ahluwalia Equilibrium. ... If implemented properly, this can make poverty history in less than a decade.”
It is a good book, the plot is solid, characters are lovable and keeps the readers hooked. It is a prankish and playful attempt to show the corruption emanating from power. Eventually, its all about power – the power of a 12-year old and the power of an all powerful CA.
However, I felt the book is a little too long. While satire is the central theme, at times it seems a little too stupid just because the writer wanted it to sound funny. The actions, recommendations of its central character, the CA, are simply stupid most of the time and feels totally unrealistic. But probably that’s where the humor comes from
Especially because such satirical tales on the system and economy is a really limited genre among Indian authors, I suggest anyone who like this genre to find some time to read this.
Set in India in 2030s, where a nuclear war with China has destroyed most of northern India, Connaught Place is now Dead Circle, Delhi is being reconstructed as New New Delhi, Bengal is now under Chinese Protectorate while most of southern India was spared from the effects of the nuke attack. The nuclear attack was a response from China to India’s erstwhile PM, the Man of Steel, feeding publicly a child, who is supposed to be a reincarnation of Dalai Lama, some dhokla.
After being attacked, the country is secretly governed by a shadow figure known as The Competent Authority or the CA, while PM is only a face to the nation. Plastic Surgery is in high demand and the technology has touched new heights which allows replacement of body parts (sourced from poor people for the rich ones) with great ease by Bank of Bodies whose next area of growth is based on religion. The wealthy are all the more wealthier with their own standards of luxury, the poor live in a place in the outskirts which is not visited by the rich, police is corrupt and violent, Arnab Goswami still exists and is looking for answer on behalf of ‘janta’, influence of gurus prevail though only rich are allowed to meet them, India’s fighter planes use cheap Russian parts helping the planes self-destruct within seconds of flight, sparing the enemy any effort to shoot them down. While this modernistic tale has sci-fi elements of mutants, telepathy, and time-travel, it is firmly rooted in reality and it feels very close to present!
The CA is shown as an all-powerful lunatic whose considers himself to be ‘Competent’ and with ‘Authority’ and hence, someone the entire country should be afraid of. His idea of dictating his own biography, forever tapping PM’s phone, punishing people by twisting their nipples clockwise and counterclockwise is simply dark yet hilarious.
The story revolves around 12-year-old Pintoo who gets some magic powers (as a result of mutation) to ‘push’ things and people back in time. He is passionate to use his powers to fix major incidents in the past like Gandhi assassination, Direct Action Day and Pokhran test which, by the way, he shortlists basis his interesting discussions with people in the current timeline. He is supported by a corrupt police officer, an honest and low rank government clerk and an Al-qaeda operative who are pushed back in different points of time and are assigned duties to stop these major events.
Shovon’s writing is full of wit and the readers are bound to chuckle at the silliness. There are some ‘not to be forgotten’, though sorry, elements in the book which have been beautifully captured. Like the one around changing the metric to measure poverty:
“….if we use the Monty Constant to redefine poverty, poverty line reduces by 10 per cent every year and in the fifth year, we should achieve the Ahluwalia Equilibrium. ... If implemented properly, this can make poverty history in less than a decade.”
It is a good book, the plot is solid, characters are lovable and keeps the readers hooked. It is a prankish and playful attempt to show the corruption emanating from power. Eventually, its all about power – the power of a 12-year old and the power of an all powerful CA.
However, I felt the book is a little too long. While satire is the central theme, at times it seems a little too stupid just because the writer wanted it to sound funny. The actions, recommendations of its central character, the CA, are simply stupid most of the time and feels totally unrealistic. But probably that’s where the humor comes from
Especially because such satirical tales on the system and economy is a really limited genre among Indian authors, I suggest anyone who like this genre to find some time to read this.
April 20, 2021
Rating: 4.75/5
I happened to stumble upon this book by chance, but, I am going to be forever thankful for it. Shovon Chowdhury has managed to combine two apparently distinct genres of literature- humour and dystopian fiction with an unusual ease. Set in a post-nuclear world, The Competent Authority manages to address issues of startling complexity like casteism, authoritarianism and corruption in a satirical and comical way. By mixing science fiction, popular fiction, dystopian fiction and plain old storytelling, Chowdhury has managed to create a truly Indian masterpiece. His writing is extremely young and fresh despite the fact that the book was written 8 years ago. His use of metaphors and satirical references is legendary and enhances the overall reading experience. The Competent Authority is sure to delight all lovers of dystopian/utopian fiction and is one of the many hidden gems of Indian literature.
I happened to stumble upon this book by chance, but, I am going to be forever thankful for it. Shovon Chowdhury has managed to combine two apparently distinct genres of literature- humour and dystopian fiction with an unusual ease. Set in a post-nuclear world, The Competent Authority manages to address issues of startling complexity like casteism, authoritarianism and corruption in a satirical and comical way. By mixing science fiction, popular fiction, dystopian fiction and plain old storytelling, Chowdhury has managed to create a truly Indian masterpiece. His writing is extremely young and fresh despite the fact that the book was written 8 years ago. His use of metaphors and satirical references is legendary and enhances the overall reading experience. The Competent Authority is sure to delight all lovers of dystopian/utopian fiction and is one of the many hidden gems of Indian literature.
September 12, 2013
This is a satire but at the same time, the book becomes sensitive at certain places, giving time to the reader to meditate and take it all in, the whole meaning of life, hidden somewhere in between the different layers of sarcasm, speculation and irony. Extremely poignant are two scenes, one in which Gandhi talks about himself and what’s he done, to Chatterjee, who’s been sent into the past to save Gandhi. The other scene has one of the central characters losing his hand. The book also leaves you with a positive message, albeit a little cliched.
Full review here
Full review here
November 28, 2013
Set in a dystopian future where things have gone awfully bad for India, this is the funniest piece of Indian satire in a long time.
What is striking is that none of the characters or events are unforeseeable, they are all just one step ahead of today's India. Each character is as believable as possible in the premise of the book. Would recommend this to everyone.
What is striking is that none of the characters or events are unforeseeable, they are all just one step ahead of today's India. Each character is as believable as possible in the premise of the book. Would recommend this to everyone.
April 4, 2015
Some of the satire here went over my head, because my knowledge of recent Indian history is, sadly, quite lacking. Still, I learned a great deal from it, I laughed a lot ( Chowdhury is very funny), and I gained a bit of understanding of and appreciation for the enormity of some of the challenges facing India today. Highly recommended.
March 15, 2020
Dark, funny, emotional
Thus book is a mixture of everything, in the right proportion. Starting of as a dystopian story, it changes tracks to comedy, sci-fi, and much more. There's a multitude of characters and each grows through the novel. The author has done a fine job of fleshing them well. A very satisfying read.
Thus book is a mixture of everything, in the right proportion. Starting of as a dystopian story, it changes tracks to comedy, sci-fi, and much more. There's a multitude of characters and each grows through the novel. The author has done a fine job of fleshing them well. A very satisfying read.
September 22, 2013
Hilarious satire on Indian politics and society at large. Makes one wonder of what might be if some of the ambitions of the current political players come to fruition. Mischievous and thought provoking by turns. Recommended!
April 26, 2014
A wicked satire that deals with a fundamental truth -- as Pintoo says in the novel, we cannot change the past. All we can change is the future. Takes a while to read, but tackles so much in these 500 pages. A dystopian novel with a brilliant reflection of the present.
November 9, 2021
This is a genre-busting, dare I say genre-creating affair. You will laugh a lot, but your laughter will have an acrid aftertaste. The future that Shovon Chowdhury describes is absurd and unbelievable, until it is not, and occasionally appears indistinguishable from the present.
July 10, 2014
Wonderfully well written and truly funny. Anybody who likes sci-fi mixed with humour will surely enjoy this.
March 5, 2015
A brilliant political satire which is laugh-out-loud funny.
April 25, 2022
This was such a fun book. Political satire is almost unbearable in a movie or a show more often than not. But it's almost perfect for a book. The tone wasn't moralising but a blanket nihilistic, careless, crass humour insulting everybody, sparing nobody. Nobody deserves anything lesser. It is a pretty big book with a lot of characters and they're all very fun. The central theme which although is larger than life, the meat of the book is long, indulgent, inconsequential jokes on people and governments and other things.
April 16, 2024
The pure joy of reading a masterpiece
I think this might be the best book I have read in the past 3-4 years. The writing is hilarious and amusing but at the same time deep and meaningful. It is such clever writing, mixing comedy with fantasy is a rare combination. I doubt I would find stories like this anytime soon, they just don't write such deeply impressive stuff much. Can't recommend enough.
I think this might be the best book I have read in the past 3-4 years. The writing is hilarious and amusing but at the same time deep and meaningful. It is such clever writing, mixing comedy with fantasy is a rare combination. I doubt I would find stories like this anytime soon, they just don't write such deeply impressive stuff much. Can't recommend enough.
Did Not Finish
March 2, 2021Seems like I have stopped liking stories from dystopic future. Stories from present attracts me more these days.
September 10, 2013
A satire is almost always an interesting read. Masterly crafted words burn every significant thing to ground; it defies authority and authority is made the subject of its pun. Critics and intellectuals thoroughly enjoy it but it fails to capture the imagination of a layman because of excessive use of metaphors and figurative. Most of us have enjoyed reading Swift’s ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ without realizing that it was a satire on English politics of that time.
The Competent Authority on BookGeeks
The Competent Authority on BookGeeks
October 15, 2014
Great first half, fizzles out towards the end.
It starts off as brilliant political satire. There are laugh out loud moments and highlightable sections. Characters are funny and innovative. However, what seemed like a good idea loses steam rapidly, and by the time you reach the last one-third, you just want it to end. While the story isn't predictable, it just gets too long-drawn and there are many needless pages which add nothing to the story.
Still, a recommended book for the sheer attempt of a political satire set in the future and the fantastic first half.
It starts off as brilliant political satire. There are laugh out loud moments and highlightable sections. Characters are funny and innovative. However, what seemed like a good idea loses steam rapidly, and by the time you reach the last one-third, you just want it to end. While the story isn't predictable, it just gets too long-drawn and there are many needless pages which add nothing to the story.
Still, a recommended book for the sheer attempt of a political satire set in the future and the fantastic first half.
February 24, 2015
Brilliant & witty. I read this book after finishing
and even though, this is in the same genre - Political satire, It is quite different and immensely readable. All those who have been following contemporary politics and has knowledge of Indian history would surely enjoy it. Will certainly give it a second read.
and even though, this is in the same genre - Political satire, It is quite different and immensely readable. All those who have been following contemporary politics and has knowledge of Indian history would surely enjoy it. Will certainly give it a second read.
June 26, 2014
Set in an imaginatively futuristic India, The Competent Authority is a delectable political satire of the current national political scenario. The book’s central theme is satire which tends to make fun of everybody, be it certain ethnicities, faiths, politics or society. Read the full review: http://www.indiabookstore.net/bookish...
February 28, 2014
What promised as a great start fizzled out in the end. Too long drawn and too stretched out in the middle. What could have been a fantastic sarcasm of the bureaucracy and looses its sharpness in unnecessary flashbacks. Good for one read only.
February 13, 2024
A telling on the sub-continental mess.
A land that invented and perfected the prostration aasana.
Among all communities, the most depraved is a congregation of individuals lacking integrity and honor.
A land that invented and perfected the prostration aasana.
Among all communities, the most depraved is a congregation of individuals lacking integrity and honor.
January 11, 2014
Good read but not so funny..
December 15, 2016
Want to read a really amusing story about how an army of IT geeks from Bangalore brings down the superpower that's China? Read this, it's great.
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