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The Sympathy Wave
The Air Traffic Controller at the Jaipur base watches his radar scope in panic and disbelief as the Piper Malibu carrying Rohit Gaekwad and his brother-in-law disappears into thin air.
Rohit is not just his party’s next Prime Ministerial candidate, but also a reluctant heir to his family’s political legacy. Soon after, the wreckage of the plane is discovered scattered over the Rajasthan desert, sending the media as well the nation’s public into a tizzy. As Rohit’s sister sweeps the general elections, riding a massive wave of public sympathy, some uncomfortable questions remain. Who is behind this audacious plan? What could be the reason behind this high-profile assassination? The proverbial finger seems to point at India’s geopolitical enemy, Pakistan, but not everyone is convinced.
Anwar Islam reunites with his mentor Colonel Vijay Gupta, and his friend Vishal Karandikar to find the missing pieces of this puzzle. As the trio explores the dark alleys hidden behind the façade of India’s seat of power, unbelievable conspiracies come to light.
A gripping thriller, The Sympathy Wave takes it reader into the heart of political India to uncover a nest of intrigues.
Rohit is not just his party’s next Prime Ministerial candidate, but also a reluctant heir to his family’s political legacy. Soon after, the wreckage of the plane is discovered scattered over the Rajasthan desert, sending the media as well the nation’s public into a tizzy. As Rohit’s sister sweeps the general elections, riding a massive wave of public sympathy, some uncomfortable questions remain. Who is behind this audacious plan? What could be the reason behind this high-profile assassination? The proverbial finger seems to point at India’s geopolitical enemy, Pakistan, but not everyone is convinced.
Anwar Islam reunites with his mentor Colonel Vijay Gupta, and his friend Vishal Karandikar to find the missing pieces of this puzzle. As the trio explores the dark alleys hidden behind the façade of India’s seat of power, unbelievable conspiracies come to light.
A gripping thriller, The Sympathy Wave takes it reader into the heart of political India to uncover a nest of intrigues.
314 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
P.R. Ganapathy
2 books18 followersPR Ganapathy is a former management executive who held important leadership positions at Indian and Global Corporations in India and the United States.
He currently invests in, and advises, entrepreneurs with products and services that have social impact. He also spends time helping Teach For India, as a Senior Advisor.
The son of a retired senior Air Force officer, Ganapathy is a keen student of military history and geopolitics, and resulted in The Anza Deception, his first book. This was followed by a political thriller, The Sympathy Wave.
He has a pilot's license and briefly owned his own aircraft, when he lived in California. He has also dabbled with amateur photography, playing the piano, skiing, sailing, rowing and hiking. plays squash in his spare time. Ganapathy says that he's always ready to try new experiences, to test the boundaries and learn more about himself.
He grew up on Air Force bases around India, before going to Hindu College in Delhi University and then the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He lives with his son and golden retriever in Chennai, India.
He currently invests in, and advises, entrepreneurs with products and services that have social impact. He also spends time helping Teach For India, as a Senior Advisor.
The son of a retired senior Air Force officer, Ganapathy is a keen student of military history and geopolitics, and resulted in The Anza Deception, his first book. This was followed by a political thriller, The Sympathy Wave.
He has a pilot's license and briefly owned his own aircraft, when he lived in California. He has also dabbled with amateur photography, playing the piano, skiing, sailing, rowing and hiking. plays squash in his spare time. Ganapathy says that he's always ready to try new experiences, to test the boundaries and learn more about himself.
He grew up on Air Force bases around India, before going to Hindu College in Delhi University and then the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He lives with his son and golden retriever in Chennai, India.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 20, 2014
Wow, the author really seems to have it for a certain leading political family represented here barely veiled but in a most unsubtle manner as well as the plot, so the imagination of neither the author nor the reader is taxed at all. But a wave of incongruities detract from the reading experience - the most glaring is the use of the word consigliere for the advisor/confidante, the fact that a colonel would be heading RAW, and that after being eased out, he would be heading the "War Graves Commission" - in a country where the grave is scarcely the last resting place of the overwhelming majority of the population?? On the whole, it is most unbelievable that any political leader would act in such a blatant criminal manner, involving so many people when the merest squeak out of even one of them could damn them to political perdition!!
July 17, 2014
Another great book by the author after "The Anza Deception". Both the books show that the author has a sound understanding of the political and military realities of India. This book has all the qualities of a good political thriller. The plot is realistic and fast paced. The characters depicted in this book are inspired from the real political situation of today. There are nice twists and turns and keep the reader interested even though the suspense is revealed quite early. The author can be rightly called as the Indian Fredrick Forsyth.
Highly recommended for all those interested in Indian political fiction.
Highly recommended for all those interested in Indian political fiction.
August 18, 2016
its rare to find such well researched books , dealing with indian political current scenarios which is so interesting to read .
This is the story of rohit gaekwad who is the reluctant heir to political family , where the similarity is drawn from the gandhi family , and his sister sweeps the election in the sympathy wave , the narrative is very nicely weaven , layered , its keeps your interest on till the last page . the characterisation is done very nicely , at the end i felt why did it end so soon .
This is the story of rohit gaekwad who is the reluctant heir to political family , where the similarity is drawn from the gandhi family , and his sister sweeps the election in the sympathy wave , the narrative is very nicely weaven , layered , its keeps your interest on till the last page . the characterisation is done very nicely , at the end i felt why did it end so soon .
April 7, 2015
True to the say. You would not know where the facts end and where the fiction begins. A gripping read indeed.
August 3, 2017
Indian fiction writing has definitely come of age. A breezy political thriller that bears a close relationship to the top political family of India - so close that you fail to see sometimes the thin line dividing fact & fiction. Whether that was deliberate or not I damn care beause I was busy being amazed by the grip the author has on the current political scenario of the country. The story is full of twists & turns right from the word go but highly predictable at times; though you still feel inclined to turn the page & nevertheless continue. Few facts of indian politics are highlighted well though- In politics there are no permanent friends or foes ; politics is surely dirty, dirtier than you ever thought; though you attain power by unscrupulous means thou shall always do good for your country through path-breaking reforms because it is always "country first" no matter what ; scheming path breakers are always better than good but reluctant politicians; no power in the world is absolute. Whatever the author has penned will surely compel you to turn the pages & finish it however predictable it might seem. A truly classy political pot-broiler...if not a perfect thriller.
September 18, 2016
Most of the movies should have been super hit mainly because of the screen writing. The story will be definitely familiar to the audience but the way in which it has been told is something special for them to be associated with.
The same applies to story writing also. One such fiction I recently came across is P R Ganapathy's 'The Sympathy Wave' (Westland, INR 295).
This story is very nearer to the fact but it is a fiction. It talks and walks through a political family who ruled India for nearly 50 years but, it is a fiction. It narrates how a sympathy wave is created in elections due to the death of a prospective Prime Minister during election campaign but, it is a fiction.
'The Sympathy Wave' has more than few characters but there is no confusion in narration. Everything is penned in detail and yet the story is only 222 pages. It keeps you hooked from first page.
You will be able to guess the suspense woven around the story if you are an avid reader. Still, you will not be able to keep the book down.
Do not think I am going overboard but, I really felt satisfied and even enjoyed reading this book. A typical crime mystery, an absolute time pass and full paisa vasool for book lovers.
The same applies to story writing also. One such fiction I recently came across is P R Ganapathy's 'The Sympathy Wave' (Westland, INR 295).
This story is very nearer to the fact but it is a fiction. It talks and walks through a political family who ruled India for nearly 50 years but, it is a fiction. It narrates how a sympathy wave is created in elections due to the death of a prospective Prime Minister during election campaign but, it is a fiction.
'The Sympathy Wave' has more than few characters but there is no confusion in narration. Everything is penned in detail and yet the story is only 222 pages. It keeps you hooked from first page.
You will be able to guess the suspense woven around the story if you are an avid reader. Still, you will not be able to keep the book down.
Do not think I am going overboard but, I really felt satisfied and even enjoyed reading this book. A typical crime mystery, an absolute time pass and full paisa vasool for book lovers.
August 20, 2016
This is indeed a spine chilling political thriller but its predictable. I can't blame it on the author as I have had innumerable stints with political thrillers both from the West and from India. But there wasn't any shroud of mystery surrounding the plot-somewhat of a 'Gone Girl' nature that could make you jump out of your seats. But yeah since I am also a big fan of political books and movies this one came quite close to 'Battle For Bittora'. I urge the author to have twisted plots and not to make it exponentially simple. He could take cue from Stieg Larsson's 'The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo' and the adrenaline rush it gave almost every 50 pages. Rest assured its still a book you would wish to buy if you were to laze around on a weekend reading something interesting.
December 30, 2015
This book is quite a well written political thriller. For the first book, Mr. Ganapathy has done a pretty neat job. The plot is well sketched out and tight. There are no frivolous diversions in the book, and covert operations in the armed forces are rather nicely explained. Also, every character introduced through the book has a purpose and every aspect of the plot is closed logically when the book ends. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
December 17, 2015
Story similar to gandhi family
September 25, 2016
excellent plot, easy page turner.. but very much predictable
March 24, 2018
A very nice political thriller written with one of India’s leading political family in mind. Although it has nothing common to real life, but author has used his imagination quite commendably to create a thriller. A lot of real life incidents and characters were knitted together in a fictions manner to get this plot together.
May 8, 2018
reformss in beuarocracy and judicial systems
Nicely written book. Quite elaborate details of military establishment. However later part of the book is too idealistic and has over simplified reforms in beurocracy and judicial systems
Nicely written book. Quite elaborate details of military establishment. However later part of the book is too idealistic and has over simplified reforms in beurocracy and judicial systems
August 5, 2018
With and unpredictable story line and the characters bearing similarity to erstwhile first family of the country, the book makes for an interesting reading. The pace keeps you riveted and there some suspense as well.
August 10, 2018
The Story and Narration is pretty nice and keeps a reader intact to the end. It's a good read for people who like to read fictional stories. The language and words are simple to understand.
January 27, 2019
Uncanny resemblance to the first family of Indian politics and how a small group of ex soldiers break the truth. Wonder how the author could have got it published !
May 28, 2019
Great thriller
Excellent writing...brilliantly conveyed each emotion whether its fear , joy or as the title suggests - sympathy..Enjoyed the book and Will recommend
Excellent writing...brilliantly conveyed each emotion whether its fear , joy or as the title suggests - sympathy..Enjoyed the book and Will recommend
September 26, 2018
Fine
It is well plotted storyline and writer keeps you entangled with his knowledge about politics and military and with all the political drama you will be glued. I am very much attached to this Varun Mathai for his involvement and by his intelligence. I would prefer this novel to everyone who are interested political drama, military and internal affairs.
Thanks. Keep smiling😊
It is well plotted storyline and writer keeps you entangled with his knowledge about politics and military and with all the political drama you will be glued. I am very much attached to this Varun Mathai for his involvement and by his intelligence. I would prefer this novel to everyone who are interested political drama, military and internal affairs.
Thanks. Keep smiling😊
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews