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Mother India: A Novel
FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE AWARD-WINNING LEILA
Mother India is the story of two young people living in contemporary Delhi. Plodding away to make a decent living despite a middling education, Mayank is employed in a right-wing content creator's dingy basement studio. Nisha, recently moved to the city from her small town in the hills, works as a salesgirl for expensive Japanese chocolate in an upscale mall.
When Mayank discovers Nisha beaming off her Instagram like a beacon, he is smitten, and the video clip he devises for his studio ends up having significant consequences for them both.
Sparkling and unexpected, Prayaag Akbar's new novel brilliantly captures what it means to be young and alive in today's India.
'Powerful' - Vivek Shanbhag
'Brilliant' - Avni Doshi
Mother India is the story of two young people living in contemporary Delhi. Plodding away to make a decent living despite a middling education, Mayank is employed in a right-wing content creator's dingy basement studio. Nisha, recently moved to the city from her small town in the hills, works as a salesgirl for expensive Japanese chocolate in an upscale mall.
When Mayank discovers Nisha beaming off her Instagram like a beacon, he is smitten, and the video clip he devises for his studio ends up having significant consequences for them both.
Sparkling and unexpected, Prayaag Akbar's new novel brilliantly captures what it means to be young and alive in today's India.
'Powerful' - Vivek Shanbhag
'Brilliant' - Avni Doshi
145 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2024
4 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 15, 2024
In 1905, when the British partitioned Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore’s nephew, the painter and writer Abanindranath Tagore, created a painting inspired by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s famous patriotic novel Anandmath. Bharat Mata, depicted as a serene-faced woman clad in saffron, holds in her four hands a sheaf of paddy, a rosary, a book and a piece of cloth. Bharat Mata soon became a potent symbol of nationalism, a rallying point for freedom-fighters around the country.
And today, more than a century after she was first created, she is much more than a painting. Bharat Mata is, as Prayaag Akbar describes her in his novel Mother India, ‘… the vision of pamphleteers, calendar makers, magazines and journal illustrators, people practising their skills at home…’. A symbol to be used to whip up a frenzy of nationalism. To manipulate, to influence.
It is one of these influencers who initiates the action that forms the core plot element of Mother India: Kashyap, whose catchphrase “You can’t handle the truth!” exemplifies his ethos: the in-your-face, belligerent and confrontational style of egging his followers on—in this case, to come to the rescue of a beleaguered Bharat Mata, assaulted by Muslims. Kashyap’s assistant, Mayank, uses artificial intelligence to generate an image of Bharat Mata. AI must be fed reference images to create a plausible Bharat Mata, and the woman whose image Mayank uses as reference is a stranger he follows on social media, Nisha Bisht.
From here on, the story progresses, moving between the alternating perspectives of Nisha and of Mayank. Nisha, who works at a Delhi mall showroom for an elite Japanese chocolatier, is having an affair with her boss Siddharth, and who keeps in touch with her family back home in Uttarakhand. And Mayank, tracing his lineage back through many generations born and brought up in Delhi’s Mahipalpur, struggling to make sense of all that surrounds him: the relentless push-and-pull between tradition and modernity, between development and roots, heart and mind.
Akbar sets his story in today’s India, today’s world: a world that lives online, where fortunes are made and lives wrecked online. The dichotomies that surround us and with which most of us grapple come vividly to life here as Nisha and Mayank individually try to come to terms—with themselves, their consciences, and the world around them.
Mother India’s story is well-told, the characters sharply etched (equally sharply etched is Delhi itself, a setting powerfully evoked). The conscienceless, brutal desire to get ahead, whether in the form of Siddharth’s ambition, or Kashyap’s; the way gullible crowds are manipulated; the insularity, harshness and hate that has become the norm in India today: all of it comes through in a way that is even more frightening because it is so relatable.
In a story about the nation as mother, Akbar subtly brings up, and that repeatedly, the symbol of motherhood—there are mothers aplenty here, whether human or animal. Mothers, too, who may not always be the pure, long-suffering symbols of chastity one associates with Bharat Mata. There is a mother here, a widow who risks shame (and, worse, is shamed) for the sake of her child. There is a would-be mother who is relieved to find that she may after all not become a mother. There is a stubborn mother, whose son defies Bharat Mata herself. There is even a dog-mother, a mongrel bitch who abandons her puppies. Are these—perhaps ‘substandard’?—mothers worthy of Bharat Mata? Are they, too, after all, worthy of empathy?
As Nisha, in Akbar’s searing words, thinks: Maybe that is what we mean, when we call the nation mother. We crave the sustenance of her breast. But whatever she gives is not enough. We keep drawing. We never rest, for we fear there is a sibling who receives more.
Intelligent, thought-provoking and courageous, Mother India is a novel that reflects our turbulent times all too brilliantly.
(From my review for Open: The Magazine, here: https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/bo...)
And today, more than a century after she was first created, she is much more than a painting. Bharat Mata is, as Prayaag Akbar describes her in his novel Mother India, ‘… the vision of pamphleteers, calendar makers, magazines and journal illustrators, people practising their skills at home…’. A symbol to be used to whip up a frenzy of nationalism. To manipulate, to influence.
It is one of these influencers who initiates the action that forms the core plot element of Mother India: Kashyap, whose catchphrase “You can’t handle the truth!” exemplifies his ethos: the in-your-face, belligerent and confrontational style of egging his followers on—in this case, to come to the rescue of a beleaguered Bharat Mata, assaulted by Muslims. Kashyap’s assistant, Mayank, uses artificial intelligence to generate an image of Bharat Mata. AI must be fed reference images to create a plausible Bharat Mata, and the woman whose image Mayank uses as reference is a stranger he follows on social media, Nisha Bisht.
From here on, the story progresses, moving between the alternating perspectives of Nisha and of Mayank. Nisha, who works at a Delhi mall showroom for an elite Japanese chocolatier, is having an affair with her boss Siddharth, and who keeps in touch with her family back home in Uttarakhand. And Mayank, tracing his lineage back through many generations born and brought up in Delhi’s Mahipalpur, struggling to make sense of all that surrounds him: the relentless push-and-pull between tradition and modernity, between development and roots, heart and mind.
Akbar sets his story in today’s India, today’s world: a world that lives online, where fortunes are made and lives wrecked online. The dichotomies that surround us and with which most of us grapple come vividly to life here as Nisha and Mayank individually try to come to terms—with themselves, their consciences, and the world around them.
Mother India’s story is well-told, the characters sharply etched (equally sharply etched is Delhi itself, a setting powerfully evoked). The conscienceless, brutal desire to get ahead, whether in the form of Siddharth’s ambition, or Kashyap’s; the way gullible crowds are manipulated; the insularity, harshness and hate that has become the norm in India today: all of it comes through in a way that is even more frightening because it is so relatable.
In a story about the nation as mother, Akbar subtly brings up, and that repeatedly, the symbol of motherhood—there are mothers aplenty here, whether human or animal. Mothers, too, who may not always be the pure, long-suffering symbols of chastity one associates with Bharat Mata. There is a mother here, a widow who risks shame (and, worse, is shamed) for the sake of her child. There is a would-be mother who is relieved to find that she may after all not become a mother. There is a stubborn mother, whose son defies Bharat Mata herself. There is even a dog-mother, a mongrel bitch who abandons her puppies. Are these—perhaps ‘substandard’?—mothers worthy of Bharat Mata? Are they, too, after all, worthy of empathy?
As Nisha, in Akbar’s searing words, thinks: Maybe that is what we mean, when we call the nation mother. We crave the sustenance of her breast. But whatever she gives is not enough. We keep drawing. We never rest, for we fear there is a sibling who receives more.
Intelligent, thought-provoking and courageous, Mother India is a novel that reflects our turbulent times all too brilliantly.
(From my review for Open: The Magazine, here: https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/bo...)
August 7, 2024
This book was chosen as Karuna's Kitab Club's August book. I have not read the author's Leila so I got into the book completely neutral.
Two protagonist POVs form the story. Mayank Tyagi, who works for a YouTube channel run by a right wing conservative Kashyap and Nisha Bisht, who has come to Delhi from a small town to fulfil her ambitions. You might assume it's a love story but fortunately for me Prayaag Akbar steers clear of that cliche as an immediate premise.
The book takes a look at contemporary India with its digitization, fake news apparatus, jingoism, migrant issues, religious animosity, violence, drug and alcohol problems, journalistic ethics, climate change, poverty and rampant corruption. In that the book attempts to navigate a lot of issues for its size. By the middle of the book I was wondering how would the author tie all the threads in such few pages. Incredibly, the author manages to take care of a lot of them, except a few, and I really hope the author writes a sequel to this. Not just the love story, but also the development of the protagonists' arcs seems incomplete for now. I'd also want a few of the characters in the book suffer consequences for their choices.
Writing-wise, Prayaag uses lucid, well constructed sentence structures. A couple places feel slightly rambly but that could be on me because I was invested in the plot and couldn't wait for things to move on. Like Karuna said on the group, it does feel because the book is short, we might have skimmed over a couple significant things. It's on me now to re-read a few pages again.
That said, I truly think a sequel is warranted. And going by this book, I might just pick up Leila now.
Two protagonist POVs form the story. Mayank Tyagi, who works for a YouTube channel run by a right wing conservative Kashyap and Nisha Bisht, who has come to Delhi from a small town to fulfil her ambitions. You might assume it's a love story but fortunately for me Prayaag Akbar steers clear of that cliche as an immediate premise.
The book takes a look at contemporary India with its digitization, fake news apparatus, jingoism, migrant issues, religious animosity, violence, drug and alcohol problems, journalistic ethics, climate change, poverty and rampant corruption. In that the book attempts to navigate a lot of issues for its size. By the middle of the book I was wondering how would the author tie all the threads in such few pages. Incredibly, the author manages to take care of a lot of them, except a few, and I really hope the author writes a sequel to this. Not just the love story, but also the development of the protagonists' arcs seems incomplete for now. I'd also want a few of the characters in the book suffer consequences for their choices.
Writing-wise, Prayaag uses lucid, well constructed sentence structures. A couple places feel slightly rambly but that could be on me because I was invested in the plot and couldn't wait for things to move on. Like Karuna said on the group, it does feel because the book is short, we might have skimmed over a couple significant things. It's on me now to re-read a few pages again.
That said, I truly think a sequel is warranted. And going by this book, I might just pick up Leila now.
December 15, 2024
Prayaag Akbar’s ‘Mother India’ is set in contemporary Delhi where young people without the benefit of fancy degrees or social networks are struggling to make a decent living. Mayank and Nisha are both diligent workers with above average intelligence and a willingness to take on the responsibility to get things done. Both are constrained by their circumstances, but neither blames their circumstances. They just put setbacks behind them and get on with life.
Mayank, who’s family has lived in the margins of Delhi for generations, is employed by a right wing content creator, and though not himself bigoted is swayed by the propaganda generated by him. Nisha moved to the city from the hills and works at a high end Japanese chocolate store in an upscale mall. Neither considers their current job as a profession, but both are willing to put in the effort to learn and grow.
Their lives collide when Mayank is asked to create a video of Mother India. Since AI was unable to come up with anything satisfactory, he was forced to feed in a photograph of a real person on which the image could be based. A photograph of Nisha taken without consent from her Instagram account served the purpose, and she found herself in the centre of a storm when the clip of her as Mother India being stoned by Muslim youth went viral. She, however, had other things on her mind because not only had her boyfriend turned cold towards her, she found out that he was actively sabotaging her career too.
The book looks at how young people navigate a changing world where the old rules no longer hold, but new rules have not yet evolved enough to replace them. It is a world where there are hierarchies of power, almost all of which are based on the accident of birth. It is a world where a person could simultaneously feel compassion for puppies that are traumatised by the noise of Diwali fireworks, yet have nothing but contempt for an actress who he believes disprespected his religion by asking people to burst fewer crackers.
The book talks about the changing face of Mother India- from a idea created to unify Indians during the freedom struggle to the modern avatar of Bharat Mata which is used to generate hate against a community. But Mother India is not the only mother in the book. Mayank’s mother had been forced to do things that she knew were not right in order to secure her son’s future, yet she is the one who serves as his confidant and conscience when the clip featuring Nisha goes viral. Nisha’s mother had faced social pressure when her older daughter had married outside her caste, yet was strong willed enough to not hold Nisha back when she wanted to move to Delhi. There is the elderly mother of the jailed student leader who refused to leave the police station till her son was released. There was also Nisha who wasn’t sure whether or not she was pregnant, and wasn’t’ sure what to do if she found she was. And there is even a canine mother who was forced to abandon her litter- would she have had more agency had she been human?
This is a slim book, yet it packs so much between the covers. Gender dynamics, classism, bigotry, environmental degradation, corruption, ambition, the changing face of urban India are all issues that feature prominently in the book, and each of them is dealt with in sufficient detail.
The book is told through the alternating perspectives of Mayank and Nisha, and the author has created two very distinct voices for both of them. The book stands out because of what has been left out as much as for what has been retained- through fragments of dialogue and text, it is clear that even the minor characters were fleshed out in great detail thought only a small part was eventually retained. The book is also a great example of “show, don’t tell”- the portrait of Delhi, for example, emerges not through detailed description, but through how the characters react to the city.
There isn’t a single superfluous sentence in the book, and you remember parts of the book long after you finish reading the last page. The book, despite the topic, is a book of Hope- hope that tomorrow will be better for Mayank, Nisha and all the other young people like them.
https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2024/12/...
Mayank, who’s family has lived in the margins of Delhi for generations, is employed by a right wing content creator, and though not himself bigoted is swayed by the propaganda generated by him. Nisha moved to the city from the hills and works at a high end Japanese chocolate store in an upscale mall. Neither considers their current job as a profession, but both are willing to put in the effort to learn and grow.
Their lives collide when Mayank is asked to create a video of Mother India. Since AI was unable to come up with anything satisfactory, he was forced to feed in a photograph of a real person on which the image could be based. A photograph of Nisha taken without consent from her Instagram account served the purpose, and she found herself in the centre of a storm when the clip of her as Mother India being stoned by Muslim youth went viral. She, however, had other things on her mind because not only had her boyfriend turned cold towards her, she found out that he was actively sabotaging her career too.
The book looks at how young people navigate a changing world where the old rules no longer hold, but new rules have not yet evolved enough to replace them. It is a world where there are hierarchies of power, almost all of which are based on the accident of birth. It is a world where a person could simultaneously feel compassion for puppies that are traumatised by the noise of Diwali fireworks, yet have nothing but contempt for an actress who he believes disprespected his religion by asking people to burst fewer crackers.
The book talks about the changing face of Mother India- from a idea created to unify Indians during the freedom struggle to the modern avatar of Bharat Mata which is used to generate hate against a community. But Mother India is not the only mother in the book. Mayank’s mother had been forced to do things that she knew were not right in order to secure her son’s future, yet she is the one who serves as his confidant and conscience when the clip featuring Nisha goes viral. Nisha’s mother had faced social pressure when her older daughter had married outside her caste, yet was strong willed enough to not hold Nisha back when she wanted to move to Delhi. There is the elderly mother of the jailed student leader who refused to leave the police station till her son was released. There was also Nisha who wasn’t sure whether or not she was pregnant, and wasn’t’ sure what to do if she found she was. And there is even a canine mother who was forced to abandon her litter- would she have had more agency had she been human?
This is a slim book, yet it packs so much between the covers. Gender dynamics, classism, bigotry, environmental degradation, corruption, ambition, the changing face of urban India are all issues that feature prominently in the book, and each of them is dealt with in sufficient detail.
The book is told through the alternating perspectives of Mayank and Nisha, and the author has created two very distinct voices for both of them. The book stands out because of what has been left out as much as for what has been retained- through fragments of dialogue and text, it is clear that even the minor characters were fleshed out in great detail thought only a small part was eventually retained. The book is also a great example of “show, don’t tell”- the portrait of Delhi, for example, emerges not through detailed description, but through how the characters react to the city.
There isn’t a single superfluous sentence in the book, and you remember parts of the book long after you finish reading the last page. The book, despite the topic, is a book of Hope- hope that tomorrow will be better for Mayank, Nisha and all the other young people like them.
https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2024/12/...
October 30, 2024
A short novella that captures the mindset of an average Indian in today's world. A lot many people have their faces buried in their phone screens and they are driven to rage, pity, happiness and a plethora of other emotions depending on what comes up on their phones. There are multiple dedicated groups out there whose only occupation is to ensure that we never take our eyes of the screen either. It is in this context that we meet the protagonists of the story : Mayank and Nisha.
Mayank works for a right wing media outlet which churns out memes, reels and trolls every day to ensure that their political ideology stays in the limelight. For one of these reels they have to portray Mother India and for use as his base in this AI initiative, he picks randomly an image from a public profile which is Nisha's. Nisha is an employee at a retail outlet in a mall and is blissfully unaware of this scenario and how this one act turns life upside down for both of them forms the crux of the tale.
There is no three part act here, it is merely a recounting of an issue and the fallout that follows it. The novella in it's short span however sets a mirror to see contemporary India in. This I felt forms the strength of this book.
Mayank works for a right wing media outlet which churns out memes, reels and trolls every day to ensure that their political ideology stays in the limelight. For one of these reels they have to portray Mother India and for use as his base in this AI initiative, he picks randomly an image from a public profile which is Nisha's. Nisha is an employee at a retail outlet in a mall and is blissfully unaware of this scenario and how this one act turns life upside down for both of them forms the crux of the tale.
There is no three part act here, it is merely a recounting of an issue and the fallout that follows it. The novella in it's short span however sets a mirror to see contemporary India in. This I felt forms the strength of this book.
February 18, 2025
I approached this book with genuine interest, drawn by its intriguing and timely premise. But something kept interrupting my reading. The prose, rather than serving as enabler, became an element I had to navigate around to appreciate the underlying narrative.
Sample this:
1. "The crevices on that lovely, proud neck smelling of watermelon"
2. "His mother's fingers upon her shirted shoulder"
3. "His right knee jogging in contentment"
4. "For an instant he allowed a clarified form of weariness to swim over him"
5. "There had been shouting out on the street"
Does the above sound perfectly alright to you? If yes, the problem squarely lies with my abilities as a reader. And the fact that I am still recovering from the dream that was Pride & Prejudice.
I also found the use of unfamiliar grammar/ colloquialisms and references specific to Gurgaon, while potentially adding local flavor, somewhat distracting for someone not deeply familiar with the area.
The plot centers around a social media agency employee (MMC) who superimposes a woman’s (FMC) face onto an image of Bharat Mata (Mother India) in a controversial video that goes viral. The narrative then explores the consequences of this action. While this premise held promise, I felt that the numerous subplots introduced didn't always contribute meaningfully to the central narrative, and yet again nibbled at my limited attention span
Would I recommend it?
✅ Yes – If, like me, you prefer to form your own opinion about a book's merits and are curious to experience the theme and author’s unique writing style
❎ No – If you prioritize a smooth and easily accessible reading experience
Sample this:
1. "The crevices on that lovely, proud neck smelling of watermelon"
2. "His mother's fingers upon her shirted shoulder"
3. "His right knee jogging in contentment"
4. "For an instant he allowed a clarified form of weariness to swim over him"
5. "There had been shouting out on the street"
Does the above sound perfectly alright to you? If yes, the problem squarely lies with my abilities as a reader. And the fact that I am still recovering from the dream that was Pride & Prejudice.
I also found the use of unfamiliar grammar/ colloquialisms and references specific to Gurgaon, while potentially adding local flavor, somewhat distracting for someone not deeply familiar with the area.
The plot centers around a social media agency employee (MMC) who superimposes a woman’s (FMC) face onto an image of Bharat Mata (Mother India) in a controversial video that goes viral. The narrative then explores the consequences of this action. While this premise held promise, I felt that the numerous subplots introduced didn't always contribute meaningfully to the central narrative, and yet again nibbled at my limited attention span
Would I recommend it?
✅ Yes – If, like me, you prefer to form your own opinion about a book's merits and are curious to experience the theme and author’s unique writing style
❎ No – If you prioritize a smooth and easily accessible reading experience
October 12, 2024
IT cell bot falls in love with midjourney girl in Hindu rashtra. uWu. Incisive.
October 18, 2024
Prayaag Akbar is a fine writer, and his latest offering, Mother India, is just as engaging and hard-hitting as his most famous and award winning booking, Leila.
Mother India is extremely relevant for the times we live in - virality over the internet, AI, modern commerical colonialism, right-wing nationalism and all the dangers that all of the above *can* bring with them when offered to people with a lack of education, social awareness and emotional intelligence.
'Bhakt' and worker drone Mayank uses luxury chocolates salesgirl Nisha's image (found on Instagram, and unkown to her) and AI to create his version of Mother India (for dramatic effect, she is being pelted by two boys in skull caps), and before you know all hell breaks loose.
It's a short book, but powerful.
Mother India is extremely relevant for the times we live in - virality over the internet, AI, modern commerical colonialism, right-wing nationalism and all the dangers that all of the above *can* bring with them when offered to people with a lack of education, social awareness and emotional intelligence.
'Bhakt' and worker drone Mayank uses luxury chocolates salesgirl Nisha's image (found on Instagram, and unkown to her) and AI to create his version of Mother India (for dramatic effect, she is being pelted by two boys in skull caps), and before you know all hell breaks loose.
It's a short book, but powerful.
August 12, 2024
A library is more than a collection of books; it's a gateway to countless worlds.
In Prayaag’s world, Mayank Tyagi's thoughtless use of Nisha Bisht's image for a post spirals into unforeseen consequences, unraveling lives in the process.
Prayaag Akbar’s Mother India is a novel of our times, essential for every Indian to grasp the intricate effects of social media on individuals and families.
It is a sharp and quick read which mirrors the superficiality of social media, where context and backstories are often disregarded.
Akbar's choice to forgo deep character exploration feels deliberate, reflecting the fast-paced, often shallow nature of online interactions. This book holds up a mirror to our society, revealing our collective drift towards extremism and thoughtlessness.
Whether you like it or not, Mother India is a powerful reflection of the world we inhabit—a society adrift in a sea of extremes.
4/5
In Prayaag’s world, Mayank Tyagi's thoughtless use of Nisha Bisht's image for a post spirals into unforeseen consequences, unraveling lives in the process.
Prayaag Akbar’s Mother India is a novel of our times, essential for every Indian to grasp the intricate effects of social media on individuals and families.
It is a sharp and quick read which mirrors the superficiality of social media, where context and backstories are often disregarded.
Akbar's choice to forgo deep character exploration feels deliberate, reflecting the fast-paced, often shallow nature of online interactions. This book holds up a mirror to our society, revealing our collective drift towards extremism and thoughtlessness.
Whether you like it or not, Mother India is a powerful reflection of the world we inhabit—a society adrift in a sea of extremes.
4/5
October 20, 2024
A gripping novel that tackles so many contemporary issues in a short-ish story. Through the protagonists, we hear of how young Indians in the 21st century are impacted by the barrage of social media, Indian nationalism, Godi Youtubers, and vitality. A good place to start if you are trying to understand today's India.
August 29, 2024
Prayaag’s Mother India artfully balances diverse themes on what it means to be young in today’s online / social media obsessed India. A captivating read. Highly recommended
July 28, 2024
A quick and easy read on complex and tumultuous times in India. Prayaag has managed to touch upon the multi-layered nuances of lives of modern Indian people, united by nationality but divided by class, caste, creed, religion and ideologies. The powerful grip of social media on the masses is another theme that the author explores well. Written as a novel, it does make it a lot “easier” to digest and less contentious. Definitely leaves a lot to ponder and reflect on our own role and what impacts us as individuals.
August 26, 2024
Review: Mother India by Prayaag Akbar
'Mother India' is a very well written book. The author has set the powerful narrative reflecting today's India we live in. The story may seem like a love story on the face of it but it's not at all a love story. It's a story about two people living in today's time in a fast paced city trying to find their own way. It's brilliant and powerful. It's fiction against fiction about the whole social media management. The writing is pretty much lucid and it's thought provoking. I'd say the author said everything he wanted to say very cleverly yet it was so transparent that you could relate to it.
Mayank and Nisha are two different people but how their lives entangled with each other in this book is the reality of today's world we live in. Nisha is a small town girl from the hills who came to Delhi to make a name for herself and thrive in this big dreamy city. Mayank on the other hand works for a fallacious Youtuber making content for his videos. Mayank's character is very well layered, he's so much more than a guy working for an arrogant and obnoxious Youtuber, probably that also shows his own struggles and plight.
The book at the later stage talks about how Nisha and Mayank start to question their conscience as to what they actually want and what they are really doing out there. The book also outlines the greed of people when they want to rise high while stepping on other people assuming them as collaterals paving their way out, that's Siddharth's character.
The author had tried to finish the book full circle but I feel there are certain loose ends to it. I really want to know what happened to Mayank when he decided otherwise, what happened to Nisha after she accepted her truth. I really would appreciate it if there comes a second part to this book.
PS: The cover of the book is apt and in accordance with the storyline. I loved the book and IT'S A MUST READ!!
'Mother India' is a very well written book. The author has set the powerful narrative reflecting today's India we live in. The story may seem like a love story on the face of it but it's not at all a love story. It's a story about two people living in today's time in a fast paced city trying to find their own way. It's brilliant and powerful. It's fiction against fiction about the whole social media management. The writing is pretty much lucid and it's thought provoking. I'd say the author said everything he wanted to say very cleverly yet it was so transparent that you could relate to it.
Mayank and Nisha are two different people but how their lives entangled with each other in this book is the reality of today's world we live in. Nisha is a small town girl from the hills who came to Delhi to make a name for herself and thrive in this big dreamy city. Mayank on the other hand works for a fallacious Youtuber making content for his videos. Mayank's character is very well layered, he's so much more than a guy working for an arrogant and obnoxious Youtuber, probably that also shows his own struggles and plight.
The book at the later stage talks about how Nisha and Mayank start to question their conscience as to what they actually want and what they are really doing out there. The book also outlines the greed of people when they want to rise high while stepping on other people assuming them as collaterals paving their way out, that's Siddharth's character.
The author had tried to finish the book full circle but I feel there are certain loose ends to it. I really want to know what happened to Mayank when he decided otherwise, what happened to Nisha after she accepted her truth. I really would appreciate it if there comes a second part to this book.
PS: The cover of the book is apt and in accordance with the storyline. I loved the book and IT'S A MUST READ!!
April 10, 2025
I thought this was fantastic. I particularly appreciated the emphasis on the protagonists’ complexity—the novel refused simplistic readings of their positions and politics, while the plot remained taut and compelling. all in all, it renders a vivid portrait of contemporary urban India, and the place of the digital world as it intersects with gender and rising majoritarianism. (extra points for the symbolism around motherhood—which unfolded at different levels of the narrative—and the familiar locations referenced around Delhi!)
September 12, 2024
In the Delhi office of the social media personality, Kashyap, who releases right-wing videos attacking the enemies of the state (who conveniently change as needed), the idea for the next viral video is hatched - a video of a symbolic Bharat Mata being pelted with stones while Kashyap's ideological leader arrives as a savior. To this effect, his colleague, Mayank, is expected to scout for faces that can be blended with AI to create the perfect image. Mayank ends up using the image of Nisha, a salesgirl in a chocolate store in a posh Vasant Kunj mall (IYKYK), and suddenly two lives on different tangents briefly intersect.
Call me juvenile but I got a kick out of identifying all the Delhi nooks and crannies that were not named explicitly. That was enough to make me enjoy this novella. I liked the idea that social media can change lives without the consent of those involved. There are finer threads running through the story - the popularity of shrill political voices, the need to have "an enemy", the ruthlessness of social media commentary, the anonymization of slander when it is directed to a person, and the domino effect of an innocuous decision. All the characters in the story are small fishes in a big pond so the impact of their decisions ripples only the periphery of their personal orbit.
Both the main characters, Mayank and Nisha, were well-written and fleshed out people with interesting backstories. Mayank's narrative arc (keeping financially afloat as the breadwinner, questioning the overlap between patriotism and jingoism, debating his guilt for his technological involvement in Kashyap's rise, and building his future in a rapidly evolving city) was well crafted. Nisha's story (moving to another city with a sense of ambition, relinquishing and claiming her power in the dynamic with her on-off lover, being the center of a social media post at her expense, and using her newfound "fame" for good) also resonated well.
If I have to be critical, I would say that the book touches on many good points but does not make a definitive one. All the narrative threads seem like they could be expanded into stories of their own. But it was a good, solid story.
I received a review copy of this book from HarperCollinsIN in exchange for an honest review.
Call me juvenile but I got a kick out of identifying all the Delhi nooks and crannies that were not named explicitly. That was enough to make me enjoy this novella. I liked the idea that social media can change lives without the consent of those involved. There are finer threads running through the story - the popularity of shrill political voices, the need to have "an enemy", the ruthlessness of social media commentary, the anonymization of slander when it is directed to a person, and the domino effect of an innocuous decision. All the characters in the story are small fishes in a big pond so the impact of their decisions ripples only the periphery of their personal orbit.
Both the main characters, Mayank and Nisha, were well-written and fleshed out people with interesting backstories. Mayank's narrative arc (keeping financially afloat as the breadwinner, questioning the overlap between patriotism and jingoism, debating his guilt for his technological involvement in Kashyap's rise, and building his future in a rapidly evolving city) was well crafted. Nisha's story (moving to another city with a sense of ambition, relinquishing and claiming her power in the dynamic with her on-off lover, being the center of a social media post at her expense, and using her newfound "fame" for good) also resonated well.
If I have to be critical, I would say that the book touches on many good points but does not make a definitive one. All the narrative threads seem like they could be expanded into stories of their own. But it was a good, solid story.
I received a review copy of this book from HarperCollinsIN in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2024
-Blood upon the Mother-
Review of 'Mother India' by @prayaag.akbar and @harpercollinsin
Published by @purplepencilproject
Mother India wouldn’t have existed in the 90s. If we all sit in a time machine and go back 30 years ago, this book would be rendered irrelevant. Multiple reasons come to mind; the most important one is that back then, hate wasn’t on flagrant display 24/7. It lived in the dusty corners of homes and offices, seldom asking for centre stage.
It huddled in a neglected corner, right next to shame and embarrassment. Bonhomie and harmony were still the feelings that got polished to be taken out and exhibited in front of the guests. Now, hate is a gleaming chandelier in the foyer. Sometimes, you can spot the rubies redder than the blood. It demands the spotlight. It thrives.
Mayank and Nisha, the two protagonists of Mother India, never meet. Mayank works in a dingy basement, employed by Vikram Kashyap, who runs a moderately successful YouTube channel, making memes and other creatives, especially the ones that not only celebrate the otherness of the Muslims but seek to vilify and dehumanize them. Sometimes, he does feel a twinge of guilt or maybe unease, but he overcomes it quickly.
Nisha, a girl from Uttarakhand, has migrated to Delhi in search of greener (?) pastures. She works in Emporium Mall (adapted from the real-life Emporium Mall of Delhi) in a shop that’s “filled with a thick, rich cocoa-butter smell.” It sells exorbitantly overpriced dark chocolate Dojuri. There’s a scene in her introduction chapter where she explains to a hesitating couple why “quality dark chocolate is never black.”
Review of 'Mother India' by @prayaag.akbar and @harpercollinsin
Published by @purplepencilproject
Mother India wouldn’t have existed in the 90s. If we all sit in a time machine and go back 30 years ago, this book would be rendered irrelevant. Multiple reasons come to mind; the most important one is that back then, hate wasn’t on flagrant display 24/7. It lived in the dusty corners of homes and offices, seldom asking for centre stage.
It huddled in a neglected corner, right next to shame and embarrassment. Bonhomie and harmony were still the feelings that got polished to be taken out and exhibited in front of the guests. Now, hate is a gleaming chandelier in the foyer. Sometimes, you can spot the rubies redder than the blood. It demands the spotlight. It thrives.
Mayank and Nisha, the two protagonists of Mother India, never meet. Mayank works in a dingy basement, employed by Vikram Kashyap, who runs a moderately successful YouTube channel, making memes and other creatives, especially the ones that not only celebrate the otherness of the Muslims but seek to vilify and dehumanize them. Sometimes, he does feel a twinge of guilt or maybe unease, but he overcomes it quickly.
Nisha, a girl from Uttarakhand, has migrated to Delhi in search of greener (?) pastures. She works in Emporium Mall (adapted from the real-life Emporium Mall of Delhi) in a shop that’s “filled with a thick, rich cocoa-butter smell.” It sells exorbitantly overpriced dark chocolate Dojuri. There’s a scene in her introduction chapter where she explains to a hesitating couple why “quality dark chocolate is never black.”
![Profile Image for Padmajha [PJ] Me and My Bookshelf.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1716366774i%2F12703387._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 17, 2024
The first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful cover, and as a fan of hardbound books, I knew I couldn't pass this one up!
The cover, depicting an Instagram page on a mobile phone, hints at the story's focus on social media, and as I read on I found it also talks of AI, corruption, and the pressures of online life.
The main characters are Mayank, who works for a YouTuber, and Nisha, a salesperson at a high-end chocolate retail store. Though they have never met, social media brings their lives together, leading to unexpected changes for both of them.
The story touches on many issues we see around us today, like the destructive impact of social media and AI on people's lives, political corruption, journalists being silenced before they can expose the truth, and tragedies like collapsing flyovers that devastate families and the impact it has on them.
But there's also a softer side to the story. I liked how Mayank cares for stray dogs, the love and care from his mother, and how her advice guides him to make things right with Nisha.
The author skillfully weaves together a story that addresses social and political issues relevant to our times, highlighting the misuse of technology, corruption, and the lengths young people will go to make a name for themselves. The characters and events feel real and relatable.
In all, it's a good read that sheds light on current issues with engaging characters and a good storyline.
The cover, depicting an Instagram page on a mobile phone, hints at the story's focus on social media, and as I read on I found it also talks of AI, corruption, and the pressures of online life.
The main characters are Mayank, who works for a YouTuber, and Nisha, a salesperson at a high-end chocolate retail store. Though they have never met, social media brings their lives together, leading to unexpected changes for both of them.
The story touches on many issues we see around us today, like the destructive impact of social media and AI on people's lives, political corruption, journalists being silenced before they can expose the truth, and tragedies like collapsing flyovers that devastate families and the impact it has on them.
But there's also a softer side to the story. I liked how Mayank cares for stray dogs, the love and care from his mother, and how her advice guides him to make things right with Nisha.
The author skillfully weaves together a story that addresses social and political issues relevant to our times, highlighting the misuse of technology, corruption, and the lengths young people will go to make a name for themselves. The characters and events feel real and relatable.
In all, it's a good read that sheds light on current issues with engaging characters and a good storyline.
September 15, 2024
I've been having really long work days with very little time to read a book, on such days I often look for concise reads that are meaningful.
Mother India by Prayaag Akbar was a good choice. The plot revolves around Mayank and Nisha, both struggling to earn a decent living in New Delhi. Where Mayank works for a right-winged content creator, Nisha works as a salesgirl for a Japanese chocolate brand in a posh mall. Detailed descriptions of their mundane routine follow along with habits they imbibe to seem modern.
The story gains momentum when Mayank's careless use of Nisha's image in a video goes viral, serious consequences follow.
What worked for me was the crisp penmanship, the story conveyed what it aimed to convey about consequences of irresponsible use of social media but the focus on "right-wing" seemed- biased. These tactics can and are used by those who wish to accelerate the algorithm and push content to go viral not just in politics but whatever the intended content is at the cost of the innocent (in Nisha's case here). I wanted to read a book that detailed the shallow nature of social media be and not how supposed right-wing used the internet, without knowing about the left-wing in the story.
I liked the book, but it's not my favourite.
Mother India by Prayaag Akbar was a good choice. The plot revolves around Mayank and Nisha, both struggling to earn a decent living in New Delhi. Where Mayank works for a right-winged content creator, Nisha works as a salesgirl for a Japanese chocolate brand in a posh mall. Detailed descriptions of their mundane routine follow along with habits they imbibe to seem modern.
The story gains momentum when Mayank's careless use of Nisha's image in a video goes viral, serious consequences follow.
What worked for me was the crisp penmanship, the story conveyed what it aimed to convey about consequences of irresponsible use of social media but the focus on "right-wing" seemed- biased. These tactics can and are used by those who wish to accelerate the algorithm and push content to go viral not just in politics but whatever the intended content is at the cost of the innocent (in Nisha's case here). I wanted to read a book that detailed the shallow nature of social media be and not how supposed right-wing used the internet, without knowing about the left-wing in the story.
I liked the book, but it's not my favourite.
August 18, 2024
"Mother India" is a powerful and timely novel that delves deep into the complexities of modern India. Through the intertwined lives of Mayank and Nisha, Akbar paints a vivid picture of how social media and the pressures of contemporary society shape the youth. Mayank’s journey into the morally ambiguous world of right-wing content creation and Nisha’s struggle to survive in a male-dominated urban landscape reflect the broader societal issues at play.
Akbar’s exploration of nationalism, identity, and the influence of technology is both thought-provoking and evocative. The novel challenges readers to consider the ethical dilemmas posed by our digital age and the manipulation of nationalistic sentiments for political gain. With its well-developed characters and engaging narrative, "Mother India" offers a poignant commentary on the challenges facing the nation today, making it a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of contemporary India.
Akbar’s exploration of nationalism, identity, and the influence of technology is both thought-provoking and evocative. The novel challenges readers to consider the ethical dilemmas posed by our digital age and the manipulation of nationalistic sentiments for political gain. With its well-developed characters and engaging narrative, "Mother India" offers a poignant commentary on the challenges facing the nation today, making it a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of contemporary India.
June 30, 2025
“Mother India” is a powerful and contemporary novel that left a lasting impression on me. What I loved most about “Mother India” is how Prayaag weaves together the lives of the characters, offering a deep and poignant commentary on various societal issues. The book touches on work ethics, the class divide, gender dynamics, and political unrest. Akbar’s narrative is rich in detail and provides a deep insight into the art and ethics of survival in a city like Delhi.
February 8, 2025
In under two hundred chilling pages, Prayaag Akbar captures this time we live in — one where truth is so easily twisted; where aspirations are so deeply entwined with images we see on social media. I loved the little moments of tenderness amid all the rage. Like the protagonist, Mayank, feedings bones to the puppies on his street, ones he’s named after anime characters.
March 17, 2025
This was a quick read.
Gave it a 4 only because Leila, Akbar’s first book, was that good.
This one also nicely ratchets up the tension and uncoils and captures besides the crazy virtual world we live in, Delhi and the hills really well.
Gave it a 4 only because Leila, Akbar’s first book, was that good.
This one also nicely ratchets up the tension and uncoils and captures besides the crazy virtual world we live in, Delhi and the hills really well.
June 10, 2025
Yes.
Characters are relatable. Core plot is convincing.
But
The writing throughout seems forced and artificial. Some dialogues sound as if translated from Hindi in an imperfect way. Uses the word ‘aunties’ as if it should evoke a certain image. Some metaphors didn’t work for me.
Characters are relatable. Core plot is convincing.
But
The writing throughout seems forced and artificial. Some dialogues sound as if translated from Hindi in an imperfect way. Uses the word ‘aunties’ as if it should evoke a certain image. Some metaphors didn’t work for me.
August 21, 2024
Well written, but not thematically cogent.
December 19, 2024
I really appreciate the rhythm of this book. Griping and memorable.
December 25, 2024
A good reflection on contemporary India though it seemed like two short stories were combined into one
March 28, 2025
Quick read with sympathetic if not completely well rounded characters navigating their relationship with tech, consent, and the state
July 19, 2025
beautifully written and a must read about today times
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