377

by Manish Jani

Anushka Parashar is a doctor with a private practice in the field of infectious diseases. She is busy with her life, and happy with her aspiring-model-and-gym-trainer boyfriend, Yash. Aneri Shah is a happy-go-lucky plastic surgeon, recently relocated from Mumbai to Delhi, as life goes on with her boyfriend and techie Abhinav, in tow. A chance encounter changes their lives – but the changed lives aren’t just the four of theirs. They embark on a journey that would change the course of the future of their nation and of the people. They take on a fight that is beyond the armchair, and call in question one of the world’s oldest criminal legislations.

294 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2015

About the author

Manish Jani was born and brought up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. After graduating as a Computer Engineer, he worked in Mumbai, Barbados and then San Francisco, for several years. He currently heads the Indian operations of a multi-national software product company and lives in Ahmedabad with his wife and two sons.

Although Manish identifies as a conservative family man, he strongly believes that freedom is an essential part of everyone’s life. He believes that just like our laws protect the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion, they should also protect the freedom of choosing a life partner of either sex. Also, just like our laws prohibit discrimination based on religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth, they should prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Manish respects everyone’s natural inclination to discover their own sexuality and to choose a suitable partner and lifestyle. With that thought, he makes no attempt to promote or encourage either homosexuality or heterosexuality in his literature.

Reviews

[Shrilaxmi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author.

Update 6th September 2020 (two years since the annulment of section 377! Yay!):
I have very mixed feelings about this book. It covers a really intense topic but managed to be a quick, light read despite being 300 pages long. It was confusing at times too, with both characters having the same name and the writing not clear enough to know who was being talked about. Another thing about the writing is that it made me skim. A lot. There were quite a few long and seemingly unnecessary speeches too which lead to even more skimming. I'd say the story and the concept were good, but the book sorely lacked in execution.

First reading March 2016:
Although this story is new, the second half of it was a little improbable because it depended so much on coincidences. The characters aren't that extraordinary either. Although there were flashbacks to their early lives to understand them better, they were a bit boring. I loved the first half. It was fast-paced and interesting but slowed down and started to get cliché after a bit. Overall, this book was just okay - not excellent but not that bad either.

[Sundarraj Kaushik · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book related from the heart of the author and an absolute requirement in current times. The book is about article 377 of the Indian Penal Code which criminalizes any sexual which is "unnatural". The law was enacted in 1860 by the British and it continues to be a part of the IPC.

The book talks about two lady doctors who meet each other, thanks to their live-in partners. They start liking each other from the first time they meet. One is the daughter of a big industrialist from Mumbai and other a precocious daughter of parents from rural north India. Both are independent and both are on cusp of establishing a career for themselves.

They Mumbai girl, Aneri happens to go to Mumbai to take a selfie with her father for the #withmydaughter campaign. On the spur of the moment she asks the other doctor, Anushka to accompany her. And Anuskha agrees as she has never been to Mumbai or a seaside in her life. Both of them end up at a guest house of the friend of Aneri's mother in Madh Island. They find themselves in each other's arms and find that they enjoy having a sexual intercourse with each other. It stuns them both and they initially find it difficult to accept. They give themselves a one week cooling period to see if it was a one time urge, but then end up in bed in the next weekend.

Now both of them end up feeling guilty of having cheated on their live-in partners. They decide to break the news to them. The men do not take it well. But soon they overcome and decide to support their ex-live in partner. As a next step they first decide to meet Anushka's parents. Only Anushka's father refuses to accept it and they get to know the reason for him not accepting him from his mother. Aneri confronts him with the childhood story which has traumatized him and he gives his consent.

Aneri's parents are more reconciled to the fact and give their go ahead without much ado. Now that the near and dear ones had been tackled both the ladies with the help of their live-in-partners start to take on the mighty law. They setup an online petition requesting the Prime Minister to start discussions on amending the IPC 377. They are thwarted by Anuskha's jealous partner in business, but they manage to overcome the obstacles and the book ends with the PM of India acknowledging their efforts and sets up a committee to decide on how the IPC can be amended and made more amicable to the LGBT community.

A decent read.

[Jaykumar B · Rating 1 out of 5]

While 377 on the whole is a unique work that needs to be read and understood, I found the plot to be, well, improbable, especially the second half of the text... moreover, the characters are almost types, cardboards if one may call them.. I as a reader felt absolutely nothing for them, no empathy, sympathy, nada.. and that's the flaw of this book... the aspect dealing the law is nicely done, and to an extent aims to educate the readers, but.. overall the book fails to become memorable and to demand a second reading... yet I would recommend it for its portrayal of same sex love in a rather sanitized manner..

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Manish has chosen to write about a controversial topic. The plot is pretty interesting and forces you to stop and think. Though the characters are likeable, one fails to connect with them. Yet it was a wonderful experience. I kept guessing what the end would be like.

[Monojit Dutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a complete novel looks like. Thoroughly liked it. Flowing is swift and very well planned.
A must read book.