White Magic: A Story of Heartbreak, Hard Drugs and Hope

by Arjun Nath

If drugs were people you met at a party, ganja and hashish would be the middle-aged guys in dirt-starched jeans sitting on the terrace strumming a guitar. They would say things like 'dude, check out the moon' a lot. Acid would be the amateur DJ mixing Buddha Bar and Ibiza trance, trying to catch all the pretty colours drifting from the sound speakers. Ecstasy the young girl touching herself, touching everybody, touching the walls, making love to the world... Heroin. She's the bitch in the corner, man, just an ageless coldhearted bitch in a business suit. Billy Joel wrote a song about her. Not far from Mumbai is a rehab called Land, founded by Dr Yusuf Merchant (or Doc, as he is known among his patients). A meeting point for those suffering from a range of addictions and behavioural disorders, Land holds extraordinary stories of tragedy, fortitude and survival-including Doc's own story. In White Magic, Arjun Nath looks back on the time he spent at Land as a recovering heroin the rules and rituals, the agony of withdrawal and the moments of lightness he shared with his fellow inhabitants. Woven into this personal record is the tale of the maverick doctor's several from Ismail to Yusuf to Bhai to Doc. Sharp, sensitive, yet full of swag, White Magic is an outstanding achievement.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2016

Reviews

[Preeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up the book wary of what I would find because no addiction leave alone drug addiction can be pretty. This however, was a brilliant read. There were numerous times that I had to set it aside to clutch at my sides as I doubled over with laughter. Being moved to tears also followed. Arjun Nath is a terrifically gifted writer. He makes rehab sound good and Land a place you would like to be. Don't mean to trivialize rehab or addiction and I hope as hell this does not come across as flippant because I hope people in need of help get to know of Land. I am so glad to have got to known of people like Dr. Yusuf Merchant and his amazing story. My heart is so wildly cheering all of these brave folks like Arjun Nath who are out to conquer their demons and put their stories out there. More power to all of you.

[Anil Dhingra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations Arjun Nath. You have done full justice to this nonfiction you wrote.
As an ex addict Arjun has done full justice as not only does he write a very honest review of his own life with all the problems, negativity, but also covers in detail the life of Yusuf merchant alias doc.
The book is about drug, alcohol and other addicts who stay in a property called Land established by doc in suburbs of Mumbai.
Hats off to Doc for helping so many addicts without a formal degree or training in psychiatry.
However what I don't like about doc is his multiple relations and marriages with so many women.
Granted he gave a chance to the rich addicts.

[Ruchi Tiwary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written , two journals, one of the author and other the important character. Story of love, hope and belief.

[Sneha Kher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written memoir of recovery and experience. To understand what you haven't been through is very difficult but Arjun's expression of his journey takes you through it all so well. You live on Land and reinforce the the truth that recovery is possible albeit difficult.
Someone needed to document Doc's uniqueness and Arjun has done it very well. Doc's a wonderful example of what human spirit can achieve, such greatness and empathy.
I could just hug him!
It is very difficult to bare your soul to the world but it is important too. You can only lead by example. Well done, Arjun. I hope you continue writing.

[Prasad GR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly heartwarming tale of hope and redemption, this book comes as a breath of fresh air for its ability to narrate a story sans any gimmicks. Despite a wide array of characters that populate it, the narrative achieves considerable depth and pulls the reader into the heart of the story with ease and keeps us there. The characters are so well portrayed that some of them might remain in our minds forever, long after the last page is turned over. This book is a hidden gem that I’m glad I chanced upon.

[Rohit · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a bloody good time to be alive to read things like this which feel real. There is a moment in the book towards the end when you would suddenly start liking it. I hope Bollywood doesn’t spoil this book and Arjun Nath.

Fantastic stuff!

[Praveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Magic it is!!!!
Really took long time to tasted it. However, good to digest the neat narration of the Author(Memoir). Coming to the book, it is a first person narration and it has two stories running along the entire novel, the Junkie(Heroin addict) and the Doc.
The leading characters: Author - the Junkie, Doc - Consecutive changes of names with respect to name of the city (i.e. Bombay - Ismail, Yusuf, Bhai and Mumbai - Doc), Sonya (So-niya) an another junkie, Asif - Doc's friend, Bhai's father a Merchant, Yaz - Bhai's Sister and many more.
The novel starts with a Junkie journal chapter contains the Author's story who is an heroin addict and got admitted into a rehab, where the character Doc stood as a hero, in the book as well as to the addicts. Alternatively, the Bhai's chapter (who became a Doc later) I would say the real touch of the Author, a complete fun, inspiration, self-motivation and control, lots of love and heart breaks.
Except the chapter before the last, contains lots of information stuffed in it (the reason for four star), otherwise it is a brilliant work.
I recommend this book to every one who is struggling to overcome a bad habit in their life, whatever it is.

The conclusion of mine:- "A man who lost everything in his life, will be the wiser"

[Siju]

You know the best way we can enjoy a book is when it relates to your surroundings. It resonated itself reading within the 4 walls of a de-add center myself...the only time i got to finish a book in 2 days. So Arjun Nath has given a real life exp of an addict along with that of the hero the doc or bhai .A lot of phrases did not only catch my imagination but the real exp itself...viz...when he visits his house while at "land" and keeps an account of his dad at 60 rummaging through used tissues for heroin..." That image while not venal enough to take first prize ,still makes top 5 in my all-time Hall of Shame.." ..one of my takeaways from a plethora of thoughts doc says.."Share it with even one other person . Bring it out to in the open or ,it ll grow inside you like a mushroom.ten times fifty times the more you talk about it .,the less youll attach to it till it becomes another memory...TRUE..
Coming back to the whole reading exp there were few discontinuities which account for while narrating Bhai.'s biography...which may reveal later though..however all the Junkie Jounals are fluently and tactically laid out to venerate each "programmer".Thanks Arjun it was a memorable being your first..

[M Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt a bit disconnected to the writers style of writing.
It is always riveting to read a true story based on facts and drug / substance abuse has in fact impacted every family in some way or the other... Stolen people from them distanced the abuser because of his lack of control

It was a good read....

[Pragati Chauhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written account of a man's journey in and out of a rehab. Despite the subject the book is rather light read. The book has 2 stories running parallel and in the end the 2 stories- of Doc and Arjun- meet at a point across time. Its a page turner and difficult to put down.

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for the honesty and courage to say it as it is. It will stay with you for sometime

[Srijan Kapoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book takes you through the struggle of an addict and how his life is revived when he meets his counsellor at the rehab. A good read.

[Deepak Pawar · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://dgvpawar.blogspot.com/2017/06...

[Naga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Every little thing in author narration was real. I hope Bollywood spares this book from making a movie. Perfect 5 on 5.

[Naksha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic. Stories can be interesting, not let you put the book down and the type. Few, very few give you the 3D feel! Rating the book was like playing a virtual reality game; I was in Land and at the Merchants home while I read the book. Thank you dear author for this piece of art. I wonder how you did it!