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Prelude to a Riot
In a peaceful southern town, amidst lush spice plantations, trouble is brewing. In the town live three generations of two families, one Hindu and the other Muslim, whose lives will be changed forever by the coming violence. At risk are Dada, the ageing grandfather who lovingly tends and talks to the plants on his estate; his strong-willed grandchildren, Abu and Fareeda; the newly married Devaki, who cannot fathom the forces that are turning her husband and her father into fanatics; Mariam, of the gifted hands, who kneads and pounds the fatigued muscles of tourists into submission; and Garuda, the high-school teacher who, in his own desperate way, is trying to impart the truth about the country’s history to a classroom of uninterested students. Quietly but surely, the spectre of religious intolerance is beginning to haunt the community in the guise of the Self-Respect Forum whose mission is to divide the town and destroy the delicate balance of respect and cooperation that has existed for hundreds of years. Told with brilliance, restraint and extraordinary power, Annie Zaidi’s book is destined to become a classic.
184 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2019
34 people are currently reading
1389 people want to read
About the author
Annie Zaidi
20 books360 followersAnnie Zaidi writes poetry, essays, fiction, and scripts for the stage and the screen.
She is the author of The Comeback (2025), City of Incident: A novel in twelve parts (2021), and Prelude to a Riot, which won the Tata prize for fiction (2020). She is a recipient of the Nine Dots prize (2019) for Bread, Cement, Cactus: A memoir of belonging and dislocation.
Her other books include Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales (collection of essays, short-listed for the Crossword Book Award (non- fiction) in 2010, Gulab (novella), Love Stories # 1 to 14 (short stories), and The Good Indian Girl (co-authored with Smriti Ravindra), and Crush (poetry).
She is also the editor of 'Unbound: 2,000 Years of Indian women's Writing' and of 'Equal Halves'.
Her work has appeared in various anthologies, including Mumbai Noir; Women Changing India; India Shining, India Changing, and in literary journals like the Griffith Review, The Massachusetts Review, Big Bridge, Out of Print, and The Aleph Review.
Her work as a playwright has been performed and read in several cities. She received The Hindu Playwright Award (2018) for Untitled 1. Her radio script ‘Jam’ was named regional (South Asia) winner for the BBC’s International Playwriting Competition (2011).
She has also written and directed several short films and the documentary film, In her words: The journey of Indian women.
She is the author of The Comeback (2025), City of Incident: A novel in twelve parts (2021), and Prelude to a Riot, which won the Tata prize for fiction (2020). She is a recipient of the Nine Dots prize (2019) for Bread, Cement, Cactus: A memoir of belonging and dislocation.
Her other books include Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales (collection of essays, short-listed for the Crossword Book Award (non- fiction) in 2010, Gulab (novella), Love Stories # 1 to 14 (short stories), and The Good Indian Girl (co-authored with Smriti Ravindra), and Crush (poetry).
She is also the editor of 'Unbound: 2,000 Years of Indian women's Writing' and of 'Equal Halves'.
Her work has appeared in various anthologies, including Mumbai Noir; Women Changing India; India Shining, India Changing, and in literary journals like the Griffith Review, The Massachusetts Review, Big Bridge, Out of Print, and The Aleph Review.
Her work as a playwright has been performed and read in several cities. She received The Hindu Playwright Award (2018) for Untitled 1. Her radio script ‘Jam’ was named regional (South Asia) winner for the BBC’s International Playwriting Competition (2011).
She has also written and directed several short films and the documentary film, In her words: The journey of Indian women.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 105 reviews
August 23, 2021
One of the first things I noticed about this book is that unlike with most contemporary Indian fiction, it doesn't seem as though it was written mainly for a western audience. There's no unnecessary anglicisation. Murukku is murukku and not 'a crispy spiral snack made with rice flour, butter and fresh pepper picked from grandfather's farm' or whatever. Another striking thing about this book is that almost every character mentioned gets a chapter of their own with first person narration. It's as if the author wanted us to dive in from all sides and find the centre.
Oh but what an unstable centre it is. And the various paths to it are volatile, turbulent. So as with most contemporary Indian fiction, the book is teeming with an about to explode anxiety. But again, unlike with most contemporary Indian fiction (I know I've used this phrase a lot!) it doesn't actually violently explode, the centre doesn't fall apart. Instead, the ending is open - melancholy, peaceful and nerve-wracking all at once.
I would have given the book four stars if not for the sense of incompleteness it causes. Not because there isn't the always-alluded-to disastrous ending, it's absence actually added to the book's beauty. But because we're always shifting narratives, only getting bits and parts (you almost feel like a thief) and it seems as though something important is missing from the narrative. So you don't quite reach the centre. Instead, we vaguely know where it is and keep circling around it as we shift from one character's head to another. Perhaps that's the point. That the centre is an illusion, a lie we tell ourselves.
Oh but what an unstable centre it is. And the various paths to it are volatile, turbulent. So as with most contemporary Indian fiction, the book is teeming with an about to explode anxiety. But again, unlike with most contemporary Indian fiction (I know I've used this phrase a lot!) it doesn't actually violently explode, the centre doesn't fall apart. Instead, the ending is open - melancholy, peaceful and nerve-wracking all at once.
I would have given the book four stars if not for the sense of incompleteness it causes. Not because there isn't the always-alluded-to disastrous ending, it's absence actually added to the book's beauty. But because we're always shifting narratives, only getting bits and parts (you almost feel like a thief) and it seems as though something important is missing from the narrative. So you don't quite reach the centre. Instead, we vaguely know where it is and keep circling around it as we shift from one character's head to another. Perhaps that's the point. That the centre is an illusion, a lie we tell ourselves.
November 28, 2020
There are some books which are so culturally and contextually relevant that you just cannot help but furiously recommend it to every single person. These books either shake you out of your stupor or just validate everything you have been feeling already. For me, it was the latter. Prelude to a Riot is not just a fictional tale set in a peaceful southern town, it is a very real story that is unfolding in front of us on an everyday basis.
Let’s talk a little about the characters. I have had teachers who went beyond the ‘set’ curriculum in an attempt to make us think beyond what we were made to study for our exams. Albeit these teachers were few in numbers, they left their mark. I saw all those teachers represented in Garuda. He is one of my many favourite characters in the book. I also relate to Devaki’s struggle to just survive and not be squished by the everyday patriarchy and bigotry- something that we as women have to collectively endure. I have known people like Abu who are rightfully angry, people like Dada who still choose to see the best, people like Bavna, Fareeda, and Mariam as victims of their circumstances, and people like Kadir who have laughed at things that made them feel uncomfortable. People like Mommad and Majju who have been and are continuing to be treated unfairly. I have known people like Saju who were seemingly educated, well-intentioned, socially and culturally aware, who understood the decades of biases and hate that have been cultivated in the minds of people. And I have seen them change their views and hop onto the hatred and bigotry bandwagon. It left me wondering if they really ‘changed’? Or they just became comfortable enough to show their true colours without the fear of any reprimand. I refuse to believe in the latter. How can we live in a world where people feel no remorse in such rampant hatred and vitriol?
The book is so important, I would advocate for its inclusion in academic syllabus. It tackles topics like caste, class, and gender privilege - subtly but strongly. It also speaks about encouraging learning beyond textbooks, for students to observe their surroundings and think. It tries to fight religious intolerance and go beyond the whole ‘Us’ versus “Them’ narrative. It talks about the importance of understanding prejudices and overcoming them to create an inclusive and hopeful society. There is also a brief attempt at destroying the freedom of speech and expression and the retort was an absolute delight! A short book at 182 pages, the chapters are voiced by different characters in the form of soliloquies and yet are never confusing.
A character in the book while talking about his admiration for a movie star says “The words he spoke on screen would open up the wounds of one's heart, and then sew them back.” I cannot help but wonder, who will soothe the wounds of our hearts that are being inflicted by the current establishment? This book is a must-read. I implore more and more people to read the book and talk about it, and talk about the issues mentioned in the book. But the question remains, will people read this book? Will they see the truth? I, for once, sincerely hope they do. We do. Because this book acts as a prelude to what is coming - and it is not something we would want to witness, ever.
Let’s talk a little about the characters. I have had teachers who went beyond the ‘set’ curriculum in an attempt to make us think beyond what we were made to study for our exams. Albeit these teachers were few in numbers, they left their mark. I saw all those teachers represented in Garuda. He is one of my many favourite characters in the book. I also relate to Devaki’s struggle to just survive and not be squished by the everyday patriarchy and bigotry- something that we as women have to collectively endure. I have known people like Abu who are rightfully angry, people like Dada who still choose to see the best, people like Bavna, Fareeda, and Mariam as victims of their circumstances, and people like Kadir who have laughed at things that made them feel uncomfortable. People like Mommad and Majju who have been and are continuing to be treated unfairly. I have known people like Saju who were seemingly educated, well-intentioned, socially and culturally aware, who understood the decades of biases and hate that have been cultivated in the minds of people. And I have seen them change their views and hop onto the hatred and bigotry bandwagon. It left me wondering if they really ‘changed’? Or they just became comfortable enough to show their true colours without the fear of any reprimand. I refuse to believe in the latter. How can we live in a world where people feel no remorse in such rampant hatred and vitriol?
The book is so important, I would advocate for its inclusion in academic syllabus. It tackles topics like caste, class, and gender privilege - subtly but strongly. It also speaks about encouraging learning beyond textbooks, for students to observe their surroundings and think. It tries to fight religious intolerance and go beyond the whole ‘Us’ versus “Them’ narrative. It talks about the importance of understanding prejudices and overcoming them to create an inclusive and hopeful society. There is also a brief attempt at destroying the freedom of speech and expression and the retort was an absolute delight! A short book at 182 pages, the chapters are voiced by different characters in the form of soliloquies and yet are never confusing.
A character in the book while talking about his admiration for a movie star says “The words he spoke on screen would open up the wounds of one's heart, and then sew them back.” I cannot help but wonder, who will soothe the wounds of our hearts that are being inflicted by the current establishment? This book is a must-read. I implore more and more people to read the book and talk about it, and talk about the issues mentioned in the book. But the question remains, will people read this book? Will they see the truth? I, for once, sincerely hope they do. We do. Because this book acts as a prelude to what is coming - and it is not something we would want to witness, ever.
November 4, 2019
Complex history, convoluted present or is it convoluted history and complex present? This is foremost what Annie Zaidi positions in ‘In Prelude to aRiot’, where each character takes the reader into their most intimate personal spaces filled with their thoughts and convictions through soliloquies. Set in an unnamed location somewhere in India where there are vast estates and plantations, the focus is on the members of two families – one Hindu and one Muslims,the writing takes readers through the thoughts processes of certain characters through which one sees fissures erupting gradually.
Conversations are kept to a bare minimum between characters but each character has numerous questions and observations, perhaps mirroring the disquiet in today’s dysfunctional world where the majority has lost the art of meaningful conversations and dialogues, going instead for polarizing debates. The soliloquies are powerful and encompasses a range of pressing socio political issues we are confronted with: whose privileges comes at the cost of whom, the push and pull between ‘them’ and ‘us’ where each needs the other but is not prepared to give way.
I see this book making it to many literary award lists for next year. Go read this if you are into socio political commentary through fiction.Take this up if you are game for writing styles that break form and structure.
Conversations are kept to a bare minimum between characters but each character has numerous questions and observations, perhaps mirroring the disquiet in today’s dysfunctional world where the majority has lost the art of meaningful conversations and dialogues, going instead for polarizing debates. The soliloquies are powerful and encompasses a range of pressing socio political issues we are confronted with: whose privileges comes at the cost of whom, the push and pull between ‘them’ and ‘us’ where each needs the other but is not prepared to give way.
I see this book making it to many literary award lists for next year. Go read this if you are into socio political commentary through fiction.Take this up if you are game for writing styles that break form and structure.
Read
July 9, 2020'Prelude to a Riot' has a big cast, and almost everyone gets to soliloquize. 'The searing loneliness of women as they confront the spectre of bigotry' (from Paul Zacharia's back-cover endorsement) is brought out really well. While the situation in the novel's imaginary town deteriorates, not one character undergoes a significant reversal. In fact, the characters are quite set, with each immersed in their context and their 'story' and their beliefs. Only the bigots are becoming more action-oriented. The non-bigots are given to us as portraits. This allows stillness (or stasis, if you please) to become a signifier of future helplessness, but has a clear side-effect for the novel: it lessens the 'building up to...' aspect that the title hints.
Zaidi's big achievement here is distilling from variants of Indian bigotry a common element: the bigot's assumption of rootedness? As a challenge to the bigot, Zaidi poses History, itself. But this is done with resignation, for the abiding mood of and in the novel is that the bigots are winning. This mood makes it difficult to talk of 'Prelude to a Riot' as merely a novel. Zaidi has, in a way, hidden an elegy for impending tragedies in a 'Prelude'. It must make us tremble, and it does.
Zaidi's big achievement here is distilling from variants of Indian bigotry a common element: the bigot's assumption of rootedness? As a challenge to the bigot, Zaidi poses History, itself. But this is done with resignation, for the abiding mood of and in the novel is that the bigots are winning. This mood makes it difficult to talk of 'Prelude to a Riot' as merely a novel. Zaidi has, in a way, hidden an elegy for impending tragedies in a 'Prelude'. It must make us tremble, and it does.
December 14, 2019
In an unnamed village down south, a riot is brewing. Organized with vitriolic determination by the members of the 'Self-Respect Forum', this movement is dividing people between 'them' and 'us'. Their goal is to declare themselves as the rightful owner of the land and drive out the intruders who have occupied space and ruined their peaceful settlement.
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A powerful socio-political commentary through soliloquies, 'Prelude to a Riot' is mainly about two families, a Hindu and a Muslim family who have their ways of life but their love for their land is prominent and immense.
.
Dada's life is empty without his flowers and butterflies. After raising two grandchildren from the money from the estate, he now wants to shift his attention to his plants and live blissfully. Appa recalls the days when his clan was given guns by the Whites to bring down a Brown king. They were the 'chosen one', the rightful heir to this land they now occupy and reside in. The oldest members of these two households are unaware of the changes their ideology is about to bring and the repercussions of this war are something they cannot comprehend.
.
The youngest members of the household are struggling to pick a side and preparing themselves for the impending doom. A task that is difficult to achieve as they have grown in this community and consider each one, including the estate workers as their own. The estate workers, on the other hand, are trying to build a new world for themselves as they are exploited and treated as outcasts repeatedly.
.
"One by one, you are rent asunder. One by one, you are taught to pull in the direction of violence."
.
In a society where debate takes precedence over discussions, these soliloquies give us an insight into the minds of every significant member in the village, struggling to survive against the tides of time and shifting ideologies. As the generations change, there is a stark change in views and in spite of the differences, they are beliefs that are about to bring significant changes.
.
A powerful socio-political commentary through soliloquies, 'Prelude to a Riot' is mainly about two families, a Hindu and a Muslim family who have their ways of life but their love for their land is prominent and immense.
.
Dada's life is empty without his flowers and butterflies. After raising two grandchildren from the money from the estate, he now wants to shift his attention to his plants and live blissfully. Appa recalls the days when his clan was given guns by the Whites to bring down a Brown king. They were the 'chosen one', the rightful heir to this land they now occupy and reside in. The oldest members of these two households are unaware of the changes their ideology is about to bring and the repercussions of this war are something they cannot comprehend.
.
The youngest members of the household are struggling to pick a side and preparing themselves for the impending doom. A task that is difficult to achieve as they have grown in this community and consider each one, including the estate workers as their own. The estate workers, on the other hand, are trying to build a new world for themselves as they are exploited and treated as outcasts repeatedly.
.
"One by one, you are rent asunder. One by one, you are taught to pull in the direction of violence."
.
In a society where debate takes precedence over discussions, these soliloquies give us an insight into the minds of every significant member in the village, struggling to survive against the tides of time and shifting ideologies. As the generations change, there is a stark change in views and in spite of the differences, they are beliefs that are about to bring significant changes.
February 24, 2020
Prelude to a Riot is a seemingly impressive novel about the impending riot in India. Set in an unnamed town, the book is divided between soliloquies of members of two families - one Hindu and the other Muslim. The characters are fleshed out well with their conversation with self portrayed wonderfully. The dialogues though have been kept bare minimum.
Annie Zaidi has crafted a white-hot novel breaching the structure of literature. Her book is formless, you won't find a structure, and yet you can see a pattern. Although I was unclear about the intent of the book, it somewhere appealed to me because of the literary quality and its relevance to present-day India. The book masterfully showcases the impact of the brewing social-political unrest in society and how different generations view it.
What I drew out of the book was contemplation - an urge to ponder over the happenings around me. The book wouldn't appeal to you if you need some clarity, a clear narration, a neat presentation. To be honest, the narrative is messy and so, it stands difficult to comprehend. But, you see, this is the thing. This book demands your attention authoritatively. And once you are drawn into it, there's no turning back. You'll be sucked inside to confront an ugly truth.
I did take a long time reading this book and even longer to write this review. To speak the truth, it was worth it. It is a book I'll reread for its impeccable writing and whenever I would feel a need to see the truth.
Annie Zaidi has crafted a white-hot novel breaching the structure of literature. Her book is formless, you won't find a structure, and yet you can see a pattern. Although I was unclear about the intent of the book, it somewhere appealed to me because of the literary quality and its relevance to present-day India. The book masterfully showcases the impact of the brewing social-political unrest in society and how different generations view it.
What I drew out of the book was contemplation - an urge to ponder over the happenings around me. The book wouldn't appeal to you if you need some clarity, a clear narration, a neat presentation. To be honest, the narrative is messy and so, it stands difficult to comprehend. But, you see, this is the thing. This book demands your attention authoritatively. And once you are drawn into it, there's no turning back. You'll be sucked inside to confront an ugly truth.
I did take a long time reading this book and even longer to write this review. To speak the truth, it was worth it. It is a book I'll reread for its impeccable writing and whenever I would feel a need to see the truth.
December 7, 2019
QOTD: Do you like to read books based on their covers? If so, then why?
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Prelude To A Riot is one such read which attracted my heart to it based on it's beautiful and minimalist cover that I truly adore. The synopsis of the book was utterly catching and had the potential of being a five-star read but, it failed me.
No matter how much I liked the witty storytelling I found it as much scattered and really messy. I tried to re-read the book before giving a review and while I understood few points of it, I found parts of the book very-very bizarre with absolutely no idea about the plot.
I seriously thought that this book had the power of winning my heart but I just did not understand what it was about. No matter how deep I wanted to look into it, the book was very simple to catch up and there remained nothing more to dig deep into.
I liked the writing style of the author but had zero idea on what the book was about. I read the blurb of the book several times to get me to stop zoning out, but I never did zone out, I was always in the text and felt nothing.
I personally feel the execution could have been way better than what it was and the plot could have gotten the justice it did not get.
–Tiyasha Chaudhury.
.
A special note of thanks to @alephbookco for sending me this title.
.
Prelude To A Riot is one such read which attracted my heart to it based on it's beautiful and minimalist cover that I truly adore. The synopsis of the book was utterly catching and had the potential of being a five-star read but, it failed me.
No matter how much I liked the witty storytelling I found it as much scattered and really messy. I tried to re-read the book before giving a review and while I understood few points of it, I found parts of the book very-very bizarre with absolutely no idea about the plot.
I seriously thought that this book had the power of winning my heart but I just did not understand what it was about. No matter how deep I wanted to look into it, the book was very simple to catch up and there remained nothing more to dig deep into.
I liked the writing style of the author but had zero idea on what the book was about. I read the blurb of the book several times to get me to stop zoning out, but I never did zone out, I was always in the text and felt nothing.
I personally feel the execution could have been way better than what it was and the plot could have gotten the justice it did not get.
–Tiyasha Chaudhury.
.
A special note of thanks to @alephbookco for sending me this title.
March 2, 2021
A short but contentful book, Prelude to a Riot was easy to read but also made me give it attention and annotate to fully understand what the author tried to portray. As the title says, it doesn't show the actual riots or the violence but rather what precedes it and how those small small thoughts and influences change the flow of the entire society.
Written in soliloquys of individual characters, without the structure of a normal book, the book shows us the thoughts of multiple characters and their views about their lives and surroundings. We see comparisons between modern day India and ancient history with the strange history teacher Garuda, how Hindu landowners think in terms of "us" and "them", how migrant labourers want to make lives for themselves and are shut down by higher classes because "there are always replacements for your jobs", and how the younger generation struggle to make a sense of everything and make actionable decisions after having the power of knowledge on their side.
It also an incomplete story because it just reflects modern day India and our stories are still being written. The book is food for thought.
Written in soliloquys of individual characters, without the structure of a normal book, the book shows us the thoughts of multiple characters and their views about their lives and surroundings. We see comparisons between modern day India and ancient history with the strange history teacher Garuda, how Hindu landowners think in terms of "us" and "them", how migrant labourers want to make lives for themselves and are shut down by higher classes because "there are always replacements for your jobs", and how the younger generation struggle to make a sense of everything and make actionable decisions after having the power of knowledge on their side.
It also an incomplete story because it just reflects modern day India and our stories are still being written. The book is food for thought.
August 15, 2023
“Prelude to a Riot”, a phenomenal novel by Annie Zaidi, resembles the lights on a pedestrian crossing which show how many seconds one has to cross the street before the light turns red. The signal speeds up and we know that soon our lives will be in danger. Reading chapter after chapter of this book felt like getting closer to a catastrophe.
Polyphonic, with brilliant soliloquies by numerous characters (teacher Garuda’s were my favourites), poems and other texts, the novel is an unsettling, poignant observation on growing xenophobia, distrust and intolerance in South India, mainly between Hindus and Muslims. Each person, each voice, reveals a different attitude to life and its trials and tribulations, and each, I believe, is relatable to many Indians. It is especially searing to see how much more empathetic and compassionate, in general, girls and women are, how much more willing to understand “the Other”, whereas much more emotional and indignant men, prone to sudden outbursts of anger, take to extremism based on hatred or withdraw into their own world completely.
“Who is the ‘us’, this ‘we’ that was colonized? Who is the ‘white man’? Has there been any moment in ancient or modern history when ‘we’ were united? Such questions are key to authentic nation-building.” - I deeply hope “Prelude to a Riot” will keep opening discussions on the growing divide among Indians and the common practice of blaming everyone but yourself for troubles. It deserves to be read and discussed in schools as a classic novel of our times.
Polyphonic, with brilliant soliloquies by numerous characters (teacher Garuda’s were my favourites), poems and other texts, the novel is an unsettling, poignant observation on growing xenophobia, distrust and intolerance in South India, mainly between Hindus and Muslims. Each person, each voice, reveals a different attitude to life and its trials and tribulations, and each, I believe, is relatable to many Indians. It is especially searing to see how much more empathetic and compassionate, in general, girls and women are, how much more willing to understand “the Other”, whereas much more emotional and indignant men, prone to sudden outbursts of anger, take to extremism based on hatred or withdraw into their own world completely.
“Who is the ‘us’, this ‘we’ that was colonized? Who is the ‘white man’? Has there been any moment in ancient or modern history when ‘we’ were united? Such questions are key to authentic nation-building.” - I deeply hope “Prelude to a Riot” will keep opening discussions on the growing divide among Indians and the common practice of blaming everyone but yourself for troubles. It deserves to be read and discussed in schools as a classic novel of our times.
September 3, 2020
A 200 page book that will make you think deep. It's definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020. The short chapters in the form of soliloquies take you inside the mind of the characters and that's what I really loved about the book. A must-read for everyone.
December 31, 2020
a very essential read for the times we live in. not sure how I feel about the ending, need to sit and think on it further.
April 11, 2021
There's something beautiful about books that speak to you in voices that you know, that speak to undertones you've heard your entire life but never seen put down in words.
I would say this is a great book for Indians, but a must read for any Kodava or Kannadiga.
I would say this is a great book for Indians, but a must read for any Kodava or Kannadiga.
April 10, 2021
“ No big colonial sword needs to come down and slash the fabric of the nation. Muscle by muscle, atom by atom, we are being torn from within. We are our own b0mb.”
George Orwell wrote in 1984 that the best books are those which tell you what you already know. This book was the same for me, stating everything matter-of-factly. Prelude To A Riot is an exceptional and unconventional novel, not trying to fit in the frame of any particular genre or form of literature. It just throws the punches of reality on your face if you've been ignorant for the past years when the social fabric and communal harmony of the country have been shredded deliberately just to feed the hunger for power of this establishment in particular, when all the democratic institutions are being hijacked one by one making them a mere tool in the hand of the state to be used as they want and need, or it gives you the cruel and bitter taste of validation of all your nightmares regarding this country.
PTAR is an important book, discussing some very foremost topics like religious fanaticism, socially awkward relationships, the illiteracy of the so-called literates, class and caste privilege. This book doesn't shy away from discussing the “us vs them” narrative as well, how one community is forced to be the lesser one and all its people to be looked down upon for no particular reason except for the unnecessary hate and loathing. Neither does this book hesitate to bring the societal prejudices, the attempts of suppressing freedom of speech for the discussion. This merely 200 pages book does it all and makes me wonder and realize at the same time why we don't have more authors like Zaidi and more books like Prelude To a Riot, it's not an easy task to be either, not at all. This book is courageous, valiantly questioning the darkness and the deepness of the dench we are being pushed towards by the hate propaganda that's been unleashed all over the country.
As the title hints, the book observes the environment of an unnamed place before a riot-which is coming. In contemporary India, the riot is not a new name or maybe never was, we have history soaked with blood that has oozed from the uncountable riots this country has experienced for centuries. But as Zaidi wrote in this book, “Public memory is indeed short” we'll always need a reminder of where we came from and where we're going.
This book is told through soliloquies- an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud while by oneself or regardless of any hearers. The characters very much do not interact with each other. The characters have their world of thoughts, perspectives, questions, hate, and rage to cope up with. Each chapter has a soliloquy of a different character and they're very much so realistic as they are haunting. This novel is set in an unnamed town of southern India, where two families reside, one Hindu another Muslim. The book is told majorly through the perspective of the members of the two families. Although my favorite character was Garuda, social science teacher of a high school, he's that teacher being a student of someone like whom I have always yearned for, his view regarding the education system, the socio-political environment of the country were something you can't get easily out of your head. Apart from him there are other characters as well, representing different yeti important roles of the society, unapologetically.
I wonder what is darker? Our history which we admire, which is soaked with blood or our present, suffocates the living light of ourselves and had been started to get written with the ink of blood, years ago?. What's that has affected the communal harmony of this country more? the divisive politics or the religious fanaticism? Or both, as both can't survive without each other(maybe).
There are numerous passages and lines in the book that I have underlined and want to talk about, but if I do that then I don't know how many thousands of words I'll write so keeping those discussions for another day or maybe days. I know this was not a proper review, but reviewing this book like it needs to be reviewed is not my cup of tea, I just hope I have, till now, compelled you to read this book and leave it right here with these lines from PTAR, hoping each word of ‘em to come true.
“People like us are born to move the heaviest mountains. We move them, we always have, for those who sit on peaks and think themselves the lord. Some day, maybe we will learn to move the mountain in such a way that when we let go of our burden, it is standing upside down there and there is nobody sitting on top of our heads.”
George Orwell wrote in 1984 that the best books are those which tell you what you already know. This book was the same for me, stating everything matter-of-factly. Prelude To A Riot is an exceptional and unconventional novel, not trying to fit in the frame of any particular genre or form of literature. It just throws the punches of reality on your face if you've been ignorant for the past years when the social fabric and communal harmony of the country have been shredded deliberately just to feed the hunger for power of this establishment in particular, when all the democratic institutions are being hijacked one by one making them a mere tool in the hand of the state to be used as they want and need, or it gives you the cruel and bitter taste of validation of all your nightmares regarding this country.
PTAR is an important book, discussing some very foremost topics like religious fanaticism, socially awkward relationships, the illiteracy of the so-called literates, class and caste privilege. This book doesn't shy away from discussing the “us vs them” narrative as well, how one community is forced to be the lesser one and all its people to be looked down upon for no particular reason except for the unnecessary hate and loathing. Neither does this book hesitate to bring the societal prejudices, the attempts of suppressing freedom of speech for the discussion. This merely 200 pages book does it all and makes me wonder and realize at the same time why we don't have more authors like Zaidi and more books like Prelude To a Riot, it's not an easy task to be either, not at all. This book is courageous, valiantly questioning the darkness and the deepness of the dench we are being pushed towards by the hate propaganda that's been unleashed all over the country.
As the title hints, the book observes the environment of an unnamed place before a riot-which is coming. In contemporary India, the riot is not a new name or maybe never was, we have history soaked with blood that has oozed from the uncountable riots this country has experienced for centuries. But as Zaidi wrote in this book, “Public memory is indeed short” we'll always need a reminder of where we came from and where we're going.
This book is told through soliloquies- an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud while by oneself or regardless of any hearers. The characters very much do not interact with each other. The characters have their world of thoughts, perspectives, questions, hate, and rage to cope up with. Each chapter has a soliloquy of a different character and they're very much so realistic as they are haunting. This novel is set in an unnamed town of southern India, where two families reside, one Hindu another Muslim. The book is told majorly through the perspective of the members of the two families. Although my favorite character was Garuda, social science teacher of a high school, he's that teacher being a student of someone like whom I have always yearned for, his view regarding the education system, the socio-political environment of the country were something you can't get easily out of your head. Apart from him there are other characters as well, representing different yeti important roles of the society, unapologetically.
I wonder what is darker? Our history which we admire, which is soaked with blood or our present, suffocates the living light of ourselves and had been started to get written with the ink of blood, years ago?. What's that has affected the communal harmony of this country more? the divisive politics or the religious fanaticism? Or both, as both can't survive without each other(maybe).
There are numerous passages and lines in the book that I have underlined and want to talk about, but if I do that then I don't know how many thousands of words I'll write so keeping those discussions for another day or maybe days. I know this was not a proper review, but reviewing this book like it needs to be reviewed is not my cup of tea, I just hope I have, till now, compelled you to read this book and leave it right here with these lines from PTAR, hoping each word of ‘em to come true.
“People like us are born to move the heaviest mountains. We move them, we always have, for those who sit on peaks and think themselves the lord. Some day, maybe we will learn to move the mountain in such a way that when we let go of our burden, it is standing upside down there and there is nobody sitting on top of our heads.”
January 10, 2021
Do you remember those history and geography classes in school? The ones which seemed to lavish praise as to the diversity and tolerance of India and its people. The ones that never failed to tell us how our country boasts of "Unity in Diversity". Diverse being the keyword; from diverse terrains, to diverse cultures, to diverse languages, to diverse skin tone, to diverse people, to diverse occupations, to diverse climate; Diversity makes up the fabric of our nation; Diversity being our strength. I remember getting goosebumps in class whenever I read about the greatness that was India, not to mention its diversity.
As I grew up, I started to notice that not all was as it was meant to be. We are still a diverse country, true, but maybe not as tolerant as I was taught we were supposed to be. An unease, disillusionment and a sense of disappointment settled like a weight in my chest. Unable to pinpoint the exact moment I began to notice a change, or maybe the change was already in motion but I was too blind to notice?!
Have you noticed a change that seems to be coming, you're not yet sure whether it is for the better or for the worse, but increasingly some intuition inside you is hinting that it might be the latter and you don't want to think it is so. Have you noticed this "othering" that seems to be prevalent nowadays. The people who we once considered our fellow countryfolk, we're now "others" to each other. How and when did this divide happen, or was it always there? So many questions sweeping through my mind, but I'm unable to assuage them.
Prelude to a Riot encompasses this growing tension that we experience, expertly within 13 soliloquies or perspectives, myriad poems, newspaper announcements and history lessons. Such a small book, yet the effect it leaves you with is not small, in fact you can feel the sense of unease grow stronger towards the end..
As I grew up, I started to notice that not all was as it was meant to be. We are still a diverse country, true, but maybe not as tolerant as I was taught we were supposed to be. An unease, disillusionment and a sense of disappointment settled like a weight in my chest. Unable to pinpoint the exact moment I began to notice a change, or maybe the change was already in motion but I was too blind to notice?!
Have you noticed a change that seems to be coming, you're not yet sure whether it is for the better or for the worse, but increasingly some intuition inside you is hinting that it might be the latter and you don't want to think it is so. Have you noticed this "othering" that seems to be prevalent nowadays. The people who we once considered our fellow countryfolk, we're now "others" to each other. How and when did this divide happen, or was it always there? So many questions sweeping through my mind, but I'm unable to assuage them.
Prelude to a Riot encompasses this growing tension that we experience, expertly within 13 soliloquies or perspectives, myriad poems, newspaper announcements and history lessons. Such a small book, yet the effect it leaves you with is not small, in fact you can feel the sense of unease grow stronger towards the end..
December 6, 2019
A fragmented novel as an eerie reflection of today's Indian society. Composed of soliloquys, the book is set in a fictional south Indian town.
Tensions are smearing, the fault lines are cracking, and the whole town is holding on to superficial social etiquette.
From children, young adults and the older members of town, everyone has a voice in the novel. With each a different perspective. The character dada is composed with such sincerity, that it tugged at my heart.
While some continue to believe that nothing big and bad ever comes to pass in their quite corner of the world, some see signs of an impending doom in everything around them.
The restlessness and hopelessness of a well educated youth, the sense of ending and nostalgia in the old, the turmoil of being in the middle of the parent generation, each of it is succulently captured in the book.
The novel reads with ease and a certain sharpness that is hard to miss.
If you like socio-political themes in your novels, then this is your pick!
Tensions are smearing, the fault lines are cracking, and the whole town is holding on to superficial social etiquette.
From children, young adults and the older members of town, everyone has a voice in the novel. With each a different perspective. The character dada is composed with such sincerity, that it tugged at my heart.
While some continue to believe that nothing big and bad ever comes to pass in their quite corner of the world, some see signs of an impending doom in everything around them.
The restlessness and hopelessness of a well educated youth, the sense of ending and nostalgia in the old, the turmoil of being in the middle of the parent generation, each of it is succulently captured in the book.
The novel reads with ease and a certain sharpness that is hard to miss.
If you like socio-political themes in your novels, then this is your pick!
September 27, 2022
Sometimes you pick up a book and find that it mirrors all your thoughts and ideas perfectly. Prelude to a Riot is one such. It is the story of two families, cutting across three generations, trying to find their place in a changing world. For some, the world changes in the way they want it to, others discover new ways of looking at things, and some others wonder how they will fit into the new world that is revealing itself.
The story is told through soliloquies, which helps you get into the thoughts of the character and explore them completely. From their perspective, everything they do is justified, even if you are not sure yourself.
And at the heart of it, there is patriarchy. However strong the women, they are forced to conform in a world that merely tolerates them.
A book I will certainly recommend to anyone who has the empathy to appreciate the different perspectives.
The story is told through soliloquies, which helps you get into the thoughts of the character and explore them completely. From their perspective, everything they do is justified, even if you are not sure yourself.
And at the heart of it, there is patriarchy. However strong the women, they are forced to conform in a world that merely tolerates them.
A book I will certainly recommend to anyone who has the empathy to appreciate the different perspectives.
February 20, 2023
Like many other reviewers have said about this book, it is culturally relevant. Why is it relevant? We, as Indians, in our country, on our tables, on our tongues and in our hearts house a variety that is inconceivable to people from different countries. This variety makes us unique but also divides us in irreconcilable ways. Notions of what makes a certain community ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is carried from generation to generation. Younger generations grapple with creating a more equitable society and placating older generations that refuse to budge on their strongly held biases.
As the title suggests, this is a prelude. No riot takes place in this unnamed South Indian town. Each chapter is a soliloquy of a character. There are poems and articles peppered in between chapters that set the tone of common public sentiments. The characters are people associated with either a Hindu family or a Muslim family in some way. Characters like Devaki, Abu and Garuda worry about the future of the town amidst rising tension and micro aggression. They rebel against norms. Characters like Saju and Bavna seem to have given up on their hopes. Devaki’s brother and Bavna’s husband Vinny is entrenched in his father’s ideas of division and contempt. Vinny and his father’s hypocrisy was almost unbearable. We are introduced to Fareeda and Dada, Abu’s sister and grandfather. Dada has seen it all and chooses to love and forgive instead. He loves his grandchildren, his plantation, and his plants above all. We meet Fareeda’s classmate Yashika who is starting to be influenced by her parents’ anti-Muslim sentiments. We also meet workers on these plantations who have aspirations of their own but are mistreated and underpaid. My favourite character in this mix is Garuda, a drunk teacher in the village, who gave the students the most thought provoking classes about history and the ways in which we repeat it. 'Outside the syllabus' is the way to study social sciences. I couldn't stop thinking about some things that Garuda said in this book.
“I am not here now to help you read between the lines. Please read out of syllabus. A syllabus is ‘set’ for you. You understand? It is ‘set’ by people whose job it is to limit your knowledge. I am against syllabuses.”
“No big colonial sword needs to come down and slash the fabric of the nation. Muscle by muscle, atom by atom, we are being torn from within. We are our own bomb.”
“Why did the white man think he could colonize us? Because we were not united? Bosh! They’ve been parroting this lie for a century. Who is the ‘us’, this ‘we’ that was colonized? Who is the ‘white man’? Has there been any moment in ancient or modern history when ‘we’ were united? Such questions are key to authentic nation building.”
“Dogs. Wolves. Cats. They fight with each other but there is no moral position. No argument about who invaded first, who is more aggressive. They just fight over territory. Territory and mating. But that’s a lesson for Biology class.
In the human species, we need to justify wars over territory. In the name of God, or righteous conduct, or free trade. Kings, elected representatives, armies. Police. Imam. Pundit. Pope. It’s like a chessboard.”
Prelude to a Riot lacks a clear and linear plot. A reader has to use fragments from the soliloquies to make sense of what's transpiring in this town. I, personally, did not mind this. Being taken into the depths of each character gave me numerous rich points of view and a clear picture of the social divides in that town. I could viscerally feel the tension building as I progressed from one character to another. My heart hurts for some characters. I felt everything those characters felt in this short book. I wanted to implore characters like Appa to be less monstrous. At the same time, I was painfully aware of how common such sentiments are in India.
Prelude to a Riot made me rethink my biases. I think that makes this worth reading even though this book isn’t perfect by any means.
As the title suggests, this is a prelude. No riot takes place in this unnamed South Indian town. Each chapter is a soliloquy of a character. There are poems and articles peppered in between chapters that set the tone of common public sentiments. The characters are people associated with either a Hindu family or a Muslim family in some way. Characters like Devaki, Abu and Garuda worry about the future of the town amidst rising tension and micro aggression. They rebel against norms. Characters like Saju and Bavna seem to have given up on their hopes. Devaki’s brother and Bavna’s husband Vinny is entrenched in his father’s ideas of division and contempt. Vinny and his father’s hypocrisy was almost unbearable. We are introduced to Fareeda and Dada, Abu’s sister and grandfather. Dada has seen it all and chooses to love and forgive instead. He loves his grandchildren, his plantation, and his plants above all. We meet Fareeda’s classmate Yashika who is starting to be influenced by her parents’ anti-Muslim sentiments. We also meet workers on these plantations who have aspirations of their own but are mistreated and underpaid. My favourite character in this mix is Garuda, a drunk teacher in the village, who gave the students the most thought provoking classes about history and the ways in which we repeat it. 'Outside the syllabus' is the way to study social sciences. I couldn't stop thinking about some things that Garuda said in this book.
“I am not here now to help you read between the lines. Please read out of syllabus. A syllabus is ‘set’ for you. You understand? It is ‘set’ by people whose job it is to limit your knowledge. I am against syllabuses.”
“No big colonial sword needs to come down and slash the fabric of the nation. Muscle by muscle, atom by atom, we are being torn from within. We are our own bomb.”
“Why did the white man think he could colonize us? Because we were not united? Bosh! They’ve been parroting this lie for a century. Who is the ‘us’, this ‘we’ that was colonized? Who is the ‘white man’? Has there been any moment in ancient or modern history when ‘we’ were united? Such questions are key to authentic nation building.”
“Dogs. Wolves. Cats. They fight with each other but there is no moral position. No argument about who invaded first, who is more aggressive. They just fight over territory. Territory and mating. But that’s a lesson for Biology class.
In the human species, we need to justify wars over territory. In the name of God, or righteous conduct, or free trade. Kings, elected representatives, armies. Police. Imam. Pundit. Pope. It’s like a chessboard.”
Prelude to a Riot lacks a clear and linear plot. A reader has to use fragments from the soliloquies to make sense of what's transpiring in this town. I, personally, did not mind this. Being taken into the depths of each character gave me numerous rich points of view and a clear picture of the social divides in that town. I could viscerally feel the tension building as I progressed from one character to another. My heart hurts for some characters. I felt everything those characters felt in this short book. I wanted to implore characters like Appa to be less monstrous. At the same time, I was painfully aware of how common such sentiments are in India.
Prelude to a Riot made me rethink my biases. I think that makes this worth reading even though this book isn’t perfect by any means.
November 13, 2020
Set in unnamed hilly town in South India ,this story mainly revolves around two family, one hindu and other Muslim but multiple characters are also their to knit the story . Through the soliloquy of each character the story keeps on going and their prejudice,belive , bitter experience and even confusion are expressed through this.
Though Appa, Vinny , Saju even Abu can see "it" coming Fareeda ,the youngest family member can not and Dada, her grandfather still busy in working on his own land. The suppressed tension between " they" and "us" is also rising . On th e other hand Garuda sir, the history teacher, keeps on appearing as the conscience who questions "our" unity , why British colonial preiod even came and so many other things.
Apart from communal discrimation the topic of the plot spread up to the condition of women in our society and economic inquality.
"Prelude to a Riot " by Annie Zaidi is a socio-political book that don't try to force ourselves to see things rather simply showcases the story as it is . And here it makes the story different. There are many books that provide the after math of a riot but ,this one here brings the fragment of a silence before the storm.
Though Appa, Vinny , Saju even Abu can see "it" coming Fareeda ,the youngest family member can not and Dada, her grandfather still busy in working on his own land. The suppressed tension between " they" and "us" is also rising . On th e other hand Garuda sir, the history teacher, keeps on appearing as the conscience who questions "our" unity , why British colonial preiod even came and so many other things.
Apart from communal discrimation the topic of the plot spread up to the condition of women in our society and economic inquality.
"Prelude to a Riot " by Annie Zaidi is a socio-political book that don't try to force ourselves to see things rather simply showcases the story as it is . And here it makes the story different. There are many books that provide the after math of a riot but ,this one here brings the fragment of a silence before the storm.
January 27, 2021
One of the greatest joys fiction is escape. But this one is special because it talk about things I already know- It talks of a small town where religion based issues are brewing.
I couldn’t help but feel the dread inside while reading, thinking of the reality outside the book.
I didn’t think I’ll have the stomach to finish this if it was going to talk about a riot, but this book was really short and the language was really flowing, and I didn’t want to stop. I couldn’t.
The narration is fresh, and many times poetic. The characters are vivid, and we truly love a few of them. It is a great piece of fiction, and I wish it didn’t have so much truth in it!
I couldn’t help but feel the dread inside while reading, thinking of the reality outside the book.
I didn’t think I’ll have the stomach to finish this if it was going to talk about a riot, but this book was really short and the language was really flowing, and I didn’t want to stop. I couldn’t.
The narration is fresh, and many times poetic. The characters are vivid, and we truly love a few of them. It is a great piece of fiction, and I wish it didn’t have so much truth in it!
November 20, 2020
Annie Zaidi's Prelude to a Riot explores multiple socio-political issues of contemporary India and its divisive history through a brilliant narrative style and effective use of poetry.
A must read in the uncertain times we live in.
"No big colonial sword needs to come down and slash the fabric of the nation.Muscle by muscle,atom by atom, we are being torn from within. We are our own bomb."
A must read in the uncertain times we live in.
"No big colonial sword needs to come down and slash the fabric of the nation.Muscle by muscle,atom by atom, we are being torn from within. We are our own bomb."
June 8, 2021
Two mosques in place of one masque or three temples in place of two !!! Does our righteousness ( yes righteousness, not religion) really depend on this number?? Is religion or righteousness (depends on your perception) trapped within four walls?
Instead of getting the answers, this novel raises those questions in my mind.
Yes we may not have been united strongly, so rulers ruled over us and divided us using the most affordable weapon “Religion”
But if we were not united then we would not be entitled to this freedom!! Right ??
Well I have these words to some of the statements written by Annie.
Attempt to force-feed of pork to Muslim student by her classmates, an insult to our so called civilized educated society. Killing of an innocent worker boy in suspect of having affair with high class hindu girl, it's a savage.
These are the truth, facts which couldn't be ignored. But all this is one side of the coin, what about the other side ??
When fictional history teacher Garuda Sir told that history should not have any syllabus, I couldn't agree enough, if you try to bind history in boundary called syllabus, then the whole truth never enlighten.
Facts or history should be learnt from every aspect, from every side.
As Annie highlights the helplessness of particular caste in our society in her writing, she also tenderly depicts the harsh, melancholy phase of women's loneliness.
Thanks to Annie for raising questions in my mind, for making me criticize her agenda of the story, and I am telling you that you might as well criticize this story after reading it. But I believe here is the credit of the creator of Prelude to a Riot, isn't it??
This novel is raw, open to a heart, honest ,simple yet it has a strange intensity which is laudable.
#aleafunturned #bookreview #preludetoariot
Instead of getting the answers, this novel raises those questions in my mind.
Yes we may not have been united strongly, so rulers ruled over us and divided us using the most affordable weapon “Religion”
But if we were not united then we would not be entitled to this freedom!! Right ??
Well I have these words to some of the statements written by Annie.
Attempt to force-feed of pork to Muslim student by her classmates, an insult to our so called civilized educated society. Killing of an innocent worker boy in suspect of having affair with high class hindu girl, it's a savage.
These are the truth, facts which couldn't be ignored. But all this is one side of the coin, what about the other side ??
When fictional history teacher Garuda Sir told that history should not have any syllabus, I couldn't agree enough, if you try to bind history in boundary called syllabus, then the whole truth never enlighten.
Facts or history should be learnt from every aspect, from every side.
As Annie highlights the helplessness of particular caste in our society in her writing, she also tenderly depicts the harsh, melancholy phase of women's loneliness.
Thanks to Annie for raising questions in my mind, for making me criticize her agenda of the story, and I am telling you that you might as well criticize this story after reading it. But I believe here is the credit of the creator of Prelude to a Riot, isn't it??
This novel is raw, open to a heart, honest ,simple yet it has a strange intensity which is laudable.
#aleafunturned #bookreview #preludetoariot
February 26, 2021
"No big colonial sword needs to come down and slash the fabric of the nation. Muscle by muscle, atom by atom, we are being torn from within. We are our own bomb."
For a person who actively takes part in politics, lost years long friendships over ideologies, and occasionaly being called anti-national, this book hit me hard. I don't think there's more accurate portrayal of today's India in writing form anywhere.
Prelude to a Riot by Annie Zaidi is a socio-political commentary through soliloquies, newspaper columns, letters to the editor, and Garuda Sir’s classroom. Set in an unnamed South Indian town, the story is about two families at the centre - one Hindu, the other Muslim, and with the voracious efforts of the "Self Respect" forum, the town is slowly divided into 'us' and 'them'. Fresh tensions arise with the arrival of new workers to the estates. It does not help that the migrant workers have names like Mommad and Majju. To add fuel to fire, there are rumours that “they have come from across the border.” And a teacher who's fired for not sticking to the syllabus and trying to instill in his students a sense of enquiry.
A truly hot-white novel on the current socio-political climate of the country, asking just the right questions, flashing the light exactly at the right spot, leaves behind questions about entitlement, and taking sides. Annie Zaidi hints at an impending explosion and we too feel it coming. Prelude to a Riot is an accurate, fearless and gripping account of the divided and uncertain times we are living in.
For a person who actively takes part in politics, lost years long friendships over ideologies, and occasionaly being called anti-national, this book hit me hard. I don't think there's more accurate portrayal of today's India in writing form anywhere.
Prelude to a Riot by Annie Zaidi is a socio-political commentary through soliloquies, newspaper columns, letters to the editor, and Garuda Sir’s classroom. Set in an unnamed South Indian town, the story is about two families at the centre - one Hindu, the other Muslim, and with the voracious efforts of the "Self Respect" forum, the town is slowly divided into 'us' and 'them'. Fresh tensions arise with the arrival of new workers to the estates. It does not help that the migrant workers have names like Mommad and Majju. To add fuel to fire, there are rumours that “they have come from across the border.” And a teacher who's fired for not sticking to the syllabus and trying to instill in his students a sense of enquiry.
A truly hot-white novel on the current socio-political climate of the country, asking just the right questions, flashing the light exactly at the right spot, leaves behind questions about entitlement, and taking sides. Annie Zaidi hints at an impending explosion and we too feel it coming. Prelude to a Riot is an accurate, fearless and gripping account of the divided and uncertain times we are living in.
February 17, 2021
This is my first time reading Annie Zaidi and I say I'm not disappointed. On the other hand, I'm searching for all her other works now. What a book it is! It is fiction but still doesn't feel like one. The characters, the conversations and thoughts are so raw and real that it feels like that they belong to your life. Such a fearless and bold approach on today's India. It is just of 181 pages but it felt too heavy. It will leave your throat dry and make you think.
Just read it already.
Just read it already.
February 27, 2023
The novel is exactly what the title says it is, it examines the violence that takes place before the actual violence that happens in a riot and how the forces of Caste, Class, Gender and Religious Intolerance cause the violence to happen. The story is set in an unnamed town in Southern India and revolves around two families of different creed. The author intelligently uses a series of soliloquies by different residents of the town to examine the variables that transforms some of them into proponents of violence.
Annie Zaidi earnestly attempts to portray how the coexistence of different communities has become increasingly fragile and tries to capture all the ills that plague our society. She largely succeeds in delivering a fearless and courageous work that acts a cautionary message for the troubled times we live in.
Annie Zaidi earnestly attempts to portray how the coexistence of different communities has become increasingly fragile and tries to capture all the ills that plague our society. She largely succeeds in delivering a fearless and courageous work that acts a cautionary message for the troubled times we live in.
October 25, 2019
Annie Zaidi's novel is a searing look at the changing dynamics of India and what it means to be 'Indian'. As the title suggests the story is about the things which precipitate divisiveness before it explodes into a tragedy.
Set in a peaceful southern town with multiple characters both Hindu and Muslim who tell their tales of discrimination, prejudice and hate in their own soliloquies. It is as much a novel about escalating communal tensions as about the insoluble differences between men and women when confronted with complicated situations in life.
The prose is moody and lyrical and the tension palpable throughout. I cannot reccomend this short but powerful novel enough.Must read.
Set in a peaceful southern town with multiple characters both Hindu and Muslim who tell their tales of discrimination, prejudice and hate in their own soliloquies. It is as much a novel about escalating communal tensions as about the insoluble differences between men and women when confronted with complicated situations in life.
The prose is moody and lyrical and the tension palpable throughout. I cannot reccomend this short but powerful novel enough.Must read.
April 11, 2021
When I started reading the book, I felt we are in R K Narayan territory, but this is a book that captures the anger and anxiety of today’s India, the zeitgeist of the moment. The text runs to just 184 pages, but packs quite a punch. The prose is minimal, understated and Hemingway-esque, never veering to sentimentality, and often reads like reportage. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, it’s a chilling read.
October 1, 2022
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjLR7sPLv...
terrifyingly real. brutally true.
These are the first thoughts that come to mind as I finish this powerful, shattering book. A soon to be modern classic.
Prelude to a Riot is set in a seemingly calm southern town and mostly focuses on two families, one Hindu and one Muslim and the three generations of each.
We have Dada, the ageing grandfather who loves unconditionally and refuses to believe that the town's harmony is at risk, insisting to always see the best in people. His grandchildren, Abu who is rightfully angry and Fareeda, at first unaffected for she is young but there is no escape for her either.
In parallel we have Appa and Devaki, their constant fights and Devaki's inability to fathom over the increasing fanaticism in her family and nothing she says is of any help.
And we have Garuda (one of my favourite characters), the high school social science teacher. He goes beyond the syllabus to make sure his students are aware of the presents sensibilities and aren't just consuming state approved textbook matter.
Each character gets its own soliloquy, it's a new style of writing for me, one that may seem a little broken at times but impactful nonetheless. We see the turmoil inside each character, we see how hatred brews and reaches boiling point, just on the edge and about to spill over.
There's also poetry interspersed throughout, some scathing commentary that really forces you to contemplate. I'm adding one in the pinned comments.
The book constantly highlights the incessant, "us" vs "them." The othering heightens until it threatens to destroy the very fabric of cooperation and harmony in the town. It brings out the stark discrimination on the basis of class, and caste, the patriarchy and gender privilege, the entitled arrogance and the silent helplessness.
I've actually seen the latter first hand and it's something that I absolutely hate, I mean the smirk on their face when they say something condescending, the self- satisfied smile on their face because they know "unka koi kuch bigaad nahi sakta." It is so maddening and terrifying.
This book isn't a fictional story, it's something that you and I can see unfolding in front of our own eyes. The conversations in this book mirror those I have seen in real life, between friends and families and not just strangers far away from me.
It is unsettling to read this because it shows us the truth in the barest, most straightforward way possible, and what that leads to, is a thought too terrifying to be true yet it is. For countless people, it is already a reality that they have to live through, every, single day.
We're all well aware of the religious intolerance and communal violence that endangers the fabric of our country, one found on the values of tolerance and secularism, love and respect.
This book is a reminder, a mirror, a warning.
Annie Zaidi does a powerful and brilliant job in this short but (extremely) impactful story of today's India. A story you need to read.
“Who could I hurt without damning my own soul?
Who in this world is not my own?”
the poem:
𝙎mall change is man
𝙋iddly coin in the new market that even beggars squatting outside the temple reject
𝙄ridescent green gaze — worth what?
𝙉othing!
𝙀lfin air square chin less than nothing!
Laughable, the price of his limbs
𝙀xcept of course kidneys and liver and
𝙎kin for man is a harvest festival
𝙎kin him alive and he's worth the price of his skin
𝘽eneath the rafters of new market establishments men scurry
𝘼s if a man was owed life
𝙎cience makes progress every funding cycle
𝙏hey'll be growing kidneys and retina in a petri dish next
𝘼s if there will be any need of eyes or sex then R
𝙍egard these 2 lack rupees as charity not compensation
𝘿isabuse yourself — the boy was no more than two hands, two legs, a mouth, a belly
𝙎ell his memory and put the money into any bank that does not spit in your face.
terrifyingly real. brutally true.
These are the first thoughts that come to mind as I finish this powerful, shattering book. A soon to be modern classic.
Prelude to a Riot is set in a seemingly calm southern town and mostly focuses on two families, one Hindu and one Muslim and the three generations of each.
We have Dada, the ageing grandfather who loves unconditionally and refuses to believe that the town's harmony is at risk, insisting to always see the best in people. His grandchildren, Abu who is rightfully angry and Fareeda, at first unaffected for she is young but there is no escape for her either.
In parallel we have Appa and Devaki, their constant fights and Devaki's inability to fathom over the increasing fanaticism in her family and nothing she says is of any help.
And we have Garuda (one of my favourite characters), the high school social science teacher. He goes beyond the syllabus to make sure his students are aware of the presents sensibilities and aren't just consuming state approved textbook matter.
Each character gets its own soliloquy, it's a new style of writing for me, one that may seem a little broken at times but impactful nonetheless. We see the turmoil inside each character, we see how hatred brews and reaches boiling point, just on the edge and about to spill over.
There's also poetry interspersed throughout, some scathing commentary that really forces you to contemplate. I'm adding one in the pinned comments.
The book constantly highlights the incessant, "us" vs "them." The othering heightens until it threatens to destroy the very fabric of cooperation and harmony in the town. It brings out the stark discrimination on the basis of class, and caste, the patriarchy and gender privilege, the entitled arrogance and the silent helplessness.
I've actually seen the latter first hand and it's something that I absolutely hate, I mean the smirk on their face when they say something condescending, the self- satisfied smile on their face because they know "unka koi kuch bigaad nahi sakta." It is so maddening and terrifying.
This book isn't a fictional story, it's something that you and I can see unfolding in front of our own eyes. The conversations in this book mirror those I have seen in real life, between friends and families and not just strangers far away from me.
It is unsettling to read this because it shows us the truth in the barest, most straightforward way possible, and what that leads to, is a thought too terrifying to be true yet it is. For countless people, it is already a reality that they have to live through, every, single day.
We're all well aware of the religious intolerance and communal violence that endangers the fabric of our country, one found on the values of tolerance and secularism, love and respect.
This book is a reminder, a mirror, a warning.
Annie Zaidi does a powerful and brilliant job in this short but (extremely) impactful story of today's India. A story you need to read.
“Who could I hurt without damning my own soul?
Who in this world is not my own?”
the poem:
𝙎mall change is man
𝙋iddly coin in the new market that even beggars squatting outside the temple reject
𝙄ridescent green gaze — worth what?
𝙉othing!
𝙀lfin air square chin less than nothing!
Laughable, the price of his limbs
𝙀xcept of course kidneys and liver and
𝙎kin for man is a harvest festival
𝙎kin him alive and he's worth the price of his skin
𝘽eneath the rafters of new market establishments men scurry
𝘼s if a man was owed life
𝙎cience makes progress every funding cycle
𝙏hey'll be growing kidneys and retina in a petri dish next
𝘼s if there will be any need of eyes or sex then R
𝙍egard these 2 lack rupees as charity not compensation
𝘿isabuse yourself — the boy was no more than two hands, two legs, a mouth, a belly
𝙎ell his memory and put the money into any bank that does not spit in your face.
November 7, 2020
Prelude to a Riot was shortlisted for the JCB Prize 2020, which is why I picked it up, so that I could try to predict which of the five would win.
You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh0Mx...
This is a short book, a socio-political commentary about how people change, situations change, and generations of people can show stark differences in thinking. It shows us a mirror and asks us, "Is this how you see yourself?" And is quite literally, the build up to the final eruption of the volcano, the prelude to the riot that you know is coming. Underlying mentions (many times blatant) communal hate and bigotry stare back at you from the pages and it's hard not to cringe but still try to feel it within you. Because what is a little discomfort in the face of what millions are feeling across the country?
You can watch the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh0Mx...
This is a short book, a socio-political commentary about how people change, situations change, and generations of people can show stark differences in thinking. It shows us a mirror and asks us, "Is this how you see yourself?" And is quite literally, the build up to the final eruption of the volcano, the prelude to the riot that you know is coming. Underlying mentions (many times blatant) communal hate and bigotry stare back at you from the pages and it's hard not to cringe but still try to feel it within you. Because what is a little discomfort in the face of what millions are feeling across the country?
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