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The Death Script: Dreams and Delusions in Naxal Country
From 2011 to 2015, Ashutosh Bhardwaj lived in India’s ‘red corridor’, and made several trips thereafter, reporting on the Maoists, on the state’s atrocities, and on lives caught in the crossfire.
In The Death Script, he writes of his time there, of the various men and women he meets from both sides of the conflict, bringing home with astonishing power the human cost of such a battle. Narrated in multiple voices, the book is a creative biography of Dandakaranya that combines the rigour of journalism, the intimacy of a diary, the musings of a travelogue, and the craft of a novel.
Through the prism of the Maoist insurgency, Bhardwaj meditates on larger questions of violence and betrayal, sin and redemption, and what it means to live through and write about such experiences – making The Death Script one of the most significant works of non-fiction to be published in recent times.
In The Death Script, he writes of his time there, of the various men and women he meets from both sides of the conflict, bringing home with astonishing power the human cost of such a battle. Narrated in multiple voices, the book is a creative biography of Dandakaranya that combines the rigour of journalism, the intimacy of a diary, the musings of a travelogue, and the craft of a novel.
Through the prism of the Maoist insurgency, Bhardwaj meditates on larger questions of violence and betrayal, sin and redemption, and what it means to live through and write about such experiences – making The Death Script one of the most significant works of non-fiction to be published in recent times.
- GenresIndiaNonfiction
280 pages, Hardcover
Published July 20, 2020
17 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 19, 2020
"A Kshatriya's promise overruled sane advice. But by then, Sita had already predicted the future of Dandakaranya."
.
The Death Script is a work of non fiction chronicling the lives of the people living in India's "red corridor". The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central and the southern parts of India that experience considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.
.
I loved the writing style of the author. Over various chapters he gives us the perspective of the different lives caught in this crossfire between the Maoists and the State. It is creative and informative, and the best part about the book is that we're not compelled to judge or favor only one side, rather we're given facts and stories from both sides.
.
I wasn't familiar with Naxalites before I read this book and it has led me to read up more on their lives. The author keeps you hooked by writing from a journalist's viewpoint as well as from the viewpoint of a person whose diary musings reflect on his troubled mind with all the deaths around him.
.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in getting familiar with the situation in the Red Corridor of India.
.
Thank you for the review copy @harpercollinsin
.
The Death Script is a work of non fiction chronicling the lives of the people living in India's "red corridor". The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central and the southern parts of India that experience considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.
.
I loved the writing style of the author. Over various chapters he gives us the perspective of the different lives caught in this crossfire between the Maoists and the State. It is creative and informative, and the best part about the book is that we're not compelled to judge or favor only one side, rather we're given facts and stories from both sides.
.
I wasn't familiar with Naxalites before I read this book and it has led me to read up more on their lives. The author keeps you hooked by writing from a journalist's viewpoint as well as from the viewpoint of a person whose diary musings reflect on his troubled mind with all the deaths around him.
.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in getting familiar with the situation in the Red Corridor of India.
.
Thank you for the review copy @harpercollinsin
September 2, 2020
“Bastar is a museum of death.”
Can we start by analyzing how crafty and deeply conveying the title is? “The Death Script” is perhaps a book well beyond the conjectures that death is scripted with, incorporating the causes, prejudices and repercussions that violence gets credited with. This is a piece of prose which speaks of the “dreams and delusions in Naxal country”, and essentially highlights a face of Maoist and Naxalite rebellions that only aa few might be familiar with. Edging forward with his pocket full of anecdotes and experiences that came with reporting at the Bastar corridor for years, journalist Ashutosh Bhardwaj recollects his memories and witnesses to give us a book so raw in the emotions instigated, yet so humane and compassionate.
Bhardwaj sees images and hears whispers he perhaps is not entitled to, and he is made to be part of concealments not so pleasant. He views whatever comes his way in a very objective manner, without censoring the brutality and dimensionality they come with. The result is a book part travelogue and part non-fiction—which vouches to let the audience see the Naxals with their own respective dreams and promises, and with their rebellions and revenge. Concrete evidence cited by him, along with his plethora of vivid perceptions of the news coverages makes the book a hard and steady commemoration of empathy and universalism.
A lot can be spoken of the book. A lot can be thought and contrasted with our pre-conceived set of ideals. “The Death Script” is a silent yet powerful urge to make us glimpse the deep jungles of Dandakaranya with its teeming population of opposing and conflicting parties. Through Death and demise, and through reporting and citation, Bhardwaj has written a book that seems too colourful to be true, yet too monochrome to be celebrated.
Disclaimer: Thanks to HarperCollins India for the review copy.
Can we start by analyzing how crafty and deeply conveying the title is? “The Death Script” is perhaps a book well beyond the conjectures that death is scripted with, incorporating the causes, prejudices and repercussions that violence gets credited with. This is a piece of prose which speaks of the “dreams and delusions in Naxal country”, and essentially highlights a face of Maoist and Naxalite rebellions that only aa few might be familiar with. Edging forward with his pocket full of anecdotes and experiences that came with reporting at the Bastar corridor for years, journalist Ashutosh Bhardwaj recollects his memories and witnesses to give us a book so raw in the emotions instigated, yet so humane and compassionate.
Bhardwaj sees images and hears whispers he perhaps is not entitled to, and he is made to be part of concealments not so pleasant. He views whatever comes his way in a very objective manner, without censoring the brutality and dimensionality they come with. The result is a book part travelogue and part non-fiction—which vouches to let the audience see the Naxals with their own respective dreams and promises, and with their rebellions and revenge. Concrete evidence cited by him, along with his plethora of vivid perceptions of the news coverages makes the book a hard and steady commemoration of empathy and universalism.
A lot can be spoken of the book. A lot can be thought and contrasted with our pre-conceived set of ideals. “The Death Script” is a silent yet powerful urge to make us glimpse the deep jungles of Dandakaranya with its teeming population of opposing and conflicting parties. Through Death and demise, and through reporting and citation, Bhardwaj has written a book that seems too colourful to be true, yet too monochrome to be celebrated.
Disclaimer: Thanks to HarperCollins India for the review copy.
November 30, 2021
But perhaps you are not aware that life is awfully cheap in Bastar. It is not guaranteed by a government document called the Constitution, but hinges on the bullet from a rifle. If it touches the right spot, a single bullet will swiftly make a corpse out of a man. A bullet is never cruel or unjust. The finger that presses the trigger of a rifle is erroneously taken to be merciless. In fact, it is merely exorcising its fears. When a soldier caught in the jungle at night frenetically swirls around his rifle, releasing ten bullets per second and turning eight-, fourteen-, fifteen- and twenty- two-year-olds into corpses, he is merely foreclosing the possibility of becoming a corpse himself. A murder is recorded the moment he pierces the chest of a corpse with a knife and wipes the red beads gleaming on its edge with the dead body's clothes. The difference between the dead and the living is a matter of chance in Bastar. In Bastar the hunt is for the dead, not for the living. My police force does not do it often, this corpse-hunting. But that's a different tale. For later.
Ashutosh Bharadwaj is an award winning Indian journalist and a fiction writer. The love the author has for fiction is immediately known when you read the book because of his melancholic tone when talking about Bastar and the Naxal-affected areas.
The book is more of a travelogue that aims to be the truth-sayer in the red belt of India, written in the form of diary entries (these are actual entries) throughout the author's travels from 2011 to 2019 in the region. He presents an honest picture about the adivasis, naxals, CRPF and the police force that form the grey picture of the entire situation.
The author has also been able to interview surrendered Naxals and the active ones living in the jungle, for he travelled with them for a few weeks in the dense Dandakaranya forest.
I am leaving tomorrow. How can mutton be cooked today? How can they withdraw money from the Party fund in advance? The Maoists hold a quick meeting and decide that they will talk to their bosses about it later, but today they have to give a farewell to their guest. When they gleefully inform me about the farewell feast, however, I disappoint them. I am vegetarian.
They dont believe it. How can anyone live without 'mutton'? How do people live in the city? But a farewell feast is a must, so a cadre suggests jalebis for me. The market is several hours away, but a villager is asked to leave immediately on a bicycle. By the time the jalebis that are already several days old arrive, they have turned dry and yellow. But we all sit in the ground and savour the sweet together. My faith in the world gets reaffirmed.
My experience reading this book was awesome and if you are someone who loves fiction and still transitioning to nonfiction, this is the book to read.
Highly recommend this.
Ashutosh Bharadwaj is an award winning Indian journalist and a fiction writer. The love the author has for fiction is immediately known when you read the book because of his melancholic tone when talking about Bastar and the Naxal-affected areas.
The book is more of a travelogue that aims to be the truth-sayer in the red belt of India, written in the form of diary entries (these are actual entries) throughout the author's travels from 2011 to 2019 in the region. He presents an honest picture about the adivasis, naxals, CRPF and the police force that form the grey picture of the entire situation.
The author has also been able to interview surrendered Naxals and the active ones living in the jungle, for he travelled with them for a few weeks in the dense Dandakaranya forest.
I am leaving tomorrow. How can mutton be cooked today? How can they withdraw money from the Party fund in advance? The Maoists hold a quick meeting and decide that they will talk to their bosses about it later, but today they have to give a farewell to their guest. When they gleefully inform me about the farewell feast, however, I disappoint them. I am vegetarian.
They dont believe it. How can anyone live without 'mutton'? How do people live in the city? But a farewell feast is a must, so a cadre suggests jalebis for me. The market is several hours away, but a villager is asked to leave immediately on a bicycle. By the time the jalebis that are already several days old arrive, they have turned dry and yellow. But we all sit in the ground and savour the sweet together. My faith in the world gets reaffirmed.
My experience reading this book was awesome and if you are someone who loves fiction and still transitioning to nonfiction, this is the book to read.
Highly recommend this.
May 22, 2021
Bastar is a museum of death !!!!
The book provides a close view on the lives of naxalites, role of Indian government, people living in naxal belt of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra & Orissa...The beauty of this book is lying in Author's sincere and unbiased approach blended with a unique writing style. The characters speak for themselves, sometimes even after their death on the circumstances which lead to their perish. This book gives a 360 degree view of Naxal insurgency in India. Though India is highly regarded as the world's biggest Democratic country, the presence of a prolonged Naxal Maoist insurgency for more than 50 decades loudly tells us that there is something seriously wrong with our constitutional organizations ...As per the title, this book also sounds philosophical at some points. And the author has done a great job by blending the non-fiction with fiction type of story telling. It's a worth read and definitely worth of time.....
Insightful. Uncategorical. A glimpse into our exploitative genes through the lens of journalism....Sheer poetry in form of prose - this book actually makes one think!
The book provides a close view on the lives of naxalites, role of Indian government, people living in naxal belt of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra & Orissa...The beauty of this book is lying in Author's sincere and unbiased approach blended with a unique writing style. The characters speak for themselves, sometimes even after their death on the circumstances which lead to their perish. This book gives a 360 degree view of Naxal insurgency in India. Though India is highly regarded as the world's biggest Democratic country, the presence of a prolonged Naxal Maoist insurgency for more than 50 decades loudly tells us that there is something seriously wrong with our constitutional organizations ...As per the title, this book also sounds philosophical at some points. And the author has done a great job by blending the non-fiction with fiction type of story telling. It's a worth read and definitely worth of time.....
Insightful. Uncategorical. A glimpse into our exploitative genes through the lens of journalism....Sheer poetry in form of prose - this book actually makes one think!
December 13, 2020
A Personal Narrative. Hearsay evidence.
Ashutosh, a journalist & a winner of Ramnath Goenka award for Excellence in Journalism and shortlisted for the Reuters Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism - offers a gripping, brutally honest and critical overview of the State and the Insurgents - that happens across the Red Corridor, taking Dandakaranya as ground zero. I picked up this book two months ago, but I finished it by today. A journal that hopefully penned down to know of what happened over the period between 2011 and 2015. Why the Naxal-Maoist march towards the State and the Government? And what the long term consequences it would have on the red corridors? I think this quote would probably be the right answer, as he says. "Whatever the nature of protest unless it is approved by the Constitution or is in the form of a notice by the Human Rights Commission, it leaves no mark on their skin”.
This book derives from the intense fieldwork and through the concise & succinct conversations he had with the people in Dandakaranya. Using hard-hitting nuances, the author spurs the readers to backpedal the political progress & ordeals through the lens of Naxals and Maoist’s; how did the economic & social situations of the affected area twist the lives of people, and the bureaucratic stands by juxtaposing the relevances. Drawing the logic speculations and the struggles of all - will make you a clear picture as to why the long-lasting conflicts rise, maybe?
What I loved the most is the way he wrote the charring account of his experiences - which is both empathetically logic and constitutionally incorrect - as it would enable you to read the contexts in the defunct perspective, at various tenors as his research theoretically speaking. Eventually, you will hear the voices of forests that grow gradually and creep into your mind foibles and thence lead you into inter-disciplinary arguments – of incidents which will churn up fear, betrayal, and the inevitability of deaths.
While he renders the corpse-crowded discoveries & erudition, he also highlights the growing unrest, irony and the impossible of all - cultural codes & language reflection over the affected areas are graphically detailed. You may ask, What’s my take after reading this book? Well! It is formless and quite a difficult one to figure it out. However. At what point would the moral compass reflect the whole truth of the Insurgency and the Politics behind it - revealing the social consequences? - is the only question that arises at the end, yearning a humane solution, and urge you to review the term of JUSTICE.
Ashutosh, a journalist & a winner of Ramnath Goenka award for Excellence in Journalism and shortlisted for the Reuters Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism - offers a gripping, brutally honest and critical overview of the State and the Insurgents - that happens across the Red Corridor, taking Dandakaranya as ground zero. I picked up this book two months ago, but I finished it by today. A journal that hopefully penned down to know of what happened over the period between 2011 and 2015. Why the Naxal-Maoist march towards the State and the Government? And what the long term consequences it would have on the red corridors? I think this quote would probably be the right answer, as he says. "Whatever the nature of protest unless it is approved by the Constitution or is in the form of a notice by the Human Rights Commission, it leaves no mark on their skin”.
This book derives from the intense fieldwork and through the concise & succinct conversations he had with the people in Dandakaranya. Using hard-hitting nuances, the author spurs the readers to backpedal the political progress & ordeals through the lens of Naxals and Maoist’s; how did the economic & social situations of the affected area twist the lives of people, and the bureaucratic stands by juxtaposing the relevances. Drawing the logic speculations and the struggles of all - will make you a clear picture as to why the long-lasting conflicts rise, maybe?
What I loved the most is the way he wrote the charring account of his experiences - which is both empathetically logic and constitutionally incorrect - as it would enable you to read the contexts in the defunct perspective, at various tenors as his research theoretically speaking. Eventually, you will hear the voices of forests that grow gradually and creep into your mind foibles and thence lead you into inter-disciplinary arguments – of incidents which will churn up fear, betrayal, and the inevitability of deaths.
While he renders the corpse-crowded discoveries & erudition, he also highlights the growing unrest, irony and the impossible of all - cultural codes & language reflection over the affected areas are graphically detailed. You may ask, What’s my take after reading this book? Well! It is formless and quite a difficult one to figure it out. However. At what point would the moral compass reflect the whole truth of the Insurgency and the Politics behind it - revealing the social consequences? - is the only question that arises at the end, yearning a humane solution, and urge you to review the term of JUSTICE.
June 4, 2023
The Death Script by Ashutosh Bhardwaj is a thought-provoking and meticulously written book that dwells on the heart of the conflict of Naxalism in India. The book offers insights from both sides i.e. the Maoists and the state, it allows the reader to have a neutral perspective and understand the problem. It also sheds light on the complex socio-political dynamics that perpetuate the cycle of violence.
Ashutosh Bhardwaj is a journalist and this book is his hard work of 5 years in the Naxal-affected regions in India. The writing style is creative and tempting which immerses the reader. He weaves his perspective in the Naxal mold beautifully using his simple and unflinching words.
He humanizes the Naxalite rebels who are usually portrayed as terrorists. He delves deep into their lives and brings out various factors that pushed them to be the rebels. For Maoists, the enemy is CRPF, not the district force; the latter is their people. Violence is just one domain that is over-emphasized ignoring the process which follows an attack in order to awaken the masses and attract the intellectuals. He also highlights different Naxal strategies adopted in different states.
Women are treated as equals in the Maoists group, many women believe that patriarchy ended in Bastar with the entry of Naxal forces. They are free from exploitation but there is a little hint of remaining patriarchal ideas such as meals always served by the female.
He reminds us about the cost of human life in a conflict; how people live in a perpetual state of fear of death begetting them or the family who wipes the dead’s name from the memorial wall lest they will be troubled by being associated with a Naxal member. Even news reports are presented as ‘Naxal-kids met President’ not realizing that the kids live in a Naxal area and are not Naxals.
He brings out the issue of land displacement, near-death experiences, inequality, etc that engulf the villagers, Adivasis, and the Maoists. A lot of Adivasis joined the Maoists to protect their land. He also refers to Mahabharat and Ramayan to explain his point many times. The divorce of the state from the forest is absolute and one of the underlining causes of the rise of Naxalism.
He also brings out the trouble of journaling in such an area where even the death of one cannot be mourned. If you stop to mourn the death of one, you will miss the story in next day’s newspaper. It reduces all human bonds to a piece of mere news. There is a constant fear of death and the author remembers his editor’s word that life over any report.
Even life in the forest is different from the city. While the city ponders on a question, a moment in the forest is enough in itself. Forest is de-attached from the fight for GDP and enjoys the slow passage of time.
‘Bastar is the hunt for the dead, not for the living.’ He emphasizes that the fight is for ‘jal, jungle aur jameen’, it is a battle of pride. This fight between the state and Maoists has led to the birth of a distinct community which is a two-faced serpent, on the side of both stakeholders.
It is, after all, an incessant spell of death.
Ashutosh Bhardwaj is a journalist and this book is his hard work of 5 years in the Naxal-affected regions in India. The writing style is creative and tempting which immerses the reader. He weaves his perspective in the Naxal mold beautifully using his simple and unflinching words.
He humanizes the Naxalite rebels who are usually portrayed as terrorists. He delves deep into their lives and brings out various factors that pushed them to be the rebels. For Maoists, the enemy is CRPF, not the district force; the latter is their people. Violence is just one domain that is over-emphasized ignoring the process which follows an attack in order to awaken the masses and attract the intellectuals. He also highlights different Naxal strategies adopted in different states.
Women are treated as equals in the Maoists group, many women believe that patriarchy ended in Bastar with the entry of Naxal forces. They are free from exploitation but there is a little hint of remaining patriarchal ideas such as meals always served by the female.
He reminds us about the cost of human life in a conflict; how people live in a perpetual state of fear of death begetting them or the family who wipes the dead’s name from the memorial wall lest they will be troubled by being associated with a Naxal member. Even news reports are presented as ‘Naxal-kids met President’ not realizing that the kids live in a Naxal area and are not Naxals.
He brings out the issue of land displacement, near-death experiences, inequality, etc that engulf the villagers, Adivasis, and the Maoists. A lot of Adivasis joined the Maoists to protect their land. He also refers to Mahabharat and Ramayan to explain his point many times. The divorce of the state from the forest is absolute and one of the underlining causes of the rise of Naxalism.
He also brings out the trouble of journaling in such an area where even the death of one cannot be mourned. If you stop to mourn the death of one, you will miss the story in next day’s newspaper. It reduces all human bonds to a piece of mere news. There is a constant fear of death and the author remembers his editor’s word that life over any report.
Even life in the forest is different from the city. While the city ponders on a question, a moment in the forest is enough in itself. Forest is de-attached from the fight for GDP and enjoys the slow passage of time.
‘Bastar is the hunt for the dead, not for the living.’ He emphasizes that the fight is for ‘jal, jungle aur jameen’, it is a battle of pride. This fight between the state and Maoists has led to the birth of a distinct community which is a two-faced serpent, on the side of both stakeholders.
It is, after all, an incessant spell of death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2021
The stories that are published about the Naxalism inflicted areas are usually biased. These stories are either biased towards the government machinery or towards the rebels. Also, such sensitive topics are not even talked about openly. India is going through this conflict for decades now and still there isn't any clear common ground on which both parties, the state and the rebels, can have a proper discussion. At any given point either one of them falls out. However, Bhardwaj's account on Naxalism is little bit different. It doesn't come-up with polarization towards either of the two parties. And, this is the reason that you will find that book has ended in between; it is not complete, yet. This is due to the fact that the struggle is still on and we cannot reserve ourselves to any particular result (if there is one) as it lies in the future.
At times, you will agree and seldom you will disagree to the Bhardwaj's narration. But, in my opinion, this is the closest someone has written about the Naxal Jungle's report without standing on either side. The book is so informative and full of interesting facts that you will find yourself rushing through the pages. This one in particular won't take long for the people who are interested in the Indian Politics which revolves around the "Peoples' rebellion". You will obviously find some quotes which are worthy for all appraises and you will also find the pages where you will feel sad or dejected for the people who are trapped in that Jungle, whether they are Security forces or the rebels.
This one is worth reading and you should go for it if you feel it clicks your conscience in any manner.
I will end this review here with a quote from the book itself.
This hyper-awakening of your senses has given birth to an unutterable fear that seeps through your being.
~ Pg. 241, The Death Script: Dreams and Delusions in Naxal Country
At times, you will agree and seldom you will disagree to the Bhardwaj's narration. But, in my opinion, this is the closest someone has written about the Naxal Jungle's report without standing on either side. The book is so informative and full of interesting facts that you will find yourself rushing through the pages. This one in particular won't take long for the people who are interested in the Indian Politics which revolves around the "Peoples' rebellion". You will obviously find some quotes which are worthy for all appraises and you will also find the pages where you will feel sad or dejected for the people who are trapped in that Jungle, whether they are Security forces or the rebels.
This one is worth reading and you should go for it if you feel it clicks your conscience in any manner.
I will end this review here with a quote from the book itself.
This hyper-awakening of your senses has given birth to an unutterable fear that seeps through your being.
~ Pg. 241, The Death Script: Dreams and Delusions in Naxal Country
October 19, 2020
𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - '𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛 𝗦𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗣𝗧' 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝘂𝘁𝗼𝘀𝗵 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗷
"𝗔 𝗞𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮'𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮."
Not many people know about the Red Corridor region of our country that well and I was one of them until I read this book. The Death Script is a journal of events recorded by the journalist Ashutosh Bhardwaj during his time in the Red Corridor regions. The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central and the southern parts of India that experience Naxalite–Maoist insurgency and the author has narrated the events that he experienced in a very raw way describing it very well and nicely.
"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵."
So, it is a non-fiction book about the lives of people living in the Red Corridor area and the author has given such a detailed story of both the sides of the conflict without taking any sides. The book provides some very interesting facts and stories about the deep jungles of Dandakaranya and the Naxalites which we have never heard or read before and will help you rethink and reassess the entire situation with a new perception.
“𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵.”
The book is full of emotions, and as a reader, you can feel the pain and the terror the people go through every day of their lives. The author has not censored any brutality and portrayed the correct picture in front of the readers. Moreover, the author has used his journalist skills quite well in describing the events which make the book very interesting and indulging.
I will recommend this book to everyone who would like to know more about the Red Corridor region of our nation.
RATING: 4/5
"𝗔 𝗞𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝘆𝗮'𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗮."
Not many people know about the Red Corridor region of our country that well and I was one of them until I read this book. The Death Script is a journal of events recorded by the journalist Ashutosh Bhardwaj during his time in the Red Corridor regions. The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central and the southern parts of India that experience Naxalite–Maoist insurgency and the author has narrated the events that he experienced in a very raw way describing it very well and nicely.
"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘇𝘇𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵."
So, it is a non-fiction book about the lives of people living in the Red Corridor area and the author has given such a detailed story of both the sides of the conflict without taking any sides. The book provides some very interesting facts and stories about the deep jungles of Dandakaranya and the Naxalites which we have never heard or read before and will help you rethink and reassess the entire situation with a new perception.
“𝗕𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵.”
The book is full of emotions, and as a reader, you can feel the pain and the terror the people go through every day of their lives. The author has not censored any brutality and portrayed the correct picture in front of the readers. Moreover, the author has used his journalist skills quite well in describing the events which make the book very interesting and indulging.
I will recommend this book to everyone who would like to know more about the Red Corridor region of our nation.
RATING: 4/5
July 12, 2021
This book would provide the readers with a bird-eye view of the red corridor. I live in a state where we have also experienced Naxal attacks and faced issues with Naxal activities. The last activity I recall fresh is when they derailed Gyaneshwari express near to Bengal border. I had to go for my exams, and the Naxals blew off the rail tracks. I had witnessed the rail tracks near Jhargram (West Bengal) were covered in bleaching powder to cover the smell of corpses. The situation of journalists is quite different from the ordinary man's problem. They put their lives at risk for their jobs. Ashutosh Bhardwaj reports stories while he continued living in the red corridor covering stories amidst bullet fires and witnessing the death from close. The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central, and southern parts of India that experiences a considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.
He mentioned, "In Bastar, the hunt is for the dead, not for the living." Any journalist who reported from Bastar would know the statistics of jawans dying in the ambush with Naxals. The author has described the lives of Maoists - he has drawn perspectives for readers providing detailed versions of crossfire between the Maoists and the State. The writing style has been commendable in the book. I have read few other books on Maoists, but I would like to rate this book on top of the stack. There are limited books that people read on Naxals. I would recommend this book to everyone who is trying the non-fiction genre. I haven't provided any names of Naxal leaders in the review; since readers won't be familiar with those names. I would recommend grabbing this book and read about Naxal operations.
He mentioned, "In Bastar, the hunt is for the dead, not for the living." Any journalist who reported from Bastar would know the statistics of jawans dying in the ambush with Naxals. The author has described the lives of Maoists - he has drawn perspectives for readers providing detailed versions of crossfire between the Maoists and the State. The writing style has been commendable in the book. I have read few other books on Maoists, but I would like to rate this book on top of the stack. There are limited books that people read on Naxals. I would recommend this book to everyone who is trying the non-fiction genre. I haven't provided any names of Naxal leaders in the review; since readers won't be familiar with those names. I would recommend grabbing this book and read about Naxal operations.
February 10, 2022
This book, which is a work of non-fiction is very uniquely written. The reader can tell that the author is very well read when it comes to fiction, his writing style reflects that.
The author, who is at times the narrator is also a character in the story at times. In a way, the author reveals a lit bit about himself in the book. I imagine him to be a sensitive, contemplative kind of character. Only such a person, who feeds his intellect with books and movies, can keep an open mind so vital to tell a story such as this.
It is not a conventional history of the Naxalite movement in India, even though one does get an idea of it. One thing that remains consistent throughout is the author's empathy towards the various characters he has met through eight years of reporting in the forests of Dandakaranya. There's the adivasis, the Maoists, the police informers, the police officers, the CRPF personnel, the government, and the journalists or rather 'stringers'.
There is no neat conclusion to the Naxalite story. But after reading it one can understand why a person becomes a Maoist. For 'jal, jungle aur jameen'.
The author, who is at times the narrator is also a character in the story at times. In a way, the author reveals a lit bit about himself in the book. I imagine him to be a sensitive, contemplative kind of character. Only such a person, who feeds his intellect with books and movies, can keep an open mind so vital to tell a story such as this.
It is not a conventional history of the Naxalite movement in India, even though one does get an idea of it. One thing that remains consistent throughout is the author's empathy towards the various characters he has met through eight years of reporting in the forests of Dandakaranya. There's the adivasis, the Maoists, the police informers, the police officers, the CRPF personnel, the government, and the journalists or rather 'stringers'.
There is no neat conclusion to the Naxalite story. But after reading it one can understand why a person becomes a Maoist. For 'jal, jungle aur jameen'.
September 14, 2020
I judge how good a book is based on how disoriented I am with my physical surroundings after closing it.
And, to be honest, I WAS SHOOK.
To do one’s job is one thing but falling in love with it is another. Writer’s love for Bastar & its people- also for his job as a journalist -where he doesn’t settle for anything less than perfect- are so visible with every single page!
The interruptions because of the philosophical interludes and references, like these:
‘Bastar is a museum of death.’
‘The forest a leaping tiger, the city a crawling earthworm.’
‘The verb ‘to return’ turns into ashes.’
‘I won’t let my brother’s death die,’
Beautifully insightful, providin glimpse into our exploitative genes through the lens of journalism.
Every part of this book speaks volumes about hardwork and perseverance put in by him to ensure that nothing in this book is less than extraordinary.
The sensitivity & thoughtfulness that writer has displayed while describing every story are incredible & inspirational.
And, to be honest, I WAS SHOOK.
To do one’s job is one thing but falling in love with it is another. Writer’s love for Bastar & its people- also for his job as a journalist -where he doesn’t settle for anything less than perfect- are so visible with every single page!
The interruptions because of the philosophical interludes and references, like these:
‘Bastar is a museum of death.’
‘The forest a leaping tiger, the city a crawling earthworm.’
‘The verb ‘to return’ turns into ashes.’
‘I won’t let my brother’s death die,’
Beautifully insightful, providin glimpse into our exploitative genes through the lens of journalism.
Every part of this book speaks volumes about hardwork and perseverance put in by him to ensure that nothing in this book is less than extraordinary.
The sensitivity & thoughtfulness that writer has displayed while describing every story are incredible & inspirational.
September 14, 2020
WHY SHOULD YOU READ THIS BOOK?
Because, Bhardwaj had been both empathetic in his approach and meticulous while documenting. The reason I would urge you to read this book is for you to rethink and re-acess the entire situation. The time has come when you are needed to look through this searing account of uncertainty and pain and gruesome death and understand its ultimate outcome, understand its sheer futility. As Mrinal Pande said, this book would help you rethink crime and punishment.
A troubling account of unnerving truth and first hand experience, that should be essentially read by one and all.
Wish you all a Happy Reading!
Because, Bhardwaj had been both empathetic in his approach and meticulous while documenting. The reason I would urge you to read this book is for you to rethink and re-acess the entire situation. The time has come when you are needed to look through this searing account of uncertainty and pain and gruesome death and understand its ultimate outcome, understand its sheer futility. As Mrinal Pande said, this book would help you rethink crime and punishment.
A troubling account of unnerving truth and first hand experience, that should be essentially read by one and all.
Wish you all a Happy Reading!
April 16, 2022
Ashutosh had written this comprehensive memoir from his days as a reporter in Chhattisgarh. The book is intense, honest and thoroughly engaging. It is rich with anecdotes, first hand encounters with Maoists in the deep jungles of Bastar. He also reflects deeply on the war, its impact on the society, the psyche of Maoists - both who are still in jungle and those who have surrendered. The book is full of heart touching stories. It makes you rethink your common understanding of the Maoist insurgency in India, the question if the Adivasis, the question of the life in forest versus "development", the state and its relationship with its citizens. Highly recommended.
October 13, 2022
Some books should be read slowly to devour them properly. You read fast, and you get devoured by them instead. They suffocate your throat, gripping it through knuckles, leaving you grasping for breath. The Death Script by Ashutosh Bhardwaj is one of the books you want to read slowly. You want to paint all the characters in your mind, acknowledge the empathy the author packs in each of the characters, and ponder on the infinite questions the book greets you with. Glad I picked it up!
August 30, 2020
Remarkable! Full of anecdotes. A great non-fiction book on Naxalism or Maoist Insurgency in India. 05 stars for the work. It has the conflicts, story, insights, footnotes and apart from all, the best part of the book is that it nowhere leads the reader to any conclusion or there is no judgment or inclination in favour of anyone, but rather it is a work of hard evidence & personal experience.
September 23, 2021
‘The death script’ is beautifully narrated in multiple voices. Is one of brave enterprise by Ashutosh Bhardwaj. There are Innumerable anecdotes which will force you to think about our society and forest dwellers. I am eulogising because the way Ashutosh has written is commendable.
Everyone must read it…
Thanks for this book 📖🙏🏻
Everyone must read it…
Thanks for this book 📖🙏🏻
September 13, 2020
Good book to know about naxalism.
November 7, 2022
Good book but sketchy
September 1, 2020
Profoundly introspective
The beauty of this book is lying in Author's sincere and unbiased approach blended with a unique writing style. The characters speak for themselves, sometimes even after their death on the circumstances which lead to their perish. This book gives a 360 Degree view of Naxal insurgency in India. Though India is highly regarded as World's biggest Democratic country, the presence of a prolonged Naxal Maoist insurgency for more than 50 decades loudly tells us that there is something seriously wrong with our constitutional organizations. If a common man can get justice through our law & order, Justice systems he will never knock the doors of corrupted politicians and their well breaded gangsters. Similarly, when a tribal's basic life resources are gulped by greedy capitalists and supportive politicians in the name of development, then it is obvious that he will approach a Naxal Maoist rather than police. It is high time that our politicians need to relook this problem in a wholistic manner. The author explained the perils of handling this insurgency in military retaliation through various real life characters representing Adivasi, Police, CRPF,Maoistl, Surrendered Naxal etc. The fatal consequences of mishandling the insurgency is way too much. Many lives lost across various walks of society. The democratic institutions need to be introspective in determining how effective they are in creating a Ramarajya where everyone is equal. As per the title, this book also sounds philosophical at some points. And the author has done a great job by blending the non-fiction with fiction type of story telling. It's a worth read and definitely worthy of time....I congratulate the author and sincerely wish him to keep writing brilliantly like this and churn out more and more books....
The beauty of this book is lying in Author's sincere and unbiased approach blended with a unique writing style. The characters speak for themselves, sometimes even after their death on the circumstances which lead to their perish. This book gives a 360 Degree view of Naxal insurgency in India. Though India is highly regarded as World's biggest Democratic country, the presence of a prolonged Naxal Maoist insurgency for more than 50 decades loudly tells us that there is something seriously wrong with our constitutional organizations. If a common man can get justice through our law & order, Justice systems he will never knock the doors of corrupted politicians and their well breaded gangsters. Similarly, when a tribal's basic life resources are gulped by greedy capitalists and supportive politicians in the name of development, then it is obvious that he will approach a Naxal Maoist rather than police. It is high time that our politicians need to relook this problem in a wholistic manner. The author explained the perils of handling this insurgency in military retaliation through various real life characters representing Adivasi, Police, CRPF,Maoistl, Surrendered Naxal etc. The fatal consequences of mishandling the insurgency is way too much. Many lives lost across various walks of society. The democratic institutions need to be introspective in determining how effective they are in creating a Ramarajya where everyone is equal. As per the title, this book also sounds philosophical at some points. And the author has done a great job by blending the non-fiction with fiction type of story telling. It's a worth read and definitely worthy of time....I congratulate the author and sincerely wish him to keep writing brilliantly like this and churn out more and more books....
January 4, 2021
Great book! Recommended. It is insightful, well written and provides a great understanding of the subject.
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