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The Sound of Water: A Novel
Longlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Prize, a gripping debut novel about an Indian mining disaster as seen from the perspectives of the miners, their families, and the officials charged with rescuing them.
Written by a former director of the Indian Ministry of Coal, and loosely based on the disastrous flood at the Bagdihi colliery in 2001, which trapped and killed dozens of miners, The Sound of Water is written with both an insider’s authority and rare literary style. Its suspenseful narrative is presented from three The old miner struggling to save himself and his coworkers hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth; the company and government officials charged with managing the rescue efforts, but who are seemingly far more concerned with managing their careers; and, finally, the miners’ families, who stand to gain life-changing sums as a consequence of their losses.
A searing fictional exposé of the appalling conditions that Indian miners endure and a moving story of the spiritual strength and conviction that enables one to survive against the odds, The Sound of Water dares to inaugurate “alternate realism,” a fresh genre very different from the soul-baring autobiographies and epic family sagas that have characterized so much of recent Indian fiction.
Written by a former director of the Indian Ministry of Coal, and loosely based on the disastrous flood at the Bagdihi colliery in 2001, which trapped and killed dozens of miners, The Sound of Water is written with both an insider’s authority and rare literary style. Its suspenseful narrative is presented from three The old miner struggling to save himself and his coworkers hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth; the company and government officials charged with managing the rescue efforts, but who are seemingly far more concerned with managing their careers; and, finally, the miners’ families, who stand to gain life-changing sums as a consequence of their losses.
A searing fictional exposé of the appalling conditions that Indian miners endure and a moving story of the spiritual strength and conviction that enables one to survive against the odds, The Sound of Water dares to inaugurate “alternate realism,” a fresh genre very different from the soul-baring autobiographies and epic family sagas that have characterized so much of recent Indian fiction.
229 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 12, 2014
A book that will take you the coal mines of India, A place where death is certain because of some accident. He brilliantly told the truth in the form of fiction.
A boom that's hard to put down. Read this to know the truth about the working conditions of people in indian coal mines, Read this to experience what a miner experiences inside a coal mine... A must read
A boom that's hard to put down. Read this to know the truth about the working conditions of people in indian coal mines, Read this to experience what a miner experiences inside a coal mine... A must read
August 14, 2018
A very dramatic and evocative account of an Indian mining disaster – seen through the eyes of the government officials, the labourers trapped inside the mine, and their families. The writing is unflinchingly brutal as it looks at human nature when it is forced to act under duress, when its staring at a tragedy of horrific proportions.
The characters are strongly drawn out. There is RAIMOTI an old, experienced miner who is almost mystical in his dealings with his family and when surrounded by black water in his final hours. He comes across as both mad and wise. Then there is his niece – the only family member who loves him and who mourns his death. The rest of his family – his younger brother (whom he brought up and got him a job in the mines) and his sister-in-law (brother’s wife) are happy when it is suspected he might have drowned in the mine. All they want now is the compensation that is due to the next of kin.
MADHO is Raimoti’s younger brother. He is besotted by his voluptuous wife Dolly, a nurse who keeps him on a tight leash. Dolly has a tumultuous past. She has been repeatedly seduced by doctors and patients and ever since she found she enjoyed a romp in the bed, she decided to charge for it. She has an illegitimate wastrel of a son and two step daughters from Madho. Her youngest step daughter – TINA is neglected by her father and hated by her step mother. The only person in the family who heeds to her feelings is Raimoti, Tina’s uncle.
Then there is BIBASH MUKHERJEE, the sub-area manager of the mines who hates the monotony, the dreariness and loneliness of his job. He has evolved a cocoon for himself – to which he retires as soon as office hours are over. By drowning his boredom and self loathing (at being stuck at this job), in books, music and alcohol, he is able to escape the petty bureaucratic backbiting and rivalry that occur whenever a senior bureaucrat or minister decides to swoop down and make a show of inspecting the mines. Bibiash is the unlikely hero of the novel as he sacrifices his life to save a worker. But ultimately his sacrifice gets tainted by power politics as the Personnel General Manager PANDEY JI (a spineless coward who freezes at the time of the crisis and shows complete lack of leadership qualities) decides to paint Bibash as the inefficient laggard who is to be blamed for the accident and the deaths in the mine.
The story describes how the miners get trapped in the 3rd level – when the wall separating the mine from an adjacent lake, bursts. The final hours of the trapped workers is almost lyrical in its savagery and hopelessness as the black waters surge in from all sides and swamp the workers.
How the mining community reacts to the disaster – the workers versus the management, the violent rage of the union as they are ready to lynch Pandey ji, the representative of the management, the frantic machinations of the management to shift the blame and absolve themselves of any responsibility, the inane platitudes of the Ministry as no one seems to understand what exactly went wrong and its relief when it is able to shove it all under high powered tripartite investigation committee – are dealt with brutal honesty and a wry humour.
A powerful, incisive commentary on life in the coal mines, where death stares at one's face at all times.
The characters are strongly drawn out. There is RAIMOTI an old, experienced miner who is almost mystical in his dealings with his family and when surrounded by black water in his final hours. He comes across as both mad and wise. Then there is his niece – the only family member who loves him and who mourns his death. The rest of his family – his younger brother (whom he brought up and got him a job in the mines) and his sister-in-law (brother’s wife) are happy when it is suspected he might have drowned in the mine. All they want now is the compensation that is due to the next of kin.
MADHO is Raimoti’s younger brother. He is besotted by his voluptuous wife Dolly, a nurse who keeps him on a tight leash. Dolly has a tumultuous past. She has been repeatedly seduced by doctors and patients and ever since she found she enjoyed a romp in the bed, she decided to charge for it. She has an illegitimate wastrel of a son and two step daughters from Madho. Her youngest step daughter – TINA is neglected by her father and hated by her step mother. The only person in the family who heeds to her feelings is Raimoti, Tina’s uncle.
Then there is BIBASH MUKHERJEE, the sub-area manager of the mines who hates the monotony, the dreariness and loneliness of his job. He has evolved a cocoon for himself – to which he retires as soon as office hours are over. By drowning his boredom and self loathing (at being stuck at this job), in books, music and alcohol, he is able to escape the petty bureaucratic backbiting and rivalry that occur whenever a senior bureaucrat or minister decides to swoop down and make a show of inspecting the mines. Bibiash is the unlikely hero of the novel as he sacrifices his life to save a worker. But ultimately his sacrifice gets tainted by power politics as the Personnel General Manager PANDEY JI (a spineless coward who freezes at the time of the crisis and shows complete lack of leadership qualities) decides to paint Bibash as the inefficient laggard who is to be blamed for the accident and the deaths in the mine.
The story describes how the miners get trapped in the 3rd level – when the wall separating the mine from an adjacent lake, bursts. The final hours of the trapped workers is almost lyrical in its savagery and hopelessness as the black waters surge in from all sides and swamp the workers.
How the mining community reacts to the disaster – the workers versus the management, the violent rage of the union as they are ready to lynch Pandey ji, the representative of the management, the frantic machinations of the management to shift the blame and absolve themselves of any responsibility, the inane platitudes of the Ministry as no one seems to understand what exactly went wrong and its relief when it is able to shove it all under high powered tripartite investigation committee – are dealt with brutal honesty and a wry humour.
A powerful, incisive commentary on life in the coal mines, where death stares at one's face at all times.
January 16, 2019
I liked that the book was somewhat philosophical. The situation going on with the miners was interesting, but what I really liked were the inspiring and thought-provoking portions of the book. I was a little confused/unsure at the end if Raimoti survived or not, but I suppose that was neither here nor there since that wasn't really the point of the story. Overall I liked it; I thought it was different than most books I've read, which I appreciated. There were a couple places that it was a little difficult to follow, especially when it got into some of the technical mining stuff, but all in all a decent book.
July 31, 2017
Wow this book made me hate humanity. Which I'm assuming was the point, so message received.
August 5, 2017
Excellent debut. Greed and corruption are recurring themes throughout the book.
March 15, 2018
it was a good book but it really depressed me at some points. I must say Mr. Sanjay is a very potential writer.
December 31, 2019
Gripping with a dissapointing ending.
March 12, 2021
I frequently read about other cultures, but his book was so different from anything I have ever read.
February 1, 2016
Review; The Sound of Water by Sanjay Bahadur.
For being Sanjay Bahadur first book I feel he did a fabulous job. Well written, captivating and strong. The author unfolds a story about of a small India community of people and a life only coal miners experience down deep under the folds of dirt and rocks through the tunnels of their uncertain fate.
Sanjay Bahadur uses vignettes to weave through the creation of his novel to relate both the characters complicated plot of Indian life as well as the dangers of the government officials of their country. I liked the way he was descriptive and informative. I felt it made the story more intriguing. I believe he can be a promising writer for his readers.
It was a quick read with a lasting impression. I do think he could have added more to the story at the end but it still was a great novel and I highly recommend it.
For being Sanjay Bahadur first book I feel he did a fabulous job. Well written, captivating and strong. The author unfolds a story about of a small India community of people and a life only coal miners experience down deep under the folds of dirt and rocks through the tunnels of their uncertain fate.
Sanjay Bahadur uses vignettes to weave through the creation of his novel to relate both the characters complicated plot of Indian life as well as the dangers of the government officials of their country. I liked the way he was descriptive and informative. I felt it made the story more intriguing. I believe he can be a promising writer for his readers.
It was a quick read with a lasting impression. I do think he could have added more to the story at the end but it still was a great novel and I highly recommend it.
June 28, 2009
Some books are great because they take you to a place you will never go, other books introduce you to people or a life you will never experience. Fewer can do both, but the Sound of Water accomplishes just that.
Small vignettes weave the story through a coal mine accident deep in India. This book is both character study of people from the various, complicated strata of Indian life as well as a warning against materialism and the dangers the "beast" of a bureaucracy. The sections on the actual mining operations are fascinating and manage to keep up interest.
Beautifully written and fraught with philosophy, it is not necessarily an easy read, mostly because its English is Indian. Still, once I picked up the rhythm I breezed through it and it was well worth the effort.
Small vignettes weave the story through a coal mine accident deep in India. This book is both character study of people from the various, complicated strata of Indian life as well as a warning against materialism and the dangers the "beast" of a bureaucracy. The sections on the actual mining operations are fascinating and manage to keep up interest.
Beautifully written and fraught with philosophy, it is not necessarily an easy read, mostly because its English is Indian. Still, once I picked up the rhythm I breezed through it and it was well worth the effort.
July 28, 2010
This morning, I hit the major plot focus, the driver of the novel, the flooding of the mine. While riveting in and of itself, my main focus thus far has been the flow of the language, and the poetic quality thereof. This novel has been a much needed diversion from the murder mysteries ans thrillers I've been reading recently. Too often, thrillers, while they suck the reader into the plot, are boringly written, more function than form. This novel is teeming with beautiful metaphors, and is a blessed retreat.
October 27, 2015
I feel the writing in this book is better than the story as a whole. The author delves deeply into each character, their lives, their pasts, and their view on Life. He shows the differences between the working class and management of a small mining town. The book revolves around "The Beast" each character must face in their lives and wether they choose to face it or submit to it. I really enjoyed reading the book, but feel the overall story had some holes... some missing information. However, I do feel like a lot of those holes are there for the reader's own interpretation.
November 10, 2009
I liked this book more than expected - but I honestly was a litte dissapointed in the ending. It just sort of stops, without any real resolution. I think the author intended it to be this way so you really keep thinking, but I find this all a little frustrating because I like to have all loose ends tied.
It kept me interested, and I liked wondering about the relationships between the charecters that were shadoweded but not really mentioned.
Wasn't amazing - but was good over all.
It kept me interested, and I liked wondering about the relationships between the charecters that were shadoweded but not really mentioned.
Wasn't amazing - but was good over all.
August 13, 2010
This was a very well written book, but I didn't like it at all. I heard more about their dysfunctional sex lives than about the mine. Perhaps that was the point. That the mine is run by empty immoral folks, lacking in character, will, moral fiber, etc. If so, it was very strongly made..
I cannot imagine advising anyone below the age of twenty to read this book, and yet it is highly recommended for all to read in India.
I cannot imagine advising anyone below the age of twenty to read this book, and yet it is highly recommended for all to read in India.
October 4, 2009
The book is about a mining disaster in India. It tells about the mining cave in, through the perspectives of the miner, the company executives and the family members.
I thought the family members were cold and heartless and that really turned me off. The characters were just not likable. However, the storyline was interesting.
I did not understand the ending, even after reading it twice.
I thought the family members were cold and heartless and that really turned me off. The characters were just not likable. However, the storyline was interesting.
I did not understand the ending, even after reading it twice.
February 14, 2010
This book started off really well and then ended poorly. The vague religious visions dragged on and were disjointed. The descriptions of the flood are fascinating. The character development lagged as the book went on. The politics behind the mining industry and authors background were part of the reason I read the book. However, the focus on politics was also part of the downfall of the book.
January 13, 2010
This is fictional story about men in India working far down in the earth extracting coal - their phobias,their sad lives and the disasters that can happen at any time. And in this case after six men parish in an underground flood, the management conjure up stories to tell that will make them sound like heros and try to find a scape goat to blame for anything that an investigator may find.
February 9, 2015
A wonderful story, weaved around the filling of gushing water inside a coal mine. It has everything: story, political and social milieu and a wonderful climax.
Kudos to the Author for writing an amazing tale.
Kudos to the Author for writing an amazing tale.
June 11, 2010
This is a fascinating fictional expose into the horrible conditions for miners in India, but could apply to here as well. You feel like you are really in there.
August 11, 2013
The triplicate viewpoints, with overlap, added much to the very simple plot. Seemed to be trying too hard to hit political and philosophical hot points though.
September 25, 2009
Started off good and then took a turn for the worse.
July 13, 2017
The plot centers on the sudden flooding of an underground coal mine. The protagonist, Raimoti, is an ageing miner, addicted to ganja and hooch. Years of unnatural living, hardship and personal tragedies have put him on the edge of sanity. For him, fear of drowning in a dark, hostile world acquires obsessive proportions and becomes personified as a “Beast”. But he is isolated in his battle against this “Beast”. His fellow miners don’t believe in his vision of doom. Later, when the disaster strikes, they don’t trust in his ability to lead them out of the mine.
Above the surface, the sluggish, inept and apathetic management of the mining company is far removed from the plight of Raimoti and other miners trapped below. The company’s representatives fear a different “Beast” – that of the mob of workers clamouring for action.
And then there is Raimoti’s family, who are no better. They are keen to cut away from his presence, which is only perceived as a burden and irritant by them.
Finally, there is the isolation and abandonment of the minors by the “system”, symbolised by the remote, uninvolved, insensitive bureaucrats who happen to be visiting the area of the mine on the night of the disaster. No one of them really cares. Raimoti’s battle is entirely his own. In the end, he breaks away from it all. That is his conquest over the “Beast”.
Above the surface, the sluggish, inept and apathetic management of the mining company is far removed from the plight of Raimoti and other miners trapped below. The company’s representatives fear a different “Beast” – that of the mob of workers clamouring for action.
And then there is Raimoti’s family, who are no better. They are keen to cut away from his presence, which is only perceived as a burden and irritant by them.
Finally, there is the isolation and abandonment of the minors by the “system”, symbolised by the remote, uninvolved, insensitive bureaucrats who happen to be visiting the area of the mine on the night of the disaster. No one of them really cares. Raimoti’s battle is entirely his own. In the end, he breaks away from it all. That is his conquest over the “Beast”.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews