Known Turf: Bantering with Bandits and Other True Tales

by Annie Zaidi

Known Turf is a collection of essays that slides between genres, moving from reportage to travel to memoir and back. The author recounts her experiences as a reporter covering stories as diverse as the decline of the dacoit in Chambal, hunger, female foeticide, and the seeming resurgence of Sufism in Punjab. She goes on to explore starvation, particularly amongst a primitive tribal community in Madhya Pradesh and weavers in Uttar Pradesh, and the ugly failures that permit such extremes of hunger in a nation that is more than able to feed itself. The discovery of desperate poverty in Punjab comes pegged to an explosive caste dynamic that has caused much religious controversy in recent times. The book is unflinching as it makes the connections between economic, crippling social disempowerment and the moral pressures that make for a society where millions of girls are killed at, or before, birth. However it is the stories of humble folk tortured by hunger, discriminated against for reasons of caste, or gender that linger.

Genres: Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Annie 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.

Reviews

[TheQuirkyManifesto · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Known Turf chronicles the journalistic adventures/ misadventures of the author. She touches upon the myriad axes of oppression in the country---- class, caste, religion and gender. Despite most of the issues covered were commonplace, she was able to introduce some nuances (and some humour) into them, especially the chapters about her encounters with the infamous Chambal dacoits, malnutrition, the Punjab migration saga and the Deras. But it was her self-critical reflections on her handling of reporting assignments and Blank Noise project activism which stood out. By admitting her fears, insecurities and by revealing her own personal evolution, Zaidi makes the book relatable for her readers. The pace does slacken at times, but all in all it is a pleasant read.

[Ashwani Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fine book indeed...annie zaidi quite effectively brings out various problems which are prevailing in india from corruption to poverty, from atrocities on women to the plight of dacoits in chambal etcetra. Some of the facts will really make you sit n think about whether india is a democratic nation where evryone has equal say or not?.....Annie zaidi presents a nice reportage about caste, gender, hunger, poverty, banditry...it's both surprising and shocking...gr8 read...

[Lubna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A first hand report of the real India. It covers a wide array of journeys and emotions. I agree with some observations, disagree with some, but it is worth picking up to gain insights into the complexities that make India.

[Dariko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the last paragraph of the book

[Prathap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in simple conversational style yet profound in its ideas, Known Turf is relevant now as it was about ten years ago when it came out. Deriving from her personal reporting experiences in India's hinterlands, Zaidi adds another layer of insights on issues she witnessed during her journalism years. The topics range from issues about women's place in the Indian society, sufism, politics, films, patriarchy and such. Brimming with sharp ideas and peppered with humor, the book serves as a veritable cultural commentary and Zaidi's realistic take on what it is to be a woman (with an opinion) in India.

[Prachi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the experience of the readers with the book is bound to be subjective. It offers insights about issues that reader can decide how much she has to latch on to. From chambal dacoits to Punjab Dalits, the book covers notions of casteism, communalism, patriarchy, poverty on which the author doesn't preach. But, she systematically puts her opinions with facts and data. Facts and data generally are seen to make content sans emotions, but here she puts emotions, humor right in place with rational thoughts.

[Aniket Patil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the reporting from this journalist. may it be columns in the newspaper or the experiences shared in this book and issues highlighted under the topics.

[Dhruv Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, a good collection of essays on different lives and changing times

[Charanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why i loved Known Turf. A review, a statement.

India is no more an underdeveloped nation. No. It is rising up the highest economic echelons and competing in a world as a torch bearer of the future. As we shine the light on the many successes that we have lapped up in the last decade, we fail to pay enough consideration to the internal failures, many of which do not make it to the news as they are not titillating enough to hold a nation's attention. Some that do are soon torn up and forgotten as headlines that are past their age.

India is still a largely 'unequally developed' nation. The diversity that lends India her colour is also the cause of her shortcomings. It is this mismatch of reality that Annie Zaidi points out in her book Known Turf.

Sceptical as I am of books by contemporary Indian writers ( where words such as fuck, OMG and dialogues like - "like, you know", "like, of course" are callously alluded to literature) and bloggers turned authors, this book caught my fancy! Blame it on her bollywood-spersed chapters or a whole chapter dedicated to chai.

A mix of reportage and Annie Zaidi's story behind the articles filed for her magazine, the book is beautifully nuanced. From lighter topics of chai to going into the belly of India to understand the Chambal daakus; from stravation deaths to fractured sufism - the book unfolds in mirthy dialogues and hard stated statistics with a personal touch.

I am currently in The Netherlands, studying. I miss home. Home, however has taken on a whole new meaning. Home is no more, my apartment back in Delhi. Home is no more Delhi. Home is India. I wax eloquent about home with memories, enchanting. The idea of home that I have built up in my head has however, made me shut the doors to many rooms in it. Cobwebbed, they lie hidden somewhere in my conscience. Known Turf has forced me to find the key, wipe the dirt off the doors and take a peek into these rooms, curiously albeit with a bit of fear on what I may stumble upon. I have switched on the lights now in these rooms and hopefully will get to do something to change the way they look.

More about Annie Zaidi @ her blog - http://www.anniezaidi.com/

[Ankit Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like having a conversation with the author face to face. Ms. Zaidi uses research, experience and her own analysis to give sometimes hard hitting and sometimes heartfelt commentary on wide ranging subjects relevant to today's India. She is equally at ease when talking about matters affecting tribes in Madhya Pradesh and about aspirational modern urban women. The chapters on religion and women's rights were most earnestly written and best ones for me personally.

There are parts where Ms. Zaidi writes about no social issue in particular but just about her childhood experiences and what they mean to her today. Her discussion of what belonging to a place means to her and how her family shaped her views on religion give the readers an opportunity to know the author in a more personal way. At the end you establish a connect with the author that you wouldn't with most other authors. Whether that's a good thing or not would, I suspect, depend on how much you agree with Ms. Zaidi's views.

[Aditi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the best books I've read this year! As a reporter, Annie Zaidi goes to all sorts of places in the other India, and interviews some unforgettable characters who are struggling to live - those affected by caste politics and discrimination, tribes whose children are dying of the worst sorts of malnutrition possible. She also memorably interviews the notorious daakus of the Chambal Valley, which I think will be a classic piece of writing in the years to come.

[Vaarun Dhingra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Annie Zaidi takes you on a journey across India like never before...from the dacoits to the malnutrition problem in madhya pradesh to the dalit situation in punjab and finally the way women are treated in India. A very engrossing read. Brilliant stuff absolutely loved it.

[Radharani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book very much because of its insight into the lives of simple people who are discriminated against and who suffer from India's social problems. As a journalist, Ms Zaidi has first hand experiences with such problems and she was able to portray them in a heartfelt way.

[Chetna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great 1/2/3 liners in the book. with a subtle touch.

[Suezelle D'Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good read. Very well-written. Don't miss chapter 3. Loved it! :)

[Esther Cabral · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming compilation of stories from across India. Gives an insight into the rural part of this country, the part more urbanites don't know and fail to comprehend. A must read.

[Akshra Ramky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. The suthor captures the essence of India beautifully. She took me on an emotiona ride. The book was a 'hit on the face'. Stark facts, funny episodes, this book has everything.

[Harshit Nayyar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one takes you through the unknown turf. Written as if someone is talking to you, this one will leave you more aware about the topics which you would have heard but not followed.