Page 113 - EW JAN 2022

Books

cultural texts and histories European elites conceptu-
of the Indian subcontinent alised Planet Earth as an
which a century earlier inert, lifeless landmass to CLUB YOU TO DEATH
produced 20 percent of be abused and exploited at Anuja Chauhan
global GDP. will by epicurean Western, HARPER COLLINS INDIA
Official brutalisation of and latterly third world Rs.399
third world people which elites. Deforestation, Pages 432
gave full sanction to often dammed rivers, industrial
low-class colonial settlers agriculture and extractive
to lord it over indigenous industries to scoop metals,
populations also con- coal and crude oil from
ferred upon white settler its innards, have dam- who will protect Delhi A novel set around a
minorities the right to aged fragile ecosystems from falling at the hands murder perpetrated
impoverish, indenture and and aroused the wrath of of what they term to be the in an upscale club
if necessary to eradicate the Earth’s non-human “ills of modernity”. whose members are
native populations for beings and of the all- The Club has an intri- determined to save
business purposes. The giving Mother Earth, aka cate system of rules set in it from the “ills of
most flagrant example of Gaia, a generous sentient an even more intricately modernity”
this amoral policy detailed life form. Pushed beyond mapped area populated by
in extenso was in America, endurance by continuous members who subscribe
where European colonis- exploitation and abuse, to the power and luxury the Zumba class, they find
ers systematically deci- Gaia has reacted with fury that comes with a mem- to their great astonish-
mated indigenous Indian unleashing a barrage of bership card. As the novel ment, that their handsome
tribes not only through floods, famines and pan- progresses, however, one trainer is dead, crushed by
direct violence but also demics upon ingrate homo realises that the map- the very gym equipment
by demolishing their food sapiens. ping of the Club is more which gave him access to
supplies. This brilliant book about cordoning off people the otherwise off-limits
Apart from genocide, traces a clear linear cause- into clean-cut divisions club.
European settlers also and-effect connection of members and non- Enter ACP Bhavani who
practiced ‘omnicide’, between greedy European members and less about lives by an entirely differ-
slaughtering over 100 colonialism, genocide of the actual place which the ent set of rules — slow,
million buffalo (venerated numerous indigenous Club inhabits. almost lethargic in his
as a sacred protein source people, the rise of unbri- There is trouble brew- actions but also alert and
by indigenes), clearing dled extractive capitalism ing from the first mo- observant. If the novel is
vast forests, introduc- and climate change. It’s a ment when the reader is amusingly Zoya Akhtar’s
ing European industrial must-read for all engaged invited to the Club. There Dil Dhadakne Do meets
agriculture and livestock in the losing battle to save are beautiful, compe- Agatha Christie, then
farming, while completely homo sapiens from extinc- tent women, suspicious Bhavani is the desi answer
destroying the lifestyles tion. husbands, silent almost to Poirot.
and culture of native Indi- DILIP THAKORE invisible but watchful staff, Yet, Chauhan manages
ans. The nomadic farming bored, adventurous young- to create a detective who
soil to regenerate was dis- Witty murder sters, and even the odd while paying homage to
they practiced that allowed
rebel who wants to escape
“the little grey cells” of
missed as savage and their from the suffocating time- Poirot, is entirely novel
veneration of the gifts of mystery honoured, family-bound and unique. Impassive,
nature — rivers, forests, club membership. Regard- seemingly agreeing with
mountains — classified as NUJA CHAU- less, the club members all everyone, Bhavani is able
heathen shamanism. HAN’S new novel love rumour and gossip as to cleverly co-opt club
As Ghosh extensively Ais set around a much as they love keeping members as friends and
explains, now with ex- seemingly simple murder their own secrets close to also, softly but certainly,
treme climate variations perpetrated in the Delhi themselves. But people make them spill their
about to overwhelm Planet Turf Club, a space for a notice. And there are grave secrets. With sharpness
Earth, it’s clear native privileged set who believe consequences. of wit and intelligence,
Americans and third that they are the glamour- On a typical morning, Bhavani understands the
world savages were right. ous last standing people when the ladies walk to power play behind the

112 EDUCATIONWORLD JANUARY 2022