Prof Dr Shiv Sethi
Book: Alley of Deception
Author: Jiyyad Shahul
Publisher: BFC publications
Pages: 191
Price: Rs.238/
The newly released book “Alley of Deception” by one of the renowned Indian author Jiyyad Shahul has captured the attention of fiction lovers with its deeply gripping narrative. Gao Xingjian rightly remarks that It’s in literature that true life can be found. Under the guise of fiction, the truth can be revealed. In line with Gao Xingjian’s ideas, Jiyyad Shahul’s book exposes the harsh realities of society that fundamentally impair it. As we begin to flip through the pages, we encounter quite horrifying and blood- curdling details about Vishnu Gowda, the kingpin of a mafia gang who brutally eliminates a former gang member accused of betrayal. The way the author sheds lights on this ghastly lynching sends cold shudders deep down in our spines.
The author is pertinently aware of the fact the excess of blood and gore is certainly nauseating to a sensitive nostril. Therefore, he skillfully introduces a twist in the plot that abruptly starts to meander to calmer vistas in order to soften the grimness of the narrative. The story is about four young friends who have graduated from mechanical engineering and are currently looking for jobs.. The author Jiyyad Shahul appears to be an exponent of “Art For Life’s Sake'” school of literature of French philosopher Victor Cousin. For him the chief purpose of Art and Literature is social amelioration. Art that does not serve society and stands for a social cause can be anything but art. Hence the book holds a mirror of and a mirror to society.
The major chunk of society comprise middle class people who have to grapple with their own survival challenges on daily basis. The tale is indeed a true treatment to those youngsters who like a modern day Abhimanyu are caught in their own Chakravyuha( trap). And there is no Lord Krishna as their chariot to guide them through their pitiable predicament.
It is well stated that a story may only have a convincing resonance if it is more closely related to our own experiences. Here, the author deserves a special applause as he immensely succeeds in dwelling upon the different dynamics of common man’s life which indubitably help him forge a close connect with his readers. As we get engrossed in the narrative, we realise that these four young guys around whom the story revolves are men among us. They have a striking and unwavering appeal with readers.
“A writer creates a character as a way to reveal and emphasize consciousness – to extend the pitch of human possibility,” as the novelist Don Delillo so perfectly put it.
Indeed Characterisation is ultimately a depiction of motive. Similarly, the manner in which the author has created a set of convincing characters helps readers understand the motive of the book. All the characters are lucidly depicted and hence stand true to the real spirit of the story.
The depth of imagery in this novel is cavernous that seems haunting at first, but as the reader goes deeper, there is a calmness in the premise.
The plot proceeds discretely at a steady pace giving readers all the information they need along the way and yet the climax promises to deliver a cathartic congruence to the story that many may not expect. Structurally speaking, the novel again fits neatly into the category of contemporary literature because its plot is not presented to us in a straight line. The modern literature which basically begins after 1945, is marked by gaps and fissures. The readers confront many digressions and deviations while the story is narrated to them.
The books is a reminder of the Dark Novels of Charles Dickens with the titles ‘Bleak House’, ‘Hard Times’ and ‘Little Dorrit’ which lay bare the faulty and fractured social structure . Following the similar streak,the author of this book vehemently and vociferously castigates the corrupt political system that is eating into the vitals of our society. . To conclude , written in the simple yet convincing language, the book has created ripples in the corridors of literature.
(The author is an eminent columnist and book reviewer)
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