Dear Friends,
I just want to share an exciting and proud moment with my colleagues. My debut literary fiction 'Rainbow at Midnight' has been launched a few days back and is available freely in both forms, paperback and digital formats at the following outlets online:
In India.
1. Notion Press- notionpress.com - both digital and paperback. https://notionpress.com/read/rainbow-at-midnight...
2. Amazon(India)- amazon.com In- both digital and paperback. http://amazon.in/d/5KtDiUP
3.Flipkart- flipkart.com- paperback only. -in process
4.Google play- googleplay.com- digital only. https;//play.google.com/.../Brijender_Mehta_at_Midnig...
5. Amazon-kindle- download kindle app. both digital and paperback. https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-at-Midnight-Brij.../.../BO7KW72JWD
6. Amazon (International)- amazon.com digital only. -in process
7. KOBO- kobo.com digital only. https://www.kobo.com/in/en/eBook/rainbow-at-midnight-1
8. iBooks. apple.com. digital only http://tunes.apple.com/us/book/id1444614314
9Infibeam- ifibeam.com- digital only -in process
Total readable pages of the text are 532. The cost of the paperback version is kept at the lowest minimum of INR 610 only, as permissible by the publisher. While the digital format will cost INR 103 only ( costing less than a cup of coffee). It is purposely kept low so that the maximum number of readers can enjoy a quality product, without feeling the pinch.
A humble request to my readers; please give your unbiased review of the fiction. I don't mind facing the brickbats.
The story of the fiction revolves around three generations of the family of a feudal landlord settled in a village on the Indo-Nepal international border from mid-forties and lasting up to mid-nineties. The book is divided into three main parts; each represented by one generation consecutively. He is awarded heftily by the British Indian Government with an honorary citation of 'Rai-Bahadur' and large tracts of forest land adjoining his own land, in lieu of his services provided to the British Indian government in their efforts to fight the 2nd World War.
The freedom of India gives him a big jolt as he thinks it to be too early and too sudden. He is regarded as a pariah by the new rulers and former freedom fighters. They look down towards him with suspicion and disdain due to his past affiliations. He is very keen to establish some sort of rapport with the ruling class and is in search of some opportunity. Suddenly, he gets a God-send largesse to rehabilitate him and takes full advantage of it. He enters politics, joins the ruling party and hoodwinking not only the people but their leaders as well and becomes an MLA in the State Legislature and manages to become minister too in the cabinet. This part deals with his nefarious activities and massive corruption. In the end, when he is cornered, he exacts a sweet revenge from his detractors.
The second generation is represented by his qualified agriculturist son who takes on the reins of the estate after his father enters politics. He brings about a lot of improvement in administration and financial health of the estate. In a bid to become rich overnight, he starts manufacturing, distribution, and smuggling of drugs clandestinely. This section also exposes his ruthless nature and his indulgence in class and caste wars taking place at that time in Bihar.
The third part is represented by the grandson of the protagonist, a pampered and indolent child studying in a prestigious private school in south Delhi staying in the hostel. He is a born artist, an excellent chess-player and a popular student of the school. Unfortunately, he falls prey to homosexuality and drug misuse leading later on to the HIV infection, followed ultimately by full-blown AIDS. It happened at a time when no diagnostic tests or treatment of AIDS was available in India. This part deals with his struggle of survival from this disease. His prodigal artistic achievements are also discussed in this chapter.
In addition, there are three travelogues to Nepal, Bangkok, Pattaya, and Singapore. The trips to Varanasi, the spiritual Capital of India to Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta,
and the Buddhist circle are also described in details.