Synopsis of my recently published fiction
Rainbow at Midnight
It is a symbolic title of the fiction, ‘Rainbow at Midnight”. The story spans around three generations of a feudal landlord, Bindeshwari Prasad Singh, settled on the Indo-Nepal international border near the city of Raxaul, a part of East Champaran Division of Bihar. The story begins in the mid-forties and lasts up to mid-nineties.
The book is roughly divided into three sections, each section dealing with one generation.
This is the story of broken rainbow promises envisaged by our first Prime Minister in the constituent assembly, on the night of 14th-15th August of 1947 given in his famous speech of ‘Tryst with Destiny’ on the eve of attaining freedom from the British rule.
The first section deals with the protagonist, bestowed with a title of Rai Bahadur with the largesse of vast tracts of forestland by the British masters in return for his help to the British Army towards war efforts during 2nd, War. He does not have any contact with the freedom fighters striving for the freedom of India for the last more than sixty years. The Indian freedom gives him a big jolt as he is avoided and looked down upon by the new masters and former freedom fighters. All the time he frustratingly busy in finding some way to gain the patronage of the new rulers. Soon enough, he comes across a God-send Opportunity, which he grabs with both hands to get rehabilitated. After it, becoming the primary member of the ruling party, he is able to become an MLA and later on gets a cabinet berth. This section deals with his nefarious activities of corruption, nepotism and political jugglery. Ultimately when exposed, he takes his sweet revenge from his opponents.
In the 2nd section, his only son, Rashbehari Prasad Singh, a qualified agriculture graduate, takes control of the estate when his father joins politics full time. He brings about a lot of improvements in the administrative and financial health of the estate. In a hurry to get rich overnight, he indulges in poppy cultivation, drug manufacturing and smuggling across the border. He, being a ruthless work master starts taking an active interest in class and caste struggle going on in Bihar at that time. He also has to cut a sorry figure, later on when faced with reality. An ardent lover, a doting husband, and a strict father, he comes across the real picture when his own son Biren goes astray.
The third section deals with Biren, the pampered grandchild of the family who is studying in a prestigious school of South Delhi. He is a born artist and an avid chess player. Unfortunately, he falls prey to homosexuality and drug abuse, when in the hostel. This part portrays his activities, his struggle with HIV, he gets later on and his fight with the scourge of full-blown AIDS, which didn’t have any tests or treatment at that time. In addition, the section lays open the differences between the past generation and the new one about their social attitude.
Overall, the book is fiction but a number of chapters have the real events taking place these days in political scenario, the social fabric of society, corruption in every field and the class and caste wars especially in Bihar, where the fiction is based. When on one hand, the disappointment of the society is depicted and shattering of the rainbow of promises made before and after independence, on the other hand, the glittering achievements of the young democracy are also highlighted. In addition, a number of travelogues are also described in the garb of different events.
The book is roughly divided into three sections, each section dealing with one generation.
This is the story of broken rainbow promises envisaged by our first Prime Minister in the constituent assembly, on the night of 14th-15th August of 1947 given in his famous speech of ‘Tryst with Destiny’ on the eve of attaining freedom from the British rule.
The first section deals with the protagonist, bestowed with a title of Rai Bahadur with the largesse of vast tracts of forestland by the British masters in return for his help to the British Army towards war efforts during 2nd, War. He does not have any contact with the freedom fighters striving for the freedom of India for the last more than sixty years. The Indian freedom gives him a big jolt as he is avoided and looked down upon by the new masters and former freedom fighters. All the time he frustratingly busy in finding some way to gain the patronage of the new rulers. Soon enough, he comes across a God-send Opportunity, which he grabs with both hands to get rehabilitated. After it, becoming the primary member of the ruling party, he is able to become an MLA and later on gets a cabinet berth. This section deals with his nefarious activities of corruption, nepotism and political jugglery. Ultimately when exposed, he takes his sweet revenge from his opponents.
In the 2nd section, his only son, Rashbehari Prasad Singh, a qualified agriculture graduate, takes control of the estate when his father joins politics full time. He brings about a lot of improvements in the administrative and financial health of the estate. In a hurry to get rich overnight, he indulges in poppy cultivation, drug manufacturing and smuggling across the border. He, being a ruthless work master starts taking an active interest in class and caste struggle going on in Bihar at that time. He also has to cut a sorry figure, later on when faced with reality. An ardent lover, a doting husband, and a strict father, he comes across the real picture when his own son Biren goes astray.
The third section deals with Biren, the pampered grandchild of the family who is studying in a prestigious school of South Delhi. He is a born artist and an avid chess player. Unfortunately, he falls prey to homosexuality and drug abuse, when in the hostel. This part portrays his activities, his struggle with HIV, he gets later on and his fight with the scourge of full-blown AIDS, which didn’t have any tests or treatment at that time. In addition, the section lays open the differences between the past generation and the new one about their social attitude.
Overall, the book is fiction but a number of chapters have the real events taking place these days in political scenario, the social fabric of society, corruption in every field and the class and caste wars especially in Bihar, where the fiction is based. When on one hand, the disappointment of the society is depicted and shattering of the rainbow of promises made before and after independence, on the other hand, the glittering achievements of the young democracy are also highlighted. In addition, a number of travelogues are also described in the garb of different events.
It is a summary of my Literary fiction, 'Rainbow at Midnight' launched recently, available worldwide in paperback and digital format. The total number of pages- 532.
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