India Was One by AnIndian
The Blurb
…Suddenly, he saw something shiny at the bottom of the abyss. He squinted his eyes to see what it was. He ran back to his binoculars and turned them to see what it was. Sharp barbed wires that separated the two mountains came into focus. He had come as far as he could in his country. But she was standing in another country.
He was in South India and she was in North India…
Have you ever imagined India being divided into two countries? What happens to the millions of Indians who are from South India but are now residing in North India? Kaahi & Jai were two such people who got trapped in this situation. Everything was going smoothly for them and suddenly, their world turned upside down.
How will they get together? Will India become one again?
Take an exciting journey with them from their college days in Mumbai to their life in the US and back to India when they find out that India is divided.
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Meet the Author
The Author calls himself An Indian. We have no pics of him. But the Author does have something to say to every Indian out there....
Dear Readers,
I wanted to tell a story peppering it with Indian languages and narrating my experiences, inter-weaving them with some imaginary tale. When I mentioned this idea to my wife, her very first question was, "who is your target-audience?" That made me "think outside the box". After reading the book, you'll agree that there is no target-audience. I'd say - 10+, any sex, from any country, any ethnicity, any religion - is the intended audience.
When I wanted to tell a story, I wanted to "lull" the reader into thinking that they are just reading a travelogue. Making them wonder where (if at all anywhere) the story is going. Is it just another boring experience written by a NRI? AND THEN BOOM. It hits you. Suddenly, along with the characters, the reader's dream-world shatters.
This book is broken up in 3 parts. And it is intentional. Let me explain why.
The first part is about the Indian culture. Most Indians (in India) already know it. But what about NRIs? They may find it nostalgic. And what about their kids. They may have a better understanding about their roots and culture. And the non-Indian find it very fascinating.
The second part is about life in the US. Readers who are in the US may find it a bit like a travelogue. However, others may find it very interesting. Those who can't be here get a glimpse into the US life of an Indian (and the US life in general).
The third part is for everyone.
Hence, you'll notice that different people react differently to this book. There is something for everyone.
I hope this helps you.
Thank you,
An Indian
Dear Readers,
I wanted to tell a story peppering it with Indian languages and narrating my experiences, inter-weaving them with some imaginary tale. When I mentioned this idea to my wife, her very first question was, "who is your target-audience?" That made me "think outside the box". After reading the book, you'll agree that there is no target-audience. I'd say - 10+, any sex, from any country, any ethnicity, any religion - is the intended audience.
When I wanted to tell a story, I wanted to "lull" the reader into thinking that they are just reading a travelogue. Making them wonder where (if at all anywhere) the story is going. Is it just another boring experience written by a NRI? AND THEN BOOM. It hits you. Suddenly, along with the characters, the reader's dream-world shatters.
This book is broken up in 3 parts. And it is intentional. Let me explain why.
The first part is about the Indian culture. Most Indians (in India) already know it. But what about NRIs? They may find it nostalgic. And what about their kids. They may have a better understanding about their roots and culture. And the non-Indian find it very fascinating.
The second part is about life in the US. Readers who are in the US may find it a bit like a travelogue. However, others may find it very interesting. Those who can't be here get a glimpse into the US life of an Indian (and the US life in general).
The third part is for everyone.
Hence, you'll notice that different people react differently to this book. There is something for everyone.
I hope this helps you.
Thank you,
An Indian
The author was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He came to the US in 1989 and lived in New York. This book is for those who like travel, history, romance, culture, cuisine, sports, political-thriller, etc. It’s dubbed as a realistic-fiction. A fiction based on some real events. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
He is very clear about his Target Audience..
| Audience | How will the reader benefit? |
|---|---|
| Age 10 and above | Will learn about India |
| Any Religion | Will Understand India |
| Indians in India | Will feel proud of India |
| NRIs | Nostalgic moments |
| Kids of NRIs | Will connect with their roots |
| Non Indians | Will want to visit India |
| People who Love India | Will know what the book is conveying |
| People who want to know about India | Will fall in love with India |
Stalk him @
My Review
I have read this book and enjoyed it immensely. Here is the review I previously published:
I’ve always been fascinated by the way a country like India can be so full of innumerable states and languages and ethnicities and different cultures, and yet be “one” – so this book sounded very promising. Considering the background and its conflicts, the concept of the country being divided into South India and North India, much like South Korea and North Korea, doesn’t seem far-fetched at all and is portrayed in a shocking way that makes it even more credible.
“India was One” by An Indian is a book that makes you think and that is filled with interesting information. The latter is provided in sentences or whole paragraphs in italic that follow the introduction of a word, food, custom or traditional concept. This sort of interrupts the reading flow, but is also a good way of learning more about India and of emphasizing how different yet unquestionably Indian all of it is. Whether you know most of it—like me—or not, these side notes are well-written and help to paint the bigger picture.
To me, the story is divided into three parts. The first third is reserved for introducing the two protagonists Jai and Kaahi and getting to know them. They meet at campus, fall in love, spend joyful days with friends and family and get married. All of it reads almost too good to be true. There’s no conflict at all, not even lying dormant. That, however, is just as well, because it will highlight the contrast between the rosy life before and the terrors after the division of the country. The author also uses this part to establish a cast of people who come from all corners of India, always illustrating their background. Everything is part of the puzzle that seems impossible to piece together after the separation of the two Indias.
The second third focuses on the happy couple’s life after they migrate to the United States of America. Being half Asian and half European, I could relate to or at least imagine a lot of what they went through. They are still happy, but now they have to face new experiences and the reader can sense a storm cloud looming. Some chapters deal with Jai and Kaahi travelling to Europe, which was fun to read for me and portrayed as credibly and well-researched as the rest of the book.
The last third hits you hard. From one moment to the other, smiles and success and affection turn to tears and fear and separation. You can hardly believe that you’re reading the same book. The author shocks you with his all too real description of a country and its people torn apart cruelly. Husband and wife are left stranded in the two halves of India, fighting a losing battle to be reunited. Everybody’s suffering is palpable and you are gripped by the story, racing toward the end that is uncertain until it swoops down upon you. This last part of the book is the one where the writing is most powerful.
There are some nice little touches to “India was One” that had me like it even more. First, there are the sketches that are full of life and details and fit the exotic image of the book. Second, you’re treated to some Hindi words spelled out in the Devanagari script, including phonetic translation and English meaning. Third—if my basic Hindi skills don’t fail me—the hero’s name means “victory” (Jai) and the heroine’s name means “story” (Kahaani), which is just perfect considering their story and role.
Due to the unusual writing style and the conflict occurring so late, this might not be a read for everybody. I, however, really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to everybody who wants to get to know more about India. Asians / Indians will also find a lot to treasure and ponder. I understand why the author prefers to remain anonymous.
I’ve always been fascinated by the way a country like India can be so full of innumerable states and languages and ethnicities and different cultures, and yet be “one” – so this book sounded very promising. Considering the background and its conflicts, the concept of the country being divided into South India and North India, much like South Korea and North Korea, doesn’t seem far-fetched at all and is portrayed in a shocking way that makes it even more credible.
“India was One” by An Indian is a book that makes you think and that is filled with interesting information. The latter is provided in sentences or whole paragraphs in italic that follow the introduction of a word, food, custom or traditional concept. This sort of interrupts the reading flow, but is also a good way of learning more about India and of emphasizing how different yet unquestionably Indian all of it is. Whether you know most of it—like me—or not, these side notes are well-written and help to paint the bigger picture.
To me, the story is divided into three parts. The first third is reserved for introducing the two protagonists Jai and Kaahi and getting to know them. They meet at campus, fall in love, spend joyful days with friends and family and get married. All of it reads almost too good to be true. There’s no conflict at all, not even lying dormant. That, however, is just as well, because it will highlight the contrast between the rosy life before and the terrors after the division of the country. The author also uses this part to establish a cast of people who come from all corners of India, always illustrating their background. Everything is part of the puzzle that seems impossible to piece together after the separation of the two Indias.
The second third focuses on the happy couple’s life after they migrate to the United States of America. Being half Asian and half European, I could relate to or at least imagine a lot of what they went through. They are still happy, but now they have to face new experiences and the reader can sense a storm cloud looming. Some chapters deal with Jai and Kaahi travelling to Europe, which was fun to read for me and portrayed as credibly and well-researched as the rest of the book.
The last third hits you hard. From one moment to the other, smiles and success and affection turn to tears and fear and separation. You can hardly believe that you’re reading the same book. The author shocks you with his all too real description of a country and its people torn apart cruelly. Husband and wife are left stranded in the two halves of India, fighting a losing battle to be reunited. Everybody’s suffering is palpable and you are gripped by the story, racing toward the end that is uncertain until it swoops down upon you. This last part of the book is the one where the writing is most powerful.
There are some nice little touches to “India was One” that had me like it even more. First, there are the sketches that are full of life and details and fit the exotic image of the book. Second, you’re treated to some Hindi words spelled out in the Devanagari script, including phonetic translation and English meaning. Third—if my basic Hindi skills don’t fail me—the hero’s name means “victory” (Jai) and the heroine’s name means “story” (Kahaani), which is just perfect considering their story and role.
Due to the unusual writing style and the conflict occurring so late, this might not be a read for everybody. I, however, really enjoyed it and would recommend it especially to everybody who wants to get to know more about India. Asians / Indians will also find a lot to treasure and ponder. I understand why the author prefers to remain anonymous.
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