BOOK REVIEW
The author…
Ritwik Kukreja, a Delhite with a degree from Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and former student of DPS, R.K. Puram, New Delhi, loves writing, travelling and watching movies. He has also tried his luck in Bollywood as an assistant director to a famous producer-director. But for all of us, his greatest introduction is his being a son of a renowned pediatrician from New Delhi.
……and the reviewer!
Dr. K.P. Singh, Ph.D., Bijnor
K.P. Singh, a nonagenarian and retired professor of economics, is an avid reader. He has a great passion for English literature and grammar. Despite such a ripe age, he is quite active and extremely agile. His penchant for teaching nuances of phonetics and obsession with English grammar has only to be seen to be believed. No wonder, he has earned a sobriquet of ‘A walking encyclopedia’ of English literature!
"A wonderful addition to the world of fiction"
Title
The name of the novel satisfies all the desiderata of a good title. It is short, crisp, and suggestive, and capable of keeping the curiosity of the readers sustained. Little do the readers realize that their investment of labor and time will not yield them rich dividends, and they will sit agape until Dr. Srivastava delivers his discourse on HIT and MISS!
The plot
The thematic interest of the novel has remarkably its roots in the natural instinct of love and affections for one’s progeny. All the members of human societies, of animal world, and all the denizens of feathery world share this instinct. These members protect their young ones even at the cost of their life. Sameer is a rabid terrorist and a staunch hater of India. It is the love of Sameer for his son, Imran that brings about a turnaround in his thought process. He is overwhelmed by the help; India and her citizen have given so much liberally to save the life of Imran. It is his love for Imran that transforms him into a terrorist against the terrorists from Pakistan.
The characters
Painting of characters is Ritvik’s tour de force. He has painted them minutely and correctly. The characters of the novel are the people that live and move among us. He has no gender or age bias in the selection of characters. His male characters are bubbling with zest for life and energy. They are Aryan, Rohan, Tarun and Yash. Though they often rue for the lack of development in the health system of the country, they are care free. They plan a tour to Dubai where they have a bowing acquaintance with Sara, the sister of Sameer who is a sworn terrorist.
Sara, a sweet Muslim svelte, has sowed seed of love in the heart of Aryan. Sara is the sister of Sameer, an unbending ferocious and fierce terrorist. Sameer knows little that Imran his son, an apple of his eye, has the heart of an Indian boy Himanshu a brain dead boy. If Himanshu’s father Chander Mohan had not denoted the heart of his son to be transplanted in the chest of Imran, Imran would have died long ago. Thus, Chander Mohan, whom Sameer gives a short shrift, is an embodiment of benevolence, compassion and supreme sacrifice. The devotion of Chander Mohan for his Guru is unfathomable. Chander Mohan has an unshakeable faith in the power of prayer and Prasad.
One wonders why Sameer and Sara, though born in the same cultural matrix are so different in their attitude, mores and religious beliefs. The answer lies in the fact that Sameer has had an intense kind of brain wash, and the terrorist organization has filled his brain with anti-India feelings and philosophy. But when he sees the generosity, humanity and helping attitude of Indian doctors, he blows whistle on the terrorists who have come to blow up Central hospital Delhi, where Sara, Gajal and Imran are staying.
In addition to these male characters, there are others like Denny, Mandy and Dr. Srivastava. Denny seems to be a stooge of Mandy who is a bug bear for the fresher’s. However, Mandy has been taught a lesson. Denny’s is a thumb nail sketch. Dr. Srivastava is in his early fifties. He exudes an air of a sober professor. Ritvik individualizes him by his dress. He wears a chequered shirt and a brown blazer over that. His aura is quite conspicuous. He exercises a profound influence on his students by the depth of his knowledge. He mixes with his students keeping his professional dignity intact.
The female characters glow with their natural warmth of love and affection. Megha is the assistant editor at “live365” News channel. She is a friend of Sara and sympathizes with her. She wants earnestly to appeal for organ donation for Imran on her show but her boss does not approve. Another female character that claims the attention of readers is Gajal. She is mother of Imran and sister in-law of Sara. She is docile and is dominated by her husband Sameer. At times she evinces a spark of courage of conviction though silently. She takes Imran to India for treatment though much against the wish of her terrorist husband Sameer. She has tender heart of a loving mother. Like most other women, she takes recourse to fibbing to be successful in her objective. The character of Sara makes a fine study to grab the attention of the readers. She is a past master in motor driving. Her body language is fascinatingly impressive when on desert safari.
Narration
There are lots of people who know what to say but can’t say because they don’t have that uncanny gift that may enable them to say what they know. Only a few people like Ritvik say what they want to say because they have somehow inherited this quality from raconteurs that they have in their family. The plot is painted on a big canvas and Ritvik has proved that he is no Canute. The plot is sound, logical and well dove tailed. No part stands disjointed.
Humor quotient
Ritvik has created many situations that are replete with rich and scintillating humor. These situations excite a funny feeling which is ticklish, tingling, and never sardonic.
Element of suspense
The novel is full of element of suspense. Suspense may be defined as excitement which readers feel at the approach of the climax of a situation. However, this novel has this excitement not only in the development of the various situations but also in the title itself. The way Dr Srivastava unveils the real meaning of the title is simply splendid. Ritvik indeed sprinkles a surprise here. Readers like me who are not even distantly connected with medicine and its peculiar terminology may feel excited and at the same time astounded by the disclosure. Like a player in a game, Ritvik feints and the unsuspecting and unwary readers who follow the movement of his pen find themselves confronting situations which are pregnant with undiluted suspense. In this way there is a method in his dishing out dollops of suspense to his readers to relish this novel with a smack.
Flip Side
It seems to be the besetting sin of the author to trample on the set rules of English Grammar. He can very conveniently flout the rules of determiners and verb. There are some mistakes that fall in the category of malapropism and proximity. What a serious reader would dislike is the frequent use of ‘f----k’ word and Americanism.
The verdict
By and large the novel “Beyond HIT and MISS” is a wonderful addition to the world of fiction writing. It surprises me to know that it is Ritvik’s maiden venture. He has a long yet very productive and illustrious journey ahead, Amen! I would give him 7 out of 10 marks.