Kalyug by R. Sreeram

"Kalyug" by R. Sreeram. This book is published by Westland Ltd. in 2014 and has 388 pages.

Major General Qureshi is given two choices. He takes third and commits suicide. Army is disgruntled. Numerous scams have broken out and the powerless prime minister occupying the seat until Jojo,  party president Mrs. Pandit's son, can take over, is only a figurehead. GK, a wily politician and once hopeful of the top spot, is now the President of India. Sounds familiar?  Major Raghav is an important player. It is INSAF Vs Powerhouse. Kalyug has started. 

Can there be a coup in India?  Such a large country, so many contradictions, strong democracy, so many players. What is INSAF? What is Powerhouse? Who does Raghav represent? What will GK do? What is Kalyug?

The story takes place in 2012. The idea of a patriotic organization taking over the country is simultaneously fascinating and dangerous. The question that remains is 'Is it for good or bad?' Is the subversion of constitution for better governance justified? Does the end justify the means?

The characters in this book are very obviously based on the current politicians from various parties and industrialists. Reader can very easily identify which character is based on which one. That gives this fiction a touch of reality. 

Narration of the story is riveting. Without one's knowledge reader chooses his side. What happens next? The curiosity keeps the reader on tenterhooks. It's a thriller, a political thriller. It has all the right ingredients, plot and sub plots, twists, Patriots, traitors, action, adventure, philosophy and even a bit of romance. From the moment I started reading this gripping novel, I wondered how the author would end it. Although the climax is a bit hurried, author has managed not to make it anti climactic. 

The advocacy of a coup and emergency is very convincing. President's Manifesto after imposing emergency and change of rules, reforms are written brilliantly and find immediate buy-in with the readers fed up with politics and politicians. It's a masterpiece. 

A few questions remain unanswered. Why threaten the American president? How does Gyan fool INSAF easily? Why does Qazi behave uncharacteristiclly? How come the security breach is not plugged before important summit? Why rope in the author? 

The cover shows a pair of boots with blood around them. The picture is good but what is the significance of cover?

Story ends but the saga doesn't end. There is enough for the author if he ever decides to write a sequel. 

A good book. Don't miss it.