Ravan and Eddie by Kiran Nagarkar

"Ravan and Eddie" by Kiran Nagarkar. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2012 and has 332 pages.
As the name suggests, it's the story of two boys called Ravan and Eddie. Eddie's father died while saving Ravan, an infant at that time, from falling off balcony. Eddie's mother was pregnant with Eddie at that time. This caused a permanent rift between two families and Ravan being dubbed as murderer. They live in same chawl separated by floors, way of life, religion and habits, so their lives run in parallel, their paths don't cross.

Ravan despite being a Hindu learns Tae kwon do. Eddie, despite being a Christan, learns to wield wooden staff in Sabha (Read RSS).

Will they interact? Will they become friends or enemies? What Ravan is called Ravan?

Author has used light sarcasm as his style of story telling. While showing the incongruity in the division of human beings on the basis of cast, religion and money he has maintained a fine balance of neither being harsh nor indifferent. Author has shown idiosyncrasies within Hindu and Catholic Christian religions.

Author's short commentery on Hindi film industry is very well thought and introspective. His description of tying of loin cloth (लंगोट) by 'Sabha' members is too good. The story drags on few occasions. His depiction of chawl life and the privacy, or the lack of it, is very good.

The book is more an abstract story rather than a novel. It's easy to get bored. There are a few shocks in the story. You have to be very attentive while reading. At the end it left me with mixed feelings.

You can give it a miss.