The Kipling file by Sudhir Kakar

"The Kipling file" by Sudhir Kakar - Disappointed in Kipling, the man!

This book was published by Penguin Hamish Hamilton in 2018 and has 256 pages. 

This book is a fiction about and in the times of "Jungle book" fame Rudyard (Ruddy) Kipling. The story is narrated in flash back by Kay Robinson, Ruddy's editor at CMG and friend.

So how is Ruddy? What makes him? Is he opinionated? How is his family? How does he think?

Rudyard Kipling (Ruddy) is described as witty, genius with eccentricities that can cross line of decency, unsympathetic towards naive Indians, contemptuous towards Hindus and Hinduism but frequenting native Hindu prostitutes, fascinated by Muslims and unafraid to ridicule hierarchy. He is a man with many contradictions. 

Story happens more than 50 years before India got independence. This is the time when the British residing in India, Kipling included, treated India as their rightful colony and Indians as second class, uncouth, untrustworthy blacks. The book confirms British opinion that Hindus don't have the ability,  strength of character, moral convictions, education to rule themselves. Well, current India is a tight slap to those who thought so.

The book tells us about Rudyard Kipling, the person. His fears, his pains, his opinions, his secretive nature, his contradictions, his likes and dislikes. It also tells about the life at that time. What was important and what wasn't. How Anglo-Indians (British residing in India) lived, interacted, socialized and ruled. Author has quoted liberally from Kipling's writing and tried to analyse the person through it. Author, through the character that narrates this book, criticises the English way of child upbringing (shaping,  disciplining) and appreciates Indian way of nurturing children.

I had a good impression about Rudyard Kipling (formed mainly from Jungle Book), but after reading this book and other literature about the author, I was disappointed in Kipling, the person. 

Sudhir Kakar is a psychoanalyst and writer and has won many awards. I wonder what prompted the author to write a novel about Rudyard Kipling?

Why did I read this book? Interesting subject. 

What I didn't like?  Dry narration. 

What did I like? Author brings old India to life. 

Read if this review interests you.