Invalid- by KV Raghupathi- A Review

INVALID

                            

ISBN: 9788182533530
Publisher: Cyberwit.net

Front Cover Art by Anil CS Rao

The book in your hand was written thirty years ago while the writer was just twenty-five. This constitutes the first of four books (tetralogy) which were written by him around that time. It might be shocking for you to know that more than thirty publishers have rejected the first one, which is before you, in the last thirty years. Some cited no reason, some said; it is a most horrendous piece of writing... Human world would simply not accept ... burn it. The writer did not burn, but simply kept it along with the other scripts in a box and locked, and then forgot the fate of their print. After thirty years, he revived his interest with a hope to introduce them to the educated public.

But, much to his consternation and shock, the same story has been repeated, but with a difference. One or two publishers called it fabulous and shocking; some accepted it in the beginning, later abandoned without citing reasons. Yet one signed the contract and vanished. Still another signed the contract and later broke it after six months. The writer is driven to deep frustration. Yet, determined and ready to face adverse and aggressive hostile world, the writer has ventured it on his own with the help of a budding publisher, Cyberwet.net for which the writer expresses his deep sense of gratitude. The book is now before you, in your hands. Read, burn, and forget.

The review

While started reading the book, I felt disoriented. I was wondering what this is all about. I did not have any idea as to what the subject of the book is but while I travelled more with the character, I traversed into another world, another era and a completely different thought process.

As the author said in Mohan’s words, this is neither a short story nor a novel. This is the experiences of Praveen. A little boy orphaned during his childhood, brought up by his sister, is disoriented when he loses her. Then comes Pushpa, who lifts his lifeless soul to heights of rapture of love and drowns him to the depths of death. He could not find solace in anything. The firm where he worked, discards him after squeezing out the youthfulness in him. Only after his dismissal that he realizes the fact that the pollution from the firm had eaten the best of him body and health. The pollution, pain, loneliness, despondency everything together claims his life.

With very few dialogues and a single chapter, author tried to reconstruct the notion of conservative method of writing. The fact that he attempted the venture thirty years back shows his brilliance. Pravy’s diary takes us to a philosophical ride. His views of life, death, happiness, ego, criticisms, nirvana etc. provide us the vision propagated by great philosophers, epics and the religious books, in a single and small book. The author successfully portrayed and permeated infinite knowledge and visual imagery through the book. Pravy became invalid because of the long-term exposure to pollution but author’s literary power is not polluted with unnecessary melodrama. This book targets the philosophy lovers and those who eagerly wait to read a book with some difference from the usual romance and thrillers. Those who are looking for an unconventional writing would be extremely happy with this book. The book was written thirty years back but it becomes most relevant these days. Thirty years back, it would be a futuristic book and the literary world probably did not have the maturity to accept the future at that point of time. Had it been portrayed in a lighter note, it would have been a classic best seller by now.

The negative part could be the explanation of Pravy’s plight in room number seven. It seems to be dragged beyond limits, which might force the reader to flip the pages. Nevertheless, author has compensated with an explanation in the end. Lack of a back blurb is another drawback. A small sneak peek of what the book is all about, could have been mentioned so that the right readers could be targeted easily.

Rating : 3.0

  Reviewed for Cyberwit.net

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book as a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

                                                  About the author

                                 K.V.RAGHUPATHI

His main forte is poetry. A leading voice in Indian English Poetry, he is currently teaching at Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur. He has published nine collections in addition to four critical works and two books on Yoga. His poetry is rooted in the abundance of philosophy, nature, transcendentalism, imagery, and social perspectives. Besides being a poet, his other passions include classical Karnatic music, bird watching and ancient and contemporary Indian philosophy.


You can buy the copies from Cybetwit.net