A history writer interested in India's role in the Second World War unexpectedly gets a manuscript from a WWII colonel. Chander, the colonel's U.S.-educated journalist son, wrote it at the request of his American wife, Kristi. It remains unpublished due to the couple's accidental death. The manuscript reveals that young Chander lived with his mother in a Himalayan village, while his father was fighting in WWII. Chander recounts intriguing experiences of local WWII soldiers and civilians during the period from 1941 to 1948. The experiences are juxtaposed with the Rama Lila, the most popular folk play of the Ramayana epic. Jagriti, a girl in Chander's village, introduces herself and, though forbidden, enacts parts of the play with him. Inspired by her, he watches the 10-night play every year in October, while experiencing war's reactions and other emotionally charged actions, in his Hindu village, Christian school, and Hindu-Christian-Muslim town.
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The review of this Book prepared by Anoop Chandola
