Meandering through swarming Delhi roads, one mildly hot October afternoon, it’s hard not to conjure the rich-and-poor divide that makes up the city. A rickety cycle rickshaw lugs past a shining BMW; a shanty looks up to a glistening high-rise. It is so apparent then, the two worlds that come together in Kavery Nambisan’s The Story That Must Not Be Told.
Set in Madras, in the plush Vaibhav Apartments, surrounded by the slum of Sitara, The Story That Must Not Be Told, pulls out the differences between the two worlds. Sitara scampers through the day with scarce electricity, water, and food while Vaibhav Apartments watches on. Sitara’s existence thrives on Vaibhav Apartment’s survival. And, sometimes it’s vice versa.
Cheap construction labour, house help and drain cleaners all from Sitara, allow Vaibhav Apartment’s rich their luxury. Yet, residents want to eradicate the slum for safety and hygiene concerns. The stories of old man Simon, his late wife Harini and their children help carry the tale. Along the way there is the righteous Swamy, Chellam, Ponnu and the very affable Thatkan among other well-etched characters.
Each of their stories makes for a riveting read. Weaved together, they pull you in the minds and sentiments of the rich, and the poor. What the rich think of the poor, and what the poor think of the rich. And, how one old man’s tale of ordinary suffering and ordinary compassion plays out amidst it all.
Kavery Nambisan’s The Story That Must Not Be Told, makes a poignant weekend read. If it’s nearly winter, or better still raining where you are, settle into this book. Here’s a story you may well be familiar with, but a story you must be reminded of.
The Story That Must Not Be Told written by Kavery Nambisan is available from Penguin India for Rs 499.
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