As I began reading Savie Karnel‘s The Nameless God, published by Red Panda, I was sucked into the book.
Right from the names of the two boys which didn’t quite sound right, to their need for a new God because the old ones didn’t quite listen to their prayers.
Ingenious, aren’t they? How many times have we prayed and sighed that God doesn’t hear our prayers?
Right from that point, this book won my heart.
From that point, the words strode on, bravely page after page, narrating a story set against the backdrop of the demolition of the Babri Masjid...an incident which has polarised the country, splitting friendships with strong fiercely held, beliefs and views.
Noor and Bachchu realise that their Gods don’t seem to be answering their prayers. They think that this is because far too many people are praying to them, so many that the Gods are unable to hear and deal with all the prayers sent in their direction.
So they create a new God...a smooth river stone, smear it with turmeric and vermilion, adorn it with a garland, a red thread and a cross drawn with chalk. They pray to the God and are ecstatic when what they prayed for...a holiday, is announced on the news. Their God hears them!!
The story narrates the experiences of Bacchu a Hindu, Noor a Muslim, Seema an athiest, all students from a Christian school and their families, as their town erupts in riots. From friendship and loyalty to propaganda and mob violence, from religion and politics, to humanity and secularism, from conniving, self serving politicians to kind hearted common people. This book touches upon a range of issues and characters that the reader will easily identify, while highlighting our underlying humanity.
I have a huge soft corner for books that highlight India’s diversity and secularism and this one, I just couldn’t put down.
This is a must read and couldn’t be a better time than NOW to read it. With altered histories, propaganda and fake news abounding, it is imperative that our children read stories about our own history.
A compelling, fast paced read, written in a language that children will relate to.
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