There have been a number of travelogues through the Indian subcontinent, but debutant Pankaj Mishra’s Butter Chicken in Ludhiana focuses on the small town India.
He starts with Shimla, and neighbouring towns, and moves southward apparently taking account of the filth around in the small town India. He seems to be talking less about the beauty of the towns, the distinct places which make them unique.
There is an air of grotesque feeling for the elitists and the high society, which is burdened with the stinking attitudes that they carry. Sure, there are still a few good people left, everywhere, I feel.
There are instances, where the author runs into some over-description of evenements, people, and exhibits a personal bias. The use of Hindi slang is more prominent(along with its translation), than that of the courteous variant of the language, one gets to hear, as one moves away from a megalopolis. It’s a good book considering it marks the debut of the writer.
However, there are some factors which give rise to dissent, and make the reader feel discontented, and disappointed at some points of time, while going through the book. I’m yet to pick up other books by the author, and hence, would be curious to know the changes, if any, are there in the style. I’m all for the use of wit, by the author, though.