Dvarca by Madhav Mathur
Book Review - Dvarca by Madhav
Mathur
Imagine
a country having one race, one language, and one religion where the state
intrudes into personal life of citizen. State decides pregnancy and traits of
progeny to be born, distributes quota and type of food for individual, decides
profession of people and promotes one language and one religion. The control is
such draconian that the thought process is manipulated and conditioned.
“Multi-culturism is dead” is boastfully declared. It is futuristic imaginary
country depicted by Madhav Mathur in his new novel ‘Dvarca’.
Madhav
Mathur a Sigapore based writer, works for an MNC. Dvarca is the second novel by
this writer-filmmaker. His first novel is ‘The diary of an unreasonable
man’. His award winning films ‘The Insomniac’ and ‘The Outsiders’
have been screened at numerous festivals.
At a
time when the ultranationalists and right wing forces are coming to centre
stage across the globe, Dvarca is well-timed. The book depicts future but has
imprint of past and is quite relevant to present as well. The author has deep
knowledge of mythology and history. The author has also sharp observation of
current development. Madhav Mathur has
skillfully crafted story nicely blending it with mythology, history, science
and fiction.
The
craft and story of Dvarca resembles with George Orwell’s 1984. The telescreen
of 1984 is modern interactive television. The Two minutes hate is celebrated as
Hour of honor. The Big brother of 1984 is the great leader called Shashtriji.
The network of spy in 1984 is replaced with omnipresent DD- Distant Directives
that tracks movement of every individual. Every right or wrong is done for
country and for religion. The motto of the fictional country is ‘THINK THE SAME
ACT THE SAME BE THE SAME’. One country, one language, one way of life that is
navmarg is enforced by state apparatus. Uniformity is celebrated and diversity
is hated. The people are blinded with
hate against other country, other language, and other culture. They are
indoctrinated to believe and accept whatever comes from state. ‘ASK NOT WHAT
GOD AND COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU.’ ‘ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR GOD AND COUNTRY.’ The
line between sport and war is blurred.
The
title of the book is after the ancient city Dvārakā., the city of great religious importance. Present day
Dwarka situated in the state of Gujrat, India is one of the char dhams (‘the
four abodes/seats'). The very title of the novel lays the foundation of the
book on which the author constructs the edifice. The novel is full of allusion
to history and mythology. The names of characters and events are named after
characters from Hindu mythology. The women are named Jyotis, Miras, Aditis
whereas men are named as Gandharva, Nakul, Arjuns, Vishwakarma etc. They are
further identified by kalaava (wrist band) which shows the position of
individual in the hierarchical society of Dvarca.
[Spoiler alert] This
gripping dystopian novel depicts futuristic country called Dvarca which India
is called at the turn of 22nd century. The world is in mess with
warring factions at loggerhead with each other.
This is a story of a family of lowly bureaucrat Gandharva, Jyoti, Mira
and Nakul. One night Gandharva chose to walk instead of going by bus for a
routine test. This aberration makes him suspicious in the eyes of state. He
courts trouble and ends up with huge penalty a 50 per cent cut in food quota
and recommended training. Jyoti, mother of Mira and Nakul, is a devout and
caring lady. She works at Dvarca Mill. Jyoti is artificially inseminated with
Vidur as is the practice of Dvarca. All
the pregnancies are state planned and is artificially done. She is unwilling and
resists the insemination as she is already mother of two. But she has to accept
for the country and for the God. One day she escapes deadly explosion; an act
of terror orchestrated and perpetrated by Dvarca itself. But the blame is put
on caliphate, a hated country on war with Dvarca. This is done to create fear
and instill obedience among the citizen. She survives as the lone witness. It
makes her vulnerable. Somehow she hides the fact that she knew anything. Nakul, son of Jyoti and Gandharva, a prodigy
is declared ‘the pupil of the Nation’ of the year’. He gets the opportunity to
meet the great leader. It so happens that at the time of meeting and hugging
the great leader Nakul gets erection which the great leader mistakes as hidden
weapon in pyjama. He orders for the arrest of ill fated Nakul. Nakul somehow
escapes without being caught by ferocious Varaha, the guard of Dvarca. With the
help of another shamed girl Samyukta, Nakul runs away
This
timely novel is captivating dark satire which depicts the modern times. It is
well researched, well crafted and multi layered.
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