Characters
The
unlikely friendship between Sundeep (yes, seems like a numerology-compliant
choice) and Swami, that progressively blows up into professional conflict,
peppered with jealousy is realistic to some extent. Natasha and Kalpana, the
respective wives, offer a realistic feel to the personal lives of the two
protagonists.
The sleazy
underbelly of couch politics that plays out in some corporate setups is
showcased in detail through Naresh and some minor but crucial women characters
along the story. Aditya as the mentor is almost too good to be true, especially
at the end.
There are
also a large number of characters, some of them included along the way, which
might confuse readers who return after a break in reading the book halfway. I
would recommend readers to finish the book in as few sittings as possible to
avoid this possible lapse in memory.
Storyline
Having read
that the author is an alumina of IIM-B, I expected the setting to capture a
little more of Bangalore within the pages, but the focus of the action is
mostly Mumbai. What I found interesting and intriguing were the inner workings
of the cutthroat banking industry.
What I
really enjoyed reading was how the multiple nuances of corporate politics have
been captured within the story. More importantly, I appreciate the brilliant
ways that depict sexual harassment at workplace, a common reality that most
organisations in India still choose to turn a blind eye to. Also, the realities
of the North-South divides within corporate workspaces that lurk just beneath
the surface are brought out through the dialogues (Madrasi, etc.) and the
thoughts.
I
especially liked the moral innuendoes that the story puts forth without being
preachy or moralistic. Money, fame and power may be obtained without being
unscrupulous or ‘morally flexible’. The triumph of a solid CHILD – Commitment,
Honesty, Integrity, Leadership and Dedication is the best takeaway of the book,
although many may argue that the real world allows little opportunity or growth
for such sticklers of ‘Gandhism’. The way the novel ends somewhat justifies this
theory, because one wonders if justice has really been served to the key culprit
in the story.
Another
important lesson to be gleaned is how effective leadership rests on a
foundation of integrity sans pressure fueled by greed for fame and fortune. The
book showcases that humane approaches to team management ensure better
performance and enriching working conditions. Deceptive appearances juxtaposed
with frill-free value systems display the disparity between individuals pitched
together in a typical corporate set-up.
The fag end
of the novel made me wonder why only India is shown to have the issue of gender
inequality, corruption and couch politics in the corporate sector. We are well
aware of these foibles being present in American companies as well, not to
mention the rampant racism that lingers just below the surface. It would have
only been fair, if this aspect would have been acknowledged somewhere in the
novel.
Narrative
The
narrative is smooth, easy-going and has a good flow. Dialogues are peppered
with some minimal Hindi, which is not a problem because translations are
provided as part of the narrative itself.
Also, some
portions of the detailing of long banking processes /methodologies and some jargons
could have been reduced along the way.
Rating
I rate the
novel 4.3 out of 5. Extra points for pointing out the importance of having a
system that offers safe working spaces for women, free from sexual favours and
harassment undertones. Also, for showcasing that ultimately, good always
triumphs over bad, in the classic old-fashioned way – through modern
storytelling.
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find my review useful? Do follow my blog for more.
Happy
reading, readers!
***
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