Curfew In The City

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01 April, 2016

Vibhuti Narain Rai

Translated from Hindi by CM Naim

Originally published in Hindi as Shahar Mein Curfew, this novella by the police officer and writer Vibhuti Narain Rai tells the story of a group of Muslim beedi makers stuck in a cramped corner of Allahabad during a Hindu-Muslim riot. Rai, who has also written non-fiction about communal conflict, explores how curfew affects ordinary lives. His disturbing portrayals of police and administrative officers show how, during times of violence, authorities often stoke tensions by exploiting people’s deep-seated prejudices.

 Penguin Books India, 128 pages, Rs 199