The Long March

Disclaimer: I know the author of this book personally and read an early draft.

When I first read the draft of "The Long March" in 2016, I remember informing Namita that the ending was too filmy. Boy, some words come back to haunt you! I am glad that she held her conviction and didn't change the ending.

"The Long March" is a fictional (with lots borrowed from real life and events) novel about rural distress in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Vikram Sonare, is devastated after his father - a heavily indebted farmer commits suicide. He harnesses the anger amongst the rural youth and the power of social media to start a revolution.

The book is primarily narrated through the character of Mallika Joshi, a social worker who works in the same region and is inspired by the efforts of Vikram Sonare. The revolution morphs into a political movement (for a book written between 2008 and 2014, it had lot of foresight!).

Will Vikram Sonare and Mallika Joshi be able to successfully achieve their goals and awake people from their indifference? You should read this book to find out the answer.