SHORT TAKES
Intrigue, passion and media
Reviewed by Randeep Wadehra

Broken News 
by Amrita Tripathi
Tranquebar.
Pages X+234. Rs 250.

AS the title suggests, this novel has a 24/7 news television station as its setting. The back-page blurb suggests that the narrative is about "death, betrayal, conspiracy ... and drama" involving those working in the channel. ‘M’, the protagonist, is a senior anchor and producer. She has got a clutch of friends who flit in and out of her life. However, the dynamics of her professional life turn her into a vulnerable loner. She has to watch her back in the office just in case an upstart like Janki tries to stage a coup de main and replace her on primetime bulletins. There is the usual office politics involving backbiting, stealing of story ideas and getting into the boss’s good books via his bedroom or any other route. There are genuine personal and professional relationships too, but so is duplicity. One such victim is M’s colleague and friend Rashmi who is forced to commit suicide; the ugliness, the insensitivity and the cold-blooded self-induced amnesia of her colleagues become manifest when M decides to expose the culprit single-handedly. The ‘System’ closes ranks and shuts her out.

The manner in which the fast paced narrative explores and portrays M’s mindscape is an indication of prodigious talent at work. There are no gallant heroes here – no lilywhite heroines. Only ordinary human beings with all the frailties and strengths that give the color gray interesting spectra of hues: there are angst and anger, sex and sleaze, belief and betrayal, virtue and vice... But, more importantly, a certain integrity that makes this novel a genuine page-turner.

Writing, Print Media, Planning & Publishing
by Arjman Chand Goel.
Decent Publishers.
Pages 180. Rs 225.

The publishing scene in India is experiencing seismic shift. From just a handful of publishing houses a couple of decades back now we have them in every nook and corner of the country, catering to various mainstream and niche markets in different languages, but mostly in English. As happens in such cases the communities of wannabes – be they writers, editors or publishers – feel constricted due to lack of relevant information. Goel’s book, (this single volume provides information in four languages, viz., English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu), fills in the gap to an appreciable extent. He provides useful tips to aspiring writers, shows how editing/ proofreading ought to be done – illustrating the entire range of symbols used for the purpose. For publishers, apart from the technicalities of publishing books (formats etc) there is the pro-forma application for acquiring ISBN number along with the address of the office where it should be sent. Goel also describes how these numbers should be used.

However, since this book is mainly about publishing there could have been a separate chapter on the book distribution aspect too. It would also have helped aspiring publishers if the information on various legal requirements for setting up a publishing house – be it for magazines, newspapers or books – was given.

Sir Chhotu Ram
by Balbir Singh.
Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Pages 350. Rs 190.

Sir Chhotu Ram (real name, Ram Richpal) was born in village Garhi-Sampla of Haryana’s present Rohtak district on November 24, 1881. He overcame several socio-economic obstacles, including paternal diffidence, to get education, eventually graduating from St. Stephen’s College. After doing assorted jobs he established himself as a leader of the pro-British Unionist Party in the undivided Punjab. Transcending communal divides the party represented the interests of the agricultural class – the zamindars. This book gives details of the life and times of one of the titans of pre-Independence India who was instrumental in legislating several reforms that improved the farmers’ lot.

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