The 86th Village

March 15, 2022
In the early-twenty-first century, the Indian government plans to build a huge dam across the Krishna River that would obliterate 86 villages. All the villages are deserted save one, Nilgi, which seems not to survive but to flourish, in part thanks to the villagers' denial and superstitions. When a starving girl wanders into the village, she is taken in by the leading family. Reshma lives in a self-protective silent cocoon. Her story is revealed amidst the violent anti-dam protests, corrupt political maneuvering, and rising flood waters occurring around her. Then someone tries to poison Reshma in an attempt to hide the secret she is guarding. Gopal was born in a small village much like Nilgi, which her family inhabited for 18 generations, a village slated to be submerged as a part of the actual Upper Krishna Project. This atmospheric and extremely poignant debut is beautifully told and heart-rending on many levels. Fans of Colin Cotterill's Dr. Siri Paiboun and RV Raman's Harith Athreya will make an ideal audience.

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April 2, 2022

DEBUT In 1964, the Indian government approved a dam that would eventually submerge 86 villages. Although the people of the villages objected, the project went forward until money disappeared into the pockets of corrupt politicians. By 2004, after mining projects stripped the land, most of those villagers had moved with no compensation. But one village on higher ground, Nilgi, held out with the guidance of their honest landlord Raj Nayak, who tried to organize the villagers to protest. However, the appearance of a beggar girl, Reshma, changed everything in Nilgi, as people were curious about her and her background. That curiosity and the search for Reshma's family will eventually destroy Raj, who had loved Reshma's mother. Raj's affair with a prostitute might outweigh everything he did for education and the village. Then the entire area suffers when floods come. VERDICT The debut is a powerful indictment of graft and corruption, as well as a comparison of poverty and wealth in that country. However, it's difficult to describe this atmospheric novel as crime fiction, except for the corruption.--Lesa Holstine

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