Satire on the times

Vikrant Parmar

It is a yarn that is fertile, so is the wool with which it has been spun; in Miss Laila Armed And Dangerous, author Manu Joseph impresses with the range of his knowledge, articulate diction and keen social eye. Though the plot comes across as simple, delve a little deeper and the complexity stares in your face. A building in Mumbai collapses, leaving a man buried close to the rescue team comprising a young, effervescent, girl, Akhila Iyer. The man whispers something to Akhila about a Muslim couple, Jamal and Laila, being involved in a terror plot, which sends the entire police force in Mumbai into frenzy. In hot pursuit of the couple is a Malayali man, Mukundan, who later emerges as the lynchpin in the wheels of the impressive plot. 

The story unfolds in a single day, yet the time-period of a decade is brilliantly encapsulated and executed by Joseph, who narrates a racy tale that is a scathing commentary on modern-day India. The novel is a wonderful satire on politicians, police and justice delivery system under an authoritarian regime. Each character has a story to tell and a philosophy to share, which makes the experience even more worthwhile.

In a character named Damodarbhai, an iconic leader of the Sangh, who carries the adulating masses with him, Joseph takes an obvious dig that needs no words to explicate. Damodarbhai has a ‘56-inch chest’ and resembles the sculpture of the ‘Bearded Man’ from the Mohenjo Daro relics; there are more than obvious references to who Joseph has in mind!

The man, hailed as ‘DaMo’, has many blind followers like a lawyer, who burns a copy of The Koran while raising volatile slogans; or a young boy who has strong repugnance towards those from the lower caste, or the leader of a Gau Rakshak Sena who lynches people with impunity.

Then there is Professor Vaid or the Patriarch, who deals with those in the highest echelons of power; he has ears sharp enough to hear a feather drop. He is the man behind much of Damodarbhai’s clout; once again an obvious reference to a man who has been among the pioneering figures in the country’s political set-up. 

Even as action never wanes, one is constantly worried about the man buried under the debris, holding on to his last few breaths. The cops in pursuit of the suspected couple are ruthless predators who eventually enact a merciless crime, which is erased from the pages of law with little or no punitive repercussions. 

The caustic wit with which the author underlines his political philosophy and dots it with pearls of wisdom, speaks volumes about his experience and learning. Sentences like ‘in this country an accident is as natural as any act of god’ or ‘the republic is a giant prank’ are just not random utterings; these are interjections of a studied mind. Joseph’s language is like notes with the most pleasing rhythm; every word has been carefully sifted from the huge reservoir of intellect. Kudos!