In a small, poor area of India - two girls who were best friends were found dead. One hangs on the left, in dark green - she looks older even though her face is blurred. The other is in pink/orange, smaller and daintier. Doesn’t look a day older than 12 even though she’s 14. Both their feet are covered in dust, they look as if they are sleeping with heads bowed. If it weren’t for the coiled rope around their necks.
This book focuses on these two girls, who she calls Padma and Lalli. They are normal teenagers girls, interested in boys and makeup, making secret phone calls - but in India, this is a great infraction that can sometimes call for retribution. Girls are meant to stay home, to have no autonomy, or time for themselves. It focuses on the serious topics of abuse, the Caste system, and how along with sexism and perpetual rape culture - makes room for honor killings and abuse of power. The victims are almost always the lower caste/casteless and women or girls. Raising awareness for these great injustices, writing from an analytical approach.
The author does an amazing job painting a clear picture of neglect and inadequacy of the UP, and (unlicensed) Pathologist involved in the case. Even the family themselves were unreliable for witness testimony. Almost everyone involved was more interested in protecting themselves, then finding these girls. Once the bodies of Padma and Lalli are found, the family refuses to allow the police to gather the bodies. Rightfully knowing that once they are brought down, the case will vanish into obscurity as so many have before.
Overall, this is a book that deserved a spot on the Bestseller list. It never handles topics insensitively. It’s respectful, and does not take a side - though the author sometimes delivers clever humor that can be missed. I found this novel beautiful and heartbreaking, and both girls are overshadowed by the corruption and injustice done by the authorities. It’s yet again another tragedy. There is Huffington Post article that posted the image of the girl’s bodies, and was disgusted that they falsley reported as fact that these girls committed suicide. They showed every intention of living, they even had just got 100 rupees to spend. This is an attempt of the bureau to ignore the way India horrifically treats it’s women and girls. When they couldn’t blame anyone else due to them ruining evidence, they tried to blame the girls themselves.
This is an easily digestible read from a Western Point of view, and no less sympathetic. The author’s approach is formal, but not overwhelming. Even with some mentions of foreign concepts, words, or foods - I was not lost, as it is always conveyed or directly communicated as to the meaning. This book also made me look into Documentaries on life in India, especially for lower caste and women. The book does an amazing way of showing this without having to tell you everything. It conveys the aspects of life perfectly, in a shorter time then the documentaries.
Overall, this book is written for fans of nonfiction that handles serious topics. It’s meant to spark conversation, and it does it well. Long after I finished this book, I did not stop thinking of it or pondering the girl’s fate. The evidence and testimony went so many ways, and one witness named Nazru is suspicious in his constant changing of his story. If you do not like serious looks at the system, or dark themes - this book may be one you want to skip. But I will recommend it anyway. It provides an important look on culture and religion, in relation to secularism - and how this affects daily life. It lets you see how Padma and Lalli would have lived, how unfairly they were treated in life and in death.
Thank you sincerely to Netgalley and the Publisher, for giving me a copy of the ARC to read. I loved and appreciated it, and plan on buying.
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