I have always wondered, how being part of a family where fame matters the most feels like: having popularity, followers who'll do anything to get your attention, people lined up at your door just to meet that one special person from your family. I have always been curious to know what aura such an individual would have. Well, I believe most of us have that simple life where we fail to understand what being part of such a family or life feels like. Thanks to Anuja Chauhan, she bridges this gap very well. One of the special things about her books is that they make you feel as if you're a part of it. My first on hand experience was with Baaz, where she has comprehensively written a story(fictional) of an Indian Air Force Pilot and the events that take place in his life. While reading it I felt I was living another life with the character and was not just reading it, just for the sake.
In Battle for Bittora, Jinni is an animator, whose door is knocked on an unknown night by an old lady, who is none other than the MP of Bittora Constituency and grandmother of Jinni. Elections are around, and the Amma wants Jinni to accompany her to elections to do the publicity just for 3 months, post which Jinni could return to her work. After initial reluctance from Jinni, they venture off to Bittora. Where Jinni meets her long lost friend Zain Altaf Khan, who's also the representative of the opposition party. Jinni's life takes a new turn where she's made the party representative and is expected to win the elections. Jinni learns the titbits of politics like how to channelize money, how to approach people to vote for them, which area is their vote bank and which is not, who can be trustworthy and who can be not at the moment of need, learning opponents moves and strategy, all of which is a real-life political adventure in itself. In the midst of all these events, she has feelings for Zain, which further takes a bumpy ride when some entrusted person plays dirty politics, which puts Jinni in a dilemma of whom to trust and whom to not further. Right from surviving the bhains cafe to rescuing a dalit from public lynching to romanticizing Zain, Jinni for sure has a curvy road with funny, emotional, and extreme events. but will this lead to her win in the battle for Bittora?
The overall plot of the book is written thoroughly and can be adapted as a mini TV series or a compact three-hour movie. The characters are distinctly defined, having their own flair, which leaves a certain impact on the reader as soon as the character comes into the picture. I have always had an inclination towards the book which have a mild love story and have their focal point on the subject, which is politics in this case. Overall a great read, especially if you're looking for some fictional political escapade to kill the lock-down time. Looking forward to some other great books by Anuja Chauhan.
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