The In-Between World of Vikram Lall
ISBN 0-385-65990-3 | |
The In-Between World of Vikram Lall is a novel by
Plot
Vikram Lall is an adult living in exile in Canada and the novel plots him contemplating over his life as a teenager of Indian origin living in Kenya in the 1950s. Vikram's paternal grandfather was brought to Africa from Northwest India as a laborer on the railways, while his father Ashok was born in Africa and became a member of the Asian Home Guard troops that worked for the British. His mother, Sheila, the daughter of a police inspector, was born in India and moved to Africa after marrying Ashok. Both Vikram and his younger sister, Deepa, were also born in Africa and reside in the town of Nakuru. While Ashok strives to emulate the British colonists, their maternal uncle Mahesh disrupts their household with his support for the radical Mau Mau group seeking to overturn British rule.
While growing up in colonial Kenya, Vik and Deepa befriend Njoroge, a
As teenagers, Vik and Deepa reconnect with Njoroge, who is now a rising star in the new government led by Jomo Kenyatta. It becomes clear that Deepa and Njoroge are in love, but Sheila is adamantly opposed to their relationship and persuades Njoroge to give up on Deepa. Devastated by Njoroge's rejection, Deepa marries another suitor and apparently settles down, while Njoroge marries a Kikuyu woman and continues to be an idealistic voice in government. While Vik begins as a railway inspector, he finds himself moving up in the bureaucratic ladder as his superiors take advantage of his status as an Asian man in Africa - having neither native African roots nor strong ties to the former British rule - to fuel their increasingly corrupt activities as a middleman who takes bribes and launders currency. Though Vik is stunned by the political influence he gains, he is soon tossed aside as a scapegoat by his superior when a scam is opposed. He takes up a position in his in-laws jewellery business, but his connections continue follow him and he becomes known as one of the most corrupt men in Africa.
As the years go by, Vik's parents are gradually driven apart, though they briefly become closer again when Sheila is diagnosed with breast cancer. Deepa and Njoroge meet again as friends, though their past feelings remain strong and rumours begin to circulate that they are having an affair. When Njoroge's mentor and political opponent to Jomo Kenyatta is killed, Njoroge's idealism makes him a target and he is killed at Deepa's shop. Deepa mourns his death for years, but when her husband Dilip dies, the scandals around Njoroge and Dilip's deaths isolate her and she chooses to immigrate to the United States where her two grown children reside. Vik's increased involvement in various political scandals endangers the lives of family members; his wife separates from him and takes their children to England, while Vik flees to Canada.
In present, Vik attempts to atone for Njoroge's death by looking out for Njoroge's son, Joseph, who has come to Canada. When Joseph suddenly returns to Kenya and is arrested for his participation in a violent political protest, Vik chooses to return to Africa to leverage his account of the most notorious scandal he was involved in in order to secure Joseph's release. Though he succeeds in obtaining Joseph's release, Vik's chance for a fresh start is overturned when the investigating committee is abruptly dissolved and he is left vulnerable to his enemies hoping to keep their corruption secret. With his lawyer arrested, Vikram is left in hiding when his apartment building is set ablaze, leaving his fate ambiguous.[1]
Publication
The novel is fifth by Vassanji and was published on 11 October 2003 by
Review and reception
Author
Awards
The novel was shortlisted for the 2003
References
- ISBN 978-0-307-37192-8. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
- ^ "Reviews: The In-Between World of Vikram Lall". Quills and Quire. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "The In-Between World of Vikram Lall". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "When Storymoja Festival savoured 'The In-Between World of Vikram Lall'". Daily Nation. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Review: The In-Between World of Vikram Lall". Publishers Weekly. 26 July 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "This Weekend, Navigate The Changing World Of 'Vikram Lall'". National Public Radio. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ Hunter, Sandra (25 June 2014). "Top 10 books about Indian families". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- ^ Habila, Helon (18 September 2004). "Memories of Mau Mau". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ "Books briefly Noted: The In-Between World of Vikram Lall". The New Yorker. 25 October 2004. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Sahgal, Tara (1 November 2004). "The nowhere man Vassanji returns". Indian Today. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Scotiabank Giller Prize: past winners and jury". Scotiabank Giller Prize. Retrieved 14 March 2017.