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aanchi3's review
3.0
This book is following Chaitanya, a person who’s life has been deeply disturbed by a well know nuclear test. The ‘Smiling Buddha’ nuclear test, widely known for it’s success, had a devastating impact on the people of that areas community.
This is a story of a boy, who lost this mother and was born with disabilities. All this was the aftermath of that successful test. It is about this constant struggle through life and against the government.
The whole concept is so unique and appreciated. The first part was good, but later on it became dull. I was not hooked till the end. The narration was not smooth, you had to concentrate a lot when it came to the timelines. Read some unnecessary details and that was a little boring. The ending was very hasty.
This is a story of a boy, who lost this mother and was born with disabilities. All this was the aftermath of that successful test. It is about this constant struggle through life and against the government.
The whole concept is so unique and appreciated. The first part was good, but later on it became dull. I was not hooked till the end. The narration was not smooth, you had to concentrate a lot when it came to the timelines. Read some unnecessary details and that was a little boring. The ending was very hasty.
dhruv1996's review
3.0
I actually have a mixed feeling about this book. While on one hand there are points that I loved and then certain elements just confused me. This is a story about Chaitanya who had to face collateral damages of Pokhran Nuclear Tests. Due to nuclear radiation, he was born without hands and legs. Also, his mother died due to the delivery. But he still had a loving sister and a father who cared for him though in his own way. What followed was a life full of ups and downs. He was fortunate enough to find loving people but also had to face the unfortunate incidents of losing them one way or the other. His life ends with cancer but more importantly, he leaves very important messages through his actions.
What I liked-
(1) The idea of covering the life of those who were unfortunate to face the wrath of nuclear radiation is a concept new to me. So, kudos to the author for that.
(2) I loved the cover page.
(3) I also loved the fact that fonts and page settings are such that it makes the book easy and fun to read.
(4) The character development of Chaitanya, Radhika, and their father was indeed impressive.
What could have been better-
(1) I just felt that few lines of the blurb do not feel right. For example But when fate snatches Zara away from him, he is consumed by revenge. I could not find anything of that magnitude in the following pages.
(2) For me, death is the easiest tool to progress a storyline. Here, there are plenty of those. This is sad because a bit more effort would have made the book lot more enjoyable.
(3) At some places, the narration felt too fast and lacking logic. I mean in the summer of the late 1980s, Chaitanya was shown as a weak normal boy and between 1985-1990 he is accepted at MIT and working on a project that resulted in his father's death? Even at other points the dates and years felt messed up.
(4) Many things were brought in as a part of the story but left unexplored.
So yes, while I liked the book...It could have been a lot lot better. Recommended to those who like to read books with extremely realistic characters.
What I liked-
(1) The idea of covering the life of those who were unfortunate to face the wrath of nuclear radiation is a concept new to me. So, kudos to the author for that.
(2) I loved the cover page.
(3) I also loved the fact that fonts and page settings are such that it makes the book easy and fun to read.
(4) The character development of Chaitanya, Radhika, and their father was indeed impressive.
What could have been better-
(1) I just felt that few lines of the blurb do not feel right. For example But when fate snatches Zara away from him, he is consumed by revenge. I could not find anything of that magnitude in the following pages.
(2) For me, death is the easiest tool to progress a storyline. Here, there are plenty of those. This is sad because a bit more effort would have made the book lot more enjoyable.
(3) At some places, the narration felt too fast and lacking logic. I mean in the summer of the late 1980s, Chaitanya was shown as a weak normal boy and between 1985-1990 he is accepted at MIT and working on a project that resulted in his father's death? Even at other points the dates and years felt messed up.
(4) Many things were brought in as a part of the story but left unexplored.
So yes, while I liked the book...It could have been a lot lot better. Recommended to those who like to read books with extremely realistic characters.
sassybooksquirrel's review
This story is set in Pokhran and hence gets its name from it. This is a place near Rajastan which is famous for the nuclear tests particuarly the Smiling Buddha project which helped India emerge as a nuclear power. Everybody talked about the succesful tests but the failed tests and what happened to the lives of the affected inhabitants of Pokhran were tragically buried secrets .One such person is Chaitanya the protagonist of the story . He and many other such children born during the period had disabilities caused due to the radioactive fallout from the nuclear tests. The struggles that he goes through in life for survival and the hurdles he faces how he finds a motivation to live is what this story is about. His father is one of the other important characters of this book. This book has a lot of emotions in it. The author has done a great job indeed.
Eventhough this is an imaginary story its based on true life happenings and quite well researched. It is very well narated and thoughtfuly written. Also fact paced which was good except for a rushed up closure. Definietely an eye opener on diff issues in the society and a must read . I am a sucker for historical fiction and really liked reading the forgotten history of Pokhran .
My Rating: 3.5/5
Eventhough this is an imaginary story its based on true life happenings and quite well researched. It is very well narated and thoughtfuly written. Also fact paced which was good except for a rushed up closure. Definietely an eye opener on diff issues in the society and a must read . I am a sucker for historical fiction and really liked reading the forgotten history of Pokhran .
My Rating: 3.5/5
pretty_little_bibliophile's review
4.0
Pokhran by Uday Singh is a book we all need to read. Inspired from the real event that propelled India into the nuclear-powered nation scenario, Pokhran is a book that rather focuses on the grey bits that are often ignored while people applaud the amazing feat of the creation of the nuclear bomb and a haze of patriotism.
As the name suggests, it is about the secret nuclear bomb test of 1974, coded SMILING BUDDHA, in Pokhran, in Rajasthan. When the test concluded successfully, the world (well, rather the allies of India) congratulated on her silent arrival to this stage. What was a side topic (that was much ignored and glossed over) was the fallout of this test. The people of the area were never informed. The book follows the trials and tribulations of Chaitanya, for he is one kid who was in his pregnant mother's belly while the test was conducted. And she was not the only one. There were quite a few pregnancies at the time and even for some time after the test, many of the babies born were affected by the radioactive waves and born with severe deformations or disabilities. It was clear that this was all due to that fateful test!
Chaitanya was born with stubs for hands and feet. As such, he found it really difficult growing up. Besides the obvious social consequences of this test, the author also explores various themes. For instance, the bond between brothers and sisters, being bullied because of differences, how disabilities can affect families (and my heart broke reading the father's treatment of his son, all in the name of his twisted sense of thinking that he will be making his son stronger for the world) and so on. There was also a romance angle and the book also explored how loss can affect people psychologically and affect their actions.
Overall, it is a slow paced thriller, I would say, for the path that Chaitanya is irrevocably pushed upon and that he ultimately conquers, all triggers from the SMILING BUDDHA. It spans from the deserts of Rajasthan over the years to Syria and finally MIT. But that is not it. At the core of it, this is a novel very much about man's indomitable spirit in the face of difficulties and challenges, and this human spirit above it.
It was a really enlightening read. I think everyone should definitely pick it up!
As the name suggests, it is about the secret nuclear bomb test of 1974, coded SMILING BUDDHA, in Pokhran, in Rajasthan. When the test concluded successfully, the world (well, rather the allies of India) congratulated on her silent arrival to this stage. What was a side topic (that was much ignored and glossed over) was the fallout of this test. The people of the area were never informed. The book follows the trials and tribulations of Chaitanya, for he is one kid who was in his pregnant mother's belly while the test was conducted. And she was not the only one. There were quite a few pregnancies at the time and even for some time after the test, many of the babies born were affected by the radioactive waves and born with severe deformations or disabilities. It was clear that this was all due to that fateful test!
Chaitanya was born with stubs for hands and feet. As such, he found it really difficult growing up. Besides the obvious social consequences of this test, the author also explores various themes. For instance, the bond between brothers and sisters, being bullied because of differences, how disabilities can affect families (and my heart broke reading the father's treatment of his son, all in the name of his twisted sense of thinking that he will be making his son stronger for the world) and so on. There was also a romance angle and the book also explored how loss can affect people psychologically and affect their actions.
Overall, it is a slow paced thriller, I would say, for the path that Chaitanya is irrevocably pushed upon and that he ultimately conquers, all triggers from the SMILING BUDDHA. It spans from the deserts of Rajasthan over the years to Syria and finally MIT. But that is not it. At the core of it, this is a novel very much about man's indomitable spirit in the face of difficulties and challenges, and this human spirit above it.
It was a really enlightening read. I think everyone should definitely pick it up!
enrida's review
4.0
Insightful read.
This book tells us about the first nuclear weapon that was tested in a place called Pokhran. This piece of news was quite covered in the media, but they did forget one thing; the fallout of this test which ruined the lives of many people in that place.
This book is really on the next level because the characters were written so well, whereby the main protagonist portrayed characteristics that will encourage and motivate the readers. He tells us that disability should not be treated as an obstacle that will stand in the way but instead it is a hurdle that needs to be overcome and triumph over.
This book made me travel back in time and live through the eyes of the protagonist. My heart broke so many times for Chaitanya, and how I wish I was there to help him unload some of his problems and bear them as my own.
Although this book is a great read, I personally feel that it could have been better.
My train of thought sometimes got lost while reading and I believe the writing style could have been more refined.
Overall, this is a great book.
This book tells us about the first nuclear weapon that was tested in a place called Pokhran. This piece of news was quite covered in the media, but they did forget one thing; the fallout of this test which ruined the lives of many people in that place.
This book is really on the next level because the characters were written so well, whereby the main protagonist portrayed characteristics that will encourage and motivate the readers. He tells us that disability should not be treated as an obstacle that will stand in the way but instead it is a hurdle that needs to be overcome and triumph over.
This book made me travel back in time and live through the eyes of the protagonist. My heart broke so many times for Chaitanya, and how I wish I was there to help him unload some of his problems and bear them as my own.
Although this book is a great read, I personally feel that it could have been better.
My train of thought sometimes got lost while reading and I believe the writing style could have been more refined.
Overall, this is a great book.
im_negomi's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
I need to note first the grammatical errors which at times really broke the flow (like missing spaces, or whole lines being repeated).
Overall interesting read, but also a great way to begin a talking point about the change which society really does need to head too, as Ramesh sir said: "You have to look towards the future and how you can make this world a better place for everyone. Intelligence and smartness are wasted if they sre not put to use for the betterment of humanity"
I thought it would be more about the Smiling Buddha nuclear test, however, it was great to get a look at how such an act could really define the lives that came after that event.
To me however the best bit was the authors note at the back where Uday Singh really goes into his philosophy of Paracracy which is only just hinted at by the end of the story (& feels would have had more impact with a few more mentions or focuses on financial inequality in the story).
Overall interesting read, but also a great way to begin a talking point about the change which society really does need to head too, as Ramesh sir said: "You have to look towards the future and how you can make this world a better place for everyone. Intelligence and smartness are wasted if they sre not put to use for the betterment of humanity"
I thought it would be more about the Smiling Buddha nuclear test, however, it was great to get a look at how such an act could really define the lives that came after that event.
To me however the best bit was the authors note at the back where Uday Singh really goes into his philosophy of Paracracy which is only just hinted at by the end of the story (& feels would have had more impact with a few more mentions or focuses on financial inequality in the story).
paprisoren's review against another edition
4.0
Title: Pokhran
Writer: Uday Sigh
Genre: Thriller, Social drama
.
.
The story begins with the success of the Smiling budhdha which was a nuclear test happened in 1974. But in disguise it was an anathema as nuclear fallout was inevitable which remained unreported. It caused huge impact on the inhabitants of Pokhran.
Because of the explosion Chaitanya's mother dies giving birth to him and Chaitanya is born with physical disabilities. Doctor says it has not only happened with Chaitanya but also with other children. When he is teenager he discovers the root cause of the explosion and learns that the conspiracy surrounding this radioactive fallout runs deep in the establishment. When he and his fathers tries to reveal the truth Chaitanya's father gets killed.
.
Chaitanya moves to USA and starts working as a researcher but his only goal is to expose the truth. There he builds a team with Rob, Krishna and with his wife Zoya. But again fates snatches Zoya away, She gets killed in a Syrian riot. But he remains intact towards his mission.
.
The plot is fresh and I liked the fact that author tries to serve something new to the plate. The writing style is lucid. I liked Chaitanya's character, despite having physical disabilities he is optimist towards life and his goal. Credit goes to his father. I wish I could see more softer side of his father. Despite having good plot what didn't work for me is the way Chaitanya's emotional side has been told because I didn't feel connected. The ending was bit abrupt. But it's okay. So I am going with 3.5 star.
Writer: Uday Sigh
Genre: Thriller, Social drama
.
.
The story begins with the success of the Smiling budhdha which was a nuclear test happened in 1974. But in disguise it was an anathema as nuclear fallout was inevitable which remained unreported. It caused huge impact on the inhabitants of Pokhran.
Because of the explosion Chaitanya's mother dies giving birth to him and Chaitanya is born with physical disabilities. Doctor says it has not only happened with Chaitanya but also with other children. When he is teenager he discovers the root cause of the explosion and learns that the conspiracy surrounding this radioactive fallout runs deep in the establishment. When he and his fathers tries to reveal the truth Chaitanya's father gets killed.
.
Chaitanya moves to USA and starts working as a researcher but his only goal is to expose the truth. There he builds a team with Rob, Krishna and with his wife Zoya. But again fates snatches Zoya away, She gets killed in a Syrian riot. But he remains intact towards his mission.
.
The plot is fresh and I liked the fact that author tries to serve something new to the plate. The writing style is lucid. I liked Chaitanya's character, despite having physical disabilities he is optimist towards life and his goal. Credit goes to his father. I wish I could see more softer side of his father. Despite having good plot what didn't work for me is the way Chaitanya's emotional side has been told because I didn't feel connected. The ending was bit abrupt. But it's okay. So I am going with 3.5 star.
simranthawani's review against another edition
3.0
Pokhran is a fictional novel based on the nuclear fallout from the "Smiling Buddha" nuclear test conducted in 1974. The test placed India on the nuclear map. But no one considered the impact that the test would have on lives on the people living in the small long-forgotten village.
The story starts with the successful detonation of the nuclear bomb and everyone's celebration. But neither of the only two people who had noticed the small puff of dust that was pushed out of the crater gave it any importance. The dry desert air carrying that dust drifted away immediately and into the small village in Rajasthan and went on to irrevocably alter so many lives of innocent and unsuspecting people. One such life that forms the focus of the story is Chaitanya's. The book is his story of struggle in the face of adversities, his constant effort to improve lives of others and the unbreakable and unfailing human spirit.
It's a story of love, loss and strength that teaches you to not lose hope even in the face of difficulty.
The book is a short, pleasant read. It's well-written, easy to understand and effortless. Each of the characters constantly reaffirm their support and belief in gender equality, education rights and upliftment of the society through celebration of diversity in their own unique ways. It seamlessly threads the political bureaucracy and the common man's struggle to fight for the truth into the story. Definitely an interesting and inspiring read.
The story starts with the successful detonation of the nuclear bomb and everyone's celebration. But neither of the only two people who had noticed the small puff of dust that was pushed out of the crater gave it any importance. The dry desert air carrying that dust drifted away immediately and into the small village in Rajasthan and went on to irrevocably alter so many lives of innocent and unsuspecting people. One such life that forms the focus of the story is Chaitanya's. The book is his story of struggle in the face of adversities, his constant effort to improve lives of others and the unbreakable and unfailing human spirit.
It's a story of love, loss and strength that teaches you to not lose hope even in the face of difficulty.
The book is a short, pleasant read. It's well-written, easy to understand and effortless. Each of the characters constantly reaffirm their support and belief in gender equality, education rights and upliftment of the society through celebration of diversity in their own unique ways. It seamlessly threads the political bureaucracy and the common man's struggle to fight for the truth into the story. Definitely an interesting and inspiring read.
architha_thebookishdweeb's review against another edition
4.0
"Once a minority group acquires a negative label or a stereotype, then the onus will be on every member of that minority group, whether they had that trait in them or not, to actively demonstrate that they don't fit that label" - Uday Singh
It is a tough fact that the reason we suffer is seldom due to our actions, most of the time it is due to the actions of others who do it for pride or pleasure. Life never comes easy. It's a messy heap of regret, failure, grief, pity, and whatnot. The factor of happiness can only be included in this heap when we decide. If we choose to stay miserable, then miserable we remain.
'Pokhran: A Novel' is a well-written tale of Chaitanya, a genius, whose life was based on the Smiling Buddha nuclear test that happened in Pokhran even before he was born. Some call it fate. He called it opportunities. The opportunity to rise to the occasion and do what he always wanted to do: to be of service to his people. He had his fair share of hurdles and obstacles, and he overcame them like a pro. He never sought revenge, he only sought solutions.
I loved every character in the book. It seemed like their purpose in life was only to help. The book also highlights migration, feminism, neglect, and paracracy (the most important among them). I would have loved it if the book gave more details on each relationship: it felt like every scene was rushed and they should have been given more pages.
I Would recommend everyone to read this, since it's not only about the nuclear fallout, but also about various issues that have been bugging enthusiastic minds today.
It is a tough fact that the reason we suffer is seldom due to our actions, most of the time it is due to the actions of others who do it for pride or pleasure. Life never comes easy. It's a messy heap of regret, failure, grief, pity, and whatnot. The factor of happiness can only be included in this heap when we decide. If we choose to stay miserable, then miserable we remain.
'Pokhran: A Novel' is a well-written tale of Chaitanya, a genius, whose life was based on the Smiling Buddha nuclear test that happened in Pokhran even before he was born. Some call it fate. He called it opportunities. The opportunity to rise to the occasion and do what he always wanted to do: to be of service to his people. He had his fair share of hurdles and obstacles, and he overcame them like a pro. He never sought revenge, he only sought solutions.
I loved every character in the book. It seemed like their purpose in life was only to help. The book also highlights migration, feminism, neglect, and paracracy (the most important among them). I would have loved it if the book gave more details on each relationship: it felt like every scene was rushed and they should have been given more pages.
I Would recommend everyone to read this, since it's not only about the nuclear fallout, but also about various issues that have been bugging enthusiastic minds today.
fathima_ashab's review against another edition
3.0
This book was not what I expected it to be. I don't know, maybe the title and the cover gave me a different idea so I was really surprised to read a completely another theme which I found super cool and stood out in the book. So the base as you can see from the title is that it's happening in the place called Pokhran near Jaipur after a nuclear test gone wrong and children are being born disabled. Our protagonist is one such special child. I found it really emotional at some point and in some places there were hopes and positivity that was so good to read about.
I also got to learn about Paracracy which is something like communism but not exactly. It is about individual having freedom to accumulate wealth as much as possible for themselves but they can't pass it to children. I don't think I completely agree with it. But I found it interesting. So at the base, the story is about how our protagonist, Chaithanya exposes the truth in the conspiracy of nuclear test gone wrong, brings justice and helps people in Pokhran. There was also an underlying romantic relationship(s) which I didn't like much. I mean it wasn't odd but the author could have done it well. And the writing could have been polished a bit. Otherwise it's a good read.
3.5
I also got to learn about Paracracy which is something like communism but not exactly. It is about individual having freedom to accumulate wealth as much as possible for themselves but they can't pass it to children. I don't think I completely agree with it. But I found it interesting. So at the base, the story is about how our protagonist, Chaithanya exposes the truth in the conspiracy of nuclear test gone wrong, brings justice and helps people in Pokhran. There was also an underlying romantic relationship(s) which I didn't like much. I mean it wasn't odd but the author could have done it well. And the writing could have been polished a bit. Otherwise it's a good read.
3.5