‘If you want to change the party, lead it. If you want to change the country, lead it,’ said Margaret Thatcher. Author AAHK Ghori’s Tamil novel Sibi, which was released here on Sunday, is based on the above quote.
The past and present political situations form the basis of the novel.
Ghori, a political activist and a writer, who has two novels and several short story collections to his credit, has tried to depict the complexities of politics in this autobiographical sketch. “The novel is written from the point of view of a follower of Kamaraj. As we begin reading it, we might stop to question ourselves about the kind of politics that is being talked about in the novel,” said Gnana Rajasekaran, former IAS officer and film director, who released the book.
“Today’s politics is based on numbers, and the democracy we are living in is a numerical democracy. Our society persistently moves backward. One example is the recent furore against inter-caste marriages. Nowadays, many propagate that inter-caste marriages are evil. We need politics to help such people,” he added.
Veerapandian, noted political analyst, said, “After 40 years of publication of Dheepam Na Parthasarathy’s Aathmaavin Raagangal, only this novel captures the past and present day politics the way it is. In this novel, the author knowingly or unknowingly mentions my father Thiyagi Thirunavukkarasu, an ardent follower of Kamaraj and a cadre of the Congress party.”
Speaking to City Express, Ghori said, “I have written this novel to expose the misdeeds of the Congress in today’s politics. In this novel, I have brought together true leaders like Kamaraj and his ardent followers, who still believe that politics will change. This novel may look autobiographical because I have written only what I heard, seen and believed.”