A piece of fiction is usually meant for taking readers to a world of fairy tales or a crime thriller. Some are good at tantalizing the readers with book series. Rarely, one comes across a fiction book, which has cathartic impact on your daily life.
‘I know you now’ by Sushant Changotra – is one such book that takes you through a roller coaster ride of emotions and makes you cry, smile, weep, chuckle, wail and most importantly bring joy in following the protagonist’s life.
What makes it instantly connect with the readers is its unique story line and the way story has been narrated. The readers could relate to the character and feel the urge to go along with Nitin, the protagonist as he navigates through the complexities of his life.
This is how a good work of fiction impacts its readers. Making the readers find a certain sense of bonding with a stranger and then following it up till the end – is unarguably the greatest achievement for the author. And, it speaks volumes about the author’s sensitivity, compassion, imagination and his understanding of human beings and their emotions.
Sushant Changotra is the creator of this amazing book, which brings together the complexities and intricacies of life along with dollops of emotions. Mr Sushant Changotra joined Delhi Judicial Services in the year 2009. He is currently Senior Civil Judge in Delhi and has also served Haryana Judicial Services and Punjab Judicial Services in previous postings.
The protagonist Nitin’s mother means the world to him and when she breathes her last in his arms, it changes him upside down. His loss reminds us of our own grief and agony when we go through similar phase.
The book rightly captures and describes the gaping void that Nitin (and we all) feel in our lives when we lose our loved ones and become inconsolable for sometime. Nitin’s tears flowing down his cheeks, diluting his understanding of the world and making him drown in it… is one of the most moving and poignant part.
His inability to cope up with the situation and sudden rebellion against his father captures the huge internal transformation that Nitin goes through.
A soft and humble guy declaring rebellion against his father, running away to a completely new city for pursuing his ambition of becoming a famous singer and then finding himself entangled in another set of complications is something all can relate to.
The book also stands out for its rustic appeal. Talks of street masala food, packed streets during festivals are enough to revive memories of our own childhood.
The book captures critical moments of life when Nitin gets divine help in form of ‘human angels’ who come into his life and nudge him towards the right direction. Much like Nitin, we too witness such godly intervention in our lives.
The book very articulately describes the extraordinary struggles of ordinary people and also their unyielding resolve and indomitable spirit in times of any calamity. It depicts very nicely as to how the poor people do the right things in an unfair world, and don’t get bogged down despite trickery and subterfuge by other class of society. This shows author’s keen understanding of system and also sensitivity of people.
The spiritual aspect of the book is yet another enlightening and engrossing part.
