My Thoughts on Byculla Boy by Ashok Banker

I wouldn’t call this a book review because that would be untrue. I never completed reading the book. This book was found hidden between hardbound copies of books written by such giants of literature that it appeared both shy and intimidated to be stashed among them. A tattered, old copy from 1994, its pages are dog-eared and browning. I decided to read it because, of late, I have been experimenting with authors of Indian origin in order to better understand the scene.

The story is about a 9-year-old boy, Neilkant Jhaveri. Neil, as his friends and family call him, excels in studies as well as sports. But he suffers from emotional neglect. He is abandoned at his boarding school by his parents, who have separated. Consequently he goes through a phase of depression. Alone and uncared for, he finds himself inexplicably experiencing symptoms of liver disease, which he, as a child, is unable to diagnose or understand. He is eventually taken by his mother to her parents’ home in Byculla, where his physical and emotional health recovers. In Byculla, he lives among Catholic relatives who refuse to accept him entirely as their own because of his part-Hindu parentage. He makes friends with older teens and enjoys escapades into Elvis’ songs and movies. But the reality of his mother always being away, chasing roles in movies, gnaws at his young heart. He craves to be loved and adored by both his parents like regular children. Throughout most part of the story, Neil suffers from abandonment and a sense of being alone even when surrounded by hordes of people.

The tale is a sad one, but there is an underlying humour about the life of the Byculla people and their peculiarities. Stories about Mumbai and its people have been finding their way to me ever since my trip there last May.

Regarding the writing, all that I want to say is that the author uses far too many adjectives than necessary. It is one of the chief reasons why I could not finish the book. It was short but I read three quarters of it spread over many sittings, which is quite unusual for me. The story would have been better received had he done away with the dispensable descriptions. The author has lengthened a simple yet promising story into a tale that becomes tenuous with every page. I could go on, but unlike him, I kinda do know when to stop.

In conclusion, Neil was a fairly interesting character who unfortunately populated a weak plot. If the author ever decides to revamp the tale by giving Neil better scope at a performance in the story, I wouldn’t mind giving him a second chance.