Shillong Times - A Story of Friendship and Fear | Book Review

Shillong Times – A Story of Friendship and Fear

Pages: 248

Author: Nilanjan P. Choudhury

Publisher: Speaking Tiger

                ‘Shillong Times – A Story of Friendship and Fear’ by Nilanjan Choudhury is a heart-touching story of friendship between three friends Debojit Dutta (Debu), Clint Eastwood Lyngdoh and Audrey Pariat and how they are there for each other through the hard times and also the story of fear in Shillong during the 1980s. The fear that was lurking between the ‘tribal’s’ (also known as the Khasi’s) and the ‘non-tribal’s’ (also known as the ‘Dkhars’, a name given to the non-locals by the locals) who once used to live happily and were close friends till the advent of the decade of 80s. Soon conditions deteriorate in Shillong resulting in constant curfews, business, schools & colleges closing down. Soon the once friendly environment between the locals and the non-tribal’s is suspicious and they start looking after each other as enemies.  While the authorities and the politicians are not interested in the plight of the non-locals and with no one to listen the non-tribals take the matter in their own hands and try to protest in their own way but Mr. Dutta (our protagonist’s father) is not very happy with the protest and tries to help the locals in his own way which makes him the bad guy in the eyes of the non-locals and they are very adamant in showing ‘The Duttas’ the consequences of going against the community. While all this is going on our protagonist Debu happens to meet Clint Lyngdoh in Mr. Bose’s Maths tuition where Debu starts helping him with his Maths problem and they soon get along with each other. Clint is older to Debu and has lost his mother due to which he is in a condition wherein he has adapted to his own coping mechanism by smoking and drinking and he also introduces our Debu ‘the naïve child’ to a world which he has never experienced before and introduces him to ‘Audrey Pariat’ the coolest prettiest girl in town. With all the rules broken (to stay away from the locals, drugs and girls) Debu makes friends with Clint and Audrey. Together the trio embark on many adventures. But due to the conditions prevailing in Shillong they have their own questions, own doubts and being children they even fight and break their friendship at a point and decide to go on their own way. Will they be able to solve their disputes and come together and be the friends that they once were? Will the conditions in Shillong be better and will the locals and the non-locals be able to put a stop to their disputes and be the friends that they once were? To know more read The ShillongTimes.

My Thoughts:

This book teaches us the true value of friends and what it is to be in friendship. I loved all the characters in the book especially Clint he is also there for Debu at all times. The characters are beautifully written and are very realistic. All the characters have their own flaws and at times they are in a condition where they being kids don’t think much and their own decisions but they also think over it and feel sad or sorry for what has happened or for not thinking on the consequences that can be dangerous later on. The author has done a great job of characterization they are like kids would act or think in the age group and has invested a lot of time in the same. The readers won’t ever be confused about what a character is doing or why is he/she behaving so? The psychology of a child how he behaves in a given situations and how the environment really affects the thinking of a child is really beautifully shown.

Loved the writing style of the author, the book is written in a lucid language and the writing is engaging. One would flow with the narrative and feel more connected to the people and to Shillong. The readers will be able to relate to the vibes that the words of the book emanates. The book would touch the soul of the readers when you read the pain that people had to bear. The setting has also been described very beautifully it would actually take the reader to the 1980s Shillong and make them a part of the trio. In all Shillong Times is an evocative tale highlighting the true essence of friendship and shows us the readers that true friends stand for you at all times. They love you for who you are regardless of your flaws. And that sometimes you need to ignore the flaws of a person to truly know the person and make an initiative and give in your 100% to start friendship.

I really liked the author’s writing style and can’t wait to get my hands on his other books. Overall, Shillong Times is truly a story of friendship and fear and I would recommend this to all so that they really dive into the true and beautiful friendship of Debu, Clint and Audrey and get to experience what it truly is to be in friendship and what friendship really is.

My Rating: 5/5

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