The Sound of Water

By Sanjay Bahadur

Book Overview

Longlisted for the 2007 Man Asian Prize, a gripping debut novel about an Indian mining disaster as seen from the perspectives of the miners, their families, and the officials charged with rescuing them.Written by a former director of the Indian Ministry of Coal, and loosely based on the disastrous flood at the Bagdihi colliery in 2001, which trapped and killed dozens of miners, The Sound of Water is written with both an insider's authority and rare literary style. Its suspenseful narrative is presented from three perspectives: The old miner struggling to save himself and his coworkers hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth; the company and government officials charged with managing the rescue efforts, but who are seemingly far more concerned with managing their careers; and, finally, the miners' families, who stand to gain life-changing sums as a consequence of their losses. A searing fictional expos of the appalling conditions that Indian miners endure and a moving story of the spiritual strength and conviction that enables one to survive against the odds, The Sound of Water dares to inaugurate "alternate realism," a fresh genre very different from the soul-baring autobiographies and epic family sagas that have characterized so much of recent Indian fiction.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416585699
• ISBN13: 9781416585695
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

The Power of Self-interest

A cautionary tale, 'The Sound of Water' reveals the state of coal mining in India. But the message is not limited to that nation or region. Bahadur's experience as a director of the Indian Ministry of Coal allows him to present an objective picture even in a work of fiction. It's nearly impossible to read the word 'mining' in the newspaper without it being followed by 'accident' or 'disaster'. Next, we read of the number injured, missing or dead. Any incident seemingly needs a scapegoat quickly found to detract from in-depth study. The story told by Bahadur builds around the situational morality of those affected by and involved in the incident at the mine. We see the families, company management, union official, law enforcement and government officials as they 'deal' with the tragedy. This book was moving. I am thankful that I am not faced with those conditions. I find it hard to believe it is the author's debut. It is well worded and intelligently presented. He shows a true understanding of the lives of those he portrays. Though it is a quick read, it will have a lasting impact. I know there will be news stories in the near future that will bring this book to mind. If you have an interest in the subject or area, I think you'll like this one.

A Marvelously Compelling Read

Some books are great because they take you to a place you will never go, other books introduce you to people or a life you will never experience. Fewer can do both, but the Sound of Water accomplishes just that. Small vignettes weave the story through a coal mine accident deep in India. This book is both character study of people from the various, complicated strata of Indian life as well as a warning against materialism and the dangers the "beast" of a bureaucracy. The sections on the actual mining operations are fascinating and manage to keep up interest. Beautifully written and fraught with philosophy, it is not necessarily an easy read, mostly because its English is Indian. Still, once I picked up the rhythm I breezed through it and it was well worth the effort.