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Cracking the dummies

Photo: V. Sudershan

Refreshing Ashish Jaiswal

In the slush of pulp, here comes a piece of literature from a young author. On the surface, Ashish Jaiswal's True Dummy is the story of two ordinary boys and their quest to conquer the world but beneath it is simmering with some soul-searching dilemmas that continue to haunt the humanity.

For instance what's the relation between sincerity and destiny? "Destiny is a lazy creature which hates to move. whether it lives in a rich man's house or a poor man's hut, it matters least to it," says Jaiswal. No, the book is not all about sermonising. Jaiswal has entwined a fascinating tale and set it at a leisurely space. In a gripping narrative, with true and dummy pearls as metaphor, he has distinguished between reality and what is perceived as truth.

He insists the book tells a timeless story which is not rooted in any one particular country. "I have brought some doses of philosophy but essentially it talks about questions that every young person faces such as existential angst, the urge to do something worthwhile."

Born in Bhopal, Jaiswal, 33, is pursuing his doctorate in higher education from the University of Oxford. He has drawn inspiration from the ancient wisdom of India. "India has a history of telling complex thought through lucid stories. Panchtantra and Hitopdesha are telling examples of India's literary strength. My research is also about reinventing pedagogy so that complicated theories could be elucidated simply."

Jaiswal feels there is a need for inspirational writing for the Indian youth. "Instead most young authors show them trivial things. Nobody notices the increasing disparity in the society. This hotel charges a healthy amount to check mails on your laptop while a section is struggling to make ends meet. Some people say flashy stuff sells. I am willing to take the challenge." He holds Chetan Bhagat is good time pass but he can't suggest his writing to his daughter as a piece of literature.

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