A paradigm of humorous chaos: The Competent Authority by Shovon Chowdhury

Penned by Shovon Chowdhury, the novel “The Competent Authority”holds the story which has been given a set up of futuristic India. The book is a political satire over the current national scenario, dealing in politics. Published by the Aleph book Company, the novel  has been placed with a high threshold.

.
The Plot

India has been portrayed as we are in the 2030s is way far different from the present  world. It has been shown that the capital of the country is New Delhi, whereas Bengal has been shown as a protectorate of China. Haryana’s sex ratio has fallen down to a pitiable 400. After being nuked by China, the country is now secretly ruled by a person at top position and is known as Competent Authority (CA). The emission has had bizarre effects on people, one of them is Pintoo, a 12-year old boy who discovers that he possesses the power of bending space-time continuum after he gets mutilated by the Bank of Bodies. He decides to use his power for the good and sends three people: an Al-Qaeda operative, a CBI clerk and a corrupt cop to alter three major proceedings in Indian history.

The Good

The novel has been written in simple and palatable English without too many dull-witted words, having its central theme, which  is a satire which tends to make fun of everyone, be it certain traditions, assurances, politics or society. Though the book seems to read quickly with a touch of swish humor along with a hidden layer of deep philosophy lying underneath, questioning the likelihood of the constructed future being somewhat similar to the yet unknown one. The characters have been portrayed in response to the situation constructed. Some of them are completely comical and amusing that will leave you by rolling on the floor laughing while a few leave you with a smile. The plot too is fascinatingly structured. Pintoo’s assignment to fix the past with the help of a few adults forms the center plot, with the fanatically eccentric dystopic India, providing the milieu.

The Bad

The book seems to be a little lengthy  in terms of satire which sometimes happens to be a discouraging read. The font size till the page 452 is really small. Even if the characters have been shown and put across the novel in a very funny way, yet they seem to be a little unrealistic.

The central character of CA doesn’t live up to its authoritative designation, being heavily besieged by a hackneyed mindset and haphazard fool-like decisions. The author uses it in an explosively extreme amount, in every page and paragraph of the book. Perhaps the old saying – ‘too much of anything isn’t good’ seems to be true after reading this book.

Thus, the novel The Competent Authority can be read, if you have a lot of time to spare and have little patience. As you flip the pages, you will surely engross yourself in the story. The fans of satire and dark humor will surely like it.

Available at lelobooks, an online bookstore in India. To grab this political satire with loads of hilarious instances, order now and get your book at home.