The Beautiful and the Damned: Life in the New India

“The Beautiful and the Damned – Life in the New India” by Siddhartha Deb delves into the multifaceted contradictions of India, offering a captivating portrayal through the lives of diverse individuals. With eloquent and commanding prose, Deb presents an unforgettable cast of characters, including a Gatsby-esque mogul in Delhi, whose passion lies in producing obscure gangster films; Gopeti, a wiry farmer from a village plagued by suicides and riots; and Esther, a poignant waitress with dual degrees in biochemistry and botany, now serving Coca-Cola to arms dealers at the upscale Shangri La hotel.

Through these vivid accounts, Deb humanizes the post-globalization experience, shedding light on its triumphs, failures, and absurdities. In India, one can take a moment’s rest, only to find their job vanished, or own a luxurious BMW while waiting for cows to cross their path. The novel, now available with the once-controversial and unpublished first chapter, remains as relevant and insightful today as it was upon its initial release.