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Friday 16 January 2015

Book Review: Black, grey and white by Santosh Avvanavar and Santosh I. Biradar

About the book:
This book gifts its readers five fantastic short stories that has a common aim – to spread awareness about AIDS. It is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against AIDS and show their solidarity for HIV positive people. The book is an eye opener for anyone who wish to see the wave of positive change in society. Everyone including the brave hearts Savita, Chintu, Mithali has the right to live with their head held high without fear of social ostracization. Life does not have to be like this. The time is ripe to act now with one’s sense and sensibility. Break the myths. Come, be the change!


About the Author:
Santosh Avvannavar: Santosh started his career as a consultant and Soft Skills Trainer. After his college education from NITK, Surathkal, he worked as a researcher at University of Eindhoven, University of Twente, and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was also the Placement President while working at IISC, Bangalore. He has over twenty-five publications of mostly research documents in national and international journals. He has also authored sixteen conference papers and regularly writes articles for a national and worldwide daily paper. He also works as an advisor for different organizations. He also dabbles in fiction writing and is the author of Adhuri Prem Kahaniya; Dear Wife, Your Husband is not a Superhero, Second Heart and Get a Job WITHOUT an Interview; Be A B.A.; Surrogate Author; Title is Untitled. He likes to devote his personal time in writing for a website, namely the Amrita Foundation for HRD (amritafoundation.wordpress.com). He has conducted seminars and training sessions for more than 40,000 people in India and abroad over the last seven years.
Santosh I. Biradar: Santosh is presently pursuing Bachelor's in Social Work from J.G.College of Social Work, Bijapur affiliated to Rani Chennamma University. He is also the founder secretary of Chaitanya Organisation, Bijapur. He is also associated with Deshpande Foundation as a lead ambassador. He won 'Best Reporter' award in Youth for Development Program's and 'Best Education award' from Deshpande Foundation for providing free computer training to the orphan children. He also volunteered various activities such as Google Inktalks, NSS (A special camp for Leprosy people), life skills for orphan children. He participated and evolved many school development programs for drop out children as well.

My Review:


This book reviews in a similar fashion as the author's other books have been. 
The intention of the book is too powerful and too noble. But the words used and the manner of bringing the message fails to do justification to it. 

For one, the intention and the motivation of spreading social awareness about how the social ostracisation of humans of trivial issues and bases  is illogical, is too powerful, and requires a lot of conviction in writing. It is risky in itself to tread such taboo territories. And to go against the stigma and established status quo hence necessitates a lot of conviction from the author penning the plot such that his conviction is transferred to the reader. As an objective even great writers have failed to cater to all diverse groups. So it does not come as a surprise that a contemporary piece falls short. 


One good point about the book is how so many hitherto unspoken issues and social constructs previously not encroached upon have been brought to notice of the reader in a different light.
Juvenile narration, insipid  language and grammatical flaws do little to enhance the reading experience.






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