Krishna Gubili's debut book 'Viriah' is the true story of Krishna's search for his great grandfather's past, faraway in the sugar plantations of South Africa.
The kind of a story that must be told - while we try to hide our histories. And that is Krishna's greatest victory here - he tells the story without any feelings of shame or embarrassment (which most of us do with our histories) and tells it with great love and compassion.
The book is similar to 'Roots' and has as much passion and deserves as much attention and love. The other book I read about indentured labour was Amitav Ghosh's 'Sea of Poppies' and I can categorically say that Krishna's account told me more about the lives of indentured labour, and moved me much more.
I feel it is a great story to be adapted into a film - rarely do we get such stories where everything is perfectly set. I hope some producer picks it up. Also, this is a book that so deserves greater readership so I hope some literary agent or a large publisher picks it up as well.
It is a thorough and meticulous job, a labour of love and I can only compliment Krishna on this fine debut effort.
For all those who love great passionate stories,
Buy it and Read it.
Harimohan Paruvu