A fistful of Salt is a translation of the Tamil bestseller "Uppu Kanakku".
It is a powerful novel woven
around our independence struggle and the pain of partition. A historical fiction set in the pre independence era, it takes one back to the epochal salt march to Vedaranyam by Rajaji. The novel deftly combines fictional characters with real characters and presents history with an interesting plot. Ananth who is on a short vacation at his great grandfather’s house in Mylapore before going abroad for further studies is intrigued by the behaviour of his grand uncle. When he tries to find an answer, he is taken down the memory lane that reveals his family’s participation in the freedom struggle. The story that begins in the present day Madaveethi or Mada Street in Mylapore, transports the reader from Mylapore to Vedaranyam to Lahore, spanning several decades resulting in a historical virtual travel experience. While Ananth learns about his lineage we embark on a journey that gives us a slice of history with points to ponder, moments to revel, trauma to shudder, philosophy to emulate, spirituality to meditate. An emotional journey with love, fervour, anger, angst and a tinge of humour, A Fistful of Salt is a well researched book and a must read for those who wish to revisit history through a compelling narrative and inimitable style.