Real life tragedy is combined with a classic plot in this poignant probe into the human condition.
More so than most, India is characterized by the contrast of extremes. In Dreams of Orphans, author Vinay Kolhatkar juxtaposes the dark realities of child trafficking with the glamor of Bollywood to provide the setting for an extravagant, yet intensely human tale.
In 1974, two children, a little girl in Nepal and a little boy in India, are abducted. In 1990, now verging on adulthood, they are part of a circus in Bangalore. When Sapna, the girl, is being sexually assaulted by the man who runs the circus, Jeevan (her name for him) saves her, unwittingly killing the abuser in the process. The two then flee to Bombay, only for Jeevan to be apprehended by the police a day later.
Jeevan is rescued from prison by a film producer who is casting Amar Anand, a popular actor. Jeevan is offered the chance to not only be Amar’s stunt double but to undergo surgeries in order to resemble him completely. Meanwhile, Sapna goes to the police with the hope of finding her mother, something Jeevan is prevented from doing.
As the young man works with the famous actor, now his virtual twin, the lines between the two individuals’ lives become blurred. In the background there is an ongoing international investigation into human trafficking which is about to cross paths with our protagonists.
The book receives its tragic power from its unflinching treatment of the harsh realities that underpin it. The introductory scenes of the two children being abducted are delivered in terrifying but nonetheless tasteful and realistic ways, something which is all the more true for the descriptions of the two mothers’ reactions. Another powerful, appalling part of the novel is the graphic treatment of camel racing, which in actuality often sees the trafficked children acting as riders and finding themselves on the wrong side of the animals’ hooves. The practice went on until the early 2000s in the Gulf States.
The author, Vinay Kolhatkar, does a remarkable job pacing this story, especially considering the use of time jumps, both large and small. The dialogue, both internal and external, is at times unconvincing and can detract somewhat from the immersion in the book. That does not, however, take away from the characterization, which is the life fountain of Kolhatkar’s pen. The characters of Amar and Jeevan are copiously and carefully fleshed out.
Experienced readers or consumers of media may be able to see where the story is headed quite early on, but that simply testifies to this being a well-constructed narrative with proper set-ups. The devil is in the details, particularly in the psychological exploration of the male hero.
Dreams of Orphans delivers a complex and rewarding reading experience, especially so if you are already interested in the Indian setting.
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