Amitava Kumar's Husband of a Fanatic

Amitava Kumar embarks on a journey through India and Pak, one that extends across Kargil right to Godhra, unravelling horror of massacres, of rape and murder.

In a world reeling under the constant threat of violence Amitava Kumar dares to tread the volatile subject of the Hindu-Muslim divide. In his book Husband of Fanatic, he tries to bring to the reader's notice, the emotions and experience of those subjected to atrocities. He gives a voice to their opinion on matters that are of concern to our world today.

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Being happily married to a Muslim woman, Kumar attempts to understand the nature of the divide between Hindus and Muslims and the consequences that arise from it. While at times his remarks may fail to drive their point home, his knowledge of the subject is impressive and leads to some inspired insights.

Kumar embarks on a journey through India and Pakistan, one that extends across Kargil right to Godhra, unravelling the horror of massacres, of rape and murder.

As an Indian living in America, his views are sometimes objective and others waver between the two extremes. It seems to me, that he does not address the core issue his book raises, that of the steps to be taken to improve the situation he describes so well.

Husband of a Fanatic is a great book for those who want a brief overview of the history of violence that the Hindu-Muslim divined in India and Pakistan has given birth to.