In an Ideal World

This new novel of Kunal Basu should count as one of the top 5 Indian novels in English written in the 21st century. Not only is it emotionally gripping and a fast read, it is intricately and meticulously plotted with an array of characters that come alive. In a highly polarised contemporary India where we tend to be dismissive of far right radicalism, this novel offers us insights and quite empathetically, allows us to understand the appeal of such ideological positions through the enquiry of loving parents. At the end of it, the reader is confronted not only with raw violence on both sides of the spectrum but also the uncertainty of a nation that is inevitably drawn into a prolonged period of comatose, with no guarantee that we will ever emerge wiser even if this traumatic present comes to an end. A must-read for all.

It’s written with an intent to show a religion better than the other. Not the kind of content that youth needs to read

It’s a book everyone should read to feel where we are going. After looking at all the troubling videos of saffron cladding students(hooligans) harassing girl students in Hijab row Karnataka, and the way media is spreading propaganda of communism division everyday this book tells a gripping story of parents ho might be anxious and worried about the future of their kids. ... a chilling glimpse of how the hatred being spread by politicians in power will distort the environment in educational institutions and ruin the future of many young people...

This is a fictional account loosely based on real incidents like the case of the disappearance of JNU Student Najeeb Ahmed. A gripping story about what communalism and the vices of nationalism can do to the social fabric of this nation. Thank you Kunal Basu, for putting out this daring work in times like these. A must read for all those whatabouters and the majority who believes that whatever is happening would be ultimately be good for them. Read it, please.

Kunal Basu has written a book which someone had to write and open our eyes to the fact that how polarisation affects individuals. It is an engrossing book about contemporary India and must read for all of us. It deftly paints a picture of what is happening to our country and how it can affect all of us. It paints a dystopian picture but also points to the green shoots of resistance.

A gripping read that underlines the menace of political bigotry. It shows us how crises hit home in unexpected ways, and how the direction taken by nations and communities at any moment in history inevitably overshadows the lives of ordinary human beings.

Gripping and very topical in today's times. The way the story unfolds, the characeters and the settings are life-like, and throw up very important questions about who we are becoming as a nation and as a society. The ending was like a thriller, and I found myself staying awake just to finish it! Highly recommend!!!

Enjoyed Kunal Basu 's recent novel In an Ideal World... its gripping with a very well knitted and intricate plot and an extremely relevant and contemporary theme to contemplate. A rather interesting read indeed!