'Gujarat Files' would have become a Tehelka article had the Tehelka editors not lost their nerve over Narendra Modi looking likely to come to power. In hindsight, I believe Tehelka's rejection of the eventual material has served Rana Ayyub well - many more will read this fantastic book than the circulation of Tehelka at its peak. 'Gujarat Files' is a thriller cum true-crime book cum exposé of the Gujarat administrative machinery during the Gujarat riots. Ayyub is author/ investigative journalist who goes about 'stinging' politicians and senior officials in the police and administrative services (and even comes tantalizingly close to Modi himself!). Never before have I read a book (maybe Manto's 'Stars from another sky' comes close) where the author becomes part of the story and his/ her story progression becomes as interesting as the goings-on around him/ her.
As for negatives, the punctuation and overall editing are atrocious. It is impossible to tell several times if a person is still speaking or Ayyub has gone into commentary/ narrative mode. Even so, 'Gujarat Files' is a sizzling read. I read it in a few hours straight and found it impossible to put down.
