History of Hate is a vengefully morbid, psychological study of two dysfunctional personalities and breaks new ground in Indian fiction.
-CP Surendran Acclaimed Poet, Novelist and Senior Journalist
Sonny, the middle-aged wife of a chemist and Ash, a would-be writer in his twenties with suicidal inclinations seemingly have little in common, other than their Delhi Cantt address and a liking for taking a walk when everyone else is at work. They also share a rather unhealthy interest in their neighbours’ lives, thus raising Indian nosiness to its epitome. However, when these two unhappy people get together, their frustration and dissatisfaction with the lives they lead goads them to commit big and little acts of cruelty and unkindness that adversely affect the lives of many people—from Sonny’s paralyzed mother-in-law and seven-year-old mute maid to anyone else who appears to be happier than them. Their victims range from courting couples in Sriganesh Gardens, to a young girl enjoying an ice-cream in a posh South Delhi market; from a young woman celebrating her first pregnancy to an elderly astrologer in Hauz Khas village and a young salesman in a shopping complex. Sonny and Ash have no compunctions about the misery and mayhem they leave about in their wake—from a disrupted session of mourning at a neighbour’s to a distraught tourist cancelling bookings in the city’s toniest hotel. They justify their behaviour as an outlet for their unhappiness with their own lives and a need to teach the rest of the world that life is not a bed of roses. Although their behaviour does not make headlines, one of their victims hunts them down, with revenge on the agenda…
About the author
Kanishka Gupta is a 28-year-old novelist, literary agent and freelance researcher. In 2008, he was in the news for starting Writer’s Side- India’s first manuscript assessment and editing service for both first-time and established writers. He has worked with over 70 authors and is renowned for launching the careers of first-time writers. In 2009, Writer’s Side started a literary agency and has clinched major book deals for almost all its authors.Writer's Side Literary Agency is widely regarded as one of the fastest growing and best literary agencies in India. Before that, he headed a men’s lifestyle portal, read and reviewed manuscripts for a leading literary agency, and edited the critically acclaimed creative lifestyle magazine Platform. He has been written about in The Business Standard, The Indian Express, The Statesman, Mail Today, Metro Now, DNA Me, The Hindu, Midday, The Asian Age, Outlook Mumbai, The Daily Star ( Bangladesh), The Daily Times ( Pakistan) and many other leading papers and journals. He reviews fiction for the Hindu Literary Supplement. In 2009, he was the youngest author on the longlist of the Man Asian Literary Prize for his novel History Of Hate.He is a workaholic and loves to work with new, inspired writers. History Of Hate will be published by Rupa and Co. in late 2010.
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