Good News at the end of 2024

My book will be out soon; Watch this space

The two brave publishers, Yoda Press with Simon & Schuster India, have announced my book is here! It will be released in the following week. Do watch this space for more.

Simon & Schuster India have written: The Feared by Neeta Kolhatkar is out now and available wherever books are sold. "The first night in jail is reputed to be the hardest. After that, you learn how to survive, though many prisoners carry lifelong scars." The Feared brings together interviews conducted by Neeta Kolhatkar with eleven political prisoners, and in some cases, their loved ones, in which she highlights the interviewees’ everyday lives within the walls of multiple prisons across India. In doing so, she calls urgent attention to the grave injustices meted out to the thousands of undertrials dissent in the political life of India today. During long discussions, sometimes taking place over multiple meetings, Kolhatkar unearths personal anecdotes from the time her interviewees were incarcerated, bringing into focus the human face of prison inmates, while also detailing the wretched conditions relating to space, hygiene, medical attention, and food that they experienced. Apart from being an urgent call to action for prison reforms, The Feared is thus also an account of hope and strength, narrating unique stories of survival and solidarity, and the unexpected bonds and relationships formed in prison”.

Since 2022, I began writing interviews for Rediff.com, where I have been a senior contributor for a few years. The first one was advocate Sudha Bharadwaj. She has been a union leader and an advocate who lived and worked in Chhattisgarh for over 30 years. She was arrested on August 28, 2018 under UAPA, Unlawful (Prevention) Activities Act. She and 15 others were arrested in Bhima Koregaon, Elgar Parishad cases.

After her release in December 2021, I called her for an interview. Till then no journalist had spoken with her, as she was placed under conditional bail. After this first long interview media made a beeline for her. Slowly I spoke to few others, not necessarily in the same case. However, one common thread connecting many of them was, they were all political opponents and were arrested for opposing the current Government. Rediff.com has been supportive and the idea of this book would not have germinated in my mind, had it not been for the editor, Nikhil Lakshman, who allowed me to write these interviews. Most of all, the Chairman, Ajit Balakrishnan who was appreciative of my work. When a friend began to push me to write a book, like few others, I was initially reluctant. For many reasons. We are spoilt as journalists. Once we write a piece, it is our baby, we have control over it to a large extent. We can put our foot down if something is out of place; or we want to say something assertively. The publishing industry is something totally different, as I was given to understand. Moreover, as a news reporter, I do NOT have bandwidth for writing fiction. You need finesse and skill set for that. I love watching and reading fiction, but I write true stories, investigative reports. That meant, my subject/theme for my book too had to be real-life or investigative. After few of these interviews and push from friends I decided to write on political prisoners. I spoke to the interviewees too, they liked the subject.

Firstly, I needed the permission of Rediff.com to use the interviews I had filed for them. I discussed this with the editor and he said we needed the NoC from Mr. Balakrishnan and rightly so. I wish more news organisations had people like AB at the heading them. The confidence he exudes is remarkable. He gave me a blanket NoC and thereafter I ventured out to write my first book. For this Herculean task to bring out a book, I knew I would have to select more political prisoners, if they were serving jail term, then their immediate family members and these are people who have some good work behind them. There are two journalists, lawyer, politician, a home-maker and most of all, this book would not have been complete without the interview of Dr. Binayak Sen. When I asked them can I use their interviews in my book, the only points they urged were, that the book should be in my name and more importantly, the conversations should be used verbatim. NOT interpretations or any other format.

These are all my primary sources, people who are still suffering as their cases haven’t reached any closure, with the exception of one person, a journalist, who was recently acquitted. I needed to respect their wish. It also means they are protected. Moreover, readers will want to know what they have spoken and shared with me directly, instead of me writing their profiles or writing analysis. It also meant investing time and emotions. They have allowed me into their lives and opened their hearts out. There have been many emotional moments during every interview. I learnt a lot, especially of survival and hope. The excerpt from my prologue gives you the direction of my book.

After I prepared the manuscript, I began scouting for a publisher. All of this takes time and patience, the latter which I battled a lot. I finally reached my zen moment and after sending every email I began practising ‘Dolce Far Niente’. It basically means pleasant relaxation in carefree idleness. Let me reiterate, I worked my a** off to bring out this book. Every time I am still learning. But…here is the twist. Unlike filing reports and articles, where we know the piece will see the day sooner or later, the book has lot many things that work around it. The introduction has to be solid, which is the first step. So let us say the book is a baby, introduction is crawling stage. One has to read a lot, have a framework in mind about the way the book will shape - this is not a problem, because that is how we plan features, long read articles or specials in media. Then you need a foreword from a renowned, strong person, who has name in this country. Then of course one aims for the sky, but you have to be realistic. There are external factors too, like the political environment. And I was hoping to get my book out before the General Elections in May, this year. A few developments occurred in the interim period and I had nearly given up hopes.

There are a few weird things in Indian journalism, among the many others, but these two issues irk me. First, after many years on the field, in India, news organisations want seniors to take desk jobs or get into management profile. I detest it, I am not someone who enjoys that role. I have always loved being a reporter and wanted to be one. Look at the major international news houses, they have senior journalists on field. Here only the star attractions on tv are the blue eyed ones, rest have to head a bureau. And if your head quarters are in Delhi then finished. That requires another set of skills for negotiating and being political second is, after you have reached middle or senior level experience, you are expected to write a book. Now it doesn’t end here, in that too there is class system. The pressure to find a publisher and self-publishing is scorned. When it took me a while to get on board with Yoda Press and Simon & Schuster Ind, my American friends egged me on to go in for self publishing. When I refused, they couldn’t understand, as it is extremely common “back home”. Self publishing isn’t encouraged in India. So it was important to share with close friends about finding a good publisher. It it’s important to get a publisher who too believes in what the author stand for and getting that is reassuring. You know your work is respected. Till I found one, with each passing day I was determined to bring out this book. I have lived it, breathed it and believe in every word written in there. I am glad to have found two great people who believe in me and endorsed my work.

I don’t have any bucket list in life and I don’t go by any fixed goals. However once my friend pushed me to write a book, I was determined to write on this subject, political prisoners. They are being pushed out of public space, they have been silenced and we need to let their voices hear.

Wait For few more days, this book will hit the stores close to you. I urge you all to read ‘The Feared: conversations with 11 political prisoners’. I shall keep you all posted. Happy festive season to all.