Historical fiction on Delhi's 1984 riots in ebook format

A fictionalised version of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi captured in a period of four days -- between the assassination and the cremation of former prime minister Indira Gandhi -- is now out in electronic book form.

Chandigarh-based writer and journalist Roopinder Singh, has in his novella "Delhi-84" captured through the eyes of a law student the trauma of the Sikh community.

"I was a student here during the time of the riots and soon after left for the US to pursue studies. It was only when I began to write about it that I realised that I had so many repressed memories and everything came pouring out," says Singh.
 

The author narrates the story from the viewpoint of Gita, a law student who gets caught in the vortex that Delhi becomes between the assassination and the funeral of the Prime Minister.

"It has been a long time since the riots and for the story I deliberately stick to the four days from October 31, 1984. It took me a year of researching through old newspapers and magazines to recreate the trauma and grief faced by Sikhs," says Singh.

The author recalls since he had been living in a relatively safe part in South Delhi he had been spared of the violence meted out to other members from his community.

"Once I was driving on my scooter and saw a mob attacking a Sardarji. We sped away to safety but I still can't forget the image. Another incident I can't forget is the burning down of a library that my father had set up. A mob set it on fire and it took a long time to burn, it was really heartrending," recalls Singh.