Black, Grey & white: No One Is Spared From It

Details of the Book

ISBN	9789383701117
Publisher	Hoffen
Number of Pages	138
Interior Pages	Black & White
Binding	Paperback (Perfect Binding)
Availability	In Stock (Print on Demand) - See more here

From the book blurb

This book gifts its readers five fantastic short stories that has a common aim - to spread awareness about AIDS. It is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against AIDS and show their solidarity for HIV positive people. The book is an eye opener for anyone who wish to see the wave of positive change in society. Everyone including the brave hearts Savita, Chintu, Mithali has the right to live with their head held high without fear of social ostracization. Life does not have to be like this. The time is ripe to act now with one's sense and sensibility. Break the myths. Come, be the change!

Author

Santosh Avvannavar started his career as a consultant and Soft Skills Trainer. After his college education from NITK, Surathkal, he worked as a researcher at University of Eindhoven, University of Twente, and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was also the Placement President while working at IISC, Bangalore. He has over twenty-five publications of mostly research documents in national and international journals. He has also authored sixteen conference papers and regularly writes articles for a national and worldwide daily paper. He also works as an advisor for different organisations. He also dabbles in fiction writing and is the author of Adhuri Prem Kahaniya; Dear Wife, Your Husband is not a Superhero, Second Heart and Get a Job WITHOUT an Interview; Be A B.A.; Surrogate Author; Title is Untitled. He likes to devote his personal time in writing for a website, namely the Amrita Foundation for HRD. He has conducted seminars and training sessions for more than 40,000 people in India and abroad over the last seven years.

Santosh I. Biradar is presently pursuing Bachelor’s in Social Work from J.G.College of Social Work, Bijapur affiliated to Rani Chennamma University. He is also the founder secretary of Chaitanya Organisation, Bijapur. He is also associated with Deshpande Foundation as a lead ambassador. He won ‘Best Reporter’ award in Youth for Development Program’s and ‘Best Education award’ from Deshpande Foundation for providing free computer training to the orphan children. He also volunteered various activities such as Google Inktalks, NSS (A special camp for Leprosy people), and life skills for orphan children. He participated and evolved many school development programs for drop out children as well. - See more here

Short-Stories Overview

§      Shahid –The Martyr

Talks about myths around AIDS.

It made me feel sad that awareness of AIDS/HIV Positive has still not reached the masses.

§      Chintu – The Earth is Round

Talks about how children who get AIDS from their parents are treated heartlessly.

I was wrenched to see how heartlessly a well-educated man could behave towards an AIDS child. More so the child got it from parents, and not by committing own mistakes.

§      A Game of Life, Lust and Death

Elaborates how powerful men try to sexually exploit young girls in the name of fame and money.

§      Highway Sex: A Journey of Hope

Speaks about how the purpose of a girl’s life is considered to be marriage and how the activities of husband can affect her life.

§      Abram and His Prodigal Son

Longest story in the book that speaks about importance of love and understanding. The story has references from the Holy Bible.

What I think

The title says – “Black, Grey & white: No One Is Spared From It” and thus, conveys that a menacing disease like AIDS/HIV Positive can affect anyone; irrespective of their age or gender. The cover page is simple and the book blurb hints the contents of the book.

As promised, the book is a collection of five short stories woven around a common theme - AIDS/HIV Positive. It bravely describes the myths around the disease and how survivors are looked down by the society. We all know that AIDS/HIV Positive is spread through blood. One of the stories talks about a scenario where husband’s callously affects wife.

All the story is written like a play using simple English. While Shahid – The Matyr maintains an element of suspense, A Game of Life, Lust and Death, is sexy and lusty.

Out of the five stories, I liked Chintu – The Earth is Round. I rephrase, it affected me the most.

But, the tagline – “No one is spared from it” could have been placed below the title with a bigger font.

Should you read it?

Contribute to the awareness.

Read it!

Rating

4/5

Thank you

Thanks to the Author for contacting me and sending across this book for review.

All the best for all your future endeavors!