Rich Like Us

While I know everyone is entitled to their opinions, I was surprised to see such a harsh criticism of this wondeful piece of literature which not only tells the personal stories of two women but also captures the time when Emergency was declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in India in '75. The impact of the Emergency is viewed through the eyes of Sonali, a civil servant, and Rose, an Englishwoman who has lived in India for more than forty years. I loved it because it covers so much ground and Sahgal is also such a good storyteller. Anyone who knows a little bit about the history of India will know what dark days those were for many people, when democracy collapsed for a while. I think Sahgal does a wonderful job of capturing that darkness and desperation that people felt. I also liked it because it is laced with irony and humor. I highly recommend this book.