When The Moon Shines By Day

by Nayantara Sahgal

India has changed. Rehana finds her father’s books on medieval history have been ‘disappeared’ from bookstores and libraries. Her young domestic help, Abdul, discovers it is safer to be called Morari Lal in the street, but there is no such protection from vigilante fury for his Dalit friend, Suraj. Kamlesh, a diplomat and writer, comes up against official wrath for his anti-war views. A bomb goes off at Cyrus Batliwala’s gallery on the opening day of an art show.

Presiding over this new world is the Director of Cultural Transformation, whose smiling affability masks a relentless agenda to create a Hindu master race.

In this atmosphere, Rehana and her three book-club friends, Nandini, Aruna and Lily, meet every week to discuss a book one of them has chosen—their oasis of peace amidst the harshness of reality—even as Rehana’s German friend, Franz Rohner, haunted by his country’s Nazi past, warns her of what is to come. All revolutions, he wryly observes, follow the same path. But is India about to prove him wrong?

In this brilliant, dystopian satire, Nayantara Sahgal draws a telling portrait of our times.

Genres: India, Fiction, Science Fiction, Indian Literature, Politics, Dystopia

168 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2017

About the author

Nayantara Sahgal is an Indian writer in English. Her fiction deals with India's elite responding to the crises engendered by political change. She was one of the first female Indian writers in English to receive wide recognition. She is a member of the Nehru family (not the Nehru-Gandhi family as she so often points out), the second of the three daughters born to Jawaharlal Nehru's sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.
She was awarded the 1986 Sahitya Akademi Award for English, for her novel Rich Like Us (1985)awarded by India's National Academy of Letters.

Reviews

[Rakesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a book group discusses a book in which the characters seem to be unbelievably oblivious to the escalation of violence not far from their own lives, one member of the group says that: "Not realizing what was so plainly going on all around you couldn't happen in real life, but then of course this was fiction."

The events in this novel illustrate the effects of Friendly Fascism. In his book from 1980, Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America, Bertram M. Gross states: "I see at present members of the Establishment or people on its fringes who, in the name of Americanism, betray the interests of most Americans by fomenting militarism, applauding rat-race individualism, protecting undeserved privilege, or stirring up nationalistic and ethnic hatreds."

Substitute Hindutva for Americanism and Indians for Americans.

[Nivedita · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times, it feels as if Nayantara Sahgal creates books out of drawing-room conversations she likes to have with her friends on global politics. There is lack of a story, a central idea, an aesthetic appeal and lack of subtle yet properly-etched characters. However, her scathing analysis of global historical movements and the eventual corruption that leaks into them, gives the readers an understanding of world politics. It also serves as a reminder that violence and injustice are ingrained in our everyday lives. Even the greatest could not resist the temptations.

A Dystopian narrative in 167 pages.

[Anuj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aside from her literary achievements, Nayantara Sahgal is well known in India for her forceful and unrelenting critique of Hindu Nationalism. In 2016, Sahgal returned her Sahitya Akademi Award to protest what she described as increasing intolerance in India and the Akademi’s indifference to attacks against rationalist thinkers. She thinks of the BJP and Modi in particular as ‘fascist’ in orientation and has displayed courage throughout her career in combating the right-wing nationalisms of the Sangh Parivar. This is the political womb, so to speak, from which her latest novel emerges. The novel has been described as a political satire and this seems to me an apt description. The novel’s setting is a dystopian India (which Sahgal believes has already arrived) in which racial segregation, book-burning fiestas, and state-sanctioned torture all feature. As regards its literary merit, the books disappoints for many reasons. The plot is disjointed and not easy to follow; the characters that populate her novel lack depth and the novel, more generally, seems to have been hastily produced solely to inflict as much reputational damage as possible to the current political dispensation. Be that as it may, Sahgal’s short novel serves as a chilling commentary on disquieting developments in contemporary India that are increasingly unleashing illiberal instincts in multiple Indian constituencies. It takes just 30 minutes of watching Indian news channels to see how bitter and coarse India’s political discourse has become. As the space of liberal expression seems to be shrinking and as minorities continue to be reminded of their precarious position in Indian society, literary activism of Sahgal’s sort is required to remind us of the true dystopia that awaits us should we allow the present illiberalism to gather steam and percolate throughout the country.

[Padmaja · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐
This book presented a picture of Dystopian India, drawing parallels between the situation in Germany during World War 2 and the current scenario in India as the author likes to believe it. People have to wear badges and live in ghettos. It was a really good plot and the story could've been better if there was no political propoganda involved. I just wish this book had a more neutral tone not targetting anyone, but sadly that happened. The protagonist Rehana is a member of a book club started by her friend and later the club is not paid much attention. It talks of various other topics which were really not needed.
~
I didn't like how the author was just forcing her political opinions on the reader and this is where the book failed to impress me. I was disappointed after reading the book. I don't think I'll recommend it to anyone. It is a dystopian satire but it missed the mark. Something was missing in the writing. It constantly frustrated me.

[Chittajit Mitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story takes us to a different India. A country which has lost its democratic values & in the name of religion segregation & discrimination is practiced. People from minority communities have to live in isolation or change their names altogether. Art is controlled & so is knowledge. Our protagonist Rehana is a part of a book club along with 3 other friends of hers where they try to read different kinds of books. Apart from her there are characters like Kamlesh whose anti-war thoughts land him in trouble. As our protagonist’s German friend tries to warn others about the blatant similarities between the path Nazi Germany went & that of India, it seems close to impossible to make people understand how disastrous that may be.

Read the full review on Just Another Bookaholic

[Almas Shamim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been good. It touches upon some very relevant socio-political changes in India today and also gives references to revolutions and atrocities meted out in other places of the world in the past- making it quite an elaborate story in just about 166 pages. So, yes... It could have been good. Really good. However, the story is extremely disjointed and the language is neither powerful nor clear. Adopting the perspective of the rich and the influential society also makes the book come across as very shallow. I don't think the book IS shallow... I understand that the decision to make the characters elites was a conscious one... But sadly that is precisely what falls flat for me. The characters have no substance and Rehana particularly is shown as having no grey side to her.

I got this book from Smriti's unhaul.

🙏🏽

[Ken Adams · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never has a book left me with such detachment from characters, where no sentiment is evoked at the cruelest of times.
Nayantara sanghal messed up big time with which would had been a compelling dystopian satire. Why was every character written with supreme privileges from the time of being born, and why are we slathered with information which we would had savoured if experienced, has still been a question meandering over me even after finishing it and throwing it in the pile of books which i promised to never touch.
The only thing that made me give 1 star to this book was the writing, which at times, was as beautiful as the fake-reviews i read, before picking this book.
Maybe, i will be giving nayantara sanghal a chance more.

[Nikhil Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a deep personal sense of history, this story tries to warn us of our tendencies of religious and caste supremacy - and the homogeneity we seem to seek.

It is a meeting of 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale in an Indian setting of cow vigilantes, racial purification & hygiene by compliance of women in procreation of the fittest and extermination & ghettoing of the sub-humans - by a Directorate of Cultural Transformation.

[Smriti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A superb concept - satire and dystopia is on point taking into consideration the current climate in India. Just wish she spent more time fleshing out the characters. There was just something missing in the writing.

Still, a very uncomfortable (in a good way) read.

[John Trident · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the moon shines by the day
Nayantara Sahgal

It is very rare or less often that you come across a book which holds so much potential that it tears you apart when you read it. Added to that, the additonal information & knowledge that one gains access to adds another feather to the cap. Likewise, it's very difficult to write a political thriller. Inspite of all short-givings, this book is a marvellous work of art.

It's informative, catchy, inspirational, motivational, thought-provoking & enhances a fine quality read.
To make things more interesting, the plot selected here has been extrapolated effectively & extensively which talks about communalism, politics, dreams, countries, art, writings, poems, novels, writers, artists, etc.

The story revolves around recovering lost legends & gems in the form of a book. This concept has been highlighted intrinsically using numerous examples which amplifies the storytelling in an interesting manner.

'What's the celestial loaf supposed to mean?'
It means, "For the poor man God is a loaf of bread."

'Purity', 'doesn't exist'. It's a chimera, a dangerous, absurb imagining. Noone & nothing is just one thing.

'The problem with revolution is, its boring.'

'Why did you get into it in the first place?'
Because people are tortored for refusing to agree the moon shines by day & the sun by night, because there're cells--hell--for the torture known as solitary confinement, because hanging doesn't break a neck, it cracks it & slowly strangles. And because of what happens up the road & around the corner. All this remains unsaid!'

Language is riveting, poignant, painful, interesting, remarkable & aptly balanced. Narration is equally provocative.
A must read for all the readers!

[Nimisha Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: '𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲' 𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐠𝐚𝐥

To say that 'The Moon Shines by Day' is a dystopian satire would be an understatement. This book is more than that. I know I'll be reading it a lot. Publishers- Speaking Tiger.

The story of Rehana, the daughter of two former rebels who fought against the war of racial purity in a dystopian world. The political cliches but only what's wrong is right here. The sweet setting is the book club of Rehana with her three friends, discovering the banned books and liberal ones. Their personalities and love for art is generic.

Kamlesh, a writer by side-profession but which forms the most of his life is writing against the odds. Franz, yet another writer, with the conclusion "My country's past is the future of yours." The Moon Shines by Day by Nayantara Sahgal is the account of political impact on the sensitive lives on the plus side as well. The good that comes out of bad. It's full of irony. The books are banned for saying the truth and people tortured for their race. It's the World War all over again coming from the view point of someone who fights for not herself but those who are deprived and wronged upon.

The plot isn't vast but there wasn't an emotion or issue left undisclosed. The ever sensitive Rehana, a sensible woman explores her way through the past imprints on the future. The story ends in disbelief. One worth reading the book for. It's a book to be kept. It's a reality check wonder.

[Abhijit · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Because people are tortured for refusing to agree the moon shines by day and the sun by night, because there are cells—hells—for the torture known as solitary confinement, because hanging doesn’t break a neck, it cracks it and slowly strangles. And because of what happens up the road and around the corner. All this remained unsaid.”

[Maral · Rating 4 out of 5]

there is this weird thing with this book where I feel like I need to read it again to understand it fully.It was very different then what I expected.I have a respectful demeanour towards the author now.Indian nationalism is being criticised here.And I am a sucker for any nationalism being criticised

[Mansi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book almost feels like the outline of a more complete story. It’s hard to invest in the characters since none of them really have a personality. The politics are interesting but still underdeveloped to the point that I almost missed the climax of the story. Skip it.

[Nitin Srivastava · Rating 3 out of 5]

Topic and the way the story is woven is good, but demands concentration to properly follow and comprehend.

[Amy Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not understand this at all.

[John Trident · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the moon shines by the day
Nayantara Sahgal

It is very rare or less often that you come across a book which holds so much potential that it tears you apart when you read it. Added to that, the additonal information & knowledge that one gains access to adds another feather to the cap. Likewise, it's very difficult to write a political thriller. Inspite of all short-givings, this book is a marvellous work of art.

It's informative, catchy, inspirational, motivational, thought-provoking & enhances a fine quality read.
To make things more interesting, the plot selected here has been extrapolated effectively & extensively which talks about communalism, politics, dreams, countries, art, writings, poems, novels, writers, artists, etc.

The story revolves around recovering lost legends & gems in the form of a book. This concept has been highlighted intrinsically using numerous examples which amplifies the storytelling in an interesting manner.

'What's the celestial loaf supposed to mean?'
It means, "For the poor man God is a loaf of bread."

'Purity', 'doesn't exist'. It's a chimera, a dangerous, absurb imagining. Noone & nothing is just one thing.

'The problem with revolution is, its boring.'

'Why did you get into it in the first place?'
Because people are tortored for refusing to agree the moon shines by day & the sun by night, because there're cells--hell--for the torture known as solitary confinement, because hanging doesn't break a neck, it cracks it & slowly strangles. And because of what happens up the road & around the corner. All this remains unsaid!'

Language is riveting, poignant, painful, interesting, remarkable & aptly balanced. Narration is equally provocative.
A must read for all the readers!