3 Review(s)

The book is a satirical story of Delhi as told by a journalist, a policeman and even outsiders. Summary Of The Book The Price You Pay has been written through the eyes of debut journalist Abhishek Dutta, working for the crime reporting department of his news channel. As Abhishek moves through the web of crime reporting through the city, he makes friends and foes but the ultimate lesson he learns is that in the underworld, there are no friends and no enemies and that a man must fend for himself. Along with the story of Abhishek, moves the story of ACP Mayank Sharma from the Crime Branch, who very soon becomes good friends with Abhishek; Deputy Commissioner of Police Uday Kumar, a corrupt police officer; a mafia from the underworld who controls the mafia world in Delhi from outside the city and Abhishek’s mentor, Samir Saxena, who oversees his transition from print media to TV Journalism. The story carries the reader to the hidden world of the underdogs in Delhi where the lives of the common men have little value and where corruption is an accomplice in crime. The author has brought into context his personal experience with the capital city of the country, which has its own dark history with the underworld. The book explores the city through those who make it what it is. The book is interspersed with dialogues that are typical to the city. The book is a reflection on how ego, corruption and power can combine to shape the response of people in this city to criminal activities. It is not only a satire on the social life of Delhi, but also a crime thriller that totally absorbs the reader into its plot. The book was launched at the Delhi Press Club in 2013. About Somnath Batabyal Somnath Batabyal has worked as a journalist for several years before moving on to be an author. Other books by the author are Making News In India: Star News And Star Anand published in 2011 and Indian Mass Media and the Politics of Change. He is currently involved in writing another novel, Scoop. Currently he is pursuing a fellowship programme with the University of Heidelberg in Germany in Environmental Politics and Media. He lives in London and is a teacher at the School of Oriental And African Studies. He also occasionally teaches at the Jamia Millia Islamia.