Animal's People

Indra Sinha

Few novels have touched my heart so much as Animal’s People by Indra Sinha. Loosely based on the Bhopal Industrial accident in India, this is the story of Animal, told in his own words.

Animal was an infant when a chemical accident destroyed the lives of many (physically and psychologically). The toxins in the air deformed him and twisted his spine. For the rest of his life he was doomed to walk on both arms. His parents both died in the accident and Animal was raised by a French Catholic nun (an eccentric character who is expecting the biblical apocalypse to arrive at any time).

The main character wears the name Animal as a proud badge. He is an incredible personality filled with street smarts and a highly sophisticated sense of humor. No self indulgent self pity for this one. Animal always seems to be in constant struggle with his deep romantic love for one of the main characters and his generally insatiable lust, thus the shadow subplot of his life long battle between his animal nature and his angelic side.

The story deals with the town’s people fighting the company to try to right the wrongs of that terrible night. For 20 long years they have tried to get help, medical and otherwise, from the company that long ago abandoned this town and its inhabitants. The company has been washing their hands of any guilt. It is also a story of the Indian politicians who fill their pockets with bribes to look the other way. Saints and sinners fill this wonderful book, and at times we are not sure who the saint is and who is the sinner.

The novel is filled with romance, suspense (the last 100 pages are page turners), court room drama and hard edge humor. But the main reason I fell in love with this book was the spiritual truths that fill its pages and make it rise to a level only few novels can aspire to. I was emotionally bonded to this book from the first paragraph.

If novels are your passion, then passion will be your reward when you open this one up...art at its highest.

One final note: Please do not let the seemingly depressing background of the story discourage you from reading it. The novel is ultimately very life affirming and the book will leave you with your heart uplifted for days, long after you have read the final paragraph.

Review by Tony Kainauskas