Tales of the Downtrodden

The present collection, consisting of 20 short stories, published originally in various popular magazines and literary journals, portrays the world of the downtrodden—men, women and children—who suffer oppression of various kinds. The victims usually are poor people like tribals, potters, blacksmiths, daily wage earners, beggars, widows, maidservants, eunuchs and so on. By using subtle irony, sharp wit, comic similes and odd metaphors, rollicking humour and stinging satire, Srivastava provides memorable pictures of ugly realities behind captivating façade, unmasking the devils who lurk behind angelic faces. The stories grip the reader with spell-binding narrative and ever-present suspense which irresistibly move the reader to go on till their startling conclusions.