Rough with the Smooth

It's story of victory of hope over hopelessness, of victory of grit over dejection. And of bad, violent politics that boomerang and devour the very practitioners. Unni leaves Indian shores to fulful his Arabian dream of eighteen. Sixteen years later, at thirty four, returns of India with a crore of rupees to settle down. Within two years, his own kin dupe him of millions and reduce him to utter poverty. Despite grinding poverty, with his conviction in his own capability intact, seeking jobs, Unni ultimately lands a job as a chef at a star hotel owned by a much storied politician, Gounder, in Tamilnadu. Unni works his way out of poverty to riches. His daughter, Omana, does well in studies. Gounder's son, Sampath, and Omana go to the same college. Out of political compulsions, Gounder agrees to let Omana and Sampath marry. Political rivalry between Gounder and his for Man Friday, Mayandy, turns ugly. Gounder plots Mayandy's death. Mayandy's sib gets Gounder and his son, Sampath, killed. Unni takes over Gounder's empire. Omana, the widow, starts a free fertilizer, seed centre. Gounder's mistress, Rukkamma, joins Omana in the endeavour

Ram Govardhan was born in the picturesque Garo Hills in the state of Assam, India. He was educated variously in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Ram is a post graduate in Sociology. He lives in Chennai, where he works as an auditor with a market research company. Rough With The Smooth is his first novel. It was longlisted for the 2009 Man Asian Literary Prize. His short stories have appeared in various literary journals including Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, Asia Writes and Indian Ruminations. He is currently scripting his second novel as well as a collection of short stories. Ram can be reached at: ram.govardhan@ymail.com / ram.govardhan@hansaresearch.com