ആരാച്ചാര്‍ | AARACHAR

The Gruddha Mallick family got the position of an executioner as a legacy which the family marks-out from four hundred years ago. Mallick is the only family who has witnessed many incidences which makes a note in the Indian history. Chetna Mallick belongs to such a family. Chetna’s father Phonibhushan, who too followed the family work of execution, has hanged more than 450 convicts till death. To continue this family legacy, there is no male member in the family. At this scenario, twenty-two-year old Chetna is appointed as the first woman executioner in the country as the successor to her father.
Though Chetna takes the service as executioner; a shocking turn of events results in a murder within the family-a savage crime that could result in Chetna having to hang a Gruddha Mallick. The lurid pleasures of voyeurism and the brutal ironies of violence are kept in agile balance as the drama of Chetna’s life hurtles to its inevitable climax.
The Aarachar was very intense and strong and sometimes unpalatable in its own way. But it haunts the reader.I liked the book very much, mainly because of the narration,and the interconnected stories of innumerable deaths and history of executioners... but I don't know how many other people will like this. But the truth is that those stories made this a good book.The criticism on modern journalism,sarcastic remarks of the author regarding the social obligations/rules of modern day human beings,be it a man/woman are all excellent in this book.In preface it is said that it is a modern classic which is absolutely true in every sense.The character portrayal and the description of kolkata with its culture is awesome. Kolkata is captured in all its glory and decadence through out the pages.Even though the story drags a bit,which have been rectified by a proper editing,I will recommend this novel to my friends,which is a worth reading.