In India, horror writing appeals to our Indian psyche. You dig a bit to find traditional stories good enough for your narration. K. Hari Kumar’s Dakini falls into this category. This dark story has roots in ancient Indian tales but connects with modern India. While travelling with the characters, you face horrors that are man-made and the supernatural. Every page keeps you turning to the next page and widening your eyes as the story and the horror it contains leave you spellbound.
The book starts with a chase that leaves you shivering. Dakini has entered the room. You then meet Mamta, a journalist from Mumbai who has suffered a personal crisis that leaves her sensitive. She picks up a story given by her New York-based editor and friend as a change. She and her assistant-cum-young fan Tara journey to Birpoor, a remote village in North India with the fascinating Atura tribes. They have fascinating traditions related to the forest and enmity with the Dagis, a rival tribe. The rivalry is down but still simmering.
Mamta and Tara arrive at a time when there is a coming-of-age ceremony for a young girl. Living in the remote village amongst the tribals, they get slowly introduced to their ways. Here, they find out about the folktale around Dakini, a so-called evil entity haunting the forest. They also face prejudices against women and people’s attachment to the legends. That very night sees the start of horrifying murders of some Atura men and a pregnant Dagi woman married to the local Atura man facing accusations of being the Dakini’s carrier. The horror unfolded.
What is remarkable about Dakini is its devotion to folklore, which makes it the foundation for sending shivers while making you think of patriarchy, religion, environmental issues, and more. Kumar, as a writer, needs to be given a thumbs up on his research and approach to the story. He ensures the message is not lost while you stay engaged.
As a reader, the element keeping you hooked is his quick narration that allows the horror to envelop you from the start. While Mamta's inner emotions and struggles are a good foil to the twists and shocks, you are keen to know the things around the corner. You see the struggles of the locals who have lived with the tales for centuries and now have to face the Dakini while understanding the modern world. You see the conflicts between age-old beliefs and modern rationality. The culmination in a rather filmy (yet gripping) finale is worth the wait.
K. Hari Kumar has always had narrative skills when it comes to horror. And you can be assured that Dakini fills your expectations of a spooky read that lingers in your mind even after you close the book and return to your life.
Book: Dakini
Author: K. Hari Kumar
Publisher: Harper Fiction India
Pages: 369
Price: Rs 299
.jpg)
