Title: By God – The Making of a Messiah
Author: Shashi Warrier
Publisher: FingerPrint Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
First Publication: 2019
Language: English
Major Characters: Tomikanza, Neepane
Book Summary: By God: The Making of a Messiah
Ghublistan. An island resplendent with the divine herb. A country rich in bat Guano. A society where people are content, happy to serve their Prophet. But the country is experiencing a surge in emigration, and the Prophet is getting restless.
In an attempt to find out why, Alkanza, the Prophet, commands the custodian of the divine gardens to temporarily leave this utopian society and get him some answers. Commanded by the ruler, his excellence Tomikanza embarks upon on a riveting, perilous journey with his not-so-faithful barber, Neepane, in an endeavour to understand this strange beast called democracy in, first, that is the world’s largest Republic, second, that is a unique mix of God’s rule and self-governance, and third, that is touted to be the modern world’s oldest democracy.
Through the journey of two Ghublistanis as they meet inept police officers, blundering spies, and sleazy politicians, By God, The Making of a Messiah gives a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the religion-political system, subtly but powerfully unmasking its inherent vices, shortcomings, duplicity, and hypocrisy.
Book Review: By God: The Making of a Messiah
‘By God: The Making of a Messiah’ by Shashi Warrier is a light-hearted mystical adventure story about two Ghublistani, Tomikanza and his barber Neepane, who bond with the various people they meet during their journey.
I believe this book moved me a little. Not only because the writing was so great but also the thoughts contained in it were so close to what I was feeling. I still believe the ideas contained here are timeless and profound.
By God: The Making Of a Messiah is a brilliant (and oddly prescient) satire. With the book, author Shashi Warrier offers a skewering criticism of democracy, the politics behind it, and its far-reaching ramifications in a manner that is at once humorous, intelligent, and bone-chillingly accurate. A bleak and ominous tone dominates the novel, befitting its narrative. By God: The Making of Messiah is a fantastically engaging and smart novel, and had me contemplating its characters and story long after I closed its covers.
Shashi Warrier examines how society and human nature combine to debase and ultimately subvert political inspiration. Bold stuff for the period. Stylistically, aside from a short, pompous section at the beginning that will hurt your head, the body of the book is appealing. The story is inventive and solidly constructed, modern and humanist.
