The Hell of Heaven' is one of the most famous novels of Shanta Kumar which has a multiplicity of theme ranging from petty politics to the commuting nationalism which represents integrity of character, sense of belonging and commitment to the human cause. It also is story of Promod and Savitri, their hopes and illusions, their commitments and disillusions which ultimately flower into cherished values of life. The best and the worst of politics, the best and worst of women exploitation find simultaneous place in the novel. The novel also tells about the hard mountainous life of the people living beyond Rohtang pass in Lahaul and Spiti valleys. The novel is a very interesting exposition of the hill life and the dreams, the faltering, the illusions and the disillusions of the hill people. The author is sensitive to the smallest incidents and events that take place in the life of villagers. The astute and crooked politicians also find their share in the descriptions of the novel which acquires epic dimensions as it reaches its culminations.
A seasoned politician and a sensitive creative writer, Shanta Kumar has strode to eminence inch by inch by having gone through the criss-cross welters of political and social life and the vicissitudes he faced because of his honest cravings for an honest deal in politics and integrity of character.
Born in 1934 in an ordinary family of Kangra district, he was early influenced by the RSS philosophy which compelled him to abandon his home at the early age of 17 to join RSS as a full timer. He participated in the Jammu and Kashmir Satyagrah and was imprisoned for 8 months at the age of 19. During emergency in 1975, he spent 19 months in Nahan Jail. It was in the Nahan Jail that the revolutionary creativity of Shanta Kumar flourished and made him write 5 novels during the jail period. He was elected MLA for the Himachal Assembly in 1972. Shanta Kumar remained Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh twice and later on he was donned as Union Cabinet Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. He was Member of Parliament of Rajya Sabha from 2008 to 2014 and was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2014 from Kangra.
Hell of Heaven' is the description of sublime human Thee feelings. I have witnessed the political scenario in India for more than four decades but I have felt the tragic impact of the same on the Indian society with a feeling of helplessness.
I underwent very bitter experiences when I became the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh after the national emergency in 1975. After relinquishing chief minister ship in 1980 I thought of writing my memoirs. The manuscript was ready which contained the under currents of discontent of the Janta Party spreading over the period from 1977-1980. I discussed about its publication with my friends. They suggested that I had a long way to go in politics. If such a book is published, your future is going to be bleak definitely. They also advised that such memoirs are normally written after saying good-bye to politics.
My soul did not agree to the advice. I felt I was basically a writer and not a compulsive politician. I thought my writings were the heritage of the society which should reach them without any fear or fuss. So my book 'Rajneeti Ki Shatranj' was published which presented a truthful history of the conspiratorial events of two and a half years. I still am feeling the anger of my friends and co- workers till today.
There was much more let to be described other than what had been presented in 'Ratneeti Ki Shatranj'. I wanted to share those experiences with my readers. My of the experiences could not be narrated in the memoirs. I was itching to communicate those experiences to my readers. That made me write 'The Hell of Heaven'.
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