Title : I refused to Bribe
Author : Gireesh Sharma
Blurb : The
protagonist Jitesh is an honest banker who refuses to sanction a business loan
to an industrialist, Satish, whose factory is running at a loss. When Satish
offers a bribe to Jitesh, the latter abuses the industrialist and threatens to
call the police.
Undeterred by all this, Satish approaches Arora who is Jitesh’s senior officer and offers him a share in his business. Arora puts pressure on Jitesh to ignore certain norms and stipulations and approve the loan, but Jitesh succumbs neither to greed nor pressure. Arora and Satish turn hostile towards Jitesh.
A few days later at the bank, Jitesh helps an unknown customer, who claims to be illiterate, to fill his withdrawal form. The customer is later identified as a conman who fraudulently withdraws money from someone else’s account. His arch rival Arora manipulates facts and Jitesh is named in the chargesheet. Jitesh is suspended from his job and faces a judicial inquiry that lasts for 14 long and painful years.
During the long ordeal, Jitesh is flooded with offers to bribe his way out of the matter and this includes vigilance officers, bank officials, CID officers, court clerks and even the judge.
Arora connives with businessmen and amasses huge wealth through underhand means. Arora ignores his family and takes to the wrong path in personal life also. What has destiny in store for him? Is he able to escape from the clutches of justice?
Undeterred by all this, Satish approaches Arora who is Jitesh’s senior officer and offers him a share in his business. Arora puts pressure on Jitesh to ignore certain norms and stipulations and approve the loan, but Jitesh succumbs neither to greed nor pressure. Arora and Satish turn hostile towards Jitesh.
A few days later at the bank, Jitesh helps an unknown customer, who claims to be illiterate, to fill his withdrawal form. The customer is later identified as a conman who fraudulently withdraws money from someone else’s account. His arch rival Arora manipulates facts and Jitesh is named in the chargesheet. Jitesh is suspended from his job and faces a judicial inquiry that lasts for 14 long and painful years.
During the long ordeal, Jitesh is flooded with offers to bribe his way out of the matter and this includes vigilance officers, bank officials, CID officers, court clerks and even the judge.
Arora connives with businessmen and amasses huge wealth through underhand means. Arora ignores his family and takes to the wrong path in personal life also. What has destiny in store for him? Is he able to escape from the clutches of justice?
About the Author : Gireesh Sharma, soldier-turned-author, writes straight from his heart.
Born in 1973 in a small hamlet near Aligarh, he was brought up by his maternal
grandfather, an active political leader. It was under his tutelage that he
developed patriotic fervour and on turning 17 years of age, chose to join the
Indian Air Force to serve the nation. After his retirement, he worked with
several youth organisations and today actively participates in socio-political
activities to bring a positive change in the country.
He is working as a marketing manager
in a software company and enjoys writing books during his spare time. I refused
to Bribe is his first fiction, though he has written three popular non-fictions
– Office Politics, How to Win the Heart of Your Wife and Stay Free, Stay Happy.
My View :
The simple title of the book is
enough to make a reader understand – what the book is about? The precise and
long blurb already says a lot about the book. The only thing which the reader
would be curious to read is that – how the story will be rolled and how it will
be knitted across the blurb to reach the end of the story unfolding the truth.
The cover of the book looks simple highlighting a man standing opposite and
this man would be surely the protagonist.
In today’s
era everyone gives bribe. The teenagers, youngsters and old ones everyone has
given bribe at some point of their life so as to get their work completed. I
think only a few of the population in India has not given a handshake with the
thought of giving bribe. The book holds the story of man with similar thoughts
named Jitesh Kumar who works at State bank of India. So many ups and downs come
in protagonist’s (Jitesh) life but still he does not opt to give bribe and believes
in completing his deeds honestly and refuses to bribe. The thick book comprises
a lot more to discover.
The
storyline is well presented by the author. A simple writing style is adopted by
the author. A smooth narration is done by the author. Author is successful in delivering
the message related to corruption from his book. Author has chosen a sensitive
theme and was successful in touching the reader’s heart by his words. The
characterization in the book is also good.
The only
downfall which I could locate in the book is - editing; book needs to be edited
well in order to make it flawless. The pace of the story becomes slow at times
but still it is relocating to the major subjects and theme chosen in no time.
A good read!
A story having colors of corruption and honesty.
Rating : 4/5
Reviewer : Megha Biloniya
For Book reviews contact - wordcurd@gmail.com
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