The Bad Boys of Bokaro Jail by Chetan Maharjan – Reviewed by Guy Portman
The Bad Boys of Bokaro Jail is a first-person account of the author’s short stint in an Indian local jail. This educated, well-travelled businessman was working for a large educational enterprise when problems emerged that affected the quality of the courses. The pupils’ parents duly demanded refunds from the company. When they were not immediately forthcoming, the author, the most senior employee on site, was thrown into a local jail.
The shocked pre-trial detainee initially assumes it will only be for a few days, but he soon finds himself embroiled in the bureaucratic, painfully slow and often corrupt Indian ‘Justice’ system. The book, which takes the form of diary entries, consists of details of Maharjan’s day-to-day life, state of mind and observations. The jail can be viewed as a microcosm of Indian society, what with its adherence to rank, religious observance and bribing. The majority of the prisoners are presented as patient and civil types. In many instances they appear to be more victims than criminals.
This is a quick and easy read boasting a likeable and rational protagonist, who many readers will warm to due to his inoffensive manner and desire to return to his family. The title does not accurately reflect what is a non-violent, pensive text.
