Survivor

Amitabh Bachchan is a superstar in the truest sense of the word. His name and face have taken over the hearts of minds of people around the world for almost 50 years.

This book is the story of hope and survival against all odds.  Masterfully using a unique compilation of articles published in newspapers at the time, this book attempts to chronicle the incident as it unfolded each day when disaster befell him in 1982. Taking the reader on a journey through the two months when Amitabh Bachchan was in hospital fighting for his life. It explores the effect the incident had on the entire nation as they waited, prayed and came together, united in the hope that he would survive. And survive he did. Fans around the world still talk about this miracle.

The book is full of interesting anecdotes, quotes, and rumors that were rife at the time of the incident and provides an engaging insight into the superstar’s private persona. It also explores Amitabh’s later struggles and his ultimate return to glory in this comprehensive and loving retelling of the major events of his life to date.

 It highlights how news was reported in the eighties in India, and the restrained approach to reporting compared to the desensitized, sensationalist tone news has acquired today. That aspect alone makes for an interesting read.

The author, smitten with the charismatic artiste, cut and pasted each article published about the incident into a small, little notebook as it happened. It is her desire now to be able to take this news to the Indian diaspora, with the belief that it will be able to provide courage and hope for people whose families are in similar situations. Resonating a message to never give up hope because against all odds, a person still has their inner will power and the Supremo’s wish – “The one who wants to help you is always stronger than the one who wants to destroy you. If God has decided to save you, nothing can harm you.” “Jaako raakhe saainyan, maar sake na koi”