Gav Vikane Aahe

The present-day reality of our country is deeply disturbing. On one side lies the immense wealth of a privileged few and consumerism pushed to the extreme; on the other are the hunger, poverty, and unemployment experienced by vast sections of the population.

The distorted, market-driven development policies adopted by the country have left its youth restless, driven farmers to suicide, and reduced women to commodities for sale. Through the stories in his collection Gaav Vikane Aahe (Village for Sale), Laxmikant Deshmukh presents an unflinching yet deeply compassionate X-ray of these troubling contemporary realities.

The author incisively explores the desperation that forces an entire village to put itself up for sale because of drought, the inner workings of Naxalite life, the decline of rural communities and farmlands, and the unbearable conditions endured by ordinary people because of an insensitive administration. These stories bring the harsh realities of society into sharp focus.

Anyone wishing to understand the complex, positive and negative consequences of globalization through a deeply human perspective should read this collection. At every stage of his literary journey, Deshmukh’s writing has remained connected to contemporary realities, giving voice to the suffering and anguish of the underprivileged. These stories demonstrate how his pen becomes the voice of those who have been denied their rightful share of prosperity. They also empower ordinary people who continue to struggle and survive, proclaiming the message of human liberation.