Pateli

Pateli is a contemporary Marathi novel that explores the complex realities of Mumbai’s Girangaon (mill district) and the lives shaped by its changing social, cultural and political landscape. Set against the backdrop of the generation born after the 1982 textile mill strike, the novel examines the experiences of a young man whose identity is deeply connected to the city as well as his roots beyond the metropolis.

Through 62 short, interconnected chapters, the novel presents a fragmented yet layered narrative of urban life. It explores the struggles of ordinary people, the influence of Mumbai’s distinctive multilingual and multicultural environment, and the feelings of alienation that emerge from the pressures of metropolitan existence. The narrative also reflects on the language, culture, social relationships and political realities that shape the lives of people in the city.

Pateli offers a distinctive literary exploration of contemporary Mumbai and its evolving identity.