A matter of rats.

A matter of rats -A short biography of Patna-, the book says on the cover page. But it appears to be, a literary collage of the city. The writer has carefully and diligently, pulled out the relevant pages from the historical sheaf.

The changing face of Bihar, in different domains, from the past to the present, has been wrapped in an interesting pattern. The pictures of Patna, in the political arena, on the literary canvas, with the dust laden snaps of its glorious past, and the black and white snaps of its present.

It takes you to a Patna, where history might show you a glimpse at any nook and corner. Where you can get a ubiquitous look of the city surviving in tatters. From the rat eating -Mushar- “Sinhasan” to Subodh Gupta whose painting sold for 1.2million dollars. From Chandragupta Maurya, who established India’s first empire to Lalu Prasad Yadav who brought the misery laden social equality.

From the Fa-Hein’s book to the recent, scarce mention of it in literature. It takes you to a Patna, where every patnaite will get one’s own Patna. From the villages to the narrow congested lanes of Lohanipur, on pages, it will take you to a Patna, which you have not known.

For those of us who are still living there, it will give them more of their city. And for all of us, who have migrated, like the author himself, it’s the city itself, wrapped in a book. Something, one of a kind to have it. Amitava Kumar has crafted this biography in such a way that it doesn't only talk about the city but touches you personally.