KK Srivastava, Additional Deputy Comptroller & Auditor General of India, has brought out his fourth book, "Sililoquy of a Small Town Uncivil Servant", published by Rupa Publications.
Srivastava — who has very humble beginnings, passing out from ordinary colleges in Gorakhpur, ultimately obtaining his Masters in Economics from Gorakhpur University in 1980 --- is a poet writing in English with three poetry collections. His third book "Shadows of the Real" has been translated into Hindi and Russian.
His latest book is a literary non-fiction where the narrator melds facts with fantasies to highlight the conditions under which he grew up in late twentieth century Gorakhpur in eastern Uttar Pradesh. His further ruminations appear to be work of conscious realty merged with thoughtful imagination covering varied themes like his rendezvous with newer world as he left Gorakhpur, analysis of dreams, suicide, literary books, social niceties, sex, sensuality, social media etc.
Written in artistically crisp and veering prose, his introspective vignettes on varied themes reflect on his intellectual honesty, wide reading and deep philosophical bent of mind. The pun in the title will be vaguely clear after one finishes the book.
With this work, this Gorakhpur author has firmed up his position as the first literary figure writing in English from eastern Uttar Pradesh.