This novel reads like a fable. Like an ancient story telling a lesson.The story takes place inDahanu outside Bombay and tries to explain the relationship between the landowners(Irani) and the local tribe ( Warlis). It is an ancient story of good vs Evil, right and wrong, wealth vs poverty.
The novel has dark humour,beauty and terrible sadness. Still I found it distant and difficult to follow the past and present used and although it touched me, “Dahanu Road” didn’t move me. ( )

India fascinates me and the more books I read that are set in India the more I am fascinated. In Dahanu Road Anosh Irani has captured the story of an entire group of people that I never knew existed. In addition to telling the story of ethnic Persians who are Zoroastrians he gives the Romeo and Juliet story a new twist.

Zairos Irani is a modern young man living in the Zoroastrian community of chickoo farmers on Dahanu Road. Chickoos are a fruit that were brought to India by the Portuguese and they flourish in the south Indian climate. Zairos’ grandfather Shapur started the chickoo farm and has done very well financially. Labour is provided by Warli tribals some of whom owned the land the farm is on before the grandfather took it over. He obtained the land by selling liquor on credit to the Warli people and then, when they couldn’t pay their bills, he took the land. Zairos reveres his grandfather but throughout the book he learns more about his history that gives him pause.
Kusum is a Warli woman whose husband frequently beats her. She would like to divorce him but knows that he will never let her go unless she can get enough money to repay him for all he spent on their wedding. She talks to her father Ganpat who decides to go to Shapur Irani to ask for the money. When Shapur refuses Ganpat hangs himself from one of the chickoo trees. Zairos discovers him and then meets Kusum when she comes to view the body. Even through his horror of finding the body Zairos is attracted to Kusum. Thus begins their love story.
I understand Zairos motivation in pursuing Kusum; it’s an age-old story. But Kusum is somewhat of an enigma to me. Yes, she wants to leave her abusive husband and Zairos seems a means to doing that but over and above that she genuinely seems to love Zairos. They have so little in common but they can’t stay away from each other. Of course passion is like that, isn’t it?
I think this would be an excellent book for a book club to discuss. There are lots of cultural differences to talk about plus there are all the personalities and their motivations. Maybe I’ll suggest it to one of my clubs. ( )

Myth and history interweave artfully in this tale of revenge and ill-begotten love. In the town of Dahanu outside Bombay, Zairos, son of Aspi Irani, a landowner, finds Ganpat, a member of the local Warli tribe who work the land, hanging from one of his father's chickoo trees. His search for a reason for the man's suicide leads him to uncover some unpleasant facts about his own family's history. Along the way he falls in love with Ganpat's daughter, Kusum, far beneath his station and married to the abusive Laxman. The tragic conclusion of their affair alters Zairos and his approach to life. Written with verve, absurdist humour, emotional authenticity, and the kind of evocative attention to detail that provides an intensely satisfying reading experience. ( )

Anosh Irani is not getting better as time goes on! This book was mediocre at best. Don't judge Irani by this work, read his first book A Cripple and his Talismans, it is completely wonderfully brilliant magical realist fiction. Song of Kahunsha is not bad either. This one though just came off as being predictable and overly melodramatic. ( )