I Am on the Hit List

Description

A gripping true crime narrative of the mysterious assassination of a journalist in South India and the investigation that followed, uncovering a world of political extremists, fearless writers, and shadowy religious groups.

When Gauri Lankesh, a prominent journalist in the South Indian city of Bangalore, was assassinated in September 2017 outside her home, it wasn’t just a loss to her close-knit community of journalists, activists, and local leaders—the shock reverberated nationwide, making headlines and sparking protests. Why was she targeted, and who was behind it? In investigating these questions, Rollo Romig unpeels the complex layers of South India, a place of incredible religious diversity, a strong literary tradition, myriad languages, and a fascinating history stretching back millennia. To provide even broader cultural and historical context to the region, Romig explores two other murder investigations alongside Gauri’s, introducing themes of martyrdom, mythmaking, and the legacy of colonial rule.

I Am on the Hit List reveals a country that, just like the United States, has been in recent years deeply affected by dogma, dissent, and the decline of democracy. The people speaking up—like Gauri Lankesh—are uniquely vulnerable. In an epic narrative that moves between a historic booksellers’ district and brand-new high rises funded by IT companies, to a mysterious ashram in Goa and the kitchens of an international vegetarian restaurant chain, Rollo Romig interrogates whether we can break the cycle of polarization and bloodshed inspiring political murder across the entire globe.Born and raised in Detroit, Rollo Romig is a journalist, essayist, and critic. He has been reporting on South India since 2013, most often for The New York Times Magazine.US

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