There is a yawning chasm in the western experience of violence against women and that of Indian women, who must be watched closely every minute so that they do not transgress in any manner, and thus jeopardise the ‘honour’ of the family. It is evident that the liberties and freedoms that women in even slightly more advanced countries take for granted, are denied to these multitudes of girls who dwell in the villages, smaller towns of India and urban settlements. Faleiro relentlessly exposes the deep-rooted patriarchy of the Indian system. It is still a riveting read that completely engages the reader while saddening him/her deeply about the condition of young women in India. It left us shaken because this horrific incident occurred close on the heels of the Delhi gang rape.ĭespite fully knowing exactly how the case played out, Sonia Faleiro’s excellent narrative-reportage unfolds like a crime thriller. Upon hearing of the discovery, the anguished women of the family form a protective shield around the tree, not permitting the bodies to be brought down, knowing that if they were removed, the girls would be forgotten and justice would never be theirs.Īnd that was the beginning of the merry-go-round of politicians, media and policemen, of accusations, botched investigations and protests taking place all over the country.

The next morning, their bodies were found by a villager, hanging from a mango tree in the orchard, their clothes muddied, their slippers placed neatly at the base of the tree. One usual night in 2014, two young cousins, 16-year-old Padma Shakya and 14-year-old Lalli Shakya, went to the fields to relieve themselves.

We have lived through the real time reportage of the incidents narrated in this book set in a small village called Katra Sadatgani in western Uttar Pradesh.

The Good Girls by Sonia Faleiro