Helium
On November 1st 1984, a day after the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi, a nineteen-year-old student travels back from a class trip with his mentor
and chemistry teacher, Professor Singh. As the group disembark at Delhi station a
mob surrounds the professor, throws a tire over him, douses him in gasoline and sets
him alight.
Years later the student, Raj, is compelled to find his professor's widow, the beautiful
Nelly. As the two walk through the misty mountains of Shimla, Nelly comes up against
a nation in denial, Raj faces the truth about his father's role in the Sikh massacre
and they both find the path leads back to the train station.
Oldenburg Book Club: 20 July 2017