New Delhi- On Sunday, journalist and Deputy Editor of The Mooknayak, Ankit Pachauri, launched his second book, Anjana, at the Maitri Mela organized by Vikas Samvad in Sevagram. The event drew journalists, social activists, lawyers, and advocates working on issues of social justice.

Anjana goes beyond recounting a single tragedy; it interrogates the entrenched social hierarchy that assigns worth based on birth. Set against the backdrop of a Dalit murder in the remote village of Barodia Nonagir in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, the book spans 16 chapters. Through them, the author meticulously chronicles the struggles, anguish, and relentless pursuit of justice by Anjana Ahirwar and her family.

Ankit Pachauri described Barodia Nonagir as outwardly typical of rural India: the scent of moist earth, parched ponds, rain-dependent crops, children at play in narrow lanes, and elders gathered at the village square. Yet beneath this ordinary facade lies a persistent, unhealed wound, the truncated life of 24-year-old Anjana Ahirwar, a Dalit woman who endured humiliation, injustice, and discrimination from childhood until her life was taken.

What the book reveals

Spanning 160 pages, Anjana shows that her death was not merely the loss of a daughter, but the shattering of the dreams she held for her family. The author vividly portrays the trembling hands and hollow gazes of those who shuttled between police stations, administrative offices, and courtrooms, only to watch the path to justice grow ever more obstructed.

The narrative leads readers through shadowed lanes where justice has never dawned, silent village squares where crimes met no outcry, and courtrooms where truth suffocates beneath endless adjournments. The book also probes the foundational promises of the Indian Constitution- equality, liberty, and dignity, questioning why they remain unfulfilled for so many.

Through Anjana, the author confronts both state power and societal norms head-on. Far more than a tale of suffering, it stands as a vital document: a record of that village, that family, and a democracy where the ideals of freedom and equality are still shadowed by profound silence.

About the author

Ankit Pachauri is a Madhya Pradesh-based journalist and writer. As Associate Editor at the Hindi news portal The Mooknayak, he has focused for years on ground reporting and writing about Dalits, Adivasis, backward classes, constitutional values, and social justice. His work consistently amplifies voices from society's margins. Through his books, he continues to document lived realities and resistance. His debut, Adivasi Reporting, earned widespread praise.