A Pulp Fiction Textbook

by V.M. Devadas

Genres: General Fiction; Pulp Thrillers

Synopsis

A thrilling, interactive journey through crime, mystery, and forbidden passions.

Narrated by characters who have either been killed or taken their own lives, each chapter unveils a new perspective, revealing the dark connections between murder, suicide, and the hidden desires driving it all. As you delve deeper into India's underground sex toy trade, you'll uncover a web of illegal activities, entwined with simmering rivalries and tangled emotions.

A Pulp Fiction Textbook explores a series of gruesome deaths, unravelling clues and revealing the killer through exercises, drawings, and questionnaires.

Release date: February 17, 2025

Publisher: Hachette India

Print pages: 184

Sample

1

Let’s Learn New Things!

The following news reports from 2009 serve as the entry point for this textbook.

Maoist Leader Killed in Encounter with Police

Kochi: A Maoist was killed during an encounter with the police. Acting on a tip-off received by the SI of North Station, police cordoned off a hideout on the city outskirts. The Maoist opened fire on the policemen while attempting to escape but was killed in the ensuing encounter. Police discovered Maoist pamphlets and weapons upon searching the area. Preliminary information suggests the deceased is a wanted Maoist leader.

Husband and Wife Die in Tragic Accidents

Kochi: A customs officer died in a road accident on his way home after receiving news of his wife’s accidental death. His wife had fallen from the third floor of their house and was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. The officer was fatally injured while returning home to mourn his wife’s loss. Police suspect a hit-and-run and have not yet identified the vehicle involved.

Electronics Shop Owner Shoots Himself in Godown

New Delhi: A shocking suicide case came to light in Palika Bazar. An electronics shop owner allegedly shot himself in the head in his firm’s godown. Employees discovered his body on Tuesday morning when they arrived for work. Police said the shop owner had closed his shop on Monday night and sent his staff home. He then went to the godown on the first floor of the same building and shot himself with an unlicensed pistol. Police also recovered a licensed revolver from his possession. The reason for the suicide remains unknown. The shop owner did not leave a suicide note or any clue indicating why he took this extreme step. He was reportedly doing well in his business and had no apparent financial or personal troubles. A suicide case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.

Girl Sentenced for Selling Sex Toys at School Dies after Jumping from Police Van

New Delhi: A 17-year-old girl, arrested for allegedly selling artificial sex devices at her school and engaging in unnatural sex, died after jumping out of a police van on Wednesday. Police stated that the girl, sentenced to two years, escaped custody while being transported to a juvenile home. She suffered severe head and spinal injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her wounds. The doctor who performed the surgery noted that a delay in obtaining blood from the rare HH group also contributed to her death. The girl, an orphan from Santhome Orphanage, had been accused of supplying sex toys to her schoolmates and engaging in unnatural sexual practices.

Palika Bazar to Undergo Renovation Ahead of Commonwealth Games

Delhi: As Delhi prepares for the upcoming Com-monwealth Games, Palika Bazar, infamous as a grey market, is set for a major makeover. The infamous underground market is notorious for selling counterfeit products, pirated DVDs, illegal sex toys and hidden cameras, among other dubious items. It has also been a source of law-and-order pro-blems in the city, with incidents of eve-teasing, harassment and illegal trade. Officials have announced that funds have been allocated in the budget for Palika Bazar’s renovation. This will include improvements in ventilation, lighting, security and cleanliness. The officials hope these changes will help transform the market’s image and attract more customers.



Exercise

I. Please write a brief news report using the information, given in bits and pieces, below.

(The answers may vary based on personal and political perspectives. Some may prioritize the severity of the natural disaster, while others may focus more on government involvement and support.)

Earthquake – Magnitude 6.8 – Coastal region – Damage: Buildings, Roads, Power, Communication – Government’s involvement – Rescue efforts

Ans:

Title: Coastal Region Devastated By A Strong Earthquake

Report: A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale has devastated the coastal region. The tremor caused buildings to collapse and triggered panic among the residents. The roads are blocked by debris, making it difficult to reach the affected areas, and the power and communication networks have also been severely damaged. The government has already started the evacuation process and promised to provide more support to the affected region, offering important resources to help with the recovery. Rescue teams are working tirelessly to find and assist the people affected by this natural disaster.

II. Do you think everything in news reports is true? Let’s assume you’re a field reporter. What methods will you choose for basic fact-checking?

Ans:

1. Get information directly from people who saw or experienced the event, as well as from experts, to make sure you have accurate information.

2. Look at official documents and records, like reports from the government or court documents, to check if the facts are true.

3. Check information from different reliable sources to make sure the details match up and to avoid any biases.

4. Use trusted fact-checking organizations and websites.

5. Ask experts who have knowledge about a specific topic for their opinions and knowledge, especially if the subject is complicated or technical.



III. What does the term post-truth mean? Could you provide some examples?

Ans:

Post-truth means that people care more about what they feel and believe than what is true. Sometimes, news can be changed or twisted to match what someone wants to say or do. Post-truth can make people ignore the truth and trust wrong information or ‘fake news’, where people’s feelings and opinions can be more powerful than facts. Examples of post-truth include political manipulations, media bias, propaganda, the anti-vaccine movement, stereotyping a particular community, fake encounters, the blame game during a crisis and the use of red herring reports to divert attention from actual issues.

Before the Dantewada massacre and Burkapal1 attack took place...

And before the formation of Green Hunt and Greyhounds2…

1 Naxalite ambushes

2 Anti-Naxal special armed forces

2

A Maoist Eulogy

Contrary to the news, I wonder how I can disclose the truth of my staged death…

Two years ago, I left my home country to work in Hong Kong. I gradually lost touch with most of my old friends. However, one friend managed to find my address and started sending me letters. This friend was my college buddy, a person with big ambitions and an impressive way with words. Yet, as I read his letters, I noticed a significant difference. They lacked the vitality that had once defined his communication. It was as if he had become a completely different person. I wondered what had caused this change in him.

After a few exchanges, he asked a strange question: ‘Are you married yet?’

In jest, I replied, ‘No, I’m just living with a few synthetic companions and occasionally enjoying the compa. . .