The House at 43, Hill Road: A Review
There are times when non-fiction books read like fiction, only because of the incredible events that unfold in them. The House at 43, Hill Road, written by Brenda Rodrigues, is one such book that hits home with its forthright and visceral description of matters. It offers insight into the abyss of corruption that prevents India from progressing in any way.
The first part, ‘Early Days’, takes us back to the
history of the house at 43, Hill Road and traces the ancestry of Brenda’s
husband, Joe Rodrigues, with family stories thrown in. The plot (number 36)
that was originally purchased by the prosperous Braz Rodrigues (great
grandfather of Joe Rodrigues) in the 19th century eventually proved to be an albatross around
the Rodrigues’ necks. Brenda recounts the progression of house No 43 at Hill
Road from the single storey house to the Lydia Cooperative Housing Society,
which set them up against the owners of the Celect Corner shop. The shop owners
progressively schemed and used violence, their political links and bribery to
extend their premises illegally.
The legal battle, or battles rather, that ensued might
have brought down the most tenacious of individuals. With the BMC (Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation,
formerly the Bombay Municipal Corporation
till 1996), the police, the BSES (Brihanmumbai Suburban Electric Supply), and
various government officials acting against the Rodrigues’ interests, it was
certainly a heavily one-sided battle. Even the Rodrigues’ slew of lawyers, who
began representing them enthusiastically and then vanished owing to threats or
perhaps monetary gifts, left them disappointed but not bereft of hope.
More than a tale of corruption, The House at 43, Hill Road is a story of resilience, courage,
integrity and an unwavering faith in God. Brenda writes of a physical assault
on her and Joe, threats to the safety of their two daughters and the mental
harassment of her mother-in-law, Lydia, of the famous Lydia Dressmakers (refer
to ‘The Legend of Lydia’ in the first part of the book). Having named and
shamed individuals in the book, some who have gained a reputation of
respectability in public but display quite a different attitude face to face,
Brenda was willing to take on any repercussions without fear:
‘When we kept making calls to PD Jadhav, the Deputy
Commissioner of Police, he put his phone on hold with music playing. Later he
kept his phone off the hook. (Interestingly, this same PD Jadhav was later
awarded the President’s Medal for distinguished or meritorious service).’ (pp
116-117)
When the reader has given up hope of justice for the
family, an unexpected turn of events presents an alternative and promising
scenario, with foes turning friends and staunch allies.
Brenda’s brilliant grasp of the English language
simplifies a narrative that could have possibly descended into a labyrinth of
incomprehensible legalistic jargon for the common man. The book is much like a
fast-paced thriller, sometimes almost unbelievable. The writer’s own emotions
and the trauma experienced, as she describes the harrowing times the Rodrigues’
family went through, leads us to empathise with her.
This book is a must read for anyone losing hope, battling
the grind of an unsympathetic legal system. Brenda and Joe Rodrigues’ refusal
to give in to illegalities, their steadfast faith, and sincere prayers – not
just for themselves, but their enemies as well, are attributes well worth
emulating. It is these same attributes that brought about a victorious finale
to this tale. I leave you with this line from the book:
‘…had developed a tremendous respect for Joe, and it
had grown at every turn, not just because he was able to counter their every
move, but because in all the dealings they found he was an upright person whose
word could be trusted implicitly.’ (p 244)
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