Animal Farm

     Author                           George Orwell

     Country                         United Kingdom

     Genre                            Political Satire

     Publication Date           1945

     Pages                             112







When I look at this book, I can't help but think of one particular teacher in school who highly recommended this (again & again) but, for some reason, back then, I never managed to lay my hands on it. Maybe because this was a book about animals and I have no special inclination towards four legged creatures. Or because I was just too lazy to try something different.

But life surely keeps surprises in store and I didn't know it then that this book highly recommended by someone in Lucknow would finally get read in Baltimore more than 15 years later. 

And I am so glad that this happened. This is a simply but interestingly written short novel about an animal farm where animals, tired of their slavery to humans ("two legged creatures") call upon a rebellion and take over the workings of the farm (after ousting the owner). What starts as a "democracy" with commitment to several commandments like "all animals are equal" quickly degenerates into an autocracy as the assumption of "power" starts to corrupt the pigs. However, sadly enough, it takes long for most of the masses (the "ruled over" animals) to realize that they are being manipulated by the pigs.

While on the outset, the book comes across as a simple tale of animals (and maybe that's all that I would have garnered from this had I perused it 15 years back), the author has indubitably conveyed a far deeper meaning through the same. 

Despite being a commentary on the Russian revolution of the early 1900s, the book amazingly is as relevant today as it was in those days. I personally can't help but reflect on how the book is stunningly contemporary to what happens all around us today: in politics and across corporates; both private and public. 

What hurts me the most is how people like us (like the horse, sheep and others in the book) get taken in again and again by what someone in a position of power promises; and how in our devotion and faithfulness we get blinded to reason. Or maybe that's in our desperation for a better future. 

Finally, the book leaves me with just one nagging thought: "Who really is responsible: those who are conniving enough to take advantage or those who are naive enough to be taken advantage of?

And the answer to that is anything but simple.

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