# Bodies adrift: The Dead Fish explores trauma and decay 2026-08-10T06:21:14+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Millenniumpost.in reviews Rajkamal Choudhary's novel 'The Dead Fish', translated from Hindi by Mahua Sen. The story follows Nirmal, a boy thrown out of his home after his mother elopes. He rises from selling newspapers in Karachi to becoming a wealthy industrialist in Calcutta and New York. But his success masks deep psychological wounds. The novel explores trauma, sexuality, and moral decay in post-Independence India. Nirmal is portrayed as cruel and obsessive, his relationships with Kalyani and Shirin driving the narrative. The review notes the fictional but realistic setting, including a reference to a real chief minister. ## Coverage - millenniumpost.in Tags: book review, Hindi literature, post-Independence India, psychological novel, Rajkamal Choudhary, The Dead Fish Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bodies-adrift-the-dead-fish-explores-trauma-and-decay/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bodies-adrift-the-dead-fish-explores-trauma-and-decay/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.