The Association Of Small Bombs

THE ASSOCIATION OF SMALL BOMBS

by Karan Mahajan

 

Nominations: Dublin Longlist 2018, National Book Finalist 2016, NY Times Finalist 2016

 

Date Read: January 6, 2022

 

The Association of Small Bombs begins with just that – a bomb in a marketplace in Delhi. This event, while localized to one market area and therefore insignificant in the wider world of Delhi – has a profound effect on those who experienced it. The Khuranas, a Hindu family, lose two young sons, while the Ahmeds, a Muslim family, almost lose their son, Mansoor.

 

Mansoor’s wrists are injured in the explosion and become nearly unusable during his Computer Science studies at a university in the U.S. (Santa Clara University no less!). With his degree unfinished, Mansoor’s carpel tunnel causes him to return to India, unknowingly never to return. He is not particularly religious but throughout his life and return to India, Mansoor is exposed to the prejudice many Indians have about Muslims, a perspective that became more pronounced during his time in the U.S. during 9/11.

 

Mansoor quickly realizes that his dream of becoming a programmer are impossible due to his chronic wrist pain (a sort of flimsy illness, if you ask me). And from here, author Mahajan uses varying points of view to drive home his point – terrorism is a result of frustration – a rather broad understanding of an extreme expression.

 

We watch Vikas, the father of the two boys killed, attempt to deal with his profound loss by making a documentary about the explosion. One of the bomb makers, Shockie, who is burned out (pun intended) by his job.

 

Mahajan’s strength in this novel is exploring the ripple effect of terror on those who experience it. Terror may simply end a life but for those left behind, injured and still living, their terror is never-ending. Mahajan makes an important point but could have still made that point without attempting to turn this into a thriller about halfway through.

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