Lucknow — A thought-provoking discussion on renowned journalist and author Jyoti Yadav’s recently published book, Faith and Fury: COVID Dispatches from India’s Hinterlands, was organized by Westland Books at the All India Kaifi Azmi Academy, Lucknow, along with the book’s launch.
The literary event brought together prominent figures from the media, literary, and cultural spheres on a common platform, where they engaged in a meaningful discussion on the essence of the book. Alongside Jyoti Yadav, the distinguished panel included acclaimed writer Akhilesh, Pranshu Mishra, Resident Editor of Hindustan Times, Lucknow; senior journalist and former BBC correspondent Ram Dutt Tripathi; and noted author-journalist Sharat Pradhan, who has been associated with institutions such as The Times of India, Reuters, and Outlook.
Speaking about her work, Jyoti Yadav said that the horror of COVID was not limited to the pandemic itself. It introduced people to an entirely new way of life and brought profound changes to society. While there was widespread anger during that period, there was also a ray of hope that reflected humanity’s resilience. The effects of work-from-home culture also emerged in many different forms. Even five years after the pandemic, many people have not fully adapted to or recovered from these changes.
Sharing his views on the book, senior litterateur Akhilesh remarked that Jyoti Yadav’s work reads like a travelogue written on the painful pages of history. Many of its characters are shown grappling with the diverse crises that emerged during the pandemic.
Senior journalist and former BBC correspondent who is best remembered for his nuanced reportage of the Babri Masjid demolition and the consequent chain of events Ram Dutt Tripathi congratulated Jyoti Yadav on producing such an important work. He noted that documenting a difficult period like the pandemic must have been an immensely challenging task and one that required great courage.
Renowned writer and journalist Sharat Pradhan observed that Jyoti Yadav’s narrative also consistently highlights several contradictions and systemic flaws within Indian society that made the impact of the pandemic even more severe.
Journalist Pranshu Mishra said that Jyoti Yadav reports with objectivity on facts that are often concealed from society but deserve to come to light in a democratic system. He added that he felt a personal connection with the book because he himself was reporting from the field during that time. For this reason, he said, the book would resonate not only with journalists but also with healthcare workers, administrators, and others who worked on the ground as COVID warriors.
At the conclusion of the first session, former university Vice-Chancellor Roop Rekha Verma, speaking as a special guest, said that there must be serious discussion about the way India’s healthcare system collapsed under the strain of the pandemic—a subject that the book addresses effectively.
The lively discussion was skillfully moderated by writer and journalist Arshana Azmat, who guided the conversation while delving into the book’s central themes.
During the discussion, the panelists reflected on the moving stories of courage documented in Jyoti Yadav’s book, which has become an authentic record of the lived experiences of rural and underdeveloped India during one of the most turbulent periods in recent history.
Praised by senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai as “field journalism at its finest,” the book vividly captures both the structural failures and the extraordinary human resilience found in the country’s marginalized regions, skillfully portraying the dual emotions of faith and fury.
The event was attended by Professor Preeti Chaudhary, journalist Nagendra Yadav, Gyan Prakash Chaubey, President of JALES-Lucknow, along with numerous writers, journalists, and literature enthusiasts from the city. The program concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session with the audience.
