‘Loka’: SB Divya’s sci-fi novel makes a case for cutting off roots and taking off for a better place

In the light of a (poorly disguised?) Nazi salute by an American oligarch (or future president?), the message in Loka is crystal clear. If you don’t like the people, the place isn’t worth living in. Even though stories make a big deal out of home and belonging, SB Divya advocates cutting off roots, shaking off the dust on your wings and just taking off for a better place. Telling you more than this would be a spoiler.

In a world governed by more and more far-right leaders, writers remind us of humanity’s liberal thoughts and values through stories. And Loka does this through its pro-immigration, leave-your-home-behind-go-search-a-new-world story. With all that talk of going to live on a new planet Meru in the book, I couldn’t pull my mind away from the hints it threw at the current political scenario. Although the book was written before the new US President was sworn in, it resonates even more so today.

Through Loka, SB Divya asks us where is home. What is home? Is it a place where you want to be? Or is it somewhere you can live without biases and prejudices? Would you prefer sparkling oceans and discriminating people or a very small knot of people living on barren land on an…

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