Book Details

• Publisher: Sahitya Akademi

• Author: Dhruv Bhatt

• Language: English

• Pages: 188

• Cover: Paperback

• Size: 21.5 cm × 14 cm

• Weight: 250 gm

• Edition: 2013

• ISBN: 9788126011582

Description

Oceanside Blues is the English edition of Samudrantike, originally published in 1993, a powerful and reflective fictional work by Dhruv Bhatt. Structured as the memoirs of a young civil engineer deputed to survey an arid coastal region of Saurashtra, the novel explores the complex relationship between human beings, nature, and modern development.

At its core, the narrative examines the tension between a traditional, faith-driven society rooted in non-scientific belief systems and a modern, profit-oriented, and often cynical economic framework. Drawing richly from the folklore, legends, and lived realities of the coastal communities, Dhruv Bhatt blends real and imagined characters to create a deeply engaging and evocative story.

The novel is marked by the author’s characteristic sensitivity toward nature and humanity, portraying the coastal landscape not merely as a setting but as a living presence that shapes the inner journeys of the characters. Through lyrical prose and thoughtful observation, Oceanside Blues invites readers to reflect on ecological balance, cultural memory, and ethical responsibility.

Published by Sahitya Akademi, this paperback edition is an important work of contemporary Indian literature in translation and is especially recommended for readers interested in environmental themes, cultural studies, and reflective fiction grounded in Indian realities.