I Am on the Hit List: A Journalist's Murder and the Rise of Autocracy in India (Indian subtitle: Murder and Myth-making in South India) is a 2024 non-fiction book by American journalist Rollo Romig. It focuses on the 2017 murder of Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bangalore and examines the political and ideological context surrounding her death. The book was published by Penguin Books on August 6, 2024.
Gauri Lankesh (1962–2017) was an Indian journalist and activist who edited Lankesh Patrike, a Kannada-language weekly. She was known for her criticism of Hindu nationalist groups and her advocacy for secularism and social justice. On September 5, 2017, Lankesh was shot dead outside her home in Bangalore by unidentified gunmen. Her murder led to widespread protests in India, with many linking it to her criticism of right-wing extremism.[1][2] Rollo Romig, an American journalist who had lived in Bangalore, had met Lankesh during his time in India. After her murder, he returned to investigate the circumstances of her death and the broader socio-political environment in South India.[3][4]
Content
The book covers the following topics:
Gauri Lankesh's Career: It describes Lankesh's work as a journalist and her criticism of Hindu nationalist groups, as well as her efforts to promote dialogue across ideological divides.[3][2]
The Murder and Investigation: The book details the events leading to Lankesh's murder, including her awareness of being targeted. It also discusses the investigation, which linked the crime to right-wing groups such as the Sanatan Sanstha.[1][5]
Bangalore's Role: It portrays Bangalore as a city experiencing rapid modernization alongside political and cultural conflicts.[1]
The title of the book comes from a statement Lankesh made before her death, indicating her awareness of the threats against her.[2]
Reception
The book was a 2025 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for General Nonfiction. The Pulitzer Board called it "a captivating account of a crusading South Indian’s murder, a mystery rich in local culture and politics that also connects to such global themes as authoritarianism, fundamentalism and other threats to free expression.[6]
The book received positive reviews:
The New York Times described Romig as "a powerful, effective chronicler of this bleak moment in Indian politics."[5]
Kirkus, in a starred review, called the book "a sharp, captivating, penetrating inquiry that evolves into something more profound than just a true-crime book."
Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, said the book was "both a riveting true crime narrative and an insightful and ominous forecast of India’s political direction."[citation needed]
The Tribune India called it “a gripping commentary on the fragility of Indian democracy in the light of growing extremism and political disenchantment."[1]
Publication
I Am on the Hit List was published by Penguin Press on August 6, 2024, in hardcover format with 400 pages.[7]
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