A Thousand Cuts is a harrowing, sobering, and ultimately inspiring autobiography of Professor T.J. Joseph, who in 2010 became the victim of a brutal terrorist assault, accused of blasphemy after setting an exam question that enraged fundamentalists. This book is an important reminder of the pernicious effect of religious extremism and the duty of every person to speak out against those who would silence free expression. -- SHASHI THAROOR

No sensitive human being can finish reading Prof T.J. Joseph's A Thousand Cuts without a lump in his/her throat. On the one hand, it narrates a harrowing tale of the inhuman torments this innocent, much-loved teacher and his family had to undergo for a crime he had never even dreamt of; on the other, it comes out as a strong indictment of hate-driven religious fundamentalism that goes to absurd lengths to find heresy where none exists, the tragic collusion of political parties and religious heads with the agents provocateurs, the brutalized and corrupt police system in the country and even the non-judicious judiciary that often refuses to look into the facts of the case. There is excruciating agony here, but also black humour and irony that enliven and lighten the narrative even at the height of anguish. A moving testament of our unkind times and a textbook for the secular-minded seekers of truth and justice in our inhuman times. -- K. SATCHIDANANDAN

The saga of a question paper that led to a manhunt and assault of Prof. T.J. Joseph after foisting on him the crime of blasphemy and its consequences on him and his family including complete isolation was penned down by him in Malayalam. The poignant tale with its sense of urgency and helplessness has been sensitively translated as A Thousand Cuts, and the reader can experience the trauma and betrayal of the author as he recalls and relives those days which changed his life. -- RANA SAFVI

PROF. T.J. JOSEPH was born on 22 July 1957 to religious extremism Joseph and Elikutty, and was educated at St Thomas College, Palai, Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, and NSS Training College, Changanassery. He started his career as a lecturer at Pavanatma College, Murickassery, in 1985. He also worked at Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, and Newman College, Thodupuzha. In 2010, following the question paper controversy, he was attacked by religious fundamentalists. He was dismissed from service subsequently. Reinstated on 28 March 2014, he retired on 31 March 2014.

NANDAKUMAR K. started his career as a subeditor at Financial Express after obtaining a master's degree in economics. Following a career in international marketing and general management, which has taken him to around fifty countries in the world, he now works for a shipping line in Dubai. He has co-translated from the Malayalam M. Mukundan's novel Delhi: A Soliloquy. He has also translated a short-story collection by Indu Menon, titled The Lesbian Cow, and has retold a selection of stories from the Kathasaritsagara in English (due in 2021). Nandakumar is the grandson of Mahakavi Vallathol Narayana Menon.