Book Review: ‘The Great Shutdown’ by Jyoti Mukul

Book Title: The Great Shutdown
Author: Jyoti Mukul
Publisher: HarperCollins
Number of Pages: 372
ISBN: 978-9354892806
Date Published: Apr. 6, 2025
Price: INR 408

Book Review

Jyoti Mukul’s “The Great Shutdown” is a deeply reported and empathetic account of India’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the national lockdown that began in March 2020. The book stands out for its meticulous documentation of both the sweeping policy decisions and the intimate human stories that defined this unprecedented period. Mukul, drawing on her background as a policy analyst and journalist, weaves together narratives of individuals—like the chef stranded at sea and the teenage girl cycling home with her father—with a critical examination of government actions, highlighting the emotional and logistical crises that unfolded as the country ground to a halt.

One of the book’s most compelling strengths is its ability to humanize the statistics and headlines that dominated the news. Mukul brings to life the struggles of migrant workers, the severing of transport links, and the trauma of families separated by both distance and fear. The shutdown of the Indian Railways, a lifeline for millions, is presented not just as a logistical challenge but as a profound rupture in the social and economic fabric of the nation. The author’s attention to detail and her “reporter’s eye for the telling anecdote” make the narrative both accessible and emotionally resonant, ensuring that the reader never loses sight of the individual amid the collective crisis. Jyoti Mukul does not shy away from critiquing the ad hoc nature of official responses and the consequences of centralized decision-making.

She contrasts the 2020 national lockdown with the more localized approach of 2021, questioning whether the hardships endured—especially by the most vulnerable—were inevitable or the result of avoidable policy missteps. The book also explores the inadequacies of India’s healthcare infrastructure, which were laid bare during the second wave, and the economic devastation that, for many, overshadowed even the health emergency. Mukul’s analysis is nuanced, acknowledging the complexity of the crisis while holding those in power accountable for their choices.

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To sum up, “The Great Shutdown” is both a chronicle and a reflection—a necessary record of a seminal event that will shape India’s collective memory for decades. Mukul’s work is praised for its cohesive, data-driven research and its ability to organize the chaos of the pandemic into a narrative that is both informative and moving. For readers seeking to understand not just what happened, but why it mattered and how it felt, this book is an essential read. It stands as a testament to the resilience of ordinary people and a sober reminder of the costs of unpreparedness and mismanagement in times of crisis.

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