LCCC journalism professor authors book about `untouchable' in India

ELYRIA — As a journalist, one reports what is observed and what is spoken. As a novelist, one weaves a story, created from imagination. As both, Cliff Anthony, a journalism professor at Lorain County Community College and adviser of The Collegian, tells the tale of a fictional character in a very real conflict of colorism, political deception and religious fanaticism in his new novel, "Tears in God's Own Country." Set in the 1960s in a fictional village in the South Indian state of Kerala, "Tears in God's Own Country" focuses on Chenda, a musician who dreams of performing at Carnegie Hall one day. Beloved for his music in his small village, Chenda is still ostracized by the villagers because of his dark skin and is considered an "untouchable." To get an Indian passport and a U.S. visa to make his musical dreams come true, Chenda devises a plan to get the local medical store manager to run for political office, but the manager has an agenda of his own, which sets off a religious war in the small village. Anthony, who grew up in India before moving to the U.S. in 1986, saw firsthand the effects of colorism in India in the 1950s and 1960s and said it has not changed. "Colorism, racism, black and white, it's not just in India," he said. "It's all over the place. Look at what happened here recently with George Floyd. It is an issue all over. In India, there are three colors: white, which is fair; brown, which is medium, that is me; and black, which is dark. If you are black, you are immediately low caste. People won't even let you inside of the house." Before coming to the United States, Anthony worked in newspapers in India and the Middle East. He earned his master's degree in journalism from Kent State University, then went to work as an assistant professor at Cleveland State University. He made the move to LCCC in 2008. He wrote his first novel, "Page-A1," about a reporter struggling to remain objective as management shortchanges the newsroom, in 2013. His decision to write novels stemmed from his desire to effect change. "As a journalist, you have one day, maybe two days of impact," Anthony said. "You have to add more information to have a longer impact. You can do that with a novel." While "Tears in God's Own Country" may tackle serious issues, it has a lot of heart and a lot of humor, from a tennis ball sparking a religious riot between the local Hindus and Muslims to a missing cow doing the same and other antidotes weaved throughout. "The gist of the story is that we are all one," Anthony said. "We are all God's children. For those who don't believe in God, we are children of nature. The motif is universal." Anthony, who lives with his wife, Mary, in Highland Heights, said Chenda sums it up best. "When he saw what the politicians were doing, he got drunk and when he drinks, he sings," Anthony said. "He sings that the world is an illusion and life is an illusion. All of these things we talk about — color, political deception, greed — they are all illusory. It doesn't mean anything at all." "Tears in God's Own Country" is available at area independent bookstores, Amazon and Kindle, and national bookstore chains upon request. Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@chroniclet.com.