Journalist Rana Ayyub's self-published book on Gujarat gets off big launch

Rana Ayyub is in the spotlight for her book #GujaratFiles. Self-published, the book is primarily being promoted via social media where troll attacks are rampant against the independent journalist. In her usual style, Rana is making the most of this rage and giving it back to them.

Dear bigots. Thanks for drawing international attention to #amazon through d day and helping promote my book. Gratitude #GujaratFiles

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) May 25, 2016

They hate her with a vengeance. Trolls have trashed Rana Ayyub's self-published book on Amazon, bringing global attention to the reviews system at the online retailer. On Friday, #GujaratFiles was launched amidst a packed room of people in Delhi. So much so many people had to turn back as organisers could no longer allow people to enter the venue for the launch. Controversial and bold, the book is Rana Ayyub's research summit on the Gujarat riots and hence the massive interest in the same. For months at end the author had been toying with the idea of publishing this book, was engaged in conversation with many publishers (most of who clearly got cold feet and others cited time constraints) and then embedded with lawyers to get this out.

#GujaratFiles has been self published by me after topmost publishers eased out citing political pressure. E-book and Kindle now on Amazon

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) May 25, 2016

Here you will find the latest reviews (755 when the article was written) on Rana Ayyub's book: Amazon Trolls have hit out at her rating her one star only. The Amazon website describes the book as follows:

Gujarat Files is the account of an eight-month long undercover investigation by journalist Rana Ayyub into the Gujarat riots, fake encounters and the murder of state Home Minister Haren Pandya that brings to the fore startling revelations. Posing as Maithili Tyagi, a filmmaker from the American Film Institute Conservatory, Rana met bureaucrats and top cops in Gujarat who held pivotal positions in the state between 2001 and 2010. The transcripts of the sting operation reveal the complicity of the state and its officials in crimes against humanity.