I Am on the Hit List: Murder and Myth-making in South India by Rollo Romig

A STUNNING, UNSETTLING INVESTIGATION INTO A NATION AT THE CROSSROADS.

Finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize, I Am on the Hit List is a gripping, epic narrative that delves deep into the assassination of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh. On September 5, 2017, the shooting of Lankesh outside her Bengaluru home sent shockwaves through the country, igniting mass protests and exposing the dangerous fissures in modern Indian democracy.

Journalist Rollo Romig—who has reported on South India for over a decade—follows the trail of Gauri’s life and death, navigating a complex web of political extremists, organized crime, and shadowy religious groups. The narrative is as atmospheric as it is investigative, moving from the intellectual hubs of Church Street in Bengaluru to secretive ashrams in Goa and global restaurant chains. By tracing these threads, Romig interrogates the cycle of polarization and bloodshed that fuels political murder, while simultaneously offering a moving ode to the journalists, writers, and activists who stand as the last line of defense against the decline of democratic values.

Why this book is a landmark work of narrative journalism:

• Deep Investigative Depth: An unflinching look at one of India’s most high-profile murder cases, revealing the "murky forces" operating in the shadows.

• A Broader Lens: Beyond the crime itself, the book frames Gauri’s story within the larger context of history, religion, and the fragility of dissent in modern India.

• Narrative Brilliance: Romig weaves together disparate locations and time periods—from IT-fueled high rises to the ancient story of St. Thomas—to create a hauntingly vivid portrait of a society in flux.

• Internationally Acclaimed: Recognized as a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the challenges facing democracy, both in India and globally.