Daaku is a 2006 Canadian crime fiction novel by Ranj Dhaliwal.
In the violent and ruthless world of IndoâÂÂCanadian gangs, Ruby Pandher is on his way up. A selfâÂÂdescribed daaku (Punjabi for outlaw), Ruby learns young that might, in the form of his drunken father's fists, is right, and that money is easier to steal than earn. Ruby's smallâÂÂtime scams reveal a knack for leadership and after his first stint in youth detention, the bigâÂÂtimers start to notice his potential.
Soon, Ruby is doing collections for IndoâÂÂCanadian drug dealers. Now "known to police," Ruby is drawn into a gang war just as he's trying to beat the rap on weapons charges and theft âÂÂâ while simultaneously organizing a jailhouse smuggling ring. On the cusp of adulthood, and surrounded by Punjabi terrorists, bikers and IndoâÂÂCanadian gangsters, Ruby is drawn like a moth to the glamour of power, money, and drugs.
The novel deals with themes of betrayal, murder, and gangsterism. Daaku explores the setting of IndoâÂÂCanadian gangland.
Daaku has been compared to Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas and S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders. "Daaku provides a fascinating look into the gang world's twisted morality, casual murder, commodification of women, and the inevitability of violent demise." says website "Quill and Quire"