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A review by tcbueti
Ahimsa by Supriya Kelkar
4.0
Since this is really the author's family story, it seems to avoid some of the problems that can happen when an outsider describes a country, although it is actually very much about an outsider trying to fix a problem--but not a non-Indian. Captures the uncertainty of trying to help someone but not really understanding what their situation is, coming from a privileged position. How you might not even realize your privilege.
Her mom quits her secretarial job with Captain Brent and becomes a freedom fighter, Anjali is embarrassed by her plain clothes (Homespun in India instead of woven in England from Indian cotton.) and misses her beautiful saris. But she gradually becomes proud of her mother's courage.
Anjali thinks that befriending "Untouchables" and having them come to her school is a good idea--but if they have to sit at the back , and none of the other students come, how is that integrated? Many false starts and steps that backfire--Some "Untouchables" don't want to be called "Harijan" (children of God) as Gandhi thought--they find it demeaning; "Dalit"--meaning "oppressed"-- is what some prefer. Taking over Mohan's job of cleaning out their pit toilet is fine, but how can he survive without that work? Slowly changing people's attitudes and traditions, not without suffering, even violence. Protecting Captain Brent with their bodies and by shouting "Ahimsa" leads him to see her mother's cause in a different light, and her writes a letter to get her out of prison.
Anjali's Muslim best friend, even "brother, Irfann stops talking to her after riots, blaming her for other Hindus' actions. She feels the same for a while, but his father doesn't--and when her beloved cow Nandini is struggling when having her calf, they both come to help.
The whole thing was (and is still) very complicated--Some Indians liked having the British order there; Hindus and Muslims fighting each other instead of fighting the British together. Can such small steps make any progress against outside troubles (the British) and inside-Hindus and Muslims, caste system
Her mom quits her secretarial job with Captain Brent and becomes a freedom fighter, Anjali is embarrassed by her plain clothes (Homespun in India instead of woven in England from Indian cotton.) and misses her beautiful saris. But she gradually becomes proud of her mother's courage.
Anjali thinks that befriending "Untouchables" and having them come to her school is a good idea--but if they have to sit at the back , and none of the other students come, how is that integrated? Many false starts and steps that backfire--Some "Untouchables" don't want to be called "Harijan" (children of God) as Gandhi thought--they find it demeaning; "Dalit"--meaning "oppressed"-- is what some prefer. Taking over Mohan's job of cleaning out their pit toilet is fine, but how can he survive without that work? Slowly changing people's attitudes and traditions, not without suffering, even violence. Protecting Captain Brent with their bodies and by shouting "Ahimsa" leads him to see her mother's cause in a different light, and her writes a letter to get her out of prison.
Anjali's Muslim best friend, even "brother, Irfann stops talking to her after riots, blaming her for other Hindus' actions. She feels the same for a while, but his father doesn't--and when her beloved cow Nandini is struggling when having her calf, they both come to help.
The whole thing was (and is still) very complicated--Some Indians liked having the British order there; Hindus and Muslims fighting each other instead of fighting the British together. Can such small steps make any progress against outside troubles (the British) and inside-Hindus and Muslims, caste system