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A review by apoorvac4741
Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya
4.0
This year, I resolved to read more books by Indian authors as I don't do it much. I'm so glad that I picked up this book because it is a hidden gem. It's poignantly rich and despairing writing left a mark on me.
Set in the rural area of post-colonial South India, "Nectar in a Sieve" is a story about Rukhmani, an old woman who reminiscences about her life. At the age of 12, she gets married to a tenant farmer. We follow her journey as she struggles to eke out a living on land amid threats of droughts, heavy monsoon, and starvation.
To say this book was beautiful would be an understatement. In the beginning, the writing has a childlike innocence and wonder as Rukhmani begins her new life. But as her life gets tough, it gets subdued by a melancholy voice that is trying its best to survive but is helpless against the odds.
This book accurately captures the essence of a farmer's life, showing the trials and tribulations they face while living from hand to mouth and sometimes starving till the next season. It also shows the patriarchal traditions still alive like child marriage, dowry, desire for sons. I don't think much has changed since then in that regard.
There's another character, a white doctor who helps these people but constantly chides them for being submissive. But we see that those who fight back suffer and lose what they already had. It shows the powerlessness of the poor against the rich. When one has limited means, the only thought that takes precedence is how to survive and we see this by the way the characters bend in the circumstances.
All in all, this is a must-read novel.
P.S. If you read this edition, please don't read the intro because it gives away a lot of spoilers!
P.P.S. I joined bookstagram just a few months ago so I'd really appreciate it if you checked it out! :D
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Set in the rural area of post-colonial South India, "Nectar in a Sieve" is a story about Rukhmani, an old woman who reminiscences about her life. At the age of 12, she gets married to a tenant farmer. We follow her journey as she struggles to eke out a living on land amid threats of droughts, heavy monsoon, and starvation.
To say this book was beautiful would be an understatement. In the beginning, the writing has a childlike innocence and wonder as Rukhmani begins her new life. But as her life gets tough, it gets subdued by a melancholy voice that is trying its best to survive but is helpless against the odds.
This book accurately captures the essence of a farmer's life, showing the trials and tribulations they face while living from hand to mouth and sometimes starving till the next season. It also shows the patriarchal traditions still alive like child marriage, dowry, desire for sons. I don't think much has changed since then in that regard.
There's another character, a white doctor who helps these people but constantly chides them for being submissive. But we see that those who fight back suffer and lose what they already had. It shows the powerlessness of the poor against the rich. When one has limited means, the only thought that takes precedence is how to survive and we see this by the way the characters bend in the circumstances.
All in all, this is a must-read novel.
P.S. If you read this edition, please don't read the intro because it gives away a lot of spoilers!
P.P.S. I joined bookstagram just a few months ago so I'd really appreciate it if you checked it out! :D