Today’s children are caught in a Western wave

Most of us urban parents face the same problem as NRI parents. We have to make an effort to cultivate an interest in India in our India-bred young! From the clothes they wear to the music they like, to the attitude they sport, today’s children are caught in a Western wave.

A global exposure is certainly needed but not at the cost of being a stranger to one’s own heritage. Thankfully, there is an easy way to understand and appreciate India — through reading. There are plenty of books that range from mysteries and fantasies to everyday tales that bring out India in its varied hues.

Unbeknownst to people, renowned writer Shashi Deshpande has penned four books for children. Three of these books A Summer Adventure, The Hidden Treasure, and The Only Witness are an adventure series featuring four cousins.

The four children nail robbers, unearth hidden treasures, and fight injustice in a small town as well as in big bad Mumbai! Deshpande’s simple narrative makes this page-turner appealing to children. Along the way, the writer seamlessly weaves in values that bind Indian families together.
Anita Desai’s A Village by the Sea is a story of poverty, hope and despair depicted through the lives of thirteen year old Lila and her brother Hari. The story is set in the small seaside village town Thul near Alibagh.

For urban youth for whom seaside is all about fun filled beach resort vacations, this book opens up a harsher side of life. Though there is sorrow and hardship, Desai gives it a fairytale touch which makes the book optimistic.

Paro Anand has written 18 books for children and young adults. Among these the most touching novel has to be No Guns at my Son’s Funeral.

Set against the backdrop of militancy in Kashmir, Anand brings to readers’ attention the terror that surrounds this beautiful land. Aftab, an everyday cheerful youth during morning changes garb to work clandestinely with a tear away militant group at night.

The book unfolds what leads youth in Kashmir to do what Aftab did and the disastrous ends with which such youth meet.
Jamila Gavin is an Anglo Indian writer who was exposed closely to two diverse cultures, Indian and British during her growing up years. Her trilogy The Wheel of Surya depicts the turmoil of commoners caught in the India-Pak partition cross-fire.

Thirteen-year old Marvinder and her ten year old brother Jaspal from Punjab set out on the daunting task of finding their father in faraway England. The trilogy takes one through life in Punjab post-Partition and contrasts that with life in England post World War II. Jamila has also written a number of books for younger readers which are well worth a read.

Zai Whitakar, Rachana Gilmore, Ranjit Lal, Mitali Perkins, and Vandana Singh are some among the many prolific and intelligent contemporary writers who write for children. Tara books, Tulika, Katha, and Pratham are some of the publishing houses who are bringing out books by Indian writers. Hopefully children this summer will read and enjoy the wonderful books by these worthy writers.

Vani is the founder of online library easylib.com