Page 171 - EW October 2024

across the kalapani. The of forgotten aspects of the
shock included dietary life of the indentured in THE PADMAS: FIFTY STORIES OF
fare which was completely India. PERSEVERANCE
alien compared to their The rise of the diaspora Neha J. Hiranandani; Illustra-
regular meals. The ships also gave power to nation- tions by David Yambem
were not initially prepared alist struggles centred in PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
for the basic ingredients of the newly formed island- Rs.399 Pages 104
a simple Indian meal. The states and ended colonial
crew or even doctors, if rule therein. The role, in
available, were often ‘con- particular, of Mahatma
temptuous’ of desi meals. Gandhi in South Africa is knowing about individuals The stories of 50
The consequences were mentioned as a major force who have made valuable Padma Vibhushan,
starvation, indigestion and to contest apartheid and contributions to society in Padma Bhushan and
often fatal disease. racism behind the vicious a range of fields can invest Padma Shri awardees
The author also high- practice of indenturing. children with enthusiasm from all walks of
lights the role of plantation Documentation, as pro- to emulate their example. life are written
owners in London city in vided by Mukherjee in this It can give them a sense of in this engaging
devising the scheme of small volume makes it use- direction and determina- compendium
indenture as a substitute ful for further research by tion, meaning and purpose
for slavery. As pointed out scholars. In addition, the as they transition to ado- biography accompanied by
in available literature on author has made an effort lescence and adulthood. a delightful illustration.
indenturing, financiers in to provide as many as 24 This well-crafted The 50 Padma awardees
the city were very active in photographs of indentured book serves this purpose whose stories are included
allocating labour to estates labour, their work condi- brilliantly. Penned by in this book are from
they owned, in the supervi- tions, their families includ- author and columnist across the country, and
sion of bonded workers, ing single shots of women. Neha J. Hiranandani and from diverse social back-
and the trans-shipment I most value the plate beautifully illustrated by grounds. They have made
of raw (brown) sugar to printed as farcical employ- animator and illustra- noteworthy contributions
England to process it as ment contract on page 96 tor David Yambem, Fifty in numerous vocations
white sugar for export to with the fingerprint of an Stories of Perseverance and walks of life — social
the rest of the world. It unfortunate indentured on narrates the heroic deeds service, music, literature,
has often been pointed out the girmitiya. of 50 exemplary Padma animal welfare, education,
by this reviewer that the A useful supplement awardees — women and science and technology
pattern was of a triangular to available literature on men from various parts and health. The stories of
transfer, of indentured indentured labour from of India who have been these extraordinary men
labour from India to plan- India. awarded one or the other and women are narrated
tations, then of raw sugar SUNANDA SEN (The of the three Padma awards in a straight-forward and
from plantations to Britain Book Review) (Padma Vibhushan, endearing style so that not
where it was processed Padma Bhushan and just children, but adults,
into white sugar for over- Padma Shri) for notable too, can draw motivation
seas markets. contribution in different and education from them.
The book also includes Inspiring spheres of life and activity A compendium to grace
a chapter on women who (with some having received every library, it’s a perfect
are usually forgotten, biographies more than one of the three gift for growing children.
providing unpublished Padma awards). In a span The Padmas is a great
material which will be of O MATTER what of two pages, readers are way to enable children to
much use for researchers. stage of life we provided brief biogra- rise above the ordinary
The last three chapters are Nmay be at, positive phies of every awardee’s and serve the cause of the
an interesting account of role models are worthy of life (including, in several greater good in meaningful
the ‘diaspora’, those left emulation. For children, cases, reference to major ways. One hopes this book
behind at the end of the personal encounter with challenges they faced and will be followed by a com-
contracts. They focus on or learning about inspiring their response) and the prehensive volume detail-
the rescue and revival of role models can power- significant achievement for ing the lives of all Padma
their language and culture fully impact the course of which they were conferred awardees thus far.
as ‘saviour and redeemer’ their lives. Learning, or a Padma award, with every YOGINDER SIKAND

OCTOBER 2024 EDUCATIONWORLD 171