Focuses on the Indo-Fijian indenture system for a nuanced exploration of displacement and identity
Interweaves the past and present through the lives of Banjara women and their descendants
Features rich historical and cultural details set across Aotearoa, India, and Fiji
Offers a moving tribute to the stories and resilience of marginalized communities
Summarized by Shop
A powerful literary debut from an astonishing new Kiwi voice, focusing on the Indo-Fijian indenture system and how it affected generations across the Pacific.
Rajasthan 1888: Avani Rathod, a nomad of the Banjara community, is summoned to teach a blue-eyed colonial officer the trees of her region, but instead is misled into indenture to the
Author
Avani Rathod
Publisher
Penguin Random House New Zealand
Publication Date
2024-03-01
Format
Paperback
Language
English
Genre
Literature, Historical Fiction
Summarized by Shop
5.0
1 rating
5
4
3
2
1
A great read..
A historical and modern comparison outset for the readers, swapping between the past and present times is interesting. I enjoyed this aspect on how the author relates between the timelines and creates a basis for her story. Knowing a bit about the Girmitiya in Fiji, I try to build a connection with the characters and the some of the symbolism used and described in the story. A great insightful read overall on the origins of the Indians in Fiji, and the endurance of their struggles in their early days. I would recommend to others who want to understand the indenture systems especially to the younger generations coming from Fiji for them to know more about their ancestry.