Title: My India
Author: Jim Corbett
Genre: Non-fiction, Memoirs
Published: 1952
Summary
The story of India and its people as seen by Jim Corbett.
BookMarks
Jim Corbett has been one of my favorite authors since my childhood days. His narration was always thrilling, to say the least. Don’t think any other writer has brought in words the thrill of a hunt as Mr. Corbett did.
However, My India is not one of his usual hunting tales. Yes, the guns, game, tracking in the jungle is there. But this book is more about the stories of the people he encounters in his twin roles as a railway contractor based at Mokameh Ghat (modern day Mokama in Bihar) and his “home base” in Kaldhungi (now in Uttarakhand). The people are poor, but very honest and if you do good to them, they will return and repay you in every way possible.
In his writings Corbett displays a better understanding of Indian traditions, caste system and village life than many of our own writers. Understanding and depiction of caste hierarchy, the money-lending system, social standing of different people – some of it can be compared to the writings of Munshi Premchand. The fact that he lived with the villagers and spoke the language of the people certainly helped.
Of course, reading the book almost a hundred years later does bring a different perspective. Corbett and his people live in a kind of cocoon. There is no resentment of any kind against the British rule and no mention of the freedom struggle which was underway in the time. Quite a surprising omission when one reads it now. And did Corbett never face any ill-treatment? But these do not take anything away from the simple yet gripping tale of My India.
The book ends with a story of “Snake” in the chapter “Life at Mokameh Ghat”. Incidentally this story was in my Std 6 Gulmohar graded Reader, which was my first experience of Corbett’s writing. So quite an interesting end!
Previously on BookMarks: Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand
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