A TOUCH OF SALT BY ANITA AGNIHOTRI (Translated from the Bengali by ARUNAVA SINHA)

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BOOK NAME: A TOUCH OF SALT

AUTHOR NAME: ANITA AGNIHOTRI (Translated from the Bengali by ARUNAVA SINHA)

GENRE: BIOGRAPHY, HISTORY

PUBLISHER: PENGUIN INDIA

BOOK BUY LINK: https://amzn.in/d/e1Neujp


BOOK COVER IMAGE



BOOK REVIEW

There’s always been a debate about who writes history - the historians or the victors, as Winston Churchill said. While there can be no single correct answer to this, it’s also true that whoever chooses to write it definitely tends to miss the ones who were the mighty mites. One such forgotten and unrecorded history in the Indian freedom struggle is the story of Tribhuvan from the Rann of Kutch, who was an Agaria (the salt harvesters). Influenced heavily by the Mahatma, he left home in silence to join the Dandi March (the salt protest) alongside Gandhi and his followers. 


Though happy that he toiled his way to freedom alongside his favourite national leader, Tribhuvan also realised that none of it would change anything for the Agarias much. The story of how they lived in despair in the Thar desert away from home, exposing themselves to the health hazards and awaiting their fortnightly ration of drinking water while their lands were forcefully snatched, is narrated masterfully. One should understand that this is a work of biography and doesn’t particularly only talk of the angelic side of their favourite heroes.


This is the story of Tribhuvan and hisgran son Azad, Malati, Vishnuram and other Agarias who sacrificed their lives for freedom while being forgotten. The book also largely focuses on the Dandi March in detail and how Kasturba played a vital role in its success apart from Gandhi. It is a skillfully written and translated book that will influence its readers abundantly, given that we show some patience with it. Recommended for all nonfiction and history fanatics, especially if you want to read a memorable story based on the Indian freedom struggle.



MY REVIEW: 4 /5

This is a part of Blogchatter’s #TBRchallenge

#penbooksandscalpel



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