Book Reviews

A letter from an old student about three books she read recently.

Ma and I have been wanting to buy a book for the CFL library, and I was wondering if you might help me choose. I’ve short-listed three, of which two are actually by the same author so we thought we might buy both. The first one is Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. If school doesn’t have it already, I’d definitely love to gift this one. It’s a classic, written in 1953 and set in a future American society where all books are banned and “firemen” are hired to make fires (and burn books) instead of putting them out. I think you might have heard of it already.

The other two are by Neal Stephenson: Snow Crash and Quicksilver.

I read Snow Crash first so I’ll tell you about it first, though I think you might enjoy Quicksilver more. Published in 1992 (at a time when the internet was nothing like it is now) the book is set in a sort of sci-fi world and falls, among multiple other genres, into that of Cyberpunk. What fascinates me about Stephenson and this book in particular, is its’ total defiance of categorisation. It includes everything from computer technology to the history of the Sumerians and the Tower of Babel, from business monopolies and a pizza delivery ‘mob’ of Italian gangsters to a Katana wielding protagonist named Hiro Protagonist. It also includes this parallel virtual gaming universe which is mind-blowing when you think of the fact that he was writing before video games and avatars became what they are today. His writing is wonderfully crisp and if he wrote for textbooks, I would never have difficulty understanding any academic concept again.

The other book, Quicksilver, is part of the Baroque trilogy but since I haven’t yet read the others, I cannot say if they are as good. This one, is science fiction but set in the past. Actually it’s hard to tell how much of it is fiction, because it’s centred around the Royal Society of Britain and has Isaac Newton, Robert Hook, King Charles et cetera as main characters of the novel. Naturally, it is set in the 1600s and includes as much history as science. Science was called Natural Philosophy then, and chemistry was Alchemy. Personally, I really enjoyed the book because I’ve never really understood what people like Ishaan find so fascinating about science and experiments, and this book has completely changed that for me. By fitting science into the (for me more tangible) world of mystery, discovery and controversy, the novel sort of brought science out of that box of emotionless, mechanical processes that I think we so-called “humanities” people tend to put it in.

For that reason alone, and if not for the crispness of his writing that I mentioned before, I think you might enjoy this book a lot more than Snow Crash. But there’s another thing I thought I should mention. In terms of the reading itself, I found Snow Crash a lot easier and much less tedious, I think because of its’ racy plot, while Quicksilver required quite a bit of effort and took me an embarrassing amount of time to plough through.

Shalom

Click here to read the Hindi review of the book, The Dust Storm by Geeta Dharamarajan and Atanu Roy.

Book: Hic!copotamus.

Author: Geeta Dharmarajan.

Artist: Atanu Roy.

Publisher: Katha.

Price: Rs. 140.00

The inimitable pair of Geeta and Atanu have turned their talents to bring out a book to laugh with.

The usual sounds of the Gulmohar Jungle are rudely disturbed one morning by something gigantic sploshing into the Lily Pond. What in heaven could it be? The rest of the story is pure fun and can be enjoyed by children as they listen, take roles and enact the hilarious scenes.

Atanu Roy shows his versatility in creating absurd and comical representations of the animals in the forest. Geeta Dharmarajan’s story line keeps the guessing game alive, and the participation of the animals and readers going at a good pace. The conversational style draws both younger and older readers alike.

“Soon they were all busy thinking. ‘Water’, said Forest Fox suddenly. That’s what we foxes drink when we hiccup. It works every time!”

” ‘Thanks!’ said Hawasi, ‘Water I love!'”

One trend that can be noticed in fiction for children these days is the inclusion of facts either at the end of the story or interspersed within the text. This does not always match the age group the story is intended for. But here it blends in well, probably because children are insatiably curious about animals.

Altogether a book which children will relate to both in terms of animals they love and hiccups which are a source of delight to everyone except the sufferer!

Usha Mukunda.   usha.mukunda@gmail.com         Oct. 29th 2014.

Book: The Dust Storm.

Author: Geeta Dharamarajan.

Artist: Atanu Roy.

Publisher: Katha.

Price: Rs. 140.00

Children from almost all backgrounds are being sent earlier and earlier to play schools, many of which do not deserve that nomenclature. Most of them “preoccupy” their wards leaving them with hardly any space to day dream.The creative and formative years of a child’s life is taken up with planned ‘activities.’ Where is the place for imagination? Against this reality, this book comes as a refreshing breath of air.

The story opens with a young girl who steps out of her ordinary home and is carried along by a dust storm. The remaining pages are pure joy as the young girl encounters magical situations that every child could and should envision. Atanu Roy wafts both adults and children into meadows of flowers, clouds of balloons and a myriad rainbow. There is a sense of free flow in his use of colours and movement. An artist who lives his dream!

Geeta Dharmarajan is a master story teller but of late I had missed the spark in her writing. She is back in full force in this tale with rhyming couplets and soaring images.

“I feel so good,

I want to fly.

Rainbow says.

‘Go on, just try.’”

And again, “I slide on balloons.

           Blue and green.

         I ride a cloud horse,

           Like a queen.”

I was reminded of the poem “Who has seen the wind?”by Christina Rossetti.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you:

But when the leaves hang trembling,

The wind is passing through.

The production, as always is excellent.

Usha Mukunda.  usha.mukunda@gmail.com     October 29th 2014.

Non-fiction for children, written and published in India is a rare commodity. Excellent non-fiction is a pearl beyond price! Therefore when a book or series comes along authored by Mala Kumar whose writing has shape and meaning, and illustrated by Deepa Balsavar whose art work has been a source of delight, there is a good deal of anticipation. This is a review of a set of four books called the “Rupaiya Paisa Series”recently published in a colourful and attractive format by Pratham Books at an accessible price of Rs. 40 for each book. Each book is a part of the whole so the price can be calculated accordingly!

Book 1 is called “The World of Money” and aims to introduce the concept and history of money in its various ‘avatars’ over the years. After a brief look at this aspect, it goes on to talk about how one can earn, spend and save money, giving a few tips that adults could use too.

In “How Money travels,” Mala explores all the ways in which money is used, stored, dispersed and transacted.

Book 3 is about “Money Managers.” The reader is introduced to people who manage our money, and we are given an inkling as to why and how we use such ‘managers.”

The final book, called “Be wise with money” is a melange of advice to both children and adults on how to perceive wants and needs, how to plan a family budget and an explanation of how Governments help or hinder this process.

The author addresses her audience directly and has included interactive suggestions for the readers. The illustrations are eye-catching and evocative of the people one comes across in our daily lives.

However, one cannot escape the fact that the topic of money is a complex one and it would be hard even for an Amartya Sen to do justice to it in four slim books for children! Some questions do arise. What is the age group it is meant for? The overall appearance and design of the books which is eye-catching and in comic-book style at times, makes us believe they are for 8 or 10 year old children. Book 1 uses basic ideas and simple vocabulary appropriate to this age group but the subsequent books introduce concepts and ideas like a ‘co-operative’, ‘insurance,’ ‘share-holder’ or ‘promoter’ needing a greater level of maturity than the readership the book seems to be aiming at. Even though each of these words is ‘explained’ the concept is hard to grasp for a child of 8 to 10 years. So one would assume that 12 year olds and above would be the right readership. But the activities suggested seem to be for a younger age grouop. So there is a bit of a mismatch between intent and content. The books could be best used by a family reading and sharing the content together or by a teacher or librarian reading and initiating a group discussion at school. The theme is an important one given that even young children handle money and must understand the ins and outs of it. Anecdotes about how chit funds originated and the notion of pygmy banks add to the appeal of the theme.

The intent of the book is an excellent one – to introduce the notion of money to young people. Nowadays money is handed out to younger and younger children in affluent families, and conversely younger and younger children living in poverty but exposed to consumerism through the media, even resort to crime, begging and what-have-you. Mala Kumar has made a valiant attempt to cover a range of issues around money and Deepa Balsavar’s expressive and imaginative illustrations helps her pull it off.

 Usha Mukunda   usha.mukunda@gmail.com     January 21^st 2014.

 Usha Mukunda has read children’s literature with great enjoyment for more than 30 years. In the process, she has resorted to many strategems, games and ideas to bring children and books into joyous communion with each other. Reading books, sharing them with children, teachers and other librarians to elicit their responses has

Title: What did Nepo do with a sari?

Author: Benita Sen.

Art: Sekhar Mukherjee.

Publisher: Katha. 2013. Rs. 175.00.

Age level: Ages 6 to 10.

At first glance one may wonder what the rationale is for another book on the theme of a sari. However the theme is a very different one.  Nemo is a poor farmer and comes with a request to Dadu for an old shirt. But Dadu “often wore a frown, above his clean white cotton shirt, like a funny crown.” Would he respond to this request? Sure enough all that can be seen on Dadu’s face is shock and an impending scowl. Quick as a flash, Dadi comes in to provide the help. So what does Nemo do with the sari Dadi has given him? Read and find out! The characters are real and one can relate to the crotchety Dadu, the over-helpful Dadi, and the narrator with her mouth full of foaming tooth paste! Even the dog, the cat and the mouse, though usually seen as cliched characters, come up with a surprise

The art work is inventive and has mobility. In a single frame, we see multiple Nepos move from emotion to emotion as he approaches Dadu. Many details can be discovered on a second or third looking at each page. Spot Nepo’s belly button and the little fan Dadu carries as she walks out into the hot sun.

The story is in rhyme and works most of the time but there are parts where the rhythm seems to get broken. Perhaps more inventiveness with words might have helped. At the end is a section with some information about the sari with reference to ancient sculptures, paintings and a picture of weavers. While in itself it is interesting, it is not clear how it fits in with the format of the story or the age group. Perhaps the hope is that teachers may be spurred on to go into the history of the sari. It does not sit too well with the mood or tempo of the story.

This book is an animator’s delight. The child will revel in the flow of the pictures as they move the simple story along.

Usha Mukunda.  usha.mukunda@gmail.com     April 8^th 2014

This review was originally done for the Goodbooks site www.goodbooks.in. It can also be viewed at http://www.goodbooks.in/node/6561

“Mostly Madly Mayil”

Authors: Niveditha Subramaniam and Sowmya Rajendran.

Illustrator: Niveditha Subramaniam.

Publisher: Tulika. 2013. Pages 139.

Price: Rs. 175.00

Target Age Group: 11+

For pre-teens and teenagers, having an outlet to express their own feelings and their commentaries on the people around them seems to give them a strange sense of liberation. When Anne Frank decided to give her diary a name, she opened the window to generations of young people who saw their diary outpourings as intimate conversations with a dear friend. For readers too, there is a curious thrill to be privy to another person’s secrets through her daily entries.

In this second book of Mayil, she is 13 going on 14. Like any teenager, Mayil’s world revolves around herself, her friends, her school encounters and her family, in that order! But even though the diary as a format seems to ‘tell all’, in her first entry, Mayil gives us a hint while talking about her previous year’s diary, ” ….. I wrote so much and left out even more.”  So for the reader, there is a challenge. You will know a lot about Mayil but perhaps you will never know all!

When Anne Frank wrote her diary, it was against the background of the holocaust. There was danger and certain death lurking in the shadows beyond the small office space where the family hid. There was also the angst of growing up, and feelings and emotions that any teenager would experience. Above all, it was a true story. So how can Mayil’s diary expect to hold the readers’ attention through 365 days of so-called trivia? ” it is 3 p.m. now. Ma and Pa are sleeping. I can hear Thatha humming in his room. Thamarai is out somewhere playing with his friends.” Do we need to know all this? Yes, because when reading a diary we have to rely on a single voice to tell us who the other characters are. So this seemingly banal entry sets the scene for us to know who is who. Friends are identified by initials or nicknames, Ki, VS and so on. Like any other teenager Mayil is greatly excited about two new students coming in to their class, about present classmates getting shifted to another section, a change of teachers, a friend revealing the identity of a boyfriend…in short all the regular school stuff that occupies the minds of teenagers. But then suddenly there is a portent of what is to come. Ki calls to ask her whether Mayil has ever been on a crowded bus and has she been hurt? Mayil is baffled but not for long, unfortunately. On her way back from Pandian Stores one day, she has a creepy encounter with a ‘flasher’ and is confused, disgusted and actually nauseous. Who should she tell? “I don’t know if I should be writing this. If Ma somehow reads this, she ‘ll be mad I didn’t tell her. I don’t feel like telling her. But I feel I’ll burst if I don’t tell someone. So I’m telling you, diary……What if Ma never lets me go anywhere by myself?”

Mayil’s diary takes us through her own crushes, strong likes and dislikes, her observations of close family relationships and her own take on it all. “Now Pa and Ma are not talking to each other. This is really tiring because they’ll use Thamarai and me as messengers. And they’ll not even look at each other…..I wish they’d stop being babies.”

The issues that Mayil takes up in her diary could be seen as girl-oriented, but actually the references to a boy’s perspective are there for reading between the lines, whether it is VS who is obviously  (though not so obvious to Mayil) attracted to her or Thamarai with his preoccupations, or even adults who are seen by Mayil with their defences down. “ Sneh Uncle(an old flame of Mayil’s mother) stayed for dinner yesterday. Pa was laughing loudly at everything he said and being fake. It was awful.”

The diary is layered in its content and theme. At one level it is the daily record of the doings of a teenage girl. Wearing a new dress, helping her mother bake a cake, getting onto Facebook, doing homework, having exams…But through these accounts, even though they are fleeting, the larger picture emerges of what it means to be a girl. The Pati’s disappointment at Mayil’s birth, her dark skin, the subtle nuances of being a girl child, the navigation through looming dangers for a girl without making her afraid and subservient, all this and more is adequately touched upon in the book. The authors’ little note at the back of the book is revealing. It says they are inspired by all the things that happened and didn’t happen to them. Not all the things Mayil experiences may happen to every reader, boy or girl, but it is their right to know about them. This humorous but very realistic perspective makes that process more accessible.

A vulnerable moment for Mayil is when she succumbs to the temptation of reading her brother Tamaril’s diary. There is nothing shocking or revealing in the entries and yet it is as if she has transgressed some boundaries. “ This was wrong. What I did…..I just feel mean and I feel like Thamarai didn’t even think I would read his diary.”

The style and language are casual and unforced, but the book does not mince words while dealing with issues like sexual abuse or about sexual urges in teenagers so it is important that the book is read by teenagers who can recognise these emotions and feelings. A younger child stumbling on it might just be confused or titillated. What would be best is if after a group of youngsters reads it, the librarian or teacher opens up a dialogue about it. But the adult must know the art of  communication with young people, and tread gently. Not like Pa who wants Mayil to open up with no preamble or chat first! Conversely a parent might read it and open up his or her genuine questions with he young person. An older sibling could find that such a book makes it easier to bring up some topics with a teenager. The right ambience is the critical factor. As Shakespeare says, “….the readiness is all.”

In conclusion, as a librarian, I have found that when adolescents read books like “The Diary of Anne Frank” or “The catcher in the rye,” there is a great deal that opens up for them that can never be accomplished by sex education sessions or by handing out teenage sex manuals. The communication and chat that goes with reading such ‘coming of age’ books are crucial.

“ I’m really happy when I write. I hope I never grow out of it.” Mayil.

Usha Mukunda.   usha.mukunda@gmail.com      April 8^th 2014.

“Serena” 103. 6^th Main Road. Malleswaram. Bangalore 560003.

शीर्षक:   अपनी अपनी पसंद

लेखक: विजयदान देथा

चित्रांकन: अनिता हाशेमी मोघद्दम

अनुवाद: रंजना शुक्ला

प्रकाशन : कथा

मूल्य २२५ रू.

यह पुस्तक मनोहर है, देखने और पढ़ने में भी। बच्चों और बड़ों दोनों को यह प्रिय लगती है। कहानी अनुवादित होने पर भी भाषा की सहजता के कारण कहीं भी अनुवादित सी नहीं लगती। कहानी ललित गति से आगे बढ़ती है। भाषा अत्यंत सरल और सरस है।

पुस्तक की विषयवस्तु साधारण होने पर भी बड़े सरस और आसक्ति पूर्ण रूप से अभिव्यक्त की गई है। लोग किस प्रकार परिसरों के आदी हो जाते हैं? कैसे आदतों के दास होते हैं? इसे मनोहर ढंग से बताया गया है।इस तरह यह पुस्तक अलग स्तर पर भी पढ़ी जा सकती है। पुस्तक का यह गुण पुस्तक के महत्व को बढ़ाता है।

चित्रांकन आसक्तिपूर्ण है। इसमें उपयोग किए गए रंग भी आकर्षक हैं। अधिकांशतः हर पन्ने पर लिखे हुए कहानी के भाग के अनुसार चित्र मोहक बने हैं। पर कहीं कहीं पन्ने पर दिए हुए विवरण से चित्र भिन्न हैं। उदाहरण के लिए – प्रथम पन्ने पर लिखा गया है: “एक समय की बात है,  कहीं एक ताज़े पानी की झील हुआ करती थी। और उस झील के किनारे थी एक मछुआरे की झोपड़ी।”

लेकिन चित्र में मछुआरे की झोपड़ी झील के किनारे पर नहीं है। उसके चारों तरफ़ पानी दिखाई देता है। तृतीय पन्ने पर कहा जाता है कि झमा झम बारिश होने लगी। चित्र में बारिश दिखाई होती तो चित्र अर्थपूर्ण होता। परंतु ऐसा नहीं हुआ है।

अंतिम पन्ने पर कहा गया है कि मछुआरिन अपनी मछलियों की टोकरी मुँह पर ढ़क कर सो गई। चित्र में यह टोकरी मछलियों से भरी दिखाई गई है। लेकिन उससे पहले ही कहानी में कहा गया है कि मालिन ने मछुआरिन की टोकरी कमरे से बाहर रख दी थी। तब तक मछुआरिन की सारी मछलियाँ बिक चुकी थी। फिर उसकी खाली टोकरी मछलियों से कैसे भर गई?

पुस्तक के अंत में दो पन्नों पर भिन्न भिन्न जानकारियाँ दी गई हैं। पुस्तक की कहानी से इनदोनों का कोई संबंध नहीं है। अतः यह जानकारी व्यर्थ साबित होती हैं। इसके अतिरिक्त यदि मछली, जाल, बाढ़, नदी या बाग के बारे में कुछ बताया होता तो अधिक अर्थ पूर्ण होता।

पुस्तक का मूल्य २२५ रू. है। यह आम लोगों के लिए बहुत महंगी होती है। अतः इतनी अच्छी पुस्तक से सामन्य लोग वंचित रह जाएँगे।

हाथी का वज़न कैसे करें?

शीर्षक:  हाथी का वज़न कैसे करें?

लेखक: गीता धर्मराजन

चित्रांकन: वेन सू

प्रकाशन : कथा

मूल्य १७५ रू.

अनेक भारतीय भाषाओं में प्रचलित यह लोककथा बच्चों को कौतूहल से भर देती है। परंतु यही कथा इस पुस्तक में और भी सुंदर रूप से कही गई है। कहानी की भाषा सरल और सरस है। कहानी सुललित गति से आगे बढ़ती है। अंत तक  बच्चों की आसक्ति बनाए रखती है।

कहानी में भिन्न भिन्न वृत्ति वाले हाथी को तोलने के लिए करने वाले उपाय दिलचस्प हैं।

पुस्तक के चित्र सरल होते हुए भी सुंदर हैं। राजा के सभासदों की वेश भूषा से पता चलता है कि भिन्न भिन्न देश के लोग वहाँ उपस्थित हैं। हर पन्ने पर दिए गए विषय के विवरण से संबंध रखने वाले चित्र अर्थपूर्ण हैं।

कहानी के अंत में लीलावती का परिचय उचित है। परंतु अन्य महिलाओं का परिचय इस उम्र के बच्चों के लिए गंभीर एवं जटिल बनता है। आर्किमेडिस का परिचय भी पुस्तक केलिए ठीक बैठता है। अंत में दिया हुआ प्रयोग प्रशंसनीय है। परंतु उसमें एक दोष है। तीसरे चित्र में जब मिट्टी की गेंद को कटोरे के पानी में डुबाया जाता है तो कटोरे के पानी का स्तर बढ़ जाना चाहिए। चित्र में ऐसा नहीं होता। यह एक बड़ा दोष है।

पुस्तक का मूल्य १७५ रू. है। मेरे विचार में यह अधिक है। इस कहानी के भिन्न रूपांतर अन्य प्रकाशकों के द्वारा प्रकाशित हुए हैं, और उनका मूल्य काफी कम है।

पालकीवाले

शीर्षक: पालकीवाले

लेखक: सरोजिनी नायडू

चित्रांकन: इंदु हरिकुमार

प्रकाशन : कथा

मूल्य: १४५ रू.

पालकीवाले पुस्तक के चित्र अत्यंत आकर्षक हैं। परंतु इसका विषय आज कल के बच्चों की समझ के परे है। निस्संदेह सरोजिनी नायडू की रचना उत्तम है। पर प्रकाशक तथा चित्रकार को याद रखना चाहिए कि समय की दृष्टि से यह रचना बहुत पुरानी है। अब हमारी संस्कृति में पर्याप्त परिवर्तन हुआ है। अतः आज कल के बच्चे इसका पूरा मज़ा उठाने में असमर्थ रह जाते हैं।

पालकी, जो आज कल कहीं दिखाई नहीं देती, का बोध कराने के लिए कम से कम पुस्तक में पालकी का नैज चित्र होना अत्यावश्यक है। स्टैलैज़्ड चित्र यह काम नहीं कर सकते।

पुस्तक सुंदर तथा भारत की कोकिला सरोजिनी नायडू की लिखी होने पर भी बच्चों के लिए पूर्ण रूप से निष्फल है।

जादूई नगरी

शीर्षक: मिमी की जादूई नगरी

लेखन और चित्रांकन: क्वे लिंग शू

प्रकाशन : कथा

मूल्य: १४५ रू.

यह पुस्तक मैने कईं बच्चों और बड़ों को दिखाई। सब के सब बच्चों ने पुस्तक के दो तीन पन्ने पलटकर  बिना पढ़े अलग रख दिए। किसी को भी यह पुस्तक अच्छी नहीं लगी। इसका कारण है इसके गूढ़ लगने वाले अस्पष्ट चित्र।

कहानी बुरी नहीं है। गहरे रंगों के धुँधले चित्रों के कारण पुस्तक अत्यंत अनाकर्षक हो गई है। कहानी के पात्रों का भी पता नहीं चलता। चित्र में उन्हें ध्यान लगाकर ढूँढना पड़ता है। कहानी के अन्य अच्छे गुण भी अवगणना के शिकार हो जाते हैं।

गटिला

शीर्षक: गटिला

लेखन तथा चित्रांकन: लीसा डाएस नोरोन्हा एवं अंजोरा नोरोन्हा

पुस्तक का मूल्य १७५ रू.

“गटिला” कहानी की पुस्तक आकर्षक और सुंदर है। इसके रंग और चित्र दिलचस्प हैं। भाषा सरल है। इसमें बताई गई नीति भी उचित है और सरल रूप से बताई गई है। पुस्तक के अंत में दिए गए कार्य कलाप बच्चों के लिए आसक्तिपूर्ण और उचित हैं।

पुस्तक का मूल्य १७५ रू. है जो अधिक लगता है। इस कहानी के कई रूपांतर प्रचुर मात्रा में मिलते हैं।

मेहर गढ़ की थंगम

शीर्षक: मेहरगढ़ की थंगम

लेखक: गीता धर्मराजन

चित्रांकन: मृणालिनी सरदार

प्रकाशन : कथा

मूल्य: १७५ रू.

आकर्षक रंगों के स्टैलैज़्ड चित्रों के साथ पुस्तक आंखों के लिए उत्सव है। परंतु पुस्तक के कई भाग अपने आप समझने में बच्चों को दिक्कत हो सकती हैं। विषय वस्तु हज़ारों वर्ष पुरानी होने के कारण दीर्घ पृष्ठ्भूमि की आवश्यकता है। समसामयिक  विषयों के विवरण के बिना समझना कठिन है।

चित्र सुंदर होने पर भी स्टैलैज़्ड होने के कारण बच्चों को विषय स्पष्ट नहीं हो पाता। उदाहरण के लिए: थंगम मोहर पर क्या काम कर रही थी? या फिर, कुल्लन मामा का चाक कहाँ है? और वे उस पर कैसे काम करते हैं?

अंत में “थंगम से मिलो” भाग में वृत्तों में उल्लिखित विषय बहुत दिल्चस्प और जानने योग्य हैं। लेकिन ये विषय पुस्तक में चित्रित थंगम से मेल नहिं खाते। उदाहरण के लिए: थंगम का घर आरामदायक है, थंगम दांतों के डाक्टर के पास जाती थी, उसके घर में भंडारण हुआ करता था, घर में गुसलखाना था, माँ घर को सजाय करती थी, आदि।

मन में प्रश्न उठता है कि इस पुस्तक का उद्देश्य क्या है?

मेहरगढ़ के बारे में सरल तथा सरस रूप से जानकारी देना?

केवल रंगीन स्टैलैज़्ड चित्र प्रस्तुत करना?

या फिर, चित्र और पठ्य को जोड कर अर्थ समझने में खुद बच्चों को अपना सिर खपाने के लिए मजबूर करना?

यह सबसे विषादनीय विषय है कि पुस्तक बच्चों को मेहरगढ़ की असली गंध नहीं दे सकती। इसके लिए पुस्तक के अंत में दिए गए विषयों का पुस्तक में उपयोग करना अति आवश्यक है जो नहीं हो पाया है। थंगम नाम भी मेहरगढ़ से मेल नहीं खाता।

Click here to read a review of Rabindranath Tagore’s book, Kumhar Basti ki Bailgadi