Shachi Jayal’s debut book is an ode to childhood. The book reminds the reader of their childhood in some way as one relates to emotions, friendships, anecdotes, Bajaj Chetak rides, forgotten games such as gitte, gilli danda, kanche, lost flavours of aam paapad, sabudaana kheer, chunda, chowlai ka laddoo, sarsoo ka saag and makki ki roti, bhaturu that were once an inherent part of growing up tucked away in Mulberry farm.
Set in the 1980’s, the author gently guides the reader to her charming Mulberry farm in Himanchal Pradesh where she spent her childhood. With her pen dipped in nostalgia, Shachi pens a collection of nostalgic short stories as she relives her best memories made on the Mulberry Farm which forms the bedrock of the book. Shachi fondly recalls the time spent with her brother, parents, friends, cousins, neighbours, visitors, their man-Friday Gumaan Singh and Silky, their pet dog on the farm. Each story ends with a take away or ‘moral of the story’ or ‘Gift’ as she simply puts it: two lines that sum up the essence of the chapter.
Not preachy in any way the book talks about the simple pleasures of a magical childhood spent in the lap of nature complete with its treasure trove of flora and fauna. The curious, spirited brother sister duo enjoy their fair share of adventure as Shachi brings alive her sleepy Mulberry farm that stayed with her while life unfurled and she found herself as a mother to young Prithvi, her son, with whom she wanted to share her wonderous experiences.
“The making and keeping of memories is by far the most remarkable human gift,” and Life on a Mulberry Farm is a gentle, thoughtful read of how to savour and value the little joy and pleasures of life that have somehow now been lost.
Hardcover: Life on a Mulberry Farm
Author: Shachi Jayal
Notion Press
ISBN: 979-8-90136-940-1
Pages: 99
