Book Review
Author:
Andrea Hirata
Published
in India by Penguin , 2013
Pages:
291 Price: Rs 399
Every
person has at least one story to tell: his/her own. Andrea Hirata’s debut novel, The
Rainbow Troops, tells the story of the author and ten other students of
a crumbling school in a poor village of the Indonesian island, Belitong. It is a story that elicits delight and tear
drops at the same time. It is a story of
childhood innocence, mischief and malleability as much as of the indifference
of God and destiny, the indifference of life itself.
The
Muhammadiyah School in Belitong is a dilapidated building. A 15 year-old girl, Ibu Muslimah Hafsari
(called Bu Mus by her students) has abandoned life’s enticements to join the
only other teacher, an old man named Bapak Harfan Effendy Noor (Pak Harfan), in
order to provide free education to the poor children on the island. The norms stipulate that there should be at
least ten students for a school to function.
When Harun, a child with special needs, joins the number is
complete. And the school begins. Along with that the novel too.
The
novel tells the heart-touching story of the ten students (and the eleventh one
that joins later abandoning her posh public school) and the two teachers. Their life is a struggle all through. It is a struggle against grinding poverty, the
education officers who are keen to close down the school which is seen by them
as mere nuisance, and the mining industry which has its eyes on the tin that
lies beneath the school building as well as its campus all of which belong to a
religious organisation.
The
book is not a mere novel. It is the real
story of some children and a few adults in Belitong. That’s the chief reason why it is
captivating. We get insightful glimpses
into a world of poverty, dedication to a cause, and childlike innocence. The novel is about the ineluctable vicissitudes
of life. It is about how hope can
sustain people when everything seems oppressive and depressing.
The
novel is also indirectly about how capitalist globalisation is no different
from colonialism: “Its goal,” in the words of the novel, “was to give power to
a few people to oppress many, to educate a few people in order to make the
other docile.”
Not
infrequently does the book touch upon the ludicrous side of religion and
shamanism: “One of the extraordinary qualities of Malays is that no matter how
bad their circumstances, they always consider themselves fortunate. That is the use of religion.” Shamanism seems better at least when the
students who approach the greatest shaman for help in passing their exam easily
are given the advice: “If you want to
pass your exams,/ Open your books and study!”
The
whole episode of the students’ adventure to meet the shaman and their encounter
with him ended in such an anticlimax that I burst into a loud laugh. The book can make you laugh occasionally,
smile often and feel empathy with the downtrodden all through. It is a story of some marginalised people,
narrated in a very simple manner with no pretensions of any sort.
I always preferred Real Story than to a Novel and Going by the Review I guess this book is worth a read..
ReplyDeleteIt is a real story converted into fiction. Bu Mus and Pak Harfan are as real as the 11 students.
DeleteGreat review bro!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteA reader's choice leads to the book to be read and an honest review brings out the true qualities and the appeal of the theme dealt with. Now through your brilliant review, we have come to know of the story of life unfolding in a different way- a story of conundrums that culminates into something meaningful. A great review characteristic of your genre.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kajal, for your constant appreciation. It's a blogger's delight to have fellow bloggers like you.
Deletegood review :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Aparna.
DeleteThis is going to make my list of books to read. Great review!
ReplyDeleteGlad the book merited such an entry.
DeleteSounds interesting. Will check this out.
ReplyDeleteDo. You'll like it if you are interested in a good story about some very ordinary people going through hard times.
DeleteThis sure seems a great book to read.
ReplyDeleteI wanna read this..
ReplyDelete:)