My India (Jim Corbett): Book Review
I listened to the audiobook a few months ago, but you can also read the Kindle version. I still remember most of the stories narrated by this skillful author quite vividly.
This non-fiction book is set in the early 20th century in the Uttarakhand region of British India where Col. Jim Corbett lived. He worked in the railways and loved the hills (where he lived with his sister and his dog), and the plains (where he worked). Actually, he loved the people and animals of the land and it comes through in his writing.
It contains many true stories, the major life encounters remembered by the author, and I am sure, cherished by the readers. If you want to know what life was like during the early 1900s, this is a must-read/listen.
I will narrate one story briefly.
There was a young family with two little kids. They lived just below the hills where the author lived. They both had to work in the forest in order to fend for the family. Hence they left their kids at home during that time.
One day both the kids were missing, when the parents returned from work. They searched all around the area but to no avail. The forest was nearby and there was also a rumor that small kids were being kidnapped, so they were really worried.
They searched all around the place, but couldn’t find the kids. So they went and registered a complaint at the nearest police station. The officials there felt that if the parents could offer a monetary reward, the kids may be found sooner. But they didn’t have any money to give.
On the same day, a rich merchant from the author’s village who was passing by came to know about the incident and offered 50 rupees (big money back then) as a reward to the finders. The police then went about announcing this news to the neighboring areas.
Meanwhile, inside the forest, a herdsman was walking with his sheep. At a particular place, the sheep stopped one by one and looked towards a bush, before continuing. Curious, the herdsman went to the bushy area to find the two kids behind it who had (by then) fainted due to exhaustion. They were not harmed by any wild animal despite being trapped in the forest for two days!
He carried them on his shoulders and enquired about the kids in the nearest village. Since they had heard the police announcement earlier that day, they directed him to the parents. So finally the kids were rescued and reunited with their family.
The police came to the house and offered the prize money to the rescuer – the herdsman. He refused to take it saying he was alone and he wouldn’t find any use for so much money. He suggested they give the money to the parents instead.
The parents too refused to take it as it was a huge sum. Now the police were in a dilemma. What to do with all that money? The donor did not even leave his address with them! But they knew the name of his village. So they went, enquired, and at last found the donor, and returned his money.
I know, you are thinking, can such a thing ever happen in India today? Hmm… it’s a difficult question to answer but we can take solace from the fact that it did happen a hundred years or so, ago.
Here is the link to ‘My India’ by Jim Corbett if you want to read/listen to the rest of the stories.
Don’t you? 🙂
Destination Infinity
Such a nice story. Read it a long time back. Now that you have mentioned it, I won’t mind reading it again!
Somehow, the stories in this book are etched in my mind! Skillful narration and golden heart!
Destination Infinity
Very inspiring incident. Such days are gone for ever. Leave alone the reward, the kind act of taking back the kids to the village till they found the parents was a compassionate one.
Thanks for drawing our attention to the book.
Ya, it’s a very good book. I loved the audiobook 🙂
Destination Infinity
Nice story. Will look for this book. If it is today,s practice, the police would demand Rs.100 as lanjam to even accept a complaint
I think as all types of people are there, all types of police will also be there. Just that nowadays it’s getting more difficult to spot people with integrity, etc.
Destination Infinity
That’s a piece of gem that’s pretty hard to find these days! Inspiring book, and it’s already on my list to read. Thanks for reminding me.
Hope you get to read the gem soon 🙂
Destination Infinity