Subhadra Sen Gupta
2016
Rupa
pp. 83
This is the first time that I have come across Gupta’s writings and I am left wondering why. Maybe because I have long stopped spending time in sections carrying books for children. When we think of books for children, we tend to visualise large prints with cute looking characters that are mischievous and wise, who go on adventures and solve mysteries. Although in my head I knew that there must be a set of informative books written for children but I never bothered finding out more.
Gupta’s work is in this genre. It is informative and easy read. Like most of the things that children read, this one is informative not just for children but for everyone I read. I didn’t know that our very own jalebi and samosa are actually not of Indian origin, and neither are chillies. In tracing history of our food and culture, I admire that she has taken to bringing to the fore people who tend to get no credit in being the makers of history. It is a quick read for adults but for the children who it is meant for, I think it will have to be read chapter by chapter. To be fair, there are a few images but it does not mean that there is less to read. The images do not help much in a conveying a story by themselves. I would recommend it for children in the six to eight years age group.