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Chasing Dignity: A Novel
Chasing Dignity, a New-Era-Dickensian Tale from India, is set in Punjab in the 1980s and 90s. It is the story of a young outcast boy who sets out to succeed in an intolerant Indian society. When Jaggi begins school, no one expects him to make it through primary school, including his teacher. However, despite their low caste, his proud mother is determined to help her son succeed. The story weaves through the centuries-old caste-based social structure still dominating Indian society. Along the way, Jaggi crosses paths with several strong-willed men and women who defy the social norms and help him along the way. But what does success mean for him? Can he achieve it, or does it even exist?
395 pages, Hardcover
Published February 21, 2023
6 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 14, 2023
This book beautifully depicts the struggles and tribulations in the life of a lower caste boy in a typical village of Punjab in a period when any caste-based discrimination has been legally and constitutionally outlawed but persists nevertheless in society. The author has innate knowledge of the problem and thus has dealt with the sensitive issue of the relationship between a lower caste boy and an upper caste girl in a lucid and sensitive manner and shown how the ‘caste’ tag pursues the couple even across continents. The novel captivates the attention of readers with its simple but versatile language. While depicting the struggle the couple faces, the book ends on a positive note with its protagonist surmounting the odds with his resolve. The incidents in this book are wholly absorbing which makes it a must read.
Satinder Pal Singh Sangha
Satinder Pal Singh Sangha
August 19, 2023
"Chasing Dignity" by Rachhpal Sahota is an amazing book that explores how people can change and discover who they truly are. It reminds me of "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini, which also talks about redemption and understanding ourselves better.
The story in "Chasing Dignity" is really interesting and makes you feel a lot of emotions. The main character goes through a journey that is relatable and makes you think about your own life. The author describes everything in a way that you can imagine it in your head and feel connected to the characters.
The best part of the book is the characters. They feel real and you can understand their struggles and successes. The author shows how people can grow and change, and that's something we can all relate to.
The book also shares important themes with "The Kite Runner" like guilt, redemption, and trying to make things right. Even though the stories are different, they both teach us about human experience and how we can find forgiveness and redemption.
"Chasing Dignity" is a powerful book that shows us the importance of personal growth and finding our own worth. It makes you think about your own journey and the challenges we all face. If you liked "The Kite Runner," you'll enjoy this book too. It's a story that will stay with you and make you reflect on the power of change and self-discovery.
The story in "Chasing Dignity" is really interesting and makes you feel a lot of emotions. The main character goes through a journey that is relatable and makes you think about your own life. The author describes everything in a way that you can imagine it in your head and feel connected to the characters.
The best part of the book is the characters. They feel real and you can understand their struggles and successes. The author shows how people can grow and change, and that's something we can all relate to.
The book also shares important themes with "The Kite Runner" like guilt, redemption, and trying to make things right. Even though the stories are different, they both teach us about human experience and how we can find forgiveness and redemption.
"Chasing Dignity" is a powerful book that shows us the importance of personal growth and finding our own worth. It makes you think about your own journey and the challenges we all face. If you liked "The Kite Runner," you'll enjoy this book too. It's a story that will stay with you and make you reflect on the power of change and self-discovery.
April 8, 2023
The Rivetingstory of Chasing Dignity summoned beatiful memories from my past
Wow, I relived my childhood through this book, Chasing Dignity. Though, I am a Jat, the upper class depicted in the book, but I am so familiar with the experiences of the outcastes that I could identify with the protagonist in multiple ways-sometimes as if he were me and at other times as if he were one or other of my friends. When the author describes, Baldev, the protagonist’s uncle visiting from the US, he describes all of us immigrants-how they have to do whatever work comes their way. I do not normally read romantic stories, but the way romance has been woven into the story, it was a fantastic read. There is another character Chhaju in the book, he was such a wonderful character – I wish he were given a bigger role. At times the language appears to be raw – showing direct translation of Punjabi proverbs into English. But that’s perhaps the beauty of it. When I finished the novel, it felt like I had read the novel in Punjabi and not in English. If I could, I would give the author 10 out of 5 stars; it was well worth my time spent
Wow, I relived my childhood through this book, Chasing Dignity. Though, I am a Jat, the upper class depicted in the book, but I am so familiar with the experiences of the outcastes that I could identify with the protagonist in multiple ways-sometimes as if he were me and at other times as if he were one or other of my friends. When the author describes, Baldev, the protagonist’s uncle visiting from the US, he describes all of us immigrants-how they have to do whatever work comes their way. I do not normally read romantic stories, but the way romance has been woven into the story, it was a fantastic read. There is another character Chhaju in the book, he was such a wonderful character – I wish he were given a bigger role. At times the language appears to be raw – showing direct translation of Punjabi proverbs into English. But that’s perhaps the beauty of it. When I finished the novel, it felt like I had read the novel in Punjabi and not in English. If I could, I would give the author 10 out of 5 stars; it was well worth my time spent
September 23, 2024
Chasing Dignity, a novel by Dr. Rachhpal Sahota, vividly portrays the institutionalized oppression faced by lower-caste individuals in India. The story follows Jaggi, a bright and hardworking young man, raised by his intelligent mother and an honest/hardworking father. Through carefully crafted details and poignant storytelling, Dr. Sahota brings to life Jaggi's journey, highlighting the challenges and aspirations of those marginalized by the caste system. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand the hardships faced by lower-caste individuals at every phase of their lives, Chasing Dignity is a profound exploration of resilience, hope, and the quest for dignity in the face of adversity
July 31, 2023
Great story, important ideas. I found the writing somewhat stiff and formal, and better editing would have made the reading flow better, but overall, I really enjoyed the book.
September 21, 2023
Rachhpal Sahota’s novel Chasing Dignity is a compelling narrative, set in the 1980s and '90s in Punjab, India, tracing the many twists and turns in the life of a low caste boy, Jaggi. The Indian caste system is a social stratification system characterized by hereditary status and endogamy, enforcing crippling social barriers for those on the lower end of that spectrum. Bound by this rigid system of social hierarchy, Jaggi, a Keera, faces many hurdles as he sets out on his pursuit of a successful life. In the story, his mother Bindo and his friends, Navi and Rani, serve as catalysts on this journey.
In taking the readers through the many trials and tribulations in Jaggi’s life, Rachhpal Sahota presents an authentic picture of rural and urban Punjab of the 1980s and '90s where caste continued to define people’s lives decades after Indian Independence, impeding equity and inclusion. The narrative stays true to the time period and mentions the Mandal Commission Protests of 1990, thereby bringing to light the ongoing distressing ramifications of the Indian caste system. Overall Chasing Dignity offers an enriching reading experience and scores on all fronts: plot, characterization and setting, the conflict at the heart of the narrative gaining urgency to achieve a prudent resolution.
Sahota should be commended for his painstaking research and for presenting an age-old facet of Indian society to a wider audience through his lucid writing which makes the novel easy to read and enjoy. Unlike his literary predecessor Jagseer, the low caste protagonist in Gurdial Singh’s 1964 epochal Punjabi novel Marhi Da Deeva, who succumbs to the evils of the caste system, Jaggi valiantly slays caste system through his pursuit of education and ultimately emerges as the hero to be reckoned with, inspiring fortitude and courage in the face of adversity and injustice.
In taking the readers through the many trials and tribulations in Jaggi’s life, Rachhpal Sahota presents an authentic picture of rural and urban Punjab of the 1980s and '90s where caste continued to define people’s lives decades after Indian Independence, impeding equity and inclusion. The narrative stays true to the time period and mentions the Mandal Commission Protests of 1990, thereby bringing to light the ongoing distressing ramifications of the Indian caste system. Overall Chasing Dignity offers an enriching reading experience and scores on all fronts: plot, characterization and setting, the conflict at the heart of the narrative gaining urgency to achieve a prudent resolution.
Sahota should be commended for his painstaking research and for presenting an age-old facet of Indian society to a wider audience through his lucid writing which makes the novel easy to read and enjoy. Unlike his literary predecessor Jagseer, the low caste protagonist in Gurdial Singh’s 1964 epochal Punjabi novel Marhi Da Deeva, who succumbs to the evils of the caste system, Jaggi valiantly slays caste system through his pursuit of education and ultimately emerges as the hero to be reckoned with, inspiring fortitude and courage in the face of adversity and injustice.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews