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The Last Wave
Ever the aimless drifter, Harish finds the anchor his life needs in a chance encounter with members of the ancient – and threatened – Jarawa community: the ‘original people’ of the Andaman Islands and its tropical rainforests. As he observes the slow but sure destruction of everything the Jarawa require for their survival, Harish is moved by a need to understand, to do something. His unlikely friend and partner on this quest is Uncle Pame, a seventy-year-old Karen boatman whose father was brought to the islands from Burma by the British in the 1920s.
The islands also bring him to Seema, a ‘local born’ –
a descendant of the convicts who were lodged in the
infamous Cellular Jail of Port Blair. Seema has seen the world, but unlike most educated islanders of her generation, she has decided to return home. Harish’s earnestness, his fascination and growing love for the islands, their shared attempt to understand the Jarawa and the loss of her own first love, all draw Seema closer to Harish.
As many things seem to fall in place and parallel journeys converge, an unknown contender appears: the giant tsunami of December 2004. The Last Wave is a story of lost loves, but also of a culture, a community, an ecology poised on the sharp edge of time and history.
The islands also bring him to Seema, a ‘local born’ –
a descendant of the convicts who were lodged in the
infamous Cellular Jail of Port Blair. Seema has seen the world, but unlike most educated islanders of her generation, she has decided to return home. Harish’s earnestness, his fascination and growing love for the islands, their shared attempt to understand the Jarawa and the loss of her own first love, all draw Seema closer to Harish.
As many things seem to fall in place and parallel journeys converge, an unknown contender appears: the giant tsunami of December 2004. The Last Wave is a story of lost loves, but also of a culture, a community, an ecology poised on the sharp edge of time and history.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2014
10 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
About the author
Pankaj Sekhsaria
18 books85 followersPankaj Sekhsaria is Associate Professor, Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas (CTARA), IIT Bombay. His most recent book is 'Instrumental Lives - an intimate biography of an Indian laboratory (Routledge 2019). The India edition is being released in November 2019.
He has a long-standing association with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) as a member of the environmental action group, Kalpavriksh. He is the author also of 'Islands in Flux - the Andaman and Nicobar Story' (Harper Collins India 2017), a collection of his journalism based on the islands over the last two decades. His debut novel 'The Last Wave' (HarperCollins India, 2014) was also set in the Andaman islands and he is also co-editor of The Jarawas Reserve Dossier for UNESCO (2010).
He is also author of 'The State of Wildlife in Northeast India 1996-2011: News and Information from the Protected Area Update, published by Foundation for Ecological Security.
He has a long-standing association with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) as a member of the environmental action group, Kalpavriksh. He is the author also of 'Islands in Flux - the Andaman and Nicobar Story' (Harper Collins India 2017), a collection of his journalism based on the islands over the last two decades. His debut novel 'The Last Wave' (HarperCollins India, 2014) was also set in the Andaman islands and he is also co-editor of The Jarawas Reserve Dossier for UNESCO (2010).
He is also author of 'The State of Wildlife in Northeast India 1996-2011: News and Information from the Protected Area Update, published by Foundation for Ecological Security.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 27, 2019
Warm quilts of grey, throbbing lancelet of sea, quaint demure moon, nesting tortoise - what is there in all these things that can stop us from falling in love? Maybe nothing can. Or maybe, our greed can always act as a perfect ignitor.
The Last Wave by Pankaj Sekhsaria is probably going to win my Best Book of 2019 award. I can't be sure right now, there is still time for it, but somehow, I know it in my heart that it is THE ONE for me. It resonates perfectly well with my love for nature - my love for it being counted more in terms of losses.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands bring Harish, "the aimless drifter" and Seema, a "local born" together with Dr David Baskaran, the director of the Institute for Island Ecology (IIE), Uncle Pame, and a host of other characters. The journey of Harish and Seema and the loses that they incur is simultaneously drawn in a close analogy to that of the Jarawas and of nature.
This novel reminded me of a Netflix documentary, The White Helmets, that I watched today. It is about civilians wearing white helmets and rescuing human lives that is resulting from the absolute insanity of greed for power and money. I have been of the opinion that we certainly don't deserve a place on this beautiful planet. This book took my opinion to another notch. It deals with the recklessness of our fellow beings with natural reserves as well as with 'othering' people they see as 'savages', while all they mean is 'someone who don't conform to their rules'.
The Island hasn't yet come much into the mainstream and hence, considering that I could have nurtured my hope in its presence fills me with an absolute lack of possibilities. Please read this book. I am an incompetent writer/reviewer if I still haven't been able to convince you to pick it up.
The Last Wave by Pankaj Sekhsaria is probably going to win my Best Book of 2019 award. I can't be sure right now, there is still time for it, but somehow, I know it in my heart that it is THE ONE for me. It resonates perfectly well with my love for nature - my love for it being counted more in terms of losses.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands bring Harish, "the aimless drifter" and Seema, a "local born" together with Dr David Baskaran, the director of the Institute for Island Ecology (IIE), Uncle Pame, and a host of other characters. The journey of Harish and Seema and the loses that they incur is simultaneously drawn in a close analogy to that of the Jarawas and of nature.
This novel reminded me of a Netflix documentary, The White Helmets, that I watched today. It is about civilians wearing white helmets and rescuing human lives that is resulting from the absolute insanity of greed for power and money. I have been of the opinion that we certainly don't deserve a place on this beautiful planet. This book took my opinion to another notch. It deals with the recklessness of our fellow beings with natural reserves as well as with 'othering' people they see as 'savages', while all they mean is 'someone who don't conform to their rules'.
The Island hasn't yet come much into the mainstream and hence, considering that I could have nurtured my hope in its presence fills me with an absolute lack of possibilities. Please read this book. I am an incompetent writer/reviewer if I still haven't been able to convince you to pick it up.
July 29, 2014
The main protagonists of the book are not really the characters around whom the narration is structured - viz Harish the aimless drifter turned researcher or Seema the "local born" anthropologist who lived outside the Andamans for many years only to return to study her own family's origins. The main protagonists are the tropical rain forests that cover the bulk of the South Andaman island and form the natural habitat of the Jarawa tribal population. Seema and Harish accompany David, a senior biologist, on his annual crocodile survey around the Andaman islands. And on the way they discover the many different ways in which the Jarawa reserve is being systematically exploited by the very people whose job it is to protect them. The logging policy put in place by the government over 40 years ago with the intention to preserve the forests is changing the character of the rain forest. Prof Kutty, a biologist, working with the government discovers scientific proof that the "Andaman Canopy Lifting Shelterwood System" for logging is slowly changing the nature of the rain forest to something more like the deciduous forests found on the Indian mainland. However, his reports are suppressed and Forst Department refuses to reevaluate its methods.
Poachers and hunters routinely hunt in the Jarawa forests and fish in their waters.. often leading to bloody encounters with the Jarawas, but the authorities turn a blind eye.
The policemen in charge of protecting the villages settled around the reserve are amongst the primary instigators of the hostility shown by the Jarawas as they misuse their powers and guns to hunt inside the Jarawa reserve and show disrespect the their customs and women.
The descriptions of the Jarawa community and their growing bewilderment as they are forced to start interacting with the "civilised" people is sensitively portrayed. The author also brings to light many interesting nuggets about the history of the islands and the people who settled the islands.
A very interesting read that leaves us rooting for the Jarawas and the rainforests of the Andamans. This book has raised my awareness about the battle to preserve the Jarawa reserve being fought by various environmental groups.
Poachers and hunters routinely hunt in the Jarawa forests and fish in their waters.. often leading to bloody encounters with the Jarawas, but the authorities turn a blind eye.
The policemen in charge of protecting the villages settled around the reserve are amongst the primary instigators of the hostility shown by the Jarawas as they misuse their powers and guns to hunt inside the Jarawa reserve and show disrespect the their customs and women.
The descriptions of the Jarawa community and their growing bewilderment as they are forced to start interacting with the "civilised" people is sensitively portrayed. The author also brings to light many interesting nuggets about the history of the islands and the people who settled the islands.
A very interesting read that leaves us rooting for the Jarawas and the rainforests of the Andamans. This book has raised my awareness about the battle to preserve the Jarawa reserve being fought by various environmental groups.
April 30, 2019
"The last wave" is set in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I picked it up for the sole reason that its setting was something which had fascinated me for long but about which I knew next to nothing. For me, Andaman and Nicobar Islands were a secluded part of India with a small population and preserved natural forests and wildlife. Recently the islands were in national and international news when the Sentinelese (a native tribe) killed an American preacher. The native tribes of these islands have had no contact with the modern world and have been living in seclusion.
When I came across this book, I was delighted to finally have something which would give me an insight into the life on the islands. The book is the story of the islands. It is very well written and gave me a lot of information about the islands. I was shocked to find that people from my own city had settled in the Andamans. The islands belong to the tribes. They were the original inhabitants but they are threatened by the continuous rise in outside population. The Jarawa, who are the prominent tribe in the book suffer first hand because of the growing influence of outsiders. The large-scale destruction of the ecosystem was heartbreaking to read. No matter how much the sane world talks about preservation of nature, ultimately it is the survival of the fittest. How much the fittest deserve to survive is a question for debate though.
When I came across this book, I was delighted to finally have something which would give me an insight into the life on the islands. The book is the story of the islands. It is very well written and gave me a lot of information about the islands. I was shocked to find that people from my own city had settled in the Andamans. The islands belong to the tribes. They were the original inhabitants but they are threatened by the continuous rise in outside population. The Jarawa, who are the prominent tribe in the book suffer first hand because of the growing influence of outsiders. The large-scale destruction of the ecosystem was heartbreaking to read. No matter how much the sane world talks about preservation of nature, ultimately it is the survival of the fittest. How much the fittest deserve to survive is a question for debate though.
February 1, 2016
This is an important story. This is a story that needs to be heard. And for that alone it deserves 4 stars.
Pankaj disguises his historical account of the Jarawas in a readable 300 page book. The tale revolves around few characters but the real story is about the slow destruction of the Jarawa tribe in the Andamans. It packs in a lot of history and factual information on how the Jarawas are being marginalised. It also speaks about the lackadaisical style of governance in a slumbering island.
The Andamans is where civil servants are sent as a punishment and that explains the island's importance. Tourism is everything in the island. It has nothing else to offer and is home to the poorest people. For tourists, Sekshsaria's book brings to light the many daily problems the inhabitants of the island face. More importantly, it speaks about how we have grown apathetic to one of the world's most ancient and untouched civilisations.
The Jarawas are being modernised and we're interfering with the traditions. In an irony of sorts, inhabitants are the real colonialists and that's the story of the tribe. The Last Wave is a desperate attempt to urge everyone to think beyond the pristine beaches of the Andamans. It's a clarion call to the continent to help live and let live. And for that reason alone, it needs to be read. Or at least skimmed through.
Pankaj disguises his historical account of the Jarawas in a readable 300 page book. The tale revolves around few characters but the real story is about the slow destruction of the Jarawa tribe in the Andamans. It packs in a lot of history and factual information on how the Jarawas are being marginalised. It also speaks about the lackadaisical style of governance in a slumbering island.
The Andamans is where civil servants are sent as a punishment and that explains the island's importance. Tourism is everything in the island. It has nothing else to offer and is home to the poorest people. For tourists, Sekshsaria's book brings to light the many daily problems the inhabitants of the island face. More importantly, it speaks about how we have grown apathetic to one of the world's most ancient and untouched civilisations.
The Jarawas are being modernised and we're interfering with the traditions. In an irony of sorts, inhabitants are the real colonialists and that's the story of the tribe. The Last Wave is a desperate attempt to urge everyone to think beyond the pristine beaches of the Andamans. It's a clarion call to the continent to help live and let live. And for that reason alone, it needs to be read. Or at least skimmed through.
January 30, 2022
Stories like this need to be told. Books like this must be read by more people. So much is happening in the Andaman Islands which never ever cross our life. After all for city dwellers like me, Andaman is just a holiday destination.
Nevertheless, reading this book helps to be aware of the local ecology and sensitivities of local culture and sentiments of inhabitants in those lands.
Nevertheless, reading this book helps to be aware of the local ecology and sensitivities of local culture and sentiments of inhabitants in those lands.
February 16, 2015
Few years ago Pankaj Sekhsaria and Vishvajit Pandya edited and published a report titled "The Jarawa Tribal Reserve Dossier: Cultural & Biological Diversities in the Andaman Islands", which was prepared for UNESCO by Kalpavriksha in 2010. Pankaj came back with stories of Jarawa tribal community in this recent novel "The Last Wave: An Island Novel", the subject he studied extensively during preparation of the post-tsunami dossier. The narratives in this fiction cover a diverse range of issues such as history of the British settlement, anthropological depictions of Andamanese aboriginals (Jarawa tribe in particular) and natural grandeur of the Andaman Islands. This fiction brings insights on the islands and islanders, covering facts about Jarawa traditions, language and cultural practices. This fiction also highlights post-Tsunami rehabilitation and resettlement strategies for the vulnerable Jarawa community to reverse their extinction.
July 30, 2015
Review @ A Bookworm's Musing: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2SP
The Last Wave is a fiction that has a lot of facts, well researched and brought out. It paints a picture of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which I’ve visited before only through the story told by a friend. But I feel the fiction was just the outline for the book, the substance and the intent was to showcase the Islands, its community and tribes, the struggles they faced and continue to face etc. And it worked. Though the tale of Harish and Seema and the other characters were interesting, the factual content shone a little more than the fictional tale. A copy of the book was lent to me by a friend, but I think I shall soon be getting a copy for myself.
The Last Wave is a fiction that has a lot of facts, well researched and brought out. It paints a picture of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which I’ve visited before only through the story told by a friend. But I feel the fiction was just the outline for the book, the substance and the intent was to showcase the Islands, its community and tribes, the struggles they faced and continue to face etc. And it worked. Though the tale of Harish and Seema and the other characters were interesting, the factual content shone a little more than the fictional tale. A copy of the book was lent to me by a friend, but I think I shall soon be getting a copy for myself.
September 27, 2017
I haven’t read a more intriguing book where facts are presented so beautifully in the fictional outline. My knowledge about the island is limited to the fact that it is one of the seven union territories of India and a popular tourist spot to visit and divine for scuba divers.
Thanks to my ignorance I was completely unaware about the crucial burning issues related to the island. The book enlighten me about the dwindling number of crocodile from the marine ecology due to illegal hunting and poaching. The slow and gradual depletion of thick rain forest due to the cutting of trees for timber and settlement. It was outraging to read that the forest department was responsible for it. That under their supervision such a condemnable act is taking place.
Hunting and deforestation were posing serious threat to the survival of the Jarawa tribe in the island. Jawara community is one of the most primitive adivasi tribe of the island and are the one who fiercely protected the rainforest. Cutting of the forest forced them to enter the civilized area looking for food. Due to the little knowledge from both the sides, both Jarawa and civilized people looked upon each other as threat. Moreover, naked Jarawa especially women are ogled and photographed and are looked upon as objects for sightseeing. Politicians and policemen are further proving to be useless and a menace. Their policy will let to extinction of the Jarawa tribe.
Apart from these burning issues, the author also writes about the history of Andaman and Nicobar island with some interesting stories. I also loved the part where author has vividly described the entire process of egg laying by sea turtles and hatching of mother crocodile’s egg. It was mesmerizing to read. And equally heart-rending was to read the rising and deadly waves of 26th December, 2004 which nearly destroyed the island and many countries in around sea.
I completely agree with the author that Jarawas are not for things for sightseeing and exploitation but should be protected as they are the real champions of forest reservation of the island. They are harmless and could live in harmony with the so called civilized mainlanders. Jarawas like the rain forest are natural beauty of mother Earth let's preserve them instead of wiping them out.
Definitely eager to visit this place both as tourist to explore the beauty of the island and as a person who has been enlighten about this place and its issues.
Read the full review here
http://thebookworld.org/last-wave-pan...
Thanks to my ignorance I was completely unaware about the crucial burning issues related to the island. The book enlighten me about the dwindling number of crocodile from the marine ecology due to illegal hunting and poaching. The slow and gradual depletion of thick rain forest due to the cutting of trees for timber and settlement. It was outraging to read that the forest department was responsible for it. That under their supervision such a condemnable act is taking place.
Hunting and deforestation were posing serious threat to the survival of the Jarawa tribe in the island. Jawara community is one of the most primitive adivasi tribe of the island and are the one who fiercely protected the rainforest. Cutting of the forest forced them to enter the civilized area looking for food. Due to the little knowledge from both the sides, both Jarawa and civilized people looked upon each other as threat. Moreover, naked Jarawa especially women are ogled and photographed and are looked upon as objects for sightseeing. Politicians and policemen are further proving to be useless and a menace. Their policy will let to extinction of the Jarawa tribe.
Apart from these burning issues, the author also writes about the history of Andaman and Nicobar island with some interesting stories. I also loved the part where author has vividly described the entire process of egg laying by sea turtles and hatching of mother crocodile’s egg. It was mesmerizing to read. And equally heart-rending was to read the rising and deadly waves of 26th December, 2004 which nearly destroyed the island and many countries in around sea.
I completely agree with the author that Jarawas are not for things for sightseeing and exploitation but should be protected as they are the real champions of forest reservation of the island. They are harmless and could live in harmony with the so called civilized mainlanders. Jarawas like the rain forest are natural beauty of mother Earth let's preserve them instead of wiping them out.
Definitely eager to visit this place both as tourist to explore the beauty of the island and as a person who has been enlighten about this place and its issues.
Read the full review here
http://thebookworld.org/last-wave-pan...
October 7, 2021
The Last Wave by Pankaj Sesharia is a book as is written on it, An Island Novel through and through. It talks about everything related to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Harish, a complacent middle aged man who is dealing with his life where his wife has left him and he is completely heartbroken. In the midst of his grief, he gets an opportunity to travel to Andamans with his journalist friend for a project. As his friend leaves after a while, he continues to stay in Port Blair and help his friend on his project which is about the indigenous tribe of Andamans - the Jarawas. During his stay, he resides in the Institute for Island Ecology where he meets David, a scientist who does annual crocodile surveys, Seema, a local born anthropologist who has recently come back to her birth place after having spent time in Delhi to study about likes of her in Andamans - the local borns and Uncle Pame, a Karen whose parents came to the islands when the British brought the people from Burma to the Andamans.
Harish continues his research about the Jarawas. However during his study, he happens to accompany David on his annual survey and during his journey alongwith David, Seema and Uncle Pame he unveils the different facets of the beautiful islands that Andaman and Nicobar is.
Weaved through a fictional story, the author offers us a wonderful insight of the history, the current scenario and what could possibly be the future of these islands. Alnogwith the lustrous blues of the sea and the rich greens of the rainforest, we also get to see the life of the immigrants who have now become the residents of the islands and their struggles as they manage to live alongside the dangerous Jarawas as also the endangered Jarawas who are vulnerable and have no idea what the other side of their world is leading them to.
While this book is an eye opener about Andaman and Nicobar Islands, I had a few issues with it. I found the writing quite lethargic and seemed a little less cohesive in a sense that it failed to hold my attention and I was easily distracted while reading. I liked how the information was delivered through different short encounters in the story but the whole story per se didn't have the punch. The writing felt dull at parts and as a whole the story feels bland as compared to the rich knowledge that we get through it.
🏝
However, having said that, I shall not deny that this book is a treasure trove of information. Read this book solely to know about these magnificent islands that are so much more than what the tourist packages show us and you shall be not disappointed.
⭐⭐⭐.5/5.
Harish, a complacent middle aged man who is dealing with his life where his wife has left him and he is completely heartbroken. In the midst of his grief, he gets an opportunity to travel to Andamans with his journalist friend for a project. As his friend leaves after a while, he continues to stay in Port Blair and help his friend on his project which is about the indigenous tribe of Andamans - the Jarawas. During his stay, he resides in the Institute for Island Ecology where he meets David, a scientist who does annual crocodile surveys, Seema, a local born anthropologist who has recently come back to her birth place after having spent time in Delhi to study about likes of her in Andamans - the local borns and Uncle Pame, a Karen whose parents came to the islands when the British brought the people from Burma to the Andamans.
Harish continues his research about the Jarawas. However during his study, he happens to accompany David on his annual survey and during his journey alongwith David, Seema and Uncle Pame he unveils the different facets of the beautiful islands that Andaman and Nicobar is.
Weaved through a fictional story, the author offers us a wonderful insight of the history, the current scenario and what could possibly be the future of these islands. Alnogwith the lustrous blues of the sea and the rich greens of the rainforest, we also get to see the life of the immigrants who have now become the residents of the islands and their struggles as they manage to live alongside the dangerous Jarawas as also the endangered Jarawas who are vulnerable and have no idea what the other side of their world is leading them to.
While this book is an eye opener about Andaman and Nicobar Islands, I had a few issues with it. I found the writing quite lethargic and seemed a little less cohesive in a sense that it failed to hold my attention and I was easily distracted while reading. I liked how the information was delivered through different short encounters in the story but the whole story per se didn't have the punch. The writing felt dull at parts and as a whole the story feels bland as compared to the rich knowledge that we get through it.
🏝
However, having said that, I shall not deny that this book is a treasure trove of information. Read this book solely to know about these magnificent islands that are so much more than what the tourist packages show us and you shall be not disappointed.
⭐⭐⭐.5/5.
September 17, 2021
The kind, comforting, therapeutic slapping of the waves on your feet,
that soft trickle of the sand between your toes,
the unending horizon. grey. cloudy. powerful.
the gentle swaying of the trees, the reflective eyes of the animals living among them,
the beach on a neighboring island, with tall, strong people,
spears and arrows piercing the ocean surface re-emerging with struggling fish on their ends,
The mighty Jarawas. The magnificent Andaman islands. One enticing read.
The Last Wave.
Through a concoction of hard facts and fiction, The Last Wave tells the tale of two individuals in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
A middle-aged man, a non-island-dweller, falls in love with the islands and its indigenous tribes and decides to contribute his time in aiding them to retain their freedom and culture.
A young island girl, whose education drives her a lot closer to home and directs her into studying her people and their history on their island home.
The fiction acts as a guide to the reader, gently taking their arm and guiding them through a quagmire of facts that mainly focus on the Jarawa tribe,
the intricate history of these chains of islands,
the politics that play a crucial role in the destruction of their culture,
and the islands' beautiful flora and fauna.
While the book beautifully latches on to you and refuses to let go, the story does possess one shortcoming that ruins your experience to a certain degree.
The book is about a man and a woman, naturally, Sekhsaria tried to make them fall in love with each other.
While he was a master in compiling hard facts and coaxing them to change into a riveting story, he fails miserably by adopting a cliched, cringe narrative to push the two protagonists together.
It was a friendship that should never have become a love story.
Instead, the love story that did succeed was that longing I felt while reading about the different facets of the islands, one that I have spent a considerable amount of time looking up on the web.
Riveting, Pictersesque, Important. The Last Wave was purely an Andaman Experience and one that you should not miss!
that soft trickle of the sand between your toes,
the unending horizon. grey. cloudy. powerful.
the gentle swaying of the trees, the reflective eyes of the animals living among them,
the beach on a neighboring island, with tall, strong people,
spears and arrows piercing the ocean surface re-emerging with struggling fish on their ends,
The mighty Jarawas. The magnificent Andaman islands. One enticing read.
The Last Wave.
Through a concoction of hard facts and fiction, The Last Wave tells the tale of two individuals in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
A middle-aged man, a non-island-dweller, falls in love with the islands and its indigenous tribes and decides to contribute his time in aiding them to retain their freedom and culture.
A young island girl, whose education drives her a lot closer to home and directs her into studying her people and their history on their island home.
The fiction acts as a guide to the reader, gently taking their arm and guiding them through a quagmire of facts that mainly focus on the Jarawa tribe,
the intricate history of these chains of islands,
the politics that play a crucial role in the destruction of their culture,
and the islands' beautiful flora and fauna.
While the book beautifully latches on to you and refuses to let go, the story does possess one shortcoming that ruins your experience to a certain degree.
The book is about a man and a woman, naturally, Sekhsaria tried to make them fall in love with each other.
While he was a master in compiling hard facts and coaxing them to change into a riveting story, he fails miserably by adopting a cliched, cringe narrative to push the two protagonists together.
It was a friendship that should never have become a love story.
Instead, the love story that did succeed was that longing I felt while reading about the different facets of the islands, one that I have spent a considerable amount of time looking up on the web.
Riveting, Pictersesque, Important. The Last Wave was purely an Andaman Experience and one that you should not miss!
April 20, 2025
Great insights to the tribal people of Andaman and Nicobar islands. The story was very light focusing more on the historical details which delved in to the culture and traditions of the islands. Enjoyed the company of Harish and Seema largely, two brilliant minds with the same vibe. Overall, very nice read though it was out of my comfort zone.
February 15, 2017
First of all, thanks a whole bunch Pankaj, for gifting this book through goodreads, for ao read.....
The second book on goodreads(first one was the War Kids by HJ Lawson) that sent me spiral, thinking....emotional, with loss of words hatred towards the indifferent human nature and selfishness.... A salute to you for bringing this book out...
The book so beautifully yet sensitively brings out the greatness of the islands, the islanders, the migrants, the prisoners, the local borns... touching so many aspects of the rise to fall of the tribals, the poaching problem, the cultural influx, the threats jarawas face in wider arenas and so on.
The book goes on to show... what the mainlanders thougth about benefits of globalization and infrastructure development became the bane of the jarawas, conflicting with their territory, their way of living, thinking and exposing them to diseases too. And yes, the 400 Kg turtle laying 100's of eggs! :-)
A very strong narration of the story of the island, so captivating, ensuring the reader does not leave the book half read....
I sincerely wish the book reaches out to 1000's and 1000's of Indians.... I will personally rotate my copy with my friends and relatives for sure! one of the must reads!
2004, I remember the Tsunami so well, since I had planned to visit Andaman back then... and due to other conflicts, had to push it to an unknown time later.
That time to now, my only interest of A&N was about the vast blue sky and the equally vast ocean below.... beaches and people and tourists enjoying there.....
Well, to substantiate my thinking, I could reason out more, for a person, a different outsider, it is all just that... may be a good cruise, some underwater activity, climbing hillocks, visiting the infamous jails where British used to take war prisoners and dump them....
I even remember reading the 2012 Jarawa report that intrigued me further. To know more of the islands.
From the eyes of a commoner, to not knowing anything about A&N to now knowing substantial bit more of the heritage and story! I would be more eager to visit this place, not as a tourist destination, but as a epic destination, that has a lesson for us to learn!
The sketch on my mind now, I start to plan this trip... not as a vacation, but as a journey to see and find many answers for myself .... what we were! what we did! What we are! and most importantly, what best we can do now, to better the bad we did... knowingly or unknowingly!
Those rainforests of the Jarawa reserve, what is it and how is it now....
The Andaman Grand trunk road... what is it and how did it impact the Jarawa reserve so much...
the dingys, jettys etc....
once again.... a very big thanks, for sharing this book for a read! Honestly touched and intrigued.
By the way, I was looking out for the results of the crocodile census... bit disappointed to not find out if it had increased or decreased or even inched towards extinction....
The second book on goodreads(first one was the War Kids by HJ Lawson) that sent me spiral, thinking....emotional, with loss of words hatred towards the indifferent human nature and selfishness.... A salute to you for bringing this book out...
The book so beautifully yet sensitively brings out the greatness of the islands, the islanders, the migrants, the prisoners, the local borns... touching so many aspects of the rise to fall of the tribals, the poaching problem, the cultural influx, the threats jarawas face in wider arenas and so on.
The book goes on to show... what the mainlanders thougth about benefits of globalization and infrastructure development became the bane of the jarawas, conflicting with their territory, their way of living, thinking and exposing them to diseases too. And yes, the 400 Kg turtle laying 100's of eggs! :-)
A very strong narration of the story of the island, so captivating, ensuring the reader does not leave the book half read....
I sincerely wish the book reaches out to 1000's and 1000's of Indians.... I will personally rotate my copy with my friends and relatives for sure! one of the must reads!
2004, I remember the Tsunami so well, since I had planned to visit Andaman back then... and due to other conflicts, had to push it to an unknown time later.
That time to now, my only interest of A&N was about the vast blue sky and the equally vast ocean below.... beaches and people and tourists enjoying there.....
Well, to substantiate my thinking, I could reason out more, for a person, a different outsider, it is all just that... may be a good cruise, some underwater activity, climbing hillocks, visiting the infamous jails where British used to take war prisoners and dump them....
I even remember reading the 2012 Jarawa report that intrigued me further. To know more of the islands.
From the eyes of a commoner, to not knowing anything about A&N to now knowing substantial bit more of the heritage and story! I would be more eager to visit this place, not as a tourist destination, but as a epic destination, that has a lesson for us to learn!
The sketch on my mind now, I start to plan this trip... not as a vacation, but as a journey to see and find many answers for myself .... what we were! what we did! What we are! and most importantly, what best we can do now, to better the bad we did... knowingly or unknowingly!
Those rainforests of the Jarawa reserve, what is it and how is it now....
The Andaman Grand trunk road... what is it and how did it impact the Jarawa reserve so much...
the dingys, jettys etc....
once again.... a very big thanks, for sharing this book for a read! Honestly touched and intrigued.
By the way, I was looking out for the results of the crocodile census... bit disappointed to not find out if it had increased or decreased or even inched towards extinction....
January 29, 2019
I read this book while traveling in the Andaman Islands. Such a fascinating story and a good introduction to the history and culture of the islands.
December 22, 2015
'The Last Wave' is a novel set in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one of those places we 'Indians' don't often remember is part of India, others being Lakshadeep and the North East. The novel introduced me to the ways of island living, their issues with influx of people from mainland, tribes of the islands, ecology, the notions of development and progress and many more. Even though the book has a slow start and love story element is just a carrier for the other issues which are said, this is a book which made me think a lot about many issues and reality we see around us. Priscilla says this could have been written as non-fiction only, but I don't have any opinion as such- I wouldn't probably have read this if it was non-fiction unless I was doing some research or something. I think, as a novel it could attract more readers and that's what the author also tried I presume. The book slightly reminded me of 'Things Fall Apart'. While religion was a major issue in 'Things Fall Apart', 'The Last Wave' deals with cultural, economic, and ecological aspects of outside interference, influence, and population influx. The Jarawa community of Andamans is similar to the tribes of Africa described by Chinua Achebe- having lost their identity to political and geographical invasion, confused in the new world and rapid changes around them. I am of the opinion that tribes should be left alone, unless there are issues particularly necessary to their survival (natural catastrophe, epidemic etc). See, I haven't yet mentioned the lead characters yet. I have forgotten their names. That's how soon the background story is forgotten. There was a love/heartbreak angle and all. But those are not the things that stay in your mind. The end of the book, focused solely on the hero and heroine, was similar to the short story I wrote when I was at school- 'ആ ചുവന്ന വളപ്പൊട്ടുകൾ' (Those Broken Bangles). That was surprising for me. Thank you Pankaj Sekhsaria for making me think.
PS: I would like to visit The Andamans sometime- not as a tourist though- probably as a wanderer.
PS: I would like to visit The Andamans sometime- not as a tourist though- probably as a wanderer.
February 23, 2016
It was a chance occurrence that I walked into a photo exhibition by the author himself in Pune where he was himself present. Just fresh from a 10 day trip to Andaman Islands I was happy to see an exhibition of photos and a book about the Islands. There was hardly anything apart from boring factual books which were available in Andaman itself. I read it over a week and could relate to lot of places, incidents, scenery mentioned in the book. Though anyone can read the book but would suggest definitely to folks who have been to Andamans especially on Andaman Trunk Road.
The story is a fiction but very factual in setting. A story about a mainlander trying to find himself and an "island born" trying to settle back in her origins after being betrayed by the mainland. The island and its inhabitants are under threat from mainlanders or people with ambition of making it like mainland. Most vulnerable of those are the Jarawa tribal people who are caught between "devil" and "deep sea" literally. They are suddenly thrust into a new world which they have no inkling upon. Their ecosystem is under threat in many forms, infiltration from "civilised" people, their attempt to bring them to "mainstream" thinking that these people need it. What they don't realize that till now "Jarawa" were living a life of abundance. Its only now that their forest are being encroached upon, they are being rendered poor. The narrative delves upon whether its alright to sacrifice a whole tribe which is in much smaller in number but unique for the comforts and access of thousand others who have settled there over a period. The story is nothing different than what is being played out in mainland. Tribals and poor are regularly displaced and exploited for fulfilling the needs of urbanites either in the form of a mine or power plant. But for those on mainland there is compensation, jobs, hope of survival. But for "Jarawas" its over!
The story is a fiction but very factual in setting. A story about a mainlander trying to find himself and an "island born" trying to settle back in her origins after being betrayed by the mainland. The island and its inhabitants are under threat from mainlanders or people with ambition of making it like mainland. Most vulnerable of those are the Jarawa tribal people who are caught between "devil" and "deep sea" literally. They are suddenly thrust into a new world which they have no inkling upon. Their ecosystem is under threat in many forms, infiltration from "civilised" people, their attempt to bring them to "mainstream" thinking that these people need it. What they don't realize that till now "Jarawa" were living a life of abundance. Its only now that their forest are being encroached upon, they are being rendered poor. The narrative delves upon whether its alright to sacrifice a whole tribe which is in much smaller in number but unique for the comforts and access of thousand others who have settled there over a period. The story is nothing different than what is being played out in mainland. Tribals and poor are regularly displaced and exploited for fulfilling the needs of urbanites either in the form of a mine or power plant. But for those on mainland there is compensation, jobs, hope of survival. But for "Jarawas" its over!
April 4, 2021
I always try to read a novel based in the place I am visiting. This was the only piece of fiction I could find which was set in Andamans and I am so glad to have read it.
This book provides a wonderful introduction to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands while primarily focusing on the issues related to the Jarawas. The Jarawas are a tribe living in some of the islands who live a primitive lifestyle dating back to probably the Stone Age. With settlers coming to these islands after British occupation, the space for indigenous tribes including the Jarawas has shrunk considerably over the years.
This books exposes the reader to all the issues which arise due to the settler-tribal interactions offering perspectives from varied points of view, the effect on the evergreen forests and marine ecology and raises important questions about what we want, that we (Indians) have to answer collectively. Do we want to save the Jarawa way of life even though it inconveniences a large number of “civilised “ people or should welet them vanish?
This book is excellent because it uses fiction to pass on a lot of information. So it reads like a story, with very real characters you can relate to and you end up learning a lot. You learn about different perspectives and how they feel. This is much more impactful than just reading an article or a non fiction book because the emotions evoked make us a part of the issues rather than being a third unaffected party.
The books is well written, there’s nothing forced about it. It is easy to read. This is a must read book for all persons interested in India, Andaman and Nicobar islands, anthropology or ecology.
This book provides a wonderful introduction to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands while primarily focusing on the issues related to the Jarawas. The Jarawas are a tribe living in some of the islands who live a primitive lifestyle dating back to probably the Stone Age. With settlers coming to these islands after British occupation, the space for indigenous tribes including the Jarawas has shrunk considerably over the years.
This books exposes the reader to all the issues which arise due to the settler-tribal interactions offering perspectives from varied points of view, the effect on the evergreen forests and marine ecology and raises important questions about what we want, that we (Indians) have to answer collectively. Do we want to save the Jarawa way of life even though it inconveniences a large number of “civilised “ people or should welet them vanish?
This book is excellent because it uses fiction to pass on a lot of information. So it reads like a story, with very real characters you can relate to and you end up learning a lot. You learn about different perspectives and how they feel. This is much more impactful than just reading an article or a non fiction book because the emotions evoked make us a part of the issues rather than being a third unaffected party.
The books is well written, there’s nothing forced about it. It is easy to read. This is a must read book for all persons interested in India, Andaman and Nicobar islands, anthropology or ecology.
July 29, 2015
A slow paced book which takes us through the history of Andaman Islands through the eyes of Harish who comes there to consult for a Magazine's stories. It weaves some real historical incidents for Jarawa tribe (as per wiki) into this fictional story. A personal story is told in parallel of Harish and Seema an anthropologist who has also come there for research.
After meandering through all the facts and stories for many chapters it ends in a sudden explosion and quite abruptly.
Reading this I did become aware of some fascinating bits of Andaman's island history that I had not read up on. For example, the background of a settlement called Aniket is cute. Information on Jarawa's is also quite nice to read.
The plot and story itself is not that great a reading and I found the going quite tough. Yes, I had skip in many places to just move on. I felt the author had some basic idea on what he wanted the story to be (ie, the struggles of Andaman natives from Jarawa's, local borns and immigrants) but could not quite pull of telling it in this, historical fiction with a punch, format.
Read it if you are looking to learn a bit more on Andamans but not if you are looking for a thriller kind of plot and story.
(.... spoiler alert... )
The title Last wave probably refers to the final push that may destroy the Jarawa's as well as the final chance that Harish gets in this romantic life while comparing both to a true incident (no points for guessing the incident!) :)
After meandering through all the facts and stories for many chapters it ends in a sudden explosion and quite abruptly.
Reading this I did become aware of some fascinating bits of Andaman's island history that I had not read up on. For example, the background of a settlement called Aniket is cute. Information on Jarawa's is also quite nice to read.
The plot and story itself is not that great a reading and I found the going quite tough. Yes, I had skip in many places to just move on. I felt the author had some basic idea on what he wanted the story to be (ie, the struggles of Andaman natives from Jarawa's, local borns and immigrants) but could not quite pull of telling it in this, historical fiction with a punch, format.
Read it if you are looking to learn a bit more on Andamans but not if you are looking for a thriller kind of plot and story.
(.... spoiler alert... )
The title Last wave probably refers to the final push that may destroy the Jarawa's as well as the final chance that Harish gets in this romantic life while comparing both to a true incident (no points for guessing the incident!) :)
May 10, 2016
Amongst the very few Indian authors that I have read in recent times. And a genre that I don't usually read. But I loved his descriptions of the Andamans. It leaves you thinking and hoping.
read my full review here.
https://lovewordie.wordpress.com/2016...
read my full review here.
https://lovewordie.wordpress.com/2016...
October 19, 2020
Lovely account of an on-the-ground perspective of the Jarawa tribe and local life on Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Anthropologically interesting. I Ioved this novel. I only realised how attached I had grown to the characters by the end...
January 16, 2022
This year, I want to read at least one book from each state and union territory in India. I think this reading challenge was the result of discovering some lovely Indian fiction as well as reading books like Insider Outsider: Belonging and Unbelonging in North-East India and realising how much of Indian history and politics I am unaware of.
My first read, randomly picked, was from the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From Wikipedia: ‘Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a union territory of India consisting of 572 islands, of which 38 are inhabited, at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The territory is about 150 km north of Aceh in Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel (on the 10°N parallel): the Andaman Islands (north of the channel) and the Nicobar Islands (south).’
A little online research offered up The Last Wave by Pankaj Sekhsaria as a read for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. And it turned out to be a perfect fit. Sekhsaria is ‘a researcher, writer, photographer, campaigner and academic. He has worked extensively in the field of the environment and of wildlife conservation with a particular focus on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ [from the book jacket].
For me, the book was less about the plot or characters and more about the place. Harish and Seema, the central protagonists have interesting aspects but were not the kind who I connected with. Their back stories and their ‘romance’ seemed a little stilted to me. However, other characters were more fascinating: Uncle Pame, a Karen man from Webi, one of the first settlements created by the people brought by the British to the Andamans from Myanmar or Dr Sreekumar Kutty, the man who seems to voice many of the author’s concerns about the many ecological and sociological crimes being committed in the islands. The best parts of the book really have to do with the islands, whether it is the description of the day-to-day life, the topography, or the flora and the fauna (especially this!). I did not feel invested in the fate of the characters; for me, the islands were the main protagonists.
This book taught me so much about the history of the Andamans as well as its politics that I did not know. How the different people who call the islands home came to be there — the people from the Chhota Nagpur plateau who were brought by the British to help extract timber, the people from Myanmar also brought over the British, the local borns descended from the convicts or freedom fighters who were imprisoned at the Cellular Jail, the tribes (Onge, Great Andamanese, Jarawa). The forest department’s ‘scientific’ timber extraction, which is converting the evergreen forests of the islands to deciduous ones, altering the ecology of the territory. The gradual encroachment into the lands of the Jarawa and their exploitation, often by law enforcement agencies and politicians. And the dilemma that arises when it seems like the best solution for helping the Jarawas survive is to block off the road that is ostensibly vital for the later settlers of the islands. The climax of this tale features the tsunami of the 2004 which serves as a reminder of how fragile the islands are.
I am inclined to trust much of what Sekhsaria documents given his experience in the region. He has also been one of the most vocal protestors of the Indian government’s Rs 72,000 crore Great Nicobar project that involves, among other things, the denotification of a wildlife sanctuary for a port! Though terribly flawed in its implementation, the Indian government’s policy, at least on paper, thus far, seemed to have always been about preserving the ecology and the lifestyle of the indigenous people. Apparently, that is no longer the case. It seemed more poignant, therefore, before the island became a mere memory, to read about the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and understand the many stakeholders and their problems and gain a glimpse of their lives, all of which Sekhsaria does rather well.
My first read, randomly picked, was from the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. From Wikipedia: ‘Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a union territory of India consisting of 572 islands, of which 38 are inhabited, at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The territory is about 150 km north of Aceh in Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Myanmar by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups separated by the 150 km wide Ten Degree Channel (on the 10°N parallel): the Andaman Islands (north of the channel) and the Nicobar Islands (south).’
A little online research offered up The Last Wave by Pankaj Sekhsaria as a read for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. And it turned out to be a perfect fit. Sekhsaria is ‘a researcher, writer, photographer, campaigner and academic. He has worked extensively in the field of the environment and of wildlife conservation with a particular focus on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ [from the book jacket].
For me, the book was less about the plot or characters and more about the place. Harish and Seema, the central protagonists have interesting aspects but were not the kind who I connected with. Their back stories and their ‘romance’ seemed a little stilted to me. However, other characters were more fascinating: Uncle Pame, a Karen man from Webi, one of the first settlements created by the people brought by the British to the Andamans from Myanmar or Dr Sreekumar Kutty, the man who seems to voice many of the author’s concerns about the many ecological and sociological crimes being committed in the islands. The best parts of the book really have to do with the islands, whether it is the description of the day-to-day life, the topography, or the flora and the fauna (especially this!). I did not feel invested in the fate of the characters; for me, the islands were the main protagonists.
This book taught me so much about the history of the Andamans as well as its politics that I did not know. How the different people who call the islands home came to be there — the people from the Chhota Nagpur plateau who were brought by the British to help extract timber, the people from Myanmar also brought over the British, the local borns descended from the convicts or freedom fighters who were imprisoned at the Cellular Jail, the tribes (Onge, Great Andamanese, Jarawa). The forest department’s ‘scientific’ timber extraction, which is converting the evergreen forests of the islands to deciduous ones, altering the ecology of the territory. The gradual encroachment into the lands of the Jarawa and their exploitation, often by law enforcement agencies and politicians. And the dilemma that arises when it seems like the best solution for helping the Jarawas survive is to block off the road that is ostensibly vital for the later settlers of the islands. The climax of this tale features the tsunami of the 2004 which serves as a reminder of how fragile the islands are.
I am inclined to trust much of what Sekhsaria documents given his experience in the region. He has also been one of the most vocal protestors of the Indian government’s Rs 72,000 crore Great Nicobar project that involves, among other things, the denotification of a wildlife sanctuary for a port! Though terribly flawed in its implementation, the Indian government’s policy, at least on paper, thus far, seemed to have always been about preserving the ecology and the lifestyle of the indigenous people. Apparently, that is no longer the case. It seemed more poignant, therefore, before the island became a mere memory, to read about the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and understand the many stakeholders and their problems and gain a glimpse of their lives, all of which Sekhsaria does rather well.
September 10, 2022
Hello :)
A book review on Pankaj Sekhsaria's The Last Wave. I remember attending a conference in a renowned college where Sir came as a Chief Guest. As soon as I finished my paper, i went out swiftly amidst the crowd around him and got my hands on this beauty.
Well! A very humble writer with so much to learn from. Similarly, this book made me learn how miserable we are for being disassociated from Mother Nature. As i travelled to the Andaman Islands with the character Harish, I was not sure of his purpose. And with that i felt a nudge to my purpose of life as well. Gradually travelling with Harish amidst nature and its beauty in turtles, dolphins, fish, forests makes it amusing. The dissociation we all feel with Mother Nature is suddenly revived from the inexorable slide into urban hell that we are all living in.
As an individual, we are not only exploiting nature for bitter essentials and greed but demeaning by standing against a community like indigenous, tribes, forest dwellers who clear the forest, protect our nature, find shelter in Mother Earth and so on. Finally, it made me question amidst all the hustle bustle, political machinations, development, business considerations am i being able to contribute minimal to Nature?
I have found out my answer. I am sure you would want to find yours too!!
A great read!
A book review on Pankaj Sekhsaria's The Last Wave. I remember attending a conference in a renowned college where Sir came as a Chief Guest. As soon as I finished my paper, i went out swiftly amidst the crowd around him and got my hands on this beauty.
Well! A very humble writer with so much to learn from. Similarly, this book made me learn how miserable we are for being disassociated from Mother Nature. As i travelled to the Andaman Islands with the character Harish, I was not sure of his purpose. And with that i felt a nudge to my purpose of life as well. Gradually travelling with Harish amidst nature and its beauty in turtles, dolphins, fish, forests makes it amusing. The dissociation we all feel with Mother Nature is suddenly revived from the inexorable slide into urban hell that we are all living in.
As an individual, we are not only exploiting nature for bitter essentials and greed but demeaning by standing against a community like indigenous, tribes, forest dwellers who clear the forest, protect our nature, find shelter in Mother Earth and so on. Finally, it made me question amidst all the hustle bustle, political machinations, development, business considerations am i being able to contribute minimal to Nature?
I have found out my answer. I am sure you would want to find yours too!!
A great read!
January 16, 2025
#46 Featuring Indigenous culture (the Adivasis or the Jarawas of the Andaman Islands).
This book dealt with a lot of things like
- how to approach a closed off tribal community,
-their assimilation with the other existing communities nearby,
-should development be done on their land (whose land is it anyway?),
- should the other communities be deprived of development just to preserve the few hundred people of the said isolated tribal community (after all, everyone deserves good roads, or do they?),
- what happens when you assimilate the tribals (the horrifying 'Jarawa tourism' and the blatant abuse of tribal women at the hands of mediapersons/authority figures),
- what the laws in the name of conservation do to the local communities who were making a livelihood out of practices, such as hunting crocodiles (sustainably).
- Eventually, the protagonist is at a loss as the novel ends at an anti-climatic note (also, wtf Seema? no happy ending for anyone here). Apparently there's no proper way to communicate with the original islanders that would somehow be advantageous for both the parties.
A very important novel in what it has to say, but how it tells it is another story completely. I was not a huge fan of the writing, but the author got his point across, alright.
(from the 2024 challenge)
This book dealt with a lot of things like
- how to approach a closed off tribal community,
-their assimilation with the other existing communities nearby,
-should development be done on their land (whose land is it anyway?),
- should the other communities be deprived of development just to preserve the few hundred people of the said isolated tribal community (after all, everyone deserves good roads, or do they?),
- what happens when you assimilate the tribals (the horrifying 'Jarawa tourism' and the blatant abuse of tribal women at the hands of mediapersons/authority figures),
- what the laws in the name of conservation do to the local communities who were making a livelihood out of practices, such as hunting crocodiles (sustainably).
- Eventually, the protagonist is at a loss as the novel ends at an anti-climatic note (also, wtf Seema? no happy ending for anyone here). Apparently there's no proper way to communicate with the original islanders that would somehow be advantageous for both the parties.
A very important novel in what it has to say, but how it tells it is another story completely. I was not a huge fan of the writing, but the author got his point across, alright.
(from the 2024 challenge)
April 29, 2025
I recently went on a trip to the enchanting Andaman Islands and was completely mesmerised by its beauty. I couldn't believe my eyes that such a magnificently beautiful place exists on Earth and is so easily accessible from my home. The trip gave me lots and lots of happy memories that I am going to cherish for life. However, even after coming back, I couldn't let go of the enchantment of that beautiful islands and being an avid reader I wanted to read something based on or related to the Andamans, and that's how I stumbled upon The Last Wave. It explores the various issues that besiege the islands, with a special focus on the Jarawa predicament. The book successfully embeds the facts in an engaging fictionalised narrative, which makes it so special. It is neither just dry facts nor imagination gone wild, rather it strikes a perfect balance between the two. It gives a peek into the secluded world of the islands to an outsider. In fact, it invites the reader into the enchanting but ofter beleaguered world of the islands. The reader shares the concerns of the protagonists Seema, Harish and David regarding the future of the islands. This book does an excellent job of immersing the readers in its narratological landscape.
My rating- 4 stars
My rating- 4 stars
July 6, 2018
I actually had this copy in an international conference signed by the author himself. It's good to read a book which actually is a non-fiction but woven compactly into a fiction. Similar is this. The life of Jarawas and their increasing extinction is the main theme of the book. While that does sound promising, the only problem is it'd have been a great read if it'd have been written as non-fiction only because the fictional account after some page goes out of coherence and synchrony. Not a great read but a good one if you want to know about the first hand experiences of a photojournalist turned writer in an island of people who're seen as threats by others.
April 19, 2023
The factual elements of this novel were enlightening and depressing .I look forward to reading his book , Islands in Flux. The Andaman and Nicobar Story, especially as I visited these islands in 1984
January 24, 2024
The book covers the history of the Andaman Islands while interweaving fictional tales connecting the Jawarans, the Island Born and outsiders. Finishing the book left me wanting to learn more of what has become of the Andaman Islands.
April 19, 2023
A story that has to be told, a story that has to be read and read I did as nature is a topic close to my heart.
A gem of a book and I would have loved to give it more than 5 stars.
A gem of a book and I would have loved to give it more than 5 stars.
June 11, 2016
Harish has always been an aimless drifter, but he finds the anchor to his life when he sees the slow but sure destruction of everything that the Jarawa need to survive, he is moved by the need to do something. Along with him come Uncle Pame, a seventy-year-old Karen boatman, and Seema a "local born" a descendant of the convicts who were lodged in the jail of Port Blair. Seema has been to the mainland to study, but unlike the rest of her educated counterparts she has decided to come back to the Andaman Islands As they grow closer through their love for the islands and their attempt to understand the Jarawa, an unknown conflict appears, the tsunami of 2004.
I got The Last Wave as a birthday present from my father. When I read the blurb, I wasn't sure if I would I like it. It turns out I did like it. It taught me a lot about the Jarawa people and the conditions that they are living in. I could tell that Pankaj Sekhsaria had done a lot of research to write the book and bring forth the back story of the Islands. His descriptions were very beautiful and the characters were great, you could feel the emotion behind the writing through the characters. I found the a nice educational experience as well as a good read because of the characters.
You can find more reviews here: http://colloquyonbooks.blogspot.com/
I got The Last Wave as a birthday present from my father. When I read the blurb, I wasn't sure if I would I like it. It turns out I did like it. It taught me a lot about the Jarawa people and the conditions that they are living in. I could tell that Pankaj Sekhsaria had done a lot of research to write the book and bring forth the back story of the Islands. His descriptions were very beautiful and the characters were great, you could feel the emotion behind the writing through the characters. I found the a nice educational experience as well as a good read because of the characters.
You can find more reviews here: http://colloquyonbooks.blogspot.com/
March 10, 2016
India's Andaman Islands was a fascinating setting for a novel. However, more than half of this book read more like a non-fiction than a fiction and even though the fate of the Jarawa people was an important part of the story, the novel didn't devote enough room for the main character, Harish, to develop plausibly.
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