And Gazelles Leaping

by Sudhin N. Ghose

An orphan, his pet, a Manipuri elephant sensitive about his small size and their friends—Heera and her nanny-goat; Mazdoor and his donkey White Beauty; Tu Fan, a Chinese boy and Soetomo from Java—attend Sister’s Svenska’s kindergarten on an abandoned estate in rural Calcutta. The children and their pets live an idyllic life: they have many adventures on the estate and are loved, sheltered and guided by Sister Svenska; Karin, the Sister’s help; Moti-Didi the washerwoman and Cha-Cha the wheelwright.

But when a rapacious corporation from the big city swoops in to take over their school and a gang of juvenile thugs threatens the orphan and his elephant, he must band together with his friends—with a little help and advice from the grown-ups around them—and do battle.

A delightful fable about the innocent pleasures of childhood and the evils of the world which forever threaten to mar it, And Gazelles Leaping was first published in 1949. This is the first in Sudhin Ghose’s quartet which follows the young boy as he grows from a wide-eyed child into a disillusioned adult. Long-neglected classics, these novels are being reissued for the first time in more than half a century.

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Sudhindra Nath Ghose

Reviews

[Shelly Bajwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartwarming story about a group of little children who along with pets study in an abandoned estate run by Sister Svenska and her helpers. With anecdotes and adventures in their own little bubble, the happiness acts as a protective cloud against things that don’t herald a welcome to the odd group. However, when a big corporation threatens to burst their little cozy bubble of love and innocence, they band together to fight for it. A delightful tale about childhood, innocence, unconditional love and emotions, this tale was the first in the quartet and managed to make me cry at the end! A definite pick up if you are looking for a light, emotional read!

[Sylvester (Taking a break in 2023) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictionalized memoir of a childhood in India written from the point of view of a Kindergarten-age boy. It is written so much from the child's mind that it is difficult at times to tell what is real - for instance, his friend has a "tiger" that he brings to school, but it's really a bicycle. So when the narrator tells us about his elephant Mohan...? Things do become clearer, but it takes time, and some things are never explained. Why does Little Son have foster parents, for instance. Why do the children's parents not allow them toys? I know it has something to do with religion, but it isn't really explained. Point of view is everything in this book - it makes for sheer magic. The canals, the elephants and water-buffalo, the mango-grove with its monkeys, the village inhabitants, especially the blacksmith - everyone is a character to Little Son. And the world he describes is vivid and brutal and beautiful. There is an incredibly compelling bit about a gang that tries to abduct Little Son - how he handles it and what inspires him is worth the read.

This is the first of a trilogy which continues with
Cradle of the Clouds and
The Vermilion Boat

[Abhaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

First part of the trilogy following the coming of age of a boy living in rather extraordinary surroundings on the outskirts of Kolkata. There is an element of magical realism here. Over all an okish read with some bright spots.

[Priya Surianarayan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes from this one. I kept reading on assuming there would be a point where the author would directly speak to my heart. Now that I have finished reading it, I neither feel any emotion nor do I remember much of what I read. Such a waste of my time