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The Elephant Chaser's Daughter
Saved by her grandmother from being killed at birth for having been born a female, Shilpa’s life took many unexpected turns and twists through her early years. She faced abandonment by her mother, the formidable constraints placed on her by her family, and the barbs of village elders bound by hundreds of years of oppressive practices and customs that subjugate women. Shilpa is torn between the contrasting lives she leads: one of servitude and injustice experienced by her family; the other of opportunity and empowerment offered by a good education in a school started by a philanthropist.
Just when all seems settled, an unforeseen death under mysterious circumstances shatters whatever stability remains in her life. Pulled in opposite directions, and torn between despair and dreams, Shilpa finally makes a choice for her future. Is she strong enough to stand up to the people she loves, and pursue what she wants?
At its heart The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter is about hope, when all seems lost. Written with raw honesty and grit, this is a deeply moving memoir of a young girl confronting her ‘untouchable’ status in a caste-based society, and her aspirations for modernity.
Reviews so far:
Kirkus Review:
Shilpa was given the chance to transcend her family history and perhaps her own karma. A deft portrayal of a young woman’s growth and courageous transformation through education.
Sir Ken Robinson:
Shilpa Raj is a powerful new voice for human dignity and opportunity and against the appalling and demeaning mistreatment of women worldwide. An important and deeply affecting book narrated in a moving and intimate style.
Sir Ken Robinson,
Author and Educator
Sri Vishwanath:
The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter unveils the secret of transcendence. Shilpa Raj is the future voice for the poor and deprived, uncovering the diamond in the rubble. Read her.
well-known author
Vanessa Roth:
Shilpa’s story speaks for millions of families in a way that is immediate, intimate and personal. Her book will have a powerful impact on the lives and minds of young people around the world.
film director, and winner of Academy Award
Madhu Trehan:
Shilpa’s searing, penetrating honesty in the account of her life will change perspectives and impact every reader. It gives hope to the under-privileged and sensitizes the privileged.
Editor-in-Chief, Newslaundry.com
Just when all seems settled, an unforeseen death under mysterious circumstances shatters whatever stability remains in her life. Pulled in opposite directions, and torn between despair and dreams, Shilpa finally makes a choice for her future. Is she strong enough to stand up to the people she loves, and pursue what she wants?
At its heart The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter is about hope, when all seems lost. Written with raw honesty and grit, this is a deeply moving memoir of a young girl confronting her ‘untouchable’ status in a caste-based society, and her aspirations for modernity.
Reviews so far:
Kirkus Review:
Shilpa was given the chance to transcend her family history and perhaps her own karma. A deft portrayal of a young woman’s growth and courageous transformation through education.
Sir Ken Robinson:
Shilpa Raj is a powerful new voice for human dignity and opportunity and against the appalling and demeaning mistreatment of women worldwide. An important and deeply affecting book narrated in a moving and intimate style.
Sir Ken Robinson,
Author and Educator
Sri Vishwanath:
The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter unveils the secret of transcendence. Shilpa Raj is the future voice for the poor and deprived, uncovering the diamond in the rubble. Read her.
well-known author
Vanessa Roth:
Shilpa’s story speaks for millions of families in a way that is immediate, intimate and personal. Her book will have a powerful impact on the lives and minds of young people around the world.
film director, and winner of Academy Award
Madhu Trehan:
Shilpa’s searing, penetrating honesty in the account of her life will change perspectives and impact every reader. It gives hope to the under-privileged and sensitizes the privileged.
Editor-in-Chief, Newslaundry.com
260 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2017
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2209 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
July 24, 2017
This is not the first time that a Dalit woman is writing. However, this is surely the first ever bold step of writing the things as they are - writing a memoir for nothing less than a debut! I am impressed with the writing style, the theme and the handling of the narrative by Shilpa. She did not let me feel anytime that this is her very first work! And now I see why the book has attracted all the positive reviews from the institutions like Kirkus review and eminent personalities.
The book chronicles the events of Shilpa's life and focuses on a somewhat 'a murder in dubious conditions' of her sister Kavya. Nevertheless, Shilpa Raj makes the use of her narratives from the past to highlight the troubles, the torment and the torture that the people in the untouchable community have to undergo every day - mentally and physically! She takes up the bitter truth of class difference in Indian society; she talks about the issues of feminism; she talks about the issues of education... she does everything which is required to make the debut impressive and establish Shilpa among the forerunners in Indian writing.
The book chronicles the events of Shilpa's life and focuses on a somewhat 'a murder in dubious conditions' of her sister Kavya. Nevertheless, Shilpa Raj makes the use of her narratives from the past to highlight the troubles, the torment and the torture that the people in the untouchable community have to undergo every day - mentally and physically! She takes up the bitter truth of class difference in Indian society; she talks about the issues of feminism; she talks about the issues of education... she does everything which is required to make the debut impressive and establish Shilpa among the forerunners in Indian writing.
July 24, 2017
Shilpa's book is not just a memoir, this is the work which speaks for those who are almost voiceless. En route her exploration to the roots of her family and ancestors, Shilpa digs out the deep rooted troubles and orthodox problems of Indian society. The gender discrimination, the class discrimination, the rich and the poor and many other things... Her memoir will surely be a landmark in the long road of the Dalit writing in India. I really liked reading what she wrote in her very debut work! I hope others will also like her work and appreciate the good job that she has done as an author with a motive.
September 4, 2017
*Note: A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, I would like to thank the author and publisher.*
Review :
Shilpa Raj is a phenomenal writer. The tone, setting and imagery in the book is perfect and reading about her life, through her own evocative words made the effect more than real. She can transport you to the exact location through her writing.
This is a memoir. It is filled with specific details about her life and where and how she grew up. She dwells a bit on her village’s past as well and everything is placed out for you, which makes it easy for the reader to navigate through the story. There are no sudden epiphanies, or plot twists. It starts with a tragedy that takes place in her present time, and circles back to it in the end. The ups and downs that she and her family have faced are enough to make you rethink the situation of the poor in the country. I was glad to read about someone from South India, as voices like these are hard to come by.
Even though she is Christian her family is not free from the caste binaries. Raj has been true to herself and her family, by not painting an unrealistic picture. The paternal grandfather is an alcoholic, so is the father, both are cheap flirts, who like to beat their women. The women are married young, the mother abandons the family to work as a maid, and even marriage inside the family is addressed with pure honesty and has not been sugar-coated. What I really liked about the narrative was the way in which her maturity and honesty seemed to be real. She was not a perfect observer herself; she made mistakes in judging people, in demanding things that weren’t rightfully hers. She sometimes sold off her self esteem just to be someone she was not, but in the end it was how she came through these tough times is what made this memoir work for me.
Penury, child marriage and survival through making Sayaram (alcohol) are described in detail. She does acknowledge that these things aren’t ideal but she also focuses on how the poor can’t choose morality over money. The realistic quality of the book really hit me; these weren’t thing unfolding in fiction but real incidents with real consequence and real threat of lives; especially for young girls. This isn’t a political memoir, she focuses on herself and her family but much like everything else, politics tends to be entwined in the lives of people.
I would recommend this magnificent piece of work to anyone who wishes to read it. It won’t bore you, or make you feel like you’re read non-fiction; instead it will stay with you and make you question the privilege that you take for granted.
- Samidha Kalia
Review :
“I want to believe that life outlives death.”
Shilpa Raj is a phenomenal writer. The tone, setting and imagery in the book is perfect and reading about her life, through her own evocative words made the effect more than real. She can transport you to the exact location through her writing.
This is a memoir. It is filled with specific details about her life and where and how she grew up. She dwells a bit on her village’s past as well and everything is placed out for you, which makes it easy for the reader to navigate through the story. There are no sudden epiphanies, or plot twists. It starts with a tragedy that takes place in her present time, and circles back to it in the end. The ups and downs that she and her family have faced are enough to make you rethink the situation of the poor in the country. I was glad to read about someone from South India, as voices like these are hard to come by.
Even though she is Christian her family is not free from the caste binaries. Raj has been true to herself and her family, by not painting an unrealistic picture. The paternal grandfather is an alcoholic, so is the father, both are cheap flirts, who like to beat their women. The women are married young, the mother abandons the family to work as a maid, and even marriage inside the family is addressed with pure honesty and has not been sugar-coated. What I really liked about the narrative was the way in which her maturity and honesty seemed to be real. She was not a perfect observer herself; she made mistakes in judging people, in demanding things that weren’t rightfully hers. She sometimes sold off her self esteem just to be someone she was not, but in the end it was how she came through these tough times is what made this memoir work for me.
“Food, for us, was a means of survival, not a source of enjoyment.”
Penury, child marriage and survival through making Sayaram (alcohol) are described in detail. She does acknowledge that these things aren’t ideal but she also focuses on how the poor can’t choose morality over money. The realistic quality of the book really hit me; these weren’t thing unfolding in fiction but real incidents with real consequence and real threat of lives; especially for young girls. This isn’t a political memoir, she focuses on herself and her family but much like everything else, politics tends to be entwined in the lives of people.
I would recommend this magnificent piece of work to anyone who wishes to read it. It won’t bore you, or make you feel like you’re read non-fiction; instead it will stay with you and make you question the privilege that you take for granted.
“‘When we die, no pujari comes near us’ Appa said, ‘The elephant must have been from the high caste’”
- Samidha Kalia
January 23, 2021
• r e c o m m e n d a t i o n •
This is the story of a daughter who would have perhaps be smothered to death upon her birth if her grandmother hadn't intervened. Of a daughter who's mother is a house maid and father who chases elephants. Of a daughter who lost her sister due to unforeseen events. Of a daughter whose destiny changed because of a single man.
Shilpa Anthony Raj, born in Thattaguppe comes from a turbulent family. In a village where girls are considered to be a burden and are married off the minute they attain puberty, Shilpa escapes her fate. Shanti Bhavan, an institute set up by Dr Abraham George decides to select one child from each house and gift them with free schooling. Shilpa's father, who once wanted her dead now fights to get her admitted to the school. With all kinds of rumours running across the village about how these strangers are planning on selling the children's body parts, it was a courageous move on the parents to send their children. This, happened to be a turning point in Shilpa's life, one that ultimately saved her from leading a submissive life.
Shilpa and many other children who grew up in Shanti Bhavan grew up with two homes. Back in the village, they were admired and envied but in Shanti Bhavan, the children were brought up equally. Shilpa and others struggle to strike a balance between the two lives. Coming from a home where violence was a daily occurrence, these kids miraculously walked a different path. Shilpa's life is one of grief and uncertainty when she goes to the village and when her sister dies at the age of 14, she carries the guilt of not saving her till date. Through her, I came to admire the man behind this initiative. To educate and improve the lives of hundreds of poorest of the poor families without taking a penny from them is simply marvelous.
This memoir is painfully honest and to think that a 20 year old would speak so honestly about her life and that of her family is truly commendable. I highly recommend this.
P.S. Daughters of Destiny in Netflix is a documentary series about Shanti Bhavan. You can see Shilpa narrating few lines from this memoir.
This is the story of a daughter who would have perhaps be smothered to death upon her birth if her grandmother hadn't intervened. Of a daughter who's mother is a house maid and father who chases elephants. Of a daughter who lost her sister due to unforeseen events. Of a daughter whose destiny changed because of a single man.
Shilpa Anthony Raj, born in Thattaguppe comes from a turbulent family. In a village where girls are considered to be a burden and are married off the minute they attain puberty, Shilpa escapes her fate. Shanti Bhavan, an institute set up by Dr Abraham George decides to select one child from each house and gift them with free schooling. Shilpa's father, who once wanted her dead now fights to get her admitted to the school. With all kinds of rumours running across the village about how these strangers are planning on selling the children's body parts, it was a courageous move on the parents to send their children. This, happened to be a turning point in Shilpa's life, one that ultimately saved her from leading a submissive life.
Shilpa and many other children who grew up in Shanti Bhavan grew up with two homes. Back in the village, they were admired and envied but in Shanti Bhavan, the children were brought up equally. Shilpa and others struggle to strike a balance between the two lives. Coming from a home where violence was a daily occurrence, these kids miraculously walked a different path. Shilpa's life is one of grief and uncertainty when she goes to the village and when her sister dies at the age of 14, she carries the guilt of not saving her till date. Through her, I came to admire the man behind this initiative. To educate and improve the lives of hundreds of poorest of the poor families without taking a penny from them is simply marvelous.
This memoir is painfully honest and to think that a 20 year old would speak so honestly about her life and that of her family is truly commendable. I highly recommend this.
P.S. Daughters of Destiny in Netflix is a documentary series about Shanti Bhavan. You can see Shilpa narrating few lines from this memoir.
October 19, 2017
"From Poverty to Possibility
From Invisible to Unstoppable"- Daughters of destiny, Netflix
A memoir can't be judged. Hence, I'll put forth the details of the books. It's about the author's journey from the life in a small village in Karnataka to a finally getting a Masters Degree in Psychological Counselling, the first one in her village to do so. A journey that hasn't been easy. And the sacrifices have been numerous. The memoir has been written with precision, the persona of each of the characters has been described, jotting down the tiniest of habit each one had. The tone of their voice, the way they walk, their talking style etc makes it easier to live the whole scenario in one's mind. These details make the events more life-like. It also tells us more about the author's personality and nature. She might have had the golden opportunity to dictate her life, but she has always been humble and down-to-earth.
The memoir is about all the elements in life- the happy, the sad, the remorseful ones and well as the mental struggles. It's not easy, it's never been. As readers we tend to critique every tiny detail is a book, but a memoir gives us the raw truth of life.
From Invisible to Unstoppable"- Daughters of destiny, Netflix
A memoir can't be judged. Hence, I'll put forth the details of the books. It's about the author's journey from the life in a small village in Karnataka to a finally getting a Masters Degree in Psychological Counselling, the first one in her village to do so. A journey that hasn't been easy. And the sacrifices have been numerous. The memoir has been written with precision, the persona of each of the characters has been described, jotting down the tiniest of habit each one had. The tone of their voice, the way they walk, their talking style etc makes it easier to live the whole scenario in one's mind. These details make the events more life-like. It also tells us more about the author's personality and nature. She might have had the golden opportunity to dictate her life, but she has always been humble and down-to-earth.
The memoir is about all the elements in life- the happy, the sad, the remorseful ones and well as the mental struggles. It's not easy, it's never been. As readers we tend to critique every tiny detail is a book, but a memoir gives us the raw truth of life.
January 4, 2018
Books don’t usually make me cry, but Shilpa’s carefully chosen words and her strength in writing this story had me in tears throughout. A must-read for every Indian who thinks we know anything about the reality of poverty in our country.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“In a land where justice is often bought, poor people can only hope for mercy. Unfortunately, mercy, too, comes at a price.”
“Who could have ever imagined that the girl in the far corner of the stage once begged on the streets, that the boy in the black tie smartly turning his partner was the son of a construction labourer, or that the tall, slender girl dancing off to the side had watched her murdered father’s body burn on a pyre? None of those things mattered on this day. We danced with all the fervour and grace we could muster, as in the old Hollywood movies of our dreams.”
“I see myself as a product of two disparate worlds, and each has given me a reason to love, to be kind, and to grow strong. My education has given me the ability to choose what I want for myself and the confidence to aspire to greater goodness. I have chosen to favour my new world, and hope to change the one I left behind.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~
“In a land where justice is often bought, poor people can only hope for mercy. Unfortunately, mercy, too, comes at a price.”
“Who could have ever imagined that the girl in the far corner of the stage once begged on the streets, that the boy in the black tie smartly turning his partner was the son of a construction labourer, or that the tall, slender girl dancing off to the side had watched her murdered father’s body burn on a pyre? None of those things mattered on this day. We danced with all the fervour and grace we could muster, as in the old Hollywood movies of our dreams.”
“I see myself as a product of two disparate worlds, and each has given me a reason to love, to be kind, and to grow strong. My education has given me the ability to choose what I want for myself and the confidence to aspire to greater goodness. I have chosen to favour my new world, and hope to change the one I left behind.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
September 15, 2019
This is Shilpa Raj's memoir of her growing up in a South Indian village, born into a poor Dalit family, where, as a girl, the odds are really against you.
In this she tells about the hardships she & her family goes through. It is also the story of a beautiful school called Shanti Bhavan, somewhere outside Bangalore, and how Shanti Bhavan and its staff helped Shilpa & scores of other children from poor Indian families get education.
Her memoir is honest, gritty, hard hitting & poignant. She writes about how broken her family is, fights her parents have, her sister's death, growing up in school, confusion about her affair with her uncle, sexual harrasment, infatuations, her studies, all with brutal honesty.
And she wrote all this when she was at 16 years of age. Hats off!
In this she tells about the hardships she & her family goes through. It is also the story of a beautiful school called Shanti Bhavan, somewhere outside Bangalore, and how Shanti Bhavan and its staff helped Shilpa & scores of other children from poor Indian families get education.
Her memoir is honest, gritty, hard hitting & poignant. She writes about how broken her family is, fights her parents have, her sister's death, growing up in school, confusion about her affair with her uncle, sexual harrasment, infatuations, her studies, all with brutal honesty.
And she wrote all this when she was at 16 years of age. Hats off!
August 12, 2017
This book can be thought of as a compilation of gleeful days and sorrowful recollection of memories. The chapters evinced a mixture of hopefulness, detestation, desire and a craving for being able to decide the fate of one’s own life. Also, Shilpa Raj gives an insight into the lives of people who are ruled by poverty and are discarded as “untouchables” by the society and what it truly means to be born in one such family. The hardships, the constant despair and piping dreams of achieving the riches were remarkably pronounced in Raj’s narrative skills. The way she has articulated her feelings into words is sure to leave the readers in awe. Her depiction of her memories coupled with the expansive vocabulary with no grammar glitches makes this book all the more supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (yes, that’s the exact word I would be using to describe what I felt reading this book) to read.
December 1, 2024
Powerful debut novel by Shilpa Raj, chronicling her young, eventful life that has been transformed beyond what one in her situation could hope for in their wildest dreams. Shilpa is born into poverty, to a father that is willing to put her on the trash heap when she’s born and a grandmother that fights to keep her alive so she can marry her off to her youngest son, making sure Shilpa is permanently bound to her and takes care of her for the rest of her life. Shilpa’s mother loves her dearly but is misguided and ignorant, thanks to her own sorry and powerless fate of being an uneducated woman married to a philandering and abusive drunkard.
A four year old Shilpa is miraculously lifted out of what would be certain tragedy by a magical twist of fate. Shanti Bhavan is a residential school for children born in poverty, offering them world class education, caring for them from preschool to their first day of being in a full time job. The benefactor running this life changing school is Dr George, who has used his entire personal wealth in service of this mission and these children. No good deed goes unpunished - Dr George is repeatedly put through the wringer with attempts on his life by local mafia, suspicious parents accusing him of being an organ harvester, financial crisis of 2008 nearly wiping him out and a host of other issues. The consummate founder and man of service - he finds a way to keep Shilpa and hundreds of children like her in school despite his tribulations.
As Shilpa grows up with this whiplash of spending her school year in the magical wonderland of Shanti Bhavan where she is surrounded with love and care; and spending her holidays in the vicious world of her harsh extended family, she ends up confused and tormented by the contrast. Putting myself in the shoes of Dr George and the staff of Shanti Bhavan, I salute their patience, compassion and strength in not giving up on Shilpa as she repeatedly makes mistakes that jeopardise her future by trying to please a birth family that is determined to bring her down to their level of suffering through their ignorance, generational burden or simply sheer wilfulness at times.
Shilpa narrates the travails of generational discrimination and misogyny suffered by women, compounded by poverty, as she sees her own grandmother, mother, aunts and cousins go through it. Human relationships are complex though - despite trying to empathise with her mother throughout, she dedicates the book to her dad and sister, conspicuously leaving her mother out.
Shilpa’s own grit and resilience is heartening as she blossoms into a young woman that knows her mind clearly, commits to the values that Shanti Bhavan tries to instil in their children and is unafraid to forge her own path in the face of disapproval from her family. Despite the terrors and tragedy she’s had to face in her young life, the unrelenting support and faith that Shanti Bhavan staff and Dr George have given her has got her to a point where she has the best possible shot at working towards her ambitions successfully.
A young and powerful transformational voice has been unleashed into the world indeed.
A four year old Shilpa is miraculously lifted out of what would be certain tragedy by a magical twist of fate. Shanti Bhavan is a residential school for children born in poverty, offering them world class education, caring for them from preschool to their first day of being in a full time job. The benefactor running this life changing school is Dr George, who has used his entire personal wealth in service of this mission and these children. No good deed goes unpunished - Dr George is repeatedly put through the wringer with attempts on his life by local mafia, suspicious parents accusing him of being an organ harvester, financial crisis of 2008 nearly wiping him out and a host of other issues. The consummate founder and man of service - he finds a way to keep Shilpa and hundreds of children like her in school despite his tribulations.
As Shilpa grows up with this whiplash of spending her school year in the magical wonderland of Shanti Bhavan where she is surrounded with love and care; and spending her holidays in the vicious world of her harsh extended family, she ends up confused and tormented by the contrast. Putting myself in the shoes of Dr George and the staff of Shanti Bhavan, I salute their patience, compassion and strength in not giving up on Shilpa as she repeatedly makes mistakes that jeopardise her future by trying to please a birth family that is determined to bring her down to their level of suffering through their ignorance, generational burden or simply sheer wilfulness at times.
Shilpa narrates the travails of generational discrimination and misogyny suffered by women, compounded by poverty, as she sees her own grandmother, mother, aunts and cousins go through it. Human relationships are complex though - despite trying to empathise with her mother throughout, she dedicates the book to her dad and sister, conspicuously leaving her mother out.
Shilpa’s own grit and resilience is heartening as she blossoms into a young woman that knows her mind clearly, commits to the values that Shanti Bhavan tries to instil in their children and is unafraid to forge her own path in the face of disapproval from her family. Despite the terrors and tragedy she’s had to face in her young life, the unrelenting support and faith that Shanti Bhavan staff and Dr George have given her has got her to a point where she has the best possible shot at working towards her ambitions successfully.
A young and powerful transformational voice has been unleashed into the world indeed.
March 31, 2023
An honest and touching book about the power of education. Shilpa Raj writes of her struggles to rise above generations of lower caste standing through her education at the Shanti Bhavan school in India. She was clearly torn between the school’s modern day values and the traditions of her village family. At times frustrating and other times exhilarating, the book moves with ease and introduces the reader to the struggles many cultures face when trying to better their lives. The ending is very emotional.
May 12, 2018
Writing is definitely not for the weak, and writing a book like this one takes some serious courage.
In this book, Shilpa lays bare her life's story. Troubles, for her, begin at birth. In a world where female idols are worshiped, yet real women are abused at every stage of their lives, there is little space for a girl child in a village known to few. There is no money, no comfort and a lot of chaos. She beautifully articulates the complications of her family and the troubles they face, without any bias. It takes a lot of a person to admit that the ones we hold most dear, our family, can be flawed and wrong. The truth with which she describes her situation is commendable.
She is bestowed with an opportunity which changes the trajectory of her life: Shanti Bhawan. The school is an escape from a life destined for misery and discrimination. Yet, it is not an easy gift. She lives with the guilt of having deprived her siblings of the same. Living away from her family, her people and her culture, and accepting a whole new world does create distance even among the closest of relations. She is a part of the family but not, a part of their struggles but not. She is able to enjoy sumptuous meals while her family gets by on Ragi rolls.
As she grows up, things get more chaotic. Her new world view and that of her people clash. It leads to a lot of pressure on her and her relationships. It is a test of ones' strength to stand up to the people who raised them, even when they are wrong. Breaking the shackles of prejudice and tradition is not an easy task and it does take its toll.
Raj, in her story, tries to present not only her perspective but also of others around her. Her narrative is neutral and she does not fail to accept her own shortcomings and flaws. This is not just a story of Shilpa, it could easily be a story of any girl living in less than ideal situations. Raj's writing is honest and insightful. It brings to light the life which is often lived and forgotten in the shadows.
In this book, Shilpa lays bare her life's story. Troubles, for her, begin at birth. In a world where female idols are worshiped, yet real women are abused at every stage of their lives, there is little space for a girl child in a village known to few. There is no money, no comfort and a lot of chaos. She beautifully articulates the complications of her family and the troubles they face, without any bias. It takes a lot of a person to admit that the ones we hold most dear, our family, can be flawed and wrong. The truth with which she describes her situation is commendable.
She is bestowed with an opportunity which changes the trajectory of her life: Shanti Bhawan. The school is an escape from a life destined for misery and discrimination. Yet, it is not an easy gift. She lives with the guilt of having deprived her siblings of the same. Living away from her family, her people and her culture, and accepting a whole new world does create distance even among the closest of relations. She is a part of the family but not, a part of their struggles but not. She is able to enjoy sumptuous meals while her family gets by on Ragi rolls.
As she grows up, things get more chaotic. Her new world view and that of her people clash. It leads to a lot of pressure on her and her relationships. It is a test of ones' strength to stand up to the people who raised them, even when they are wrong. Breaking the shackles of prejudice and tradition is not an easy task and it does take its toll.
Raj, in her story, tries to present not only her perspective but also of others around her. Her narrative is neutral and she does not fail to accept her own shortcomings and flaws. This is not just a story of Shilpa, it could easily be a story of any girl living in less than ideal situations. Raj's writing is honest and insightful. It brings to light the life which is often lived and forgotten in the shadows.
February 6, 2021
We watched Daughters of Destiny some months back, and my mom became obsessed with Shanti Bhavan. Shilpa Anthony Raj is one of the graduates of that school.
While the docu-series shows the importance of education in transforming the girls’ lives, Raj writes about her own life, mostly outside the gates of the school.
It is an extremely difficult story, filled with abuse (mainly sexual) of young girls, pressures of tradition, and poverty. It is not “poverty porn,” where people’s
lives are put on display for the amusement of Westerners. Raj writes frankly, and, I think, that makes her story more disarming: this is just the way it is.
I am overjoyed that Raj is no longer living in those conditions (more so than I thought I could be for someone I don’t know), but she herself writes that there are countless other young girls and women who cannot escape:
(pp.278-279)
I firmly believe in Sam Seaborn’s statement that “Education is the silver bullet,” and Raj proves him true, but we need to ensure that all people have access to it.
While the docu-series shows the importance of education in transforming the girls’ lives, Raj writes about her own life, mostly outside the gates of the school.
It is an extremely difficult story, filled with abuse (mainly sexual) of young girls, pressures of tradition, and poverty. It is not “poverty porn,” where people’s
lives are put on display for the amusement of Westerners. Raj writes frankly, and, I think, that makes her story more disarming: this is just the way it is.
I am overjoyed that Raj is no longer living in those conditions (more so than I thought I could be for someone I don’t know), but she herself writes that there are countless other young girls and women who cannot escape:
The hardships that Kavya faced in her short life, and her sudden death, are not uncommon. There are millions of girls like her among the lower castes — butterflies without wings — growing up in families troubled by domestic violence and danger. In a society bound by traditions, there is no escape for them.
Women in these families have little or no control over their destinies; they suffer innumerable cruelties and lead lives regulated strictly by men. This way of life is not something I am prepared to accept as a natural order.
(pp.278-279)
I firmly believe in Sam Seaborn’s statement that “Education is the silver bullet,” and Raj proves him true, but we need to ensure that all people have access to it.
March 18, 2019
A story of hope! A story of a girl who made use of a chance given to her battling all odds and made it bigger in life than her peers! Simple writing but hard-hitting!
October 28, 2021
When your life is so interesting that it beats fiction.
You are wise enough to realise that you need not, nay, should not, wait for retirement to tell your story
You are so skillfull at narrating your tale in a simple and empathetic style that it is unputdownable
You are mature enough to understand yourself, your family members and friends
And brave enough to bare it all at the young age of 21.
Shilpa Raj is young girl born into a supposedly 'untouchable' caste who gets selected into a school run by a philanthropist for poor boys and girls. Her illiterate father understands the immense value of this chance and resists the wails of his pregnant wife and taunts of the villagers to send her to this residential school in a nearby town run by strangers. English medium, clean clothes, varied good food... Things out of reach for him and most people of his caste in the village. His daughter gets them yes but how does she deal with the Herculean contrast between life at school and life in the village with her family in holidays? Her siblings, father's story, mother's story, grandparents, uncles... What drives them? What is their coping mechanism? How does their personality clash with the opportunities or their lack in the village? What are their sacrifices, achievements? How does she navigate the uncertainty of funding for her school and the consequent long break in her village? How does she reconcile herself to getting married to her uncle? How does DG the founder of the school guide her and each one of the boys and girls in the school?
This book is so poignant and so recent and the author is so young that by the end of the book you become protective of her. However she is a responsible and caring adult today in a profession that suits her personality so she is fine but the sharp kicks and gentle nudges of Shilpa's story will ensure that the privileged among us understand the silliness of our privilege, examine our heads for any biases against the underprivileged and basically realise that caste is not dead however inconvenient reservation is.
Thank you so much for writing this book Shilpa Raj!
You are wise enough to realise that you need not, nay, should not, wait for retirement to tell your story
You are so skillfull at narrating your tale in a simple and empathetic style that it is unputdownable
You are mature enough to understand yourself, your family members and friends
And brave enough to bare it all at the young age of 21.
Shilpa Raj is young girl born into a supposedly 'untouchable' caste who gets selected into a school run by a philanthropist for poor boys and girls. Her illiterate father understands the immense value of this chance and resists the wails of his pregnant wife and taunts of the villagers to send her to this residential school in a nearby town run by strangers. English medium, clean clothes, varied good food... Things out of reach for him and most people of his caste in the village. His daughter gets them yes but how does she deal with the Herculean contrast between life at school and life in the village with her family in holidays? Her siblings, father's story, mother's story, grandparents, uncles... What drives them? What is their coping mechanism? How does their personality clash with the opportunities or their lack in the village? What are their sacrifices, achievements? How does she navigate the uncertainty of funding for her school and the consequent long break in her village? How does she reconcile herself to getting married to her uncle? How does DG the founder of the school guide her and each one of the boys and girls in the school?
This book is so poignant and so recent and the author is so young that by the end of the book you become protective of her. However she is a responsible and caring adult today in a profession that suits her personality so she is fine but the sharp kicks and gentle nudges of Shilpa's story will ensure that the privileged among us understand the silliness of our privilege, examine our heads for any biases against the underprivileged and basically realise that caste is not dead however inconvenient reservation is.
Thank you so much for writing this book Shilpa Raj!
March 26, 2019
This memoir meanders through social, class, economic and gender discriminations. Shilpa Raj takes us into her one roomed hut and the love, care, sexual abuse, domestic violence and illegal activities that happen inside and around it.
Shilpa was the chosen one- the chosen one to be brought up within the academic corridors of the residential school Shanthi Bhavan. It is a school that selects one child from a challenged family and takes her/him in in plate to slate model of education.
The author is honest about her family issues- how she was abandoned by her Appa because she was a girl, but rescued by her grandmother; how tgat same Appa was her advocate for her to join Shanti Bhavan; how the men flirt and have affairs, the family business of making sarayam, the domestic violence and family feuds, the debts, her own sexual encounters and her sister's mysterious death. There is no apology, no guilt- she says it as it is!
Shilpa was the chosen one- the chosen one to be brought up within the academic corridors of the residential school Shanthi Bhavan. It is a school that selects one child from a challenged family and takes her/him in in plate to slate model of education.
The author is honest about her family issues- how she was abandoned by her Appa because she was a girl, but rescued by her grandmother; how tgat same Appa was her advocate for her to join Shanti Bhavan; how the men flirt and have affairs, the family business of making sarayam, the domestic violence and family feuds, the debts, her own sexual encounters and her sister's mysterious death. There is no apology, no guilt- she says it as it is!
July 24, 2017
The book presents to you as a reader the details of problems which we are facing as a society even in this era of computers and space technology. India, which is otherwise a good state to be managed and praised, becomes helpless when it comes to get rid of the orthodox problems which are supposed to get rid of immediately. Shilpa Raj has done a tremendous job in exposing the follies and lapses in our society. She must be proud being the first ever Dalit woman to write a memoir! A must read book!
July 28, 2017
A crucial book, indeed! I have read not a single memoir which holds such details like this one by the young author Shilpa. She has given it everything she could and we can see the effects of the same in her book. No doubt it's her very debut, but the writing craft that she has got, will only improve with the time! A very much praiseworthy attempt by Shilpa and I am sure people will appreciate the work!
August 19, 2019
After a recent trip to Bangalore, where I found the people to be so warm and kind, I couldn’t fathom a social caste system that deemed people unworthy by birth. Now, after reading this, I see how deep the poverty remains — and with it, the violence. I felt empathy for Shilpa Raj and the deep chasm that was created in her family by her life being lifted through education. I’m inspired by her outlook on her future and her innate grasp of who she is, all in spite of her unfathomable start in life.
September 9, 2020
A raw and heart felt life story that makes us question about our privilege and circumstances in life. It definitely moved me.
February 11, 2025
This book was very interesting. It was full of culture and rich tradition. I loved the family and how vulnerable the author was.
November 18, 2021
Thought this was going to be a fiction book but a memoir written by Shilpa Raj who was given the opportunity to attend school. This gave her a chance to have a different life than the one she was born to. This is sometimes a difficult book to read as the author has periods of self-destructive actions that harm herself and others. The fact that she was able to overcome obstacles in the end and succeed is a testament to her and the school she attended.
June 1, 2021
This memoir tells of a young girl's struggles to change her path. She shares what it is like to grow up in a poor area of India and part of a lower caste. The opportunities are limited. She received an education because a philanthropist opened a school for a limited number of poor children.
The story gives us an insight into the struggles of the poor and the treatment of women in India.
The story gives us an insight into the struggles of the poor and the treatment of women in India.
May 20, 2020
I think Shilpa's story was a necessary one to be told and I am glad I got a chance to read it. If India were to be divided in income quintiles, Shilpa came from the bottom one and I come from the one above it. My education and ability to stand up for myself have helped me elevate my family to the top quintile - hence I could relate to it personally. However, I haven't experienced the domestic violence that she witnessed and to hear her story was an eye opener.
Strong writing, fast moving, insightful and touching.
Strong writing, fast moving, insightful and touching.
November 1, 2022
If you haven’t seen the Netflix documentary, please do. The resilience of these people is incredible.
September 26, 2017
Although non-fiction was not a genre that I usually enjoyed, the title and the cover really drew my attention. And after reading it, I can assure you that this book is written as beautifully as its title and cover. I really loved it to the end.
The Elephant Chaser's Daughter is a memoir of the author Shilpa Raj hailing from a South Indian village. Despite her troublesome childhood life she was able to make her dreams come true which was a true achievement for a girl like her. She was sent to a boarding school at an age of 4, which at the time everyone except her father loathed. I can now understand why she named her memoir this way as it was her school and education that kept her from drowing into her miserable family background. All which happened because of her father's strong determination to educate her.
The book tells us all about a typical village life in South India. The caste discrimination and the relation between landlords and peasants are well depicted in the book. The inferior way in which women were treated is also written rawly which sometimes made it hard to believe that such absurdity still exists.
Shilpa's life was a roller coaster between her village life and her life at Shanti Bhavan (her school). But she adapted to her life very confidently. Every character in her book had a story to tell.Everything she wrote was so honest and it was at times hard to hate some characters even they are not to be liked. Its their emotions and feelings which made them act the way they did. She captured it very beautifully.
Even after facing a lot of tragedies in her life from her younger age, Shilpa created a whole new world for herself and her family which made her a very brave women in my view. The book is worth the read and I was so inspired by her. I hope she'll achieve more and more. And to not mention her mentor and fatherly figure Mr. DG (not his real name) will be a mistake. We need people like him and I'm already his great fan. Thankyou Shilpa for introducing him to us.
I am sharing one of the quotes that I really liked from the book:
"My education has given me the ability to choose what I want for myself and the confidence to aspire to greater goodness. I have chosen to favour my new world, and hope to change the one I left behind."
This book is truly a must read for everyone of us which gives us new insights about people of our own country.
The Elephant Chaser's Daughter is a memoir of the author Shilpa Raj hailing from a South Indian village. Despite her troublesome childhood life she was able to make her dreams come true which was a true achievement for a girl like her. She was sent to a boarding school at an age of 4, which at the time everyone except her father loathed. I can now understand why she named her memoir this way as it was her school and education that kept her from drowing into her miserable family background. All which happened because of her father's strong determination to educate her.
The book tells us all about a typical village life in South India. The caste discrimination and the relation between landlords and peasants are well depicted in the book. The inferior way in which women were treated is also written rawly which sometimes made it hard to believe that such absurdity still exists.
Shilpa's life was a roller coaster between her village life and her life at Shanti Bhavan (her school). But she adapted to her life very confidently. Every character in her book had a story to tell.Everything she wrote was so honest and it was at times hard to hate some characters even they are not to be liked. Its their emotions and feelings which made them act the way they did. She captured it very beautifully.
Even after facing a lot of tragedies in her life from her younger age, Shilpa created a whole new world for herself and her family which made her a very brave women in my view. The book is worth the read and I was so inspired by her. I hope she'll achieve more and more. And to not mention her mentor and fatherly figure Mr. DG (not his real name) will be a mistake. We need people like him and I'm already his great fan. Thankyou Shilpa for introducing him to us.
I am sharing one of the quotes that I really liked from the book:
"My education has given me the ability to choose what I want for myself and the confidence to aspire to greater goodness. I have chosen to favour my new world, and hope to change the one I left behind."
This book is truly a must read for everyone of us which gives us new insights about people of our own country.
January 18, 2022
I feel bad giving this book two stars. I really wanted to like the book. The story itself is sad and uplifting at the same time. How Shilpa pulls through the many unfortunate circumstances she faces - from being a Dalit, a girl, poor and abused. The lives of each of the people in her life - bets, grandmother, sister, friends — are all heartwrenching and makes you understand the many layers of privilege you have in society and life. But, the success of these children, all mostly Dalit, is a small island of hope and therin lies the heart of the book.
The writing, however, is lacking in many ways. Characters are not developed, situations are described with information but not painted for you, and loops are closed too hurriedly across the various sub-plots. Yes, this is written by a sixteen year old, and that's exactly why I feel bad giving this rating. But am also being objective to the book.
Kudos to Shilpa Raj and all her friends, those who have made it and those who are still fighting, and both. May there be many more who come out of these unfortunate and unfair circumstances!
The writing, however, is lacking in many ways. Characters are not developed, situations are described with information but not painted for you, and loops are closed too hurriedly across the various sub-plots. Yes, this is written by a sixteen year old, and that's exactly why I feel bad giving this rating. But am also being objective to the book.
Kudos to Shilpa Raj and all her friends, those who have made it and those who are still fighting, and both. May there be many more who come out of these unfortunate and unfair circumstances!
May 19, 2019
There was a lack of vision and direction in this memoir. Raj seems unsure of what she wanted to discuss. There was so much, yet so little content, the result, being a haphazard mish mash of stories from her grandparents', parents' and friends' lives; the history of Shanti Bhavan and it's headmaster etc. By her desire to indiscriminately include everything, there was simply not enough information on anything, to make this truly compelling memoir. Featured stories are clipped, disjointed, cursory, brief. Raj should've, instead, narrowed the scope of her memoir to solely her boarding school experiences, and her sister's untimely death. By being more self-centric and narrowly focused, she would've produced a much more engaging, compelling and intimate memoir. Having said that though, I enjoyed this book as an extension of the Netflix documentary, Daughters of Destiny.
July 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book! What a remarkable young woman. I would love to meet her in person one day. I became absorbed in this story and felt like I was in India with her. I also watched the documentary on Netflix. I look forward to following her story and learning more about this school. I hope shilpa writes another book, I’m looking forward to reading it. If I was younger, this book inspired me, I would go visit this school in India and volunteer to teach there. A very enjoyable and interesting book!
November 17, 2017
Full of insight
I wanted to read this book after watching the documentary "Daughters of Destiny" ( which I highly recommend). I think I remember which of the girls in the film is Shilpa, but I will watch it again to be sure. What a wonderful outpouring of her feelings, as she moved from age 4 to becoming a very insightful young woman! And how great to know that someone has proved without a doubt that given the right environment all children have the ability to succeed.
I wanted to read this book after watching the documentary "Daughters of Destiny" ( which I highly recommend). I think I remember which of the girls in the film is Shilpa, but I will watch it again to be sure. What a wonderful outpouring of her feelings, as she moved from age 4 to becoming a very insightful young woman! And how great to know that someone has proved without a doubt that given the right environment all children have the ability to succeed.
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