Indian Summer

by Will Randall

Will Randall thought teaching in an inner-London comprehensive was a tough job. But that was nothing compared to the next assignment: saving a slum school in the Indian city of Poona. Learning as much as he is teaching, Will finds his life transformed by his remarkable class of orphans: Dulabesh, the head-standing joker who lost his parents on a crowded railway platform; Prakash, who learned self-sufficiency by scavenging in dumpsters; the charmingly madcap Tanushri, fan of the singer "Maradona." When the slumlords threaten to level the school, Will hits upon the idea of a fund-raiser to save it: a stage production of the 24,000-verse Indian epic, The Ramayana, ever so slightly condensed…By turns funny and poignant, this is a gloriously life-affirming account of the India tourists never see.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, India, Autobiography

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

English travel writer.

Educated in London, he taught languages in the English west country for ten years, including 5 years at Blundell's School, before moving to live in the South Pacific islands. He is best known for his book Solomon Time.

His 2003 book Indian Summer is about time he spent teaching in a school for orphans in Poona, India. While in India he also spent some time in the Indian film industry; he had a small role in The Legend of Bhagat Singh and a larger role in An Ideal Wedding.

Reviews

[Julie Thomason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, albeit I found bits of it a bit of a slog to read and a bit difficult to get into.. However, I was hooked by the end and routing for the children in the ashram. Since I visited India in 2011, I read a lot about it and tis was good a light touch but very real.

[Saskia (Smitie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into the adventures of Will Randall in India. Starting as an escape from the unappreciated work as British teacher, Will ends up organizing a play with children from an orphanage in the slums of Poona to get enough funds to buy the land. During his stay in the chaotic India, he meets all kinds of people and even ends up in two Bollywood productions. Sometimes I get the feeling the coincidences of Will meeting the right people at the right time a bit too good to be true, but the overall story is inspiring.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never written a book review before but Will Randall's "Indian Summer" is as good a place to start as any...

Would have given a 2.5* if it were an option, alas out of fairness will round up to 3*s. The book is eloquently written, and I feel it does a decent job of placing you into the antagonists position, absorbing some of the sights and smells of India. By the end off the book I was left a little disappointed, just needed to be tied together better...

[Joe Spoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, entertaining. I will probably never go to India, but this book fave me a very good idea of the conditions he was dealing with. It was amazing to me that he always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and seems to run into the right people.

[Drew Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding book! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Touching, funny and moving, it gives an insight into an English man who teaches the slum children of India. Read it!

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did get a bit bored of the book halfway through and struggled despite it being pretty short.

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read.

[Samantha Lines Karanth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about the orphans of the ashram and life in an Indian slum, however the writing seemed rather self-indulgent at times.

[Jane French · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book a real positive feel about it.

[Sally906 · Rating 2 out of 5]

INDIAN SUMMER is eloquently written and sums up the sights, sounds and smells of life in India. However, I feel it was mainly written to demonstrate the attitude differences between the ungrateful children from the UK (the haves) and the grateful children from the slums in India (the have-nots). The two contrasting events that he used to demonstrate the difference were the bus trips. At the start of the book Will takes his UK class on an excursion to an art gallery and it was a nightmare. The children were unruly, disrespectful, did graffiti on artwork and just generally didn’t care. They didn’t want to be at school and did everything they could to make this obvious to all and sundry. Then there was the school excursion in India where the children reacted with a sense of awe and wonder when taken on a bus trip. No sense of entitlement here – no rejecting any educational opportunity – the children knew the importance of education. That it will get them a job which means food on the table and maybe a ticket out of the slums. There will be no government handouts for them if they don’t attend school and don’t get a job. It was very sad to see how people have to live in some parts of the world, but I was heartened at how they take every opportunity that comes their way to try and overcome their lot in life and move up to better things. Rather than sit and complain about their lot in life and do nothing to change.

Overall the book was a little slow in parts, but gave enough insight into life in another country to keep me reading – there was humour, and pathos and there was no condensation on Will’s behalf that you often see when people write about other countries.

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Will Randall's adventures in India. Having read his books about the Solomon Islands and Botswana, I thought I'd give this book a go. It's an interesting tale of his time in India, and his experiences. It's good promotion of enjoying the little things and also taking chances in life, it's wonderful what these serendipity chances lead to, although sometimes it does seem to run a little to conveniently easily for him!

Back in the UK from his Solomon Time, he's working at a school full of obnoxious bratts in London and feeling down. A chance meeting with an old eccentric lady who offers to pay for his ticket to India in return for bag carrying to Poona to deliver her to her gentleman friend starts off the whole adventure. He gets involved in charity work teaching at a school in one of the slums; ends up with film roles in two films, arranges a school play and witnesses some horrors of the injustice of the slums, and the inequality between the rich and poor in India. I find it curious that he states that sorting out this is a government issue; it's not something that charities are ever going to sort out themselves - which is fair enough. But it's up to the governments of other countries, as if the Indian government doesn't have anything to do with it.

So yes, interesting tale, occasionally dragged a little for me, but quite entertaining.

[Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars? Three and a half stars really. This one seemed slow to get under way to me and then there was a middle chunk which I didn't find so interesting, but towards the end of the book it picked up pace and I really enjoyed that part. I did come away from it wondering how Will Randall could admit to some of his actions - or rather non-actions. The situations he describes included ones where I would have intervened whatever the consequences, and admittedly the consequences would not have been pleasant. He seems to be able to stand back and observe even when terrible things are happening to a child in his care and that I have never been able to do. Professional detachment? Well to me teaching has always been something that goes well beyond a profession, and detachment is the last thing it needs. However, were he not detached I presume we would not have books ranging over so many locations, he would have stayed put in the first place where the children touched his heart. It always strikes me as odd too that there is no reference to family or friends at home. He seems to lead a detached, fairly lonely life.
Not my favourite Randall. The other I reviewed here (set in Botswana) I enjoyed far more.

[Laeroport · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sent to me by my British friend, Julie, and takes place in the town where we once both lived. I really enjoyed reading about all the places I had visited regularly and found myself nodding in agreement with many of the author's observations.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply written account of a summer spent in India where author ultimately volunteers to work in a charitable school. This is a short book but one which captures the sights and character of the country. Sometimes poignant and other times amusing - an interesting read.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

love it :) he makes you realise how easy it is to put down the rat race, go live in a simpler life, and help people!

[Curt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and fascinating real-life adventure recounted by this traveling teacher/writer. One of my favorite books and authors.

[Deepti · Rating 2 out of 5]

There have been better travel book on India but this was a nice read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, pleasant account of our teacher-author and his experiences in India.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't say really a travel book. And wanted to know more about children. But made me want to read his first book and 41/2 or 5 star so rounded up

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite Will Randall book yet.

[Shannon Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of Will Randall's books. Very sweet and humbling, yet fun to read.

[ChrisTina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Höchst amüsant, zugleich hält es uns selbstzentrierten Westlern den Spiegel vor.