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Shitala : How India Enabled Vaccination
With bags packed and nowhere to go, Tara's plans are crushed by the COVID pandemic. Waiting it out at home and watching tragic deaths around her, makes her furious and helpless at the same time. An animated conversation with her grandfather about the impending vaccination, adds fuel to the fire! India enabled vaccination, Nana claims. What an absurd thing to say! More than seven decades after independence there is hardly any infrastructure in place to respond to this pandemic. It is impossible that a dilapidated system like this can make such a tall claim. Tara sets out to prove Nana wrong. What she discovers in the process boggles her mind and shatters her world view. The colonial plunder extends far beyond her imagination. This is a journey every Indian must take. Praise for Shitala: Mitra has taken up a complex subject, peeled back all but the critical core and has set out the fundamental truths of Dharma in a simple, understandable, and enjoyable form. Shitala is a fascinating read. After all, as observed by great Mark Twain, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” From Foreword - Nilesh Nilkanth Oak Mitra Desai combines ineluctable historic facts cocooned inside the story of a family that could be almost any Indian family. It is woven around a delightful story in exactly the same way that our own Indian epics and narratives inform us of our past via the medium of enchanting stories. Thank you for writing this Mitra Desai. I recommend this book to all Indians. You will not regret reading it. Dr Shiv Sastry Surgeon and Author Want to educate the masses? Do it through storytelling like 'Shitala'! This book is an eye-opener as it narrates the Ayurvedic references of Shitala, Masurika and contemporary references of their Bharatiya treatment in a refreshing manner. - Dr Pareexit Shevde MD (Ayu.) and author of Gharoghari Ayurved
97 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 24, 2021
It's an easy and quick read, yet effective, in telling us the origins of the iconography of Goddess Shitala and the invention of vaccination and treatment of smallpox in India centuries before it was introduced in Britain. They give references of British, French and Americans acknowleding this during 18th and 19th century and various ancient Indian texts like Sushruta Samhita describing these treatments in great detail. This story resonated with me since I am like Tara, always mocking my parents for when they tell me the glories and inventions of India and the effectiveness of Ayurveda. I will refrain from giving away too much and let the readers enjoy this novelette themselves.
February 14, 2023
Written for #1000reviewersclub by @IndicaBooks
Sridhar Potaraju’s Maxims from Mahabharata showed that the essence of a book is not a function of its width and Mitra Desai knocks it out of the park with Shitala, bringing to light history in a manner that is irrefutable and simple. Despite the arduous historical research put into the work, the author puts the matter forward in a way that is accessible to all and sundry irrespective of age, experience, and most importantly, political alignment. While not a full-fledged academic tome, the book nails its assignment of introducing the general population to the history of the worship of Shitala or Sheetala and the real-world impact of the practice of vaccination it accompanied in the Indian subcontinent long-buried by colonising forces. All claims are firmly backed up by a number of references in research papers.
The author does not shy away from the real-world pain the world went through during Covid-19 and uses it as a backdrop for the story. Tara, the stand-in for the colonised, has a conversation with her retired grandfather about the lack of results, reaffirming her faith in western universities, which leads her through a wormhole about the practice of inoculation in a pre-vaccine Bengal with Shitala, the Goddess of Diseases used as an icon of hope and goodwill while the ticcadars attend to the people through means of inoculation. The conversation is easily relatable, homely, and the reader will quickly find themselves identifying with the highs and lows of Tara’s emotions as she navigates through this historical labyrinth, uncovering information buried under a mountain of omissions and dismissals. Her stupefaction is a reflection of your stupefaction; her anger is yours.
An excerpt from Howell shows the methodology of the inoculation:
The density of the unraveling is elegantly mitigated by the simple conversation between a grandfather and granddaughter. This method of relaying important information to the layman is far superior to hours of lecture referencing books thicker than the reader’s waist. It provides the option for those interested to dive deeper and for the rest to bask in the revelation. One can easily imagine this book being turned into a 30-minute movie and screened at various schools, colleges and learning centres to dissipate the darker clouds and not let historical, indigenous novelties die with time. It is a much more positive manner of dealing with decades of decay under foreign rule. I cannot think of a better manner in which topics as electrifying and revelatory as these are conveyed to the general audience, and can only hope more subjects of India's past from mathematics to philosophy are brought to life in a friendly but rich style.
To conclude, this is a not literature form of chest-thumping, nor does it seek to show how the understanding of science in Ancient India is comparable to today’s ventures - but to ask the perfectly reasonable and powerful question - “what if we were left alone?” What would have been the current state of science in India had we not been endured colonisation and cultural genocide over centuries? How would our mathematics, medicine and physics have been had we progressed on our own terms? History is a deep subject and it is often difficult for a non-historian to validate every sentence or harder, note its absence, but with the presence of all the notes referenced, it can be said beyond reasonable doubt that India was on the right path long before what is normally accepted on a global scale.
Shoutout to Subbu Publications for the neat and aesthetic publication. Fits in perfectly within the margins of an acceptable gift without making it seem heavy-a-task to appreciate. Covering this book up with any assortment of wrapper would be an absolute shame.
Sridhar Potaraju’s Maxims from Mahabharata showed that the essence of a book is not a function of its width and Mitra Desai knocks it out of the park with Shitala, bringing to light history in a manner that is irrefutable and simple. Despite the arduous historical research put into the work, the author puts the matter forward in a way that is accessible to all and sundry irrespective of age, experience, and most importantly, political alignment. While not a full-fledged academic tome, the book nails its assignment of introducing the general population to the history of the worship of Shitala or Sheetala and the real-world impact of the practice of vaccination it accompanied in the Indian subcontinent long-buried by colonising forces. All claims are firmly backed up by a number of references in research papers.
The author does not shy away from the real-world pain the world went through during Covid-19 and uses it as a backdrop for the story. Tara, the stand-in for the colonised, has a conversation with her retired grandfather about the lack of results, reaffirming her faith in western universities, which leads her through a wormhole about the practice of inoculation in a pre-vaccine Bengal with Shitala, the Goddess of Diseases used as an icon of hope and goodwill while the ticcadars attend to the people through means of inoculation. The conversation is easily relatable, homely, and the reader will quickly find themselves identifying with the highs and lows of Tara’s emotions as she navigates through this historical labyrinth, uncovering information buried under a mountain of omissions and dismissals. Her stupefaction is a reflection of your stupefaction; her anger is yours.
An excerpt from Howell shows the methodology of the inoculation:
“When the Bramins begin to inoculate, they pass from house to house and operate at the door, refusing to inoculate any who have not, on a strict scrutiny, duly observed the preparatory course enjoined them. The cotton, which he preserves in a double calico rag, is saturated with matter from the inoculated pustules of the preceding year, for they never
inoculate with fresh matter, nor with matter from the disease caught in the natural way, however distinct and mild the species.
From the time he begins the dry friction, to tying the knot of the bandage, he never ceases reciting, some portions of the worship appointed, by the Aughtorrah Bhade, to be paid to the female divinity before mentioned, nor quits the most solemn countenance all the while”
- An account of the manner of inoculating for the smallpox in the East Indies, by J. Z. Holwell
The density of the unraveling is elegantly mitigated by the simple conversation between a grandfather and granddaughter. This method of relaying important information to the layman is far superior to hours of lecture referencing books thicker than the reader’s waist. It provides the option for those interested to dive deeper and for the rest to bask in the revelation. One can easily imagine this book being turned into a 30-minute movie and screened at various schools, colleges and learning centres to dissipate the darker clouds and not let historical, indigenous novelties die with time. It is a much more positive manner of dealing with decades of decay under foreign rule. I cannot think of a better manner in which topics as electrifying and revelatory as these are conveyed to the general audience, and can only hope more subjects of India's past from mathematics to philosophy are brought to life in a friendly but rich style.
To conclude, this is a not literature form of chest-thumping, nor does it seek to show how the understanding of science in Ancient India is comparable to today’s ventures - but to ask the perfectly reasonable and powerful question - “what if we were left alone?” What would have been the current state of science in India had we not been endured colonisation and cultural genocide over centuries? How would our mathematics, medicine and physics have been had we progressed on our own terms? History is a deep subject and it is often difficult for a non-historian to validate every sentence or harder, note its absence, but with the presence of all the notes referenced, it can be said beyond reasonable doubt that India was on the right path long before what is normally accepted on a global scale.
Shoutout to Subbu Publications for the neat and aesthetic publication. Fits in perfectly within the margins of an acceptable gift without making it seem heavy-a-task to appreciate. Covering this book up with any assortment of wrapper would be an absolute shame.
May 27, 2022
My first brush with the word ‘vaccination’ started during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m sure it wasn’t just me who was introduced to this concept mainly due to the global threat we faced in 2020. The worldwide interest in vaccines peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I am particularly proud of India’s role in enabling the world to find the cure to this virus. Indian-led COVIDSHIELD and COVAXIN are now helping vaccinate millions worldwide and in India. We cannot understate the role our medical facilities, doctors, and research teams have played in strengthening the fight against the virus. But surprisingly, this is not the first time India has played an instrumental role in enabling the fight against a virus, something the world should thank us for.
‘Shitala: How India Enabled Vaccination’ is an eye-opener on India’s role in enabling us to find the first vaccine. The book explores the well-established fact that inoculation against smallpox was prevalent in India and other parts of the Eastern world before being known in Western countries. Using the story of Tara and her grandfather (Nana), an Ayurvedic doctor, the author helps touch upon the many pieces of evidence present to help testify this claim. The book is fantastic because the author uses storytelling to help provide the evidence, making it highly engaging and easy to read. Special mentions also for providing the Sanskrit quotes with translations around health and also introducing the readers to Shitala Mata, the Goddess that cures smallpox, sores, ghouls, and other diseases.
In just 97 pages, which includes the references and evidence mentioned in the book, the author helps establish the prominent role of Indian medicine and Ayurveda in helping modern medicine perform the miracles it does. While it does not in any way downplay Western medical research and the role of the Englishman Edward Jenner in producing the first vaccine against smallpox, it also touches upon facts that we tend to brush under the carpet, mainly due to the still prevalent colonial mindset. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a cursory interest in Indian medicine and would also thank Indica Book Club for playing a pivotal role in ensuring that this fantastic book made its way into my bookshelf. :)
‘Shitala: How India Enabled Vaccination’ is an eye-opener on India’s role in enabling us to find the first vaccine. The book explores the well-established fact that inoculation against smallpox was prevalent in India and other parts of the Eastern world before being known in Western countries. Using the story of Tara and her grandfather (Nana), an Ayurvedic doctor, the author helps touch upon the many pieces of evidence present to help testify this claim. The book is fantastic because the author uses storytelling to help provide the evidence, making it highly engaging and easy to read. Special mentions also for providing the Sanskrit quotes with translations around health and also introducing the readers to Shitala Mata, the Goddess that cures smallpox, sores, ghouls, and other diseases.
In just 97 pages, which includes the references and evidence mentioned in the book, the author helps establish the prominent role of Indian medicine and Ayurveda in helping modern medicine perform the miracles it does. While it does not in any way downplay Western medical research and the role of the Englishman Edward Jenner in producing the first vaccine against smallpox, it also touches upon facts that we tend to brush under the carpet, mainly due to the still prevalent colonial mindset. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a cursory interest in Indian medicine and would also thank Indica Book Club for playing a pivotal role in ensuring that this fantastic book made its way into my bookshelf. :)
June 3, 2022
शीतला-refers to cool in sanskrit, this story is a classic anecdote and sets a premise of how a young woke challenges her grandfather through her colonial education which has shaped her way of thinking and how her cool grandfather, an erudite scholar of Ayurveda strategizes and removes ignorance (avidya) by providing a clear mental model intermittently of why you should not buy the narrative of modern Wikipedia scientists instead of a dedicated sources. Its a common fashion nowadays as there are many so called Pseudoscientific detectives on the internet deceive and try to act as intellectuals to establish everything associated with ancient India as superstition and pseudoscience.
May 27, 2022
Reviewing this as part of the Indic Book Club #1000reviewersclub2022
At a juncture when the entire world has just gone through and barely come out of a hard time dealing with the pandemic, this book takes us down a rabbit hole of origin of vaccines.
The book starts at a point where everyone was locked down and frustrated looking for a cure for the virus. The protagonist is a sharp confident girl, Tara, who was looking forward to going abroad for further studies and got stuck due to travel restrictions.
Tara keeps venting her frustrations to her granddad (Nana) and is looking forward to the west to innovate a vaccine and save all of humanity. Her granddad who is a well rooted practicing Hindu brings up casually the topic of who invented vaccines and where was it first practiced and perfected. - hinting at Indian Origins for the first vaccine.
Tara unable to believe her Granddad takes on the challenge to study the history and geography of vaccines.
Initially, the usual western established sources -- Wikipedia, Internet articles point her to Edward Jenner as the father of vaccination. Tara takes this triumphantly to her granddad and presents her research. On being asked some questions, Tara realizes that there are some chinks and missing years in the timeline that lead to the discovery of smallpox vaccine.
Tara then goes on to dig into how the world dealt with Smallpox and how India dealt with it. Smallpox being much more lethal than covid and the world being devoid of "Modern Scientific Systems", how was it that India seemed to have some processes and systems where the disease was simulated in a healthy individual to build immunity.
Tara's research also provides a timeline of how the process travelled from India and ended up in Britain where it was claimed to be their own invention without acknowledging the origins.
With the reading material from her Grandpa, Tara also discovers references for Smallpox treatment and prevention in ayurvedic literature written much before India was invaded and subjugated.
The acceptance of vaccine is also an issue in the modern world. This book also explores how the process of inoculation was linked to divinity by the way of Shithala Devi and propagated across the rural India, mainly in Bengal region.
The book has also provided references to original sources from which the information is cited. This definitely gives the reader an option to explore and do his own research instead of accepting the authors conclusion.
Every village has its own legend of the Devi who helps to heal. I could relate to it with the prevalent legend of Mari-amma in South India.
Some questions that came to me -
How was the Indian inoculation system dismantled ?
How many Indian innovations have been appropriated by the British or Pre-British systems?
I feel books like these are an important step in the decolonization efforts in India. Especially considering the information overload and the western centric narrative that is all prevalent. It is definitely an inspiration to go to the roots and look for non-mainstream sources.
I look forward to more books in the "India Inspired" series of which this is a part.
A video introduction to the book by the author : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTJ6h...
At a juncture when the entire world has just gone through and barely come out of a hard time dealing with the pandemic, this book takes us down a rabbit hole of origin of vaccines.
The book starts at a point where everyone was locked down and frustrated looking for a cure for the virus. The protagonist is a sharp confident girl, Tara, who was looking forward to going abroad for further studies and got stuck due to travel restrictions.
Tara keeps venting her frustrations to her granddad (Nana) and is looking forward to the west to innovate a vaccine and save all of humanity. Her granddad who is a well rooted practicing Hindu brings up casually the topic of who invented vaccines and where was it first practiced and perfected. - hinting at Indian Origins for the first vaccine.
Tara unable to believe her Granddad takes on the challenge to study the history and geography of vaccines.
Initially, the usual western established sources -- Wikipedia, Internet articles point her to Edward Jenner as the father of vaccination. Tara takes this triumphantly to her granddad and presents her research. On being asked some questions, Tara realizes that there are some chinks and missing years in the timeline that lead to the discovery of smallpox vaccine.
Tara then goes on to dig into how the world dealt with Smallpox and how India dealt with it. Smallpox being much more lethal than covid and the world being devoid of "Modern Scientific Systems", how was it that India seemed to have some processes and systems where the disease was simulated in a healthy individual to build immunity.
Tara's research also provides a timeline of how the process travelled from India and ended up in Britain where it was claimed to be their own invention without acknowledging the origins.
With the reading material from her Grandpa, Tara also discovers references for Smallpox treatment and prevention in ayurvedic literature written much before India was invaded and subjugated.
The acceptance of vaccine is also an issue in the modern world. This book also explores how the process of inoculation was linked to divinity by the way of Shithala Devi and propagated across the rural India, mainly in Bengal region.
The book has also provided references to original sources from which the information is cited. This definitely gives the reader an option to explore and do his own research instead of accepting the authors conclusion.
Every village has its own legend of the Devi who helps to heal. I could relate to it with the prevalent legend of Mari-amma in South India.
Some questions that came to me -
How was the Indian inoculation system dismantled ?
How many Indian innovations have been appropriated by the British or Pre-British systems?
I feel books like these are an important step in the decolonization efforts in India. Especially considering the information overload and the western centric narrative that is all prevalent. It is definitely an inspiration to go to the roots and look for non-mainstream sources.
I look forward to more books in the "India Inspired" series of which this is a part.
A video introduction to the book by the author : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTJ6h...
April 8, 2021
Good book, gives a feel of proud Indian.
September 18, 2022
"Shitala: How India Enabled Vaccination" is a book that brings India's glory and capabilities into the limelight which has been overlooked for centuries. Unfortunately, I have not heard the word "Shitala". When I first encountered this word in this book, all that I thought was "Shitala" means cold and maybe the author describes a cold place or object. Then, the revelation hits. It made me realise how ignorant we are of our cultures and traditions.
The best part about this book is the way the author has conveyed her message to the readers through an engaging story that is very relatable to teens as well as elders these days. The plot is set in covid-19 times. Tara and her grandfather, Nana have a conversation about covid 19, people losing lives and their dear ones and then the vaccine. When Nana says India is capable of developing the vaccine and it has a history of doing so in such times. Tara's colonized mind doesn't accept this truth and decides to prove her grandfather wrong. In this journey, she discovers the truth and comes to know that India has a detailed explanation of the procedure to develop the vaccine against smallpox many years earlier than the west. This enables her to dig deeper into the history of India and completely changes her perspective on Indian culture.
Every detail mentioned in this book is supported with facts and references. It is the need of the hour to pass the wisdom of our history to the younger generation. "Shitala" is one of the mediums through which this can be possible.
The best part about this book is the way the author has conveyed her message to the readers through an engaging story that is very relatable to teens as well as elders these days. The plot is set in covid-19 times. Tara and her grandfather, Nana have a conversation about covid 19, people losing lives and their dear ones and then the vaccine. When Nana says India is capable of developing the vaccine and it has a history of doing so in such times. Tara's colonized mind doesn't accept this truth and decides to prove her grandfather wrong. In this journey, she discovers the truth and comes to know that India has a detailed explanation of the procedure to develop the vaccine against smallpox many years earlier than the west. This enables her to dig deeper into the history of India and completely changes her perspective on Indian culture.
Every detail mentioned in this book is supported with facts and references. It is the need of the hour to pass the wisdom of our history to the younger generation. "Shitala" is one of the mediums through which this can be possible.
March 28, 2021
What a eye opening book on the ancient history of vaccination in India! Such books are a must-read to understand ancient Indian history which has often been distorted under colonial and other influences.
This is a fairly short read and is both educational and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
This is a fairly short read and is both educational and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
March 28, 2021
What a eye opening book on the ancient history of vaccination in India! Such books are a must-read to understand ancient Indian history which has often been distorted under colonial and other influences.
This is a fairly short read and is both educational and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
This is a fairly short read and is both educational and entertaining. I highly recommend it.
June 3, 2021
Such a pleasant, engaging, lucid novella establishing the rich lost heritage of how Indian intellectuals had ways of inoculation and eradicating diseases. Written in a narrative format between a grandkid and Grandpa, the fact of passing the rich legacy of Indian medicine has been emphasised in a world where all we do is 'google for facts'.
A must read for people of all ages.
A must read for people of all ages.
July 17, 2022
Why should anyone, and more specifically you, read Shitala?
Whether you belong to the camp which believes Indian rituals are all pseudo-science from the dark ages or to the opposite side which sees no evil in anything traditional, this book has something to enlighten both sides. Though not all of us are related to the medical field, Shitala with its super easy language and byte-sized chapters help us navigate the Indian system of vaccine preservation and administration at a time CoWin portals were unheard of.
About the book
There are two significant pluses going for the book Shitala : How India Enabled Vaccination.
One, it's a short read. I finished cover to cover in a day.
And two, it's a fictionalised narrative instead of just a bunch of bare facts.
Tara, the protagonist, is very representative of us, the modern-day average Indian who looks at all achievements of the Bharatiya tradition with skepticism and suspicion. She swallows a bitter pill (along with us) to find out the real history of her ancestors and how the knowledge was transmitted and appropriated without due credit.
Both of these along with the subject matter makes it an ideal read not only for adults but children as well.
Now, to the core of the book : the facts, which are the real stars of the book and adorn Bharat in all its sparkling glory.
The book slowly unearths the scientific and ancient Ayurvedic knowledge system and the structured systematic inoculation programs conducted since the 7th century in India. The textual evidences are replete with the geographical migration of the disease into erstwhile Bharat, the seasonal variations, the pre vaccination regime to be followed, the specialist inoculation administrators and finally the meticulous process, including the one to deal with the aftermath, should it get out of hand.
And how all of that ties back to the folklore, prevalence and relevance of the worship of Devi Shitala, the Goddess of smallpox (and by extension, eruptions of all sorts).
In summary, Shitala is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in Bharatiya pre-eminence in the field, for all the good reasons.
Whether you belong to the camp which believes Indian rituals are all pseudo-science from the dark ages or to the opposite side which sees no evil in anything traditional, this book has something to enlighten both sides. Though not all of us are related to the medical field, Shitala with its super easy language and byte-sized chapters help us navigate the Indian system of vaccine preservation and administration at a time CoWin portals were unheard of.
About the book
There are two significant pluses going for the book Shitala : How India Enabled Vaccination.
One, it's a short read. I finished cover to cover in a day.
And two, it's a fictionalised narrative instead of just a bunch of bare facts.
Tara, the protagonist, is very representative of us, the modern-day average Indian who looks at all achievements of the Bharatiya tradition with skepticism and suspicion. She swallows a bitter pill (along with us) to find out the real history of her ancestors and how the knowledge was transmitted and appropriated without due credit.
Both of these along with the subject matter makes it an ideal read not only for adults but children as well.
Now, to the core of the book : the facts, which are the real stars of the book and adorn Bharat in all its sparkling glory.
The book slowly unearths the scientific and ancient Ayurvedic knowledge system and the structured systematic inoculation programs conducted since the 7th century in India. The textual evidences are replete with the geographical migration of the disease into erstwhile Bharat, the seasonal variations, the pre vaccination regime to be followed, the specialist inoculation administrators and finally the meticulous process, including the one to deal with the aftermath, should it get out of hand.
And how all of that ties back to the folklore, prevalence and relevance of the worship of Devi Shitala, the Goddess of smallpox (and by extension, eruptions of all sorts).
In summary, Shitala is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in Bharatiya pre-eminence in the field, for all the good reasons.
June 3, 2021
With vaccines becoming the hot topic today, here is an interesting book on how India enabled vaccination. The book by Mitra Desai gives you a detailed insight into the development of the small pox vaccine and how this knowledge was available with Indians before the West discovered it.
You would imagine that a book that talks about small pox and vaccines would be too technical. The author has created a storyline involvingTara and her grandfather, who is an Ayurveda doctor. Through a series of conversations, the story of Shitala is brought out. This makes the book interesting and engaging to read. To know what Shitala means and what is the connection with the Mahabharata you need to read this book.
The book has a detailed references section where a lot of additional information about the small pox vaccine is provided. For anyone interested in knowing about vaccines and how this knowledge was available with us, this book is a good read.
You would imagine that a book that talks about small pox and vaccines would be too technical. The author has created a storyline involvingTara and her grandfather, who is an Ayurveda doctor. Through a series of conversations, the story of Shitala is brought out. This makes the book interesting and engaging to read. To know what Shitala means and what is the connection with the Mahabharata you need to read this book.
The book has a detailed references section where a lot of additional information about the small pox vaccine is provided. For anyone interested in knowing about vaccines and how this knowledge was available with us, this book is a good read.
August 10, 2021
quick read, very eyeopening- genuinely think every indian should read this book.
June 25, 2022
When I first received this book (from the 1000 Reviewers Club), from the title, I did not anticipate what this book would reveal. Firstly, I was not sure why the book was called Shitala and from the caption of the book, I was expecting to read about the successful vaccination program using Digital technologies in India. However, I was pleasantly surprised to get to know the rich history of vaccination that India possessed dating back to the 7th century.
The book can be finished in one reading and has a very nice flow to it. It starts with friendly banter between Nana (grandfather) and Tara (grand daughter). Tara is like any millenial kid with very shallow understanding of this historical traditions of India and who is born and brought up in western educational tenets. Nana on the other hand is rooted in hindu traditions and has seen how communities in India have carried (and still do) iconography, symbollism with a rational scientific thought process.
Tara challenges Nana's conjecture that India had developed vaccines to small pox way before the western world claimed to discover the scientific process. She presents proof from wikipedia and other documents available on the internet to present her case. But Nana nudges Tara to dig deeper and shows her that there is more to it than what appears on the surface.
The book by Mitra Desai chronicles the tradition of scientific inquiry especially related to vaccinations in India more than 1300 years back. It was an eye opener to me on how society at that time built its spiritual traditions around well researched facts. Sadly, all this has been lost due to colonialism and other invasions. In this short book, Mitra has helped highlight the contribution and significance of Ayurvedic and other Indian traditions. Books like these are needed to better understand our own history.
Thanks to Indic books for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
The book can be finished in one reading and has a very nice flow to it. It starts with friendly banter between Nana (grandfather) and Tara (grand daughter). Tara is like any millenial kid with very shallow understanding of this historical traditions of India and who is born and brought up in western educational tenets. Nana on the other hand is rooted in hindu traditions and has seen how communities in India have carried (and still do) iconography, symbollism with a rational scientific thought process.
Tara challenges Nana's conjecture that India had developed vaccines to small pox way before the western world claimed to discover the scientific process. She presents proof from wikipedia and other documents available on the internet to present her case. But Nana nudges Tara to dig deeper and shows her that there is more to it than what appears on the surface.
The book by Mitra Desai chronicles the tradition of scientific inquiry especially related to vaccinations in India more than 1300 years back. It was an eye opener to me on how society at that time built its spiritual traditions around well researched facts. Sadly, all this has been lost due to colonialism and other invasions. In this short book, Mitra has helped highlight the contribution and significance of Ayurvedic and other Indian traditions. Books like these are needed to better understand our own history.
Thanks to Indic books for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
June 18, 2022
The cover page of book derived me to dwell into the book, and throughout the book it fascinated me to, finish the whole book in one go.
A thoroughly researched book written in narrative pattern. My grandmother used to worship SHEETLA MATA and told me that fasting on Sheetlaashtmi is benificial for children. I never had came any thought like how is Sheetla mata benificial for children and only worshipping Sheetla Mata & eating cold food makes that happen. Its just engraved in my mind as it is. But after reading this book it clarifies my thoughts.
I have never known the facts regarding vaccination/inoculation in The Great Indian Civilisation. The process of vaccination/ inoculation is traced back to 4th and 5th Century and way back then in India. The book is packed up with all the references to the sources claiming the knowledge.
I have only known the stories of Edward Jenner regarding vaccination discovery.
I suggest you to read this book absolutely.
As this book is part of ‘India Inspired Series’ , I am eager to read the upcoming books in this series.
Thank you Indica Books for letting me read this Gem.
A thoroughly researched book written in narrative pattern. My grandmother used to worship SHEETLA MATA and told me that fasting on Sheetlaashtmi is benificial for children. I never had came any thought like how is Sheetla mata benificial for children and only worshipping Sheetla Mata & eating cold food makes that happen. Its just engraved in my mind as it is. But after reading this book it clarifies my thoughts.
I have never known the facts regarding vaccination/inoculation in The Great Indian Civilisation. The process of vaccination/ inoculation is traced back to 4th and 5th Century and way back then in India. The book is packed up with all the references to the sources claiming the knowledge.
I have only known the stories of Edward Jenner regarding vaccination discovery.
I suggest you to read this book absolutely.
As this book is part of ‘India Inspired Series’ , I am eager to read the upcoming books in this series.
Thank you Indica Books for letting me read this Gem.
June 30, 2022
“That’s okay, let me fill you in.He said, you have absolute control over taking action and doing your duty, but no control or claim over the results.The fruits of your labour should never be your motive, and you should never be inactive, so get up and hit that gym.Do something, anything, just do it Tara.” Urmila pleaded.
I would like to thank Indic Academy wholeheartedly for the initiative and the opportunity.
A beautiful short story with some of the deepest insights.The setting of the book is a reflection of contemporary covid times.That’s when the family connect had actually surged which inturn provided the time for introspection.
The character of Tina embodies the post-colonial identity crisis our nation is currently going through.This crisis, as I see it, is a consequence of more than eight hundred years of foreign occupation of Bharat.And the solution to this problem is characterized by Nana (Dr. Laxman Mavlankar)-- which is to have strong roots, into our civilizational knowledge.
The tactics that were used by colonial europeans are well underlined through the examples of Distortion, Sidelining and Racist reporting of Indic facts.The fact is, these kinds of things are still being employed today in some forms.Awareness is key.
Shitala also mentions: “It must all start somewhere.”
My experience: It had all started with a movie named ‘The Tashkent Files’ for me.The film had a profound impact on my thought process.Later, I got drawn towards our civilizational ethos gradually.Just wanted to share my start point.
Today, I stand as a self-assured person, thanks to my roots.The thing that irks me is that most people tend to form prejudices even without introspecting.
In my opinion, Introspection and Decolonization are the ways forward.And this book succeeds in its endeavor of the same.Kudos to the author Ms. Mitra Desai.
-A review by a member of #1000ReviewersClub 2022.
I would like to thank Indic Academy wholeheartedly for the initiative and the opportunity.
A beautiful short story with some of the deepest insights.The setting of the book is a reflection of contemporary covid times.That’s when the family connect had actually surged which inturn provided the time for introspection.
The character of Tina embodies the post-colonial identity crisis our nation is currently going through.This crisis, as I see it, is a consequence of more than eight hundred years of foreign occupation of Bharat.And the solution to this problem is characterized by Nana (Dr. Laxman Mavlankar)-- which is to have strong roots, into our civilizational knowledge.
The tactics that were used by colonial europeans are well underlined through the examples of Distortion, Sidelining and Racist reporting of Indic facts.The fact is, these kinds of things are still being employed today in some forms.Awareness is key.
Shitala also mentions: “It must all start somewhere.”
My experience: It had all started with a movie named ‘The Tashkent Files’ for me.The film had a profound impact on my thought process.Later, I got drawn towards our civilizational ethos gradually.Just wanted to share my start point.
Today, I stand as a self-assured person, thanks to my roots.The thing that irks me is that most people tend to form prejudices even without introspecting.
In my opinion, Introspection and Decolonization are the ways forward.And this book succeeds in its endeavor of the same.Kudos to the author Ms. Mitra Desai.
-A review by a member of #1000ReviewersClub 2022.
July 7, 2022
This is a very nice story of a young lady Tara, who has typical negative biases against India's ability to contribute for the betterment of society. Tara is very much disturbed when she learns about the death of her best friend's mother due to the Covid-19 infection. Tara's plans to go to America for higher studies is disturbed due to the world-wide lockdown announced to check the spread of corona virus. Tara's Nana, who is an expert Ayurvedic Vaidya, tells Tara that India has the capacity to make vaccines to control the spread of this virus, though it may take some time to develop it. He even tells that India will even contribute vaccines to other countries. Tara, with all her pessimism is not convinced. Then, she starts exploring the internet about vaccination. Gradually, with the explanations given by her Nanaji, she comes to know that in Bharat, there was a well-developed system of vaccination against smallpox much before Edward Jenner popularized it in the west. This is a very nice book with lots of references to the sources which show that India's traditional knowledge systems were not inferior to any modern knowledge system coming from the west.
June 27, 2022
Going by the book size I first thought it would be more apt for my 12-year-old's reading but I was pleasantly surprised when once I started reading it I found it unputdownable! Finished it in a go and realized how important this topic was to be discussed and more so to be known especially to our kids and the wokes among the current generation. The author has beautifully articulated the story as a conversation between a young girl and her learned grandfather interspersed with details of daily routine in a traditional, Hindu household while weaving in the emotional journey of the girl from blatantly refuting this vital contribution (vaccination) of Bharat to humanity to humbly accepting her ignorance and eventually realizing how brainwashed she was thanks to colonial education and wrong narratives fed all throughout the history.
The author has provided the entire historical and scientific context in an easy-to-read manner which is quite commendable. Don't go by the book size. Just pick it up and read it for once. It'll be a revelation.
The author has provided the entire historical and scientific context in an easy-to-read manner which is quite commendable. Don't go by the book size. Just pick it up and read it for once. It'll be a revelation.
June 10, 2022
If you take out the acknowledgements, publisher’s note, foreword and references from the end of the book, Shitala barely spans 55 pages. But what a mighty punch does it pack. Beautiful! For anybody who wants to start on a journey of Bharat’s medical past and history, this is an excellent starting point. A simple plot is able to weave a beautiful picture of a marathi household and a relationship between a young girl and her grandfather. As somebody who was particularly close to his grandfather, this strikes a chord. The way Nana, the loving name for grandfather, gently guides Tara on this journey is masterful. I have always maintained that a good story must be able to make you go on a journey even after you finish reading it. This book did that for me. The references and possibilities have opened a pandora’s box for me to deep dive in. If you are an adult, do read this book. If you have a children around, they MUST read this book.
July 23, 2022
Well it's not about how India managed 200 crore Covid vaccine shots in a year’s span when it used to take decades just the vaccine to arrive in India. It’s a pursuit, it is about tracing our ancient scientific knowledge in medical domain (Ayurveda, Dhanvantari, Caraka Samhita, Vagbhata - Astanga Hrdaya and Sushruta Sahmita), method of communication and techniques to implement and deploy them on field.
Mitra Desai has intricately woven a real story, mysticism, philosophy and documented historical facts to showcase how Bharata (India) skillfully managed the spread of SMALL POX (Devi, as it was called in India) through indigenous vaccination program as early as 6th century. Book contain details about Shitala Devi temples spread across India, indigenous way of preserving variolous matter, tracing precise time of outbreak, diagnosis and inoculation technique.
Time to de-colonize from British education system, ask why we are unable to transfer our ancient knowledge (literature, culture, music, arts, panchang, vedic mathematics, vedas, rashi system, yoga, architectural knowledge, astrology) to our next generation. Well the very objective of British education all over its colonies was to make indigenous people feel ashamed of their own culture, language, rituals and tradition.
Mitra Desai has intricately woven a real story, mysticism, philosophy and documented historical facts to showcase how Bharata (India) skillfully managed the spread of SMALL POX (Devi, as it was called in India) through indigenous vaccination program as early as 6th century. Book contain details about Shitala Devi temples spread across India, indigenous way of preserving variolous matter, tracing precise time of outbreak, diagnosis and inoculation technique.
Time to de-colonize from British education system, ask why we are unable to transfer our ancient knowledge (literature, culture, music, arts, panchang, vedic mathematics, vedas, rashi system, yoga, architectural knowledge, astrology) to our next generation. Well the very objective of British education all over its colonies was to make indigenous people feel ashamed of their own culture, language, rituals and tradition.
June 25, 2022
5/5: It was amazing
It is a small novella rotating around the vaccine of smallpox developed in India. Based in modern India, the story is about a young girl Tara learning about the true history of smallpox vaccines.
Writing style is engaging. I finished it in one sitting. As Dr Shiv Sastry ji and Nilesh Oak ji rightly said, author Mitra Desai ji has created a new genre by writing history in an engaging non-bland Puranic way.
One can find all the references listed in the Appendix.
Throughout the search, Tara and Nana also discuss on its symbolism and history. I had this notion that every deity has its own set of symbolism, but this discussion gave me something new to ponder about, around the symbolism of Maa Shitala. During Covid times, the way everyone was taking care of Shuchita (Cleanliness), I remember, in my household, there was barely any change made. It seems that we were doing almost everything as part of our culture. This is the other aspect this book tried to explore. In our culture, everything is so connected to Dharma and Culture that you do it without contemplating.
In the end, the approximate dating that is reached, of Smallpox vaccines, is mind-blowing. I am inspired to explore our Indian Sciences! A truly wonderful read!
It is a small novella rotating around the vaccine of smallpox developed in India. Based in modern India, the story is about a young girl Tara learning about the true history of smallpox vaccines.
Writing style is engaging. I finished it in one sitting. As Dr Shiv Sastry ji and Nilesh Oak ji rightly said, author Mitra Desai ji has created a new genre by writing history in an engaging non-bland Puranic way.
One can find all the references listed in the Appendix.
Throughout the search, Tara and Nana also discuss on its symbolism and history. I had this notion that every deity has its own set of symbolism, but this discussion gave me something new to ponder about, around the symbolism of Maa Shitala. During Covid times, the way everyone was taking care of Shuchita (Cleanliness), I remember, in my household, there was barely any change made. It seems that we were doing almost everything as part of our culture. This is the other aspect this book tried to explore. In our culture, everything is so connected to Dharma and Culture that you do it without contemplating.
In the end, the approximate dating that is reached, of Smallpox vaccines, is mind-blowing. I am inspired to explore our Indian Sciences! A truly wonderful read!
July 3, 2022
In her short narrative "SHITALA-How India Enabled Vaccination," Mitra Desai describes how vaccinations were initially practiced in India rather than the west. It is a compact book that one may read in one sitting. Mitra tells the tale through Tara, a young woman talking to her grandfather. According to the tale, Indians have known about immunization from ancient times. They had a goddess who held in her hands representations of the importance of the cleanliness and immunization procedures. She continues to be worshipped, and a festival is held in her honour. The flower vendors outside the temple in ancient times were more engaged in immunizing people than in selling flowers as offerings.
We are widely aware that ancient India was a centre of science and technology, but Mitra challenges the readers to consider what has become of all this knowledge. She makes the point that the only things that are left of these historical and technological occurrences are the folktales and myths that have been passed down through the generations of humans. Although the rest of the world didn't agree with it, our grandparents and great grandparents understood the importance of their ancestors. Even now, our kids concur only with what they hear coming from the west.
This anecdote serves as proof that not all technology has been lost; the majority of it is still present in the inherited knowledge that has been passed down through the centuries. Mitra emphasizes the necessity to thoroughly comprehend it in order to apply it and believe in it rather than relying exclusively on the west.
She also regrets the failure to give India credit for these advancements, despite the fact that they were born there. As a result, these accomplishments were no longer acknowledged as belonging to ancient India. The contributions that ancient India made to the globe were never given the credit they deserved.
With each new page, this story becomes better and better. The book has lovely language and narration. I only wish the plot was a little bit longer and a little bit more fascinating. Characters in the story are seen savouring delicious foods like idlis, sambar, coffee, and masoor dal usal. I propose that this story be expanded upon in a web series.
We are widely aware that ancient India was a centre of science and technology, but Mitra challenges the readers to consider what has become of all this knowledge. She makes the point that the only things that are left of these historical and technological occurrences are the folktales and myths that have been passed down through the generations of humans. Although the rest of the world didn't agree with it, our grandparents and great grandparents understood the importance of their ancestors. Even now, our kids concur only with what they hear coming from the west.
This anecdote serves as proof that not all technology has been lost; the majority of it is still present in the inherited knowledge that has been passed down through the centuries. Mitra emphasizes the necessity to thoroughly comprehend it in order to apply it and believe in it rather than relying exclusively on the west.
She also regrets the failure to give India credit for these advancements, despite the fact that they were born there. As a result, these accomplishments were no longer acknowledged as belonging to ancient India. The contributions that ancient India made to the globe were never given the credit they deserved.
With each new page, this story becomes better and better. The book has lovely language and narration. I only wish the plot was a little bit longer and a little bit more fascinating. Characters in the story are seen savouring delicious foods like idlis, sambar, coffee, and masoor dal usal. I propose that this story be expanded upon in a web series.
July 25, 2022
In an engaging story that takes place in a very relatable Indian family, a grandfather and a teenaged grand-daughter playfully wrestle between the tacit knowledge and wisdom that age possesses and the arrogance that technology bestows on the younger generation. It's that very arrogance, but also the desire to know more coupled with the ability to find out even more that propels the young girl to find out more about how India battled with the smallpox pandemic and over years, possibly decades, completely eradicated this life-threatening disease.
The story is short, succinct and well narrated and has the backing of proper documentation and research that makes it extremely credible.
Great effort by the author, could definitely be better with some tweaks.
If you want to know India’s prowess even in the ancient times and the potential the country holds now, do pick it up.
For a more detailed review, check the link on my blog
https://bit.ly/3J20kcC
The story is short, succinct and well narrated and has the backing of proper documentation and research that makes it extremely credible.
Great effort by the author, could definitely be better with some tweaks.
If you want to know India’s prowess even in the ancient times and the potential the country holds now, do pick it up.
For a more detailed review, check the link on my blog
https://bit.ly/3J20kcC
June 24, 2022
First, I sincerely thank team @IndicaOrg and @IndicaBooks for their wonderful initiative of 1000-Reviewers-Club-2022, which I am a part of and based on which I got my hands on this book.
The moment I got the book and saw the title, my mom who was beside me got excited and asked me if the book is about Shitala Devi and I was like no no it cannot be, it must be something else not even stopping to ask her who Shitala Devi is, and in that moment I became Tara because I shot down my mom's excitement and knowledge.
Upon reading the book I realised that my mom was absolutely spot on with her excitement because the book indeed turn out to give hard researched facts and history about Shitala Devi and the practice of vaccination which India as a country has been practicing for centuries together.
The book is about a young girl named Tara who is someone who wants to just leave India and move abroad because she finds India disgusting and weak and underdeveloped. She has her own perception about India lagging in all aspects. The story revolves around lockdowns imposed during the Covid Pandemic and how she takes a journey of self discovery with help from her Nana who is an Ayurvedic practitioner. Tara realises the potential of India when it came down to medicine and medicine practice and the capabilities that India possessed to tackle not only Covid but other such pandemics and diseases over the years and how India tackled the problem of Small Pox since time immemorial.
Not divulging too many details about the book because I would want each and every individual to read this very simple, short but thoroughly insightful book, I plainly say that the book lays down facts which are hard researched and puts them forth in a form of a story to enable the reader to dive deep in and undertake Tara's journey as your perception about medicinal capabilities of India and break it down to realise the actual potential that it always possessed.
To summarize, I have always been someone who would never want to go to a doctor unless and until its something really extreme and serious and it has always worked wonders for me because my mom has always helped me get better with her home remedies and these remedies are passed down along generations over the centuries which in itself always made me believe in ayurveda more than anything else. Today's generation immediately pop in a crocin for the slightest fever without a second thought and that kind of makes me wonder if our centuries old ayurvedic knowledge might get lost. I for one will pass on all the knowledge I have gathered over the years from my mom to anyone and everyone and this book will make you go to your parents or grandparents and have a conversation with them which hopefully will reignite the spark of ayurveda in all of us.
The moment I got the book and saw the title, my mom who was beside me got excited and asked me if the book is about Shitala Devi and I was like no no it cannot be, it must be something else not even stopping to ask her who Shitala Devi is, and in that moment I became Tara because I shot down my mom's excitement and knowledge.
Upon reading the book I realised that my mom was absolutely spot on with her excitement because the book indeed turn out to give hard researched facts and history about Shitala Devi and the practice of vaccination which India as a country has been practicing for centuries together.
The book is about a young girl named Tara who is someone who wants to just leave India and move abroad because she finds India disgusting and weak and underdeveloped. She has her own perception about India lagging in all aspects. The story revolves around lockdowns imposed during the Covid Pandemic and how she takes a journey of self discovery with help from her Nana who is an Ayurvedic practitioner. Tara realises the potential of India when it came down to medicine and medicine practice and the capabilities that India possessed to tackle not only Covid but other such pandemics and diseases over the years and how India tackled the problem of Small Pox since time immemorial.
Not divulging too many details about the book because I would want each and every individual to read this very simple, short but thoroughly insightful book, I plainly say that the book lays down facts which are hard researched and puts them forth in a form of a story to enable the reader to dive deep in and undertake Tara's journey as your perception about medicinal capabilities of India and break it down to realise the actual potential that it always possessed.
To summarize, I have always been someone who would never want to go to a doctor unless and until its something really extreme and serious and it has always worked wonders for me because my mom has always helped me get better with her home remedies and these remedies are passed down along generations over the centuries which in itself always made me believe in ayurveda more than anything else. Today's generation immediately pop in a crocin for the slightest fever without a second thought and that kind of makes me wonder if our centuries old ayurvedic knowledge might get lost. I for one will pass on all the knowledge I have gathered over the years from my mom to anyone and everyone and this book will make you go to your parents or grandparents and have a conversation with them which hopefully will reignite the spark of ayurveda in all of us.
June 20, 2022
This book starts with Nana and his granddaughter, Tara, conversing about vaccines against COVID-19. When Nana says that India enabled vaccination, Tara's colonized mind, sets out on a journey to prove him wrong. But this goes on to change her whole perspective and forces her to question herself. It focuses on, as the title suggests, How India Enabled Vaccination along with over 15 pages of references. Although this is a short and simple read, it is bound to remind you of Bharat's glorious past and the quite familiar colonial mentality, which is still quite prevalent. This was beautifully conveyed in a story format. I couldn't put down this one, until I finished it.
Ending the review with a quote from the book:
"As they say, history is written by the victors. Bear in mind that doesn't make it the truth. It is just their version of the story. The truth is eternal, waiting for you to realise it."
धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः
Ending the review with a quote from the book:
"As they say, history is written by the victors. Bear in mind that doesn't make it the truth. It is just their version of the story. The truth is eternal, waiting for you to realise it."
धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः
June 9, 2022
Conservative Indians and Hinduism are often accused by the Western Indologist and their Indian counterparts as lacking scientific temperament; while the age old traditions are termed illogical. The book titled “Shitala: How India Enabled Vaccination” by Mitra Desai attempts to challenge this narrative by documenting with evidence that before the British colonization of India, Indians were successfully inoculating against small pox. The iconography and worship of Goddess Shitala and its relation to the knowledge of inoculation developed by those worshiping Devi Shitala has been explained by the author in an informative way. The book while talking about factual history of the glorious scientific past of India doesn’t falls in the trap of pseudo-science or jingoism; but rather based its arguments on documented evidence. The book is a good attempt in trying to trace the roots of the traditional Indian practices of treating different ailments, which were based on the centuries old knowledge of Ayurveda.
July 25, 2022
A fast read; brimming with facts about India’s long-established, travelling vaccination program.
Tara a sprightly, focused young woman is bemoaning the loss of lives to COVID, and mocks her grandfather’s assertion that in the past, India had a well-oiled vaccination program in place, long before the West. Her pragmatism however compels her to dig deeper, and what she discovers changes her entire outlook on her own culture.
Shitala is a quick read but it leaves you knowledgeable about the tradition of vaccination in India and the thorough knowledge our ancestors had about the efficacy of immunization against small pox. The vaccination procedure is explained in detail. The author employs excerpts from letters between Western scholars, research papers, shlokas from our own shastras etc. They all convincingly detail the established knowledge and practice of immunization in India, long long before the West had even conceived of such an idea.
The book does not shy away from mentioning uncomfortable truths; the denigration of the worship of Shitala Devi as monstrous by Western academics, the total dismissal of India’s contribution to the world in the field of vaccination, Western double standards in appreciating only the efforts of their own, are all addressed.
The book leaves one with a bitter sweet taste and conflicting emotions; pride at the immense advancement of India in this field, exasperation that it’s willfully ignored or glossed over, vexation that these facts are simply not taught or commonly known to fellow Indians.
I applaud the author for putting this book out and would urge everyone to read it – it’s a window to a different India; an India that was confident in its own knowledge systems and practices, an India not looking for validation from any outside party, an India that led the way.
Tara a sprightly, focused young woman is bemoaning the loss of lives to COVID, and mocks her grandfather’s assertion that in the past, India had a well-oiled vaccination program in place, long before the West. Her pragmatism however compels her to dig deeper, and what she discovers changes her entire outlook on her own culture.
Shitala is a quick read but it leaves you knowledgeable about the tradition of vaccination in India and the thorough knowledge our ancestors had about the efficacy of immunization against small pox. The vaccination procedure is explained in detail. The author employs excerpts from letters between Western scholars, research papers, shlokas from our own shastras etc. They all convincingly detail the established knowledge and practice of immunization in India, long long before the West had even conceived of such an idea.
The book does not shy away from mentioning uncomfortable truths; the denigration of the worship of Shitala Devi as monstrous by Western academics, the total dismissal of India’s contribution to the world in the field of vaccination, Western double standards in appreciating only the efforts of their own, are all addressed.
The book leaves one with a bitter sweet taste and conflicting emotions; pride at the immense advancement of India in this field, exasperation that it’s willfully ignored or glossed over, vexation that these facts are simply not taught or commonly known to fellow Indians.
I applaud the author for putting this book out and would urge everyone to read it – it’s a window to a different India; an India that was confident in its own knowledge systems and practices, an India not looking for validation from any outside party, an India that led the way.
September 26, 2022
Shitala by author Mitra Desai is a book that needs to be handed to every Indian households in today's time. Especially to the ones that are walking on the path of westernizaton and liberalism. Hear me out, westernization is not wrong, but doing it at the cost of being ignorant towards one's own history is a certain way to mark one's own path with kerosene. I am very certain that there is Tara in every household, a rebel who hates in believing that Bharat did and is achieving milestones with challenges that doesn't seem to cease. A Tara who is so colonized to look beyond the whites. This book will guide those Taras to see the glory of our history with a very clean, patient perceptive.
A short & an effective read that brings out the truth of small pox vaccines being already discovered in India centuries before it was introduced by the Britain while India was putting in its every workforce to get its population vaccinated. The story is humbling, very relatable and most importantly an ode to our grandparents who have played an important part in passing and imbing these glories of Bharath and her achievements by the finest men and women.
Personally coming from the bordered habitat of Karnataka & Maharashtra, I could relate to the story backdrop in depth. The misal, the usal, the Aarti, the samayi, the parvacha. Something that I have seen my grandmother do to. Where would I be, if it were not for my grandparents who narrated us Ramayana and Mahabharatha? Where would I be had I not seen an environment of bhakti, patriotism and taking interest in our history ?
I would like to mention the subtle and powerful message that I could see through.
In the book, the author has mentioned 3 generations that comes with a generational gap, perhaps that is something that can be seen in every family. How our grandparents mostly, grew up in India in simple homes, and then their children were upgraded to a better lifestyle with more opportunities and then the 3rd generation, that has many privileges and opportunities and yet so ungrateful and ignorant when it comes to knowing one's own history. And not to mention, always on their toes to leave india for their personal interests. Well it's not a bad thing to leave your land and go somewhere else but one must learn to never forget your roots, history and the sense of belonging to the land that they birthed in
For people who are like Tara, this book will build your interest in our glorious land and its feats. For people who already love our land, it will make you dive deeper into the sweetness of Bharath.
Thank you so much Mitra Desai ji, for making this book highly simple and packed with messages enough to imprint in minds.
Thank you Indica Book Club for sending this book over.
A short & an effective read that brings out the truth of small pox vaccines being already discovered in India centuries before it was introduced by the Britain while India was putting in its every workforce to get its population vaccinated. The story is humbling, very relatable and most importantly an ode to our grandparents who have played an important part in passing and imbing these glories of Bharath and her achievements by the finest men and women.
Personally coming from the bordered habitat of Karnataka & Maharashtra, I could relate to the story backdrop in depth. The misal, the usal, the Aarti, the samayi, the parvacha. Something that I have seen my grandmother do to. Where would I be, if it were not for my grandparents who narrated us Ramayana and Mahabharatha? Where would I be had I not seen an environment of bhakti, patriotism and taking interest in our history ?
I would like to mention the subtle and powerful message that I could see through.
In the book, the author has mentioned 3 generations that comes with a generational gap, perhaps that is something that can be seen in every family. How our grandparents mostly, grew up in India in simple homes, and then their children were upgraded to a better lifestyle with more opportunities and then the 3rd generation, that has many privileges and opportunities and yet so ungrateful and ignorant when it comes to knowing one's own history. And not to mention, always on their toes to leave india for their personal interests. Well it's not a bad thing to leave your land and go somewhere else but one must learn to never forget your roots, history and the sense of belonging to the land that they birthed in
For people who are like Tara, this book will build your interest in our glorious land and its feats. For people who already love our land, it will make you dive deeper into the sweetness of Bharath.
Thank you so much Mitra Desai ji, for making this book highly simple and packed with messages enough to imprint in minds.
Thank you Indica Book Club for sending this book over.
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June 18, 2021Shitala - I'd never known the association of this name with an Indian deity before reading this book. The author has directly hit the subject bang on with factual intercepts, Sanskrit references, detailed information and much more. The most delightful part of the book is the presentation of all these elements in the form of a woven story that takes us through the lives of Nana, Urmila and Tara. Three people representing three different generations, their thoughts, the differences in perspectives and their well presented family bonding. For a person like me who commonly understands Ayurveda as cure from nature with little or no side effects, this definitely came as overwhelming information. I was pleased to know so much more about a subject I'd never read before. It gave me a different perspective of Ayurveda and its importance since ancient times in healing and curing systems. While most of us have greater affinity for the western system of medicine, this definitely is a path breaking work to change our view point and proliferate our thinking deeper into our own roots. Bharat, as our country is proudly mentioned throughout the book, gives a feeling of immense pride and a sense of belonging towards something bigger than the obvious. To sum it up, this book is a treat for readers. It offers a well blended mixture of interesting facts, western one-sidedness, Bharat in all its magnificence and a dig into history leading us to think and question more on many such topics from the past.
June 17, 2022
I am grateful to Indic Academy for sending me this book. I really enjoyed breezing through the book because of the manner in which it is written by the author. Time and again, I believe, there is a need to reiterate the significant contributions of India within the global context because these contributions are either underplayed, forgotten or presented in a distorted manner. This book does just that - establishing India as a pioneer nation in developing smallpox vaccinations (much before the Western countries made this discovery) through well-researched facts and supported by innately Indian cultural and medical practices. What I loved the most was the construction of a free-flowing narrative between a young, curious and intelligent granddaughter and an old, knowledgeable and learned grandfather. The book is easy to read, although laden with historical facts because of the narrative style that makes it at once relatable and engaging. I got nostalgic reading it, faintly remembering my childhood when I was encouraged by my well-informed grandfather to read, explore and discover. The author's deliberate use of Marathi terms and the delineation of a typical Maharashtrian household lends an intrinsically Indian touch enhancing the prime argument of the book - how India enabled vaccination.
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