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Across the Kala Pani
In 1909, four women board a ship in Madras to cross the Kala Pani, the ‘black water’, to Natal. Lutchmee, a young widow, has escaped her vengeful mother-in-law and self-immolation on her husband’s funeral pyre. Vottie, from the Brahmin caste, is an educated girl whose abusive husband tries to hold on to his caste at all costs. Chinmah, heavily pregnant when she boards the ship, is married to an older man as part of an unpaid debt. Dazzling but shy Jyothi is single. On board the ship, the women will form friendships and alliances. They will help each other through trial and trauma, even after they arrive and are separated.
Like many Indians desperate to escape unbearable conditions in their home country, these women are only too eager to believe what they’ve been told: that a better life awaits them in South Africa, where caste doesn’t matter, food is plentiful, and liberty will be theirs after just five years. But the reality of life on the plantations reveals the truth about the crossing: that it is usually a one-way journey, rife with misery, and that the hardship doesn’t end after the ship has dropped anchor in Durban harbour.
The epic stories of these immigrants – the brave, the bold, the kind; the weak, the cruel, the cowardly – are woven into the fabric of South Africa’s Indian population today. Shevlyn Mottai has drawn on her ancestors’ history to highlight the bonds formed between women during adversity, and to celebrate their journeys of tragedy and triumph.
Like many Indians desperate to escape unbearable conditions in their home country, these women are only too eager to believe what they’ve been told: that a better life awaits them in South Africa, where caste doesn’t matter, food is plentiful, and liberty will be theirs after just five years. But the reality of life on the plantations reveals the truth about the crossing: that it is usually a one-way journey, rife with misery, and that the hardship doesn’t end after the ship has dropped anchor in Durban harbour.
The epic stories of these immigrants – the brave, the bold, the kind; the weak, the cruel, the cowardly – are woven into the fabric of South Africa’s Indian population today. Shevlyn Mottai has drawn on her ancestors’ history to highlight the bonds formed between women during adversity, and to celebrate their journeys of tragedy and triumph.
- GenresSouth Africa
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Published October 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 12, 2024
4.5⭐️s. A stunning South African novel about four brave and incredible indentured Indian women who sail to Durban, Natal.
More than two million indentured Indian people were “recruited” to work on sugar cane/cotton/ tea farms in South Africa and many other countries - when slavery was abolished in 1834 (running until 1917).
Indentured labour = bonded labour where people worked for five years within a ‘contract.
They left their homes behind, knowing only that they would never return.
I have read and tried to expose myself to as much South African history as I can as a white South African immigrant living in Australia. But I was ignorant in my understandings of HOW the largest population of Indian people came to be in Durban, my hometown. So much of my family’s food is influenced by Indian cuisine, and some of our language has remnants from Indiana languages too. I am so grateful to have read this stunning book, and I’m in awe of the brave people who knew they would never see their families again, and truely did not know what was in store for them in South Africa.
I love that this book is centred around four women. Their stories are tragic, painful and beautiful. My heart breaks for the trials they were put through. Currently there is a lot of conversation about violence against women… reading this book drives it home that gender based violence and toxic masculinity has been occurring since the beginning of time - in all countries, ethnicities, classes. It is ETCHED in our lives as human beings. How do we untie this narrative, when it is has existed for eternity? 😭😭
My family have a long farming history - predominantly sugar farms, which is where some of these women live and work. On top of this one of the farms the women work on (Kearsney) is where my grandfather, dad, uncles and brother went to high school. My aunty and uncle now LIVE at one of the manor houses… eerie to think about….
Please read this book. ❤️
More than two million indentured Indian people were “recruited” to work on sugar cane/cotton/ tea farms in South Africa and many other countries - when slavery was abolished in 1834 (running until 1917).
Indentured labour = bonded labour where people worked for five years within a ‘contract.
They left their homes behind, knowing only that they would never return.
I have read and tried to expose myself to as much South African history as I can as a white South African immigrant living in Australia. But I was ignorant in my understandings of HOW the largest population of Indian people came to be in Durban, my hometown. So much of my family’s food is influenced by Indian cuisine, and some of our language has remnants from Indiana languages too. I am so grateful to have read this stunning book, and I’m in awe of the brave people who knew they would never see their families again, and truely did not know what was in store for them in South Africa.
I love that this book is centred around four women. Their stories are tragic, painful and beautiful. My heart breaks for the trials they were put through. Currently there is a lot of conversation about violence against women… reading this book drives it home that gender based violence and toxic masculinity has been occurring since the beginning of time - in all countries, ethnicities, classes. It is ETCHED in our lives as human beings. How do we untie this narrative, when it is has existed for eternity? 😭😭
My family have a long farming history - predominantly sugar farms, which is where some of these women live and work. On top of this one of the farms the women work on (Kearsney) is where my grandfather, dad, uncles and brother went to high school. My aunty and uncle now LIVE at one of the manor houses… eerie to think about….
Please read this book. ❤️
October 16, 2022
This was an absolute page turner, I read this book in 5 days. Although fiction, a lot of the events are based on actual happenings during the period of indenture. As a child with my roots in indenture I appreciate the sacrifices made by my forefathers. Beautifully written with heroic females. Loved it.
January 27, 2023
A remarkable novel by a debut author; a gripping narrative, beautifully written with deeply compelling characters. 'Across the Kala Pani' unfolds multiple, hitherto untold stories of migration, gender, taboos and the tide of history itself; blending a compelling prose style and an multi-layered narrative with exquisite grace. I cannot recommend it enough and am very much looking forward to seeing what this writer does next.
December 7, 2022
Author Shevlyn Mottai is descended from indentured Indians from Arcot in South India and I suspect that this was quite a painful novel to write, yet she brings a sense of joy as she winds this story forward.
It was her great – great- grandfather, Sappani Mottai who came out on the Umzinto to Natal in 1909. Travelling from Madras he was accompanied by his one year old son and a 20 year old woman who was not his wife. The family stories that abounded about her great-great-grandmother had stayed with her as a child and into adulthood. Questions of identity rose, as they do with so many immigrants, and the reasons why Indians would come to South Africa to the sugar and tea plantations. As a writer this drove Mottai to research extensively, visit India and dive deep into the back stories of what being an indentured Indian really was. As she remarks: “The novel began as a testament to my great-great-grandfather but very quickly it was clear that the novel had taken on a life of its own. The lost voices of the women of indenture raised their voices and, through me, they would be heard and finally their stories would come to light.”
And bring them to light she certainly has, with authentic and memorable characters that tell a story that is harrowing and yet an integral part of South African history and the Indians who are so much part of our demographics.
Indenture, a system of bonded labour was instituted after the abolition of slavery in 1833 when the British colonies needed labourers. Recruits were found within the poverty stricken streets of India and the workers came to what they hoped was a better life in Natal. A casteless life that would after five years, result in freedom and, if they were lucky a small plot of land. But for the ‘coolies’ (and I use this advisedly as this is how Mottai refers to them in the book) the ‘promised land’ was never quite what it was cracked up to be – as it rarely is. It is the time of Gandhi and his influence is clearly narrated.
Mottai paints a fine picture of Sappani as a kind and gentle man, unlike some of his contemporaries, but it is the four women who become bound together in support and friendship that form the rays of the story. The shy young widow Lutchmee who escaped a vengeful mother-in-law and self-immolation on her husband’s funeral pyre; Brahmin caste and educated Vottie whose abusive husband holds on to his caste at all costs, Chinmah, heavily pregnant, married to a simply useless man as part of an unpaid debt and Jyothi a dazzling young girl whose fate is tied in with her beauty.
Kala Pani means Black water and the crossing is merciless-but life on land has its own challenges and Mottai paints a grim picture of how the indentured labour was treated. I am not giving away any spoilers, the story will envelop you. Harsh as it is this is an integral part of our history - the cruelty of colonialism is well documented.
It is a beautifully written story, and Mottai’s prose is smooth and lilting as the story unfolds. Well -structured it evolves as if in the swirls of a sari -the colour, words and contrasts clearly celebrating the Indian heritage. The use of Indian words and phrases adds to the authenticity and a glossary gives meaning. The power of women take centre stage and, in telling who her great –great- grandmother might have been, shows their strength in facing adversity. Whatever the conditions they always pulled together to make life a little more tenable. A precarious existence for both men and women, the friendships forged surmounted the hardship, prejudice, loss and cruelty and clearly show the strength of the foundation of today’s Indian population. We learn a lot from historical fiction and this is a novel that offers a clear picture of this part of South African history.
It was her great – great- grandfather, Sappani Mottai who came out on the Umzinto to Natal in 1909. Travelling from Madras he was accompanied by his one year old son and a 20 year old woman who was not his wife. The family stories that abounded about her great-great-grandmother had stayed with her as a child and into adulthood. Questions of identity rose, as they do with so many immigrants, and the reasons why Indians would come to South Africa to the sugar and tea plantations. As a writer this drove Mottai to research extensively, visit India and dive deep into the back stories of what being an indentured Indian really was. As she remarks: “The novel began as a testament to my great-great-grandfather but very quickly it was clear that the novel had taken on a life of its own. The lost voices of the women of indenture raised their voices and, through me, they would be heard and finally their stories would come to light.”
And bring them to light she certainly has, with authentic and memorable characters that tell a story that is harrowing and yet an integral part of South African history and the Indians who are so much part of our demographics.
Indenture, a system of bonded labour was instituted after the abolition of slavery in 1833 when the British colonies needed labourers. Recruits were found within the poverty stricken streets of India and the workers came to what they hoped was a better life in Natal. A casteless life that would after five years, result in freedom and, if they were lucky a small plot of land. But for the ‘coolies’ (and I use this advisedly as this is how Mottai refers to them in the book) the ‘promised land’ was never quite what it was cracked up to be – as it rarely is. It is the time of Gandhi and his influence is clearly narrated.
Mottai paints a fine picture of Sappani as a kind and gentle man, unlike some of his contemporaries, but it is the four women who become bound together in support and friendship that form the rays of the story. The shy young widow Lutchmee who escaped a vengeful mother-in-law and self-immolation on her husband’s funeral pyre; Brahmin caste and educated Vottie whose abusive husband holds on to his caste at all costs, Chinmah, heavily pregnant, married to a simply useless man as part of an unpaid debt and Jyothi a dazzling young girl whose fate is tied in with her beauty.
Kala Pani means Black water and the crossing is merciless-but life on land has its own challenges and Mottai paints a grim picture of how the indentured labour was treated. I am not giving away any spoilers, the story will envelop you. Harsh as it is this is an integral part of our history - the cruelty of colonialism is well documented.
It is a beautifully written story, and Mottai’s prose is smooth and lilting as the story unfolds. Well -structured it evolves as if in the swirls of a sari -the colour, words and contrasts clearly celebrating the Indian heritage. The use of Indian words and phrases adds to the authenticity and a glossary gives meaning. The power of women take centre stage and, in telling who her great –great- grandmother might have been, shows their strength in facing adversity. Whatever the conditions they always pulled together to make life a little more tenable. A precarious existence for both men and women, the friendships forged surmounted the hardship, prejudice, loss and cruelty and clearly show the strength of the foundation of today’s Indian population. We learn a lot from historical fiction and this is a novel that offers a clear picture of this part of South African history.
January 1, 2025
A beautifully written book. Easy to read and unputdownable.
Been looking for this book on Amazon or similar but it's only available physically (I prefer actual books over eReaders) in South Africa so made sure to get a copy on my last visit home.
It's so important that the stories our ancestors lived as Indentured labourers get told. So many South Africans are unaware of the horrors people were often subjected to and the trauma they carried as a result. Loved that the stories were centered around women who are the backbone of our families and are the core reason we are where we are today.
Been looking for this book on Amazon or similar but it's only available physically (I prefer actual books over eReaders) in South Africa so made sure to get a copy on my last visit home.
It's so important that the stories our ancestors lived as Indentured labourers get told. So many South Africans are unaware of the horrors people were often subjected to and the trauma they carried as a result. Loved that the stories were centered around women who are the backbone of our families and are the core reason we are where we are today.
July 16, 2024
Don't read this book if you don't want to get even more angry at British colonialism. That's my advice. Me? I like to get plenty angry about what these powers did to Africa. Across the Kala Pani by Shevlyn Mottai tells the story of four indentured Indian women who sought a better life for themselves in South Africa, working on the sugar plantations in what is now KwaZulu-Natal during the early 1900s. The author herself, is descended from indentured Indians, so these four intertwined lives draw deeply from her own cultural heritage.
One thing I've also thought about at length is that for anyone to uproot themselves from their home to take a chance in another land, with an ocean between, is an option that a person would only choose if their present state has become intolerable. And each of the women in this story – Lutchmee, Vottie, Chinmah, and Jyothi – has a tragic situation that has resulted in them finding themselves aboard a ship headed to Africa.
In South Africa, the rigid castes that defined them in India no longer matter, but what does matter is the bonds of friendship that they have formed during a difficult voyage and endured during the hardships they continue to face. Life, they find, is no easier once they disembark, where they now contend with British plantation owners who treat them no better than chattel, one step up from outright slaves. This is heartbreaking and illuminating, painting in stark tones the lived reality that many immigrants faced here.
I find the idea of culture transplanted and transformed fascinating, and this is one such story, underpinned by the efforts of brave women who carve their own fates despite the incredible adversity they experienced. This is is a harrowing tale, but it is a heartfelt one, that I believe is important, offering a glimpse into our country's colonial past that is crafted with incredible empathy and an eye for laying bare inconvenient truths our history books may well gloss over – highly recommended.
One thing I've also thought about at length is that for anyone to uproot themselves from their home to take a chance in another land, with an ocean between, is an option that a person would only choose if their present state has become intolerable. And each of the women in this story – Lutchmee, Vottie, Chinmah, and Jyothi – has a tragic situation that has resulted in them finding themselves aboard a ship headed to Africa.
In South Africa, the rigid castes that defined them in India no longer matter, but what does matter is the bonds of friendship that they have formed during a difficult voyage and endured during the hardships they continue to face. Life, they find, is no easier once they disembark, where they now contend with British plantation owners who treat them no better than chattel, one step up from outright slaves. This is heartbreaking and illuminating, painting in stark tones the lived reality that many immigrants faced here.
I find the idea of culture transplanted and transformed fascinating, and this is one such story, underpinned by the efforts of brave women who carve their own fates despite the incredible adversity they experienced. This is is a harrowing tale, but it is a heartfelt one, that I believe is important, offering a glimpse into our country's colonial past that is crafted with incredible empathy and an eye for laying bare inconvenient truths our history books may well gloss over – highly recommended.
October 4, 2022
This book broke my heart and lifted my spirit in the most profound ways.
Harrowing, emotionally intense, and triumphant - Across the Kala Pani is an incredible saga, that shines a light on the sins of history tangibly and viscerally. It accessibly chronicles the unwavering tenacity of these four unforgettable women and constantly challenges the boundaries of what survival and perseverance imply.
While this work is rooted in historical fiction it is a prescient and relevant piece of writing in 2022 that meaningfully contributes to the conversations around the implications and impact of colonialism, women’s rights, immigration, toxic masculinity, and equality.
Shevlyn Mottai’s unforgettable characters and their gut-wrenching experiences will live with me for a long time.
Harrowing, emotionally intense, and triumphant - Across the Kala Pani is an incredible saga, that shines a light on the sins of history tangibly and viscerally. It accessibly chronicles the unwavering tenacity of these four unforgettable women and constantly challenges the boundaries of what survival and perseverance imply.
While this work is rooted in historical fiction it is a prescient and relevant piece of writing in 2022 that meaningfully contributes to the conversations around the implications and impact of colonialism, women’s rights, immigration, toxic masculinity, and equality.
Shevlyn Mottai’s unforgettable characters and their gut-wrenching experiences will live with me for a long time.
June 6, 2023
Across the Kala Pani is an incredible book about friendship, heartbreak, and the many ordeals that indentured women had to face and try to survive.
This story follows Lutchmee, Vottie, Chinmah, and Jyothi as they board a ship to cross the Kala Pani the " black water " from Madras to Natal.
Like many Indians desperate to escape to a better life, these women believe the lies that they will find better only to learn the harsh truth , that they may have traded one cage for an unfamiliar and harsher one once they arrive at the Durban harbor.
The love and kindness that these women have to build their own community amongst each other and open it to others as well as the cruelty they experience at the hands of their husbands and the responsibility they must bear for their actions and cowardice truly connects you to these women and their ability to endure and make a way out for themselves.
A few months ago, when I saw this book at the bookstore, I had a feeling that it would leave an impact, and it has, one that I will never forget.
This story follows Lutchmee, Vottie, Chinmah, and Jyothi as they board a ship to cross the Kala Pani the " black water " from Madras to Natal.
Like many Indians desperate to escape to a better life, these women believe the lies that they will find better only to learn the harsh truth , that they may have traded one cage for an unfamiliar and harsher one once they arrive at the Durban harbor.
The love and kindness that these women have to build their own community amongst each other and open it to others as well as the cruelty they experience at the hands of their husbands and the responsibility they must bear for their actions and cowardice truly connects you to these women and their ability to endure and make a way out for themselves.
A few months ago, when I saw this book at the bookstore, I had a feeling that it would leave an impact, and it has, one that I will never forget.
March 5, 2023
Reading this book was an eye-opening experience especially since I grew up in Natal a few kilometres away from Sezela sugar cane farms.
The brutal history behind the South African indian population - many descendants of indentured Indians and their endurance through tragedy and triumph is one I will now never forget.
The brutal history behind the South African indian population - many descendants of indentured Indians and their endurance through tragedy and triumph is one I will now never forget.
October 3, 2022
Unputdownable, gripping from start to finish. I cried real tears, I laughed out loud. I felt the pain, anguish, anger, desperation, and most of all I felt and related to the friendship, love and loyalty of these women.
A DEFINITE MUST READ!
A DEFINITE MUST READ!
August 8, 2023
Interesting historical fiction of 4 Indian women who come to South Africa for better lives but found new challenges. I enjoyed learning about how Gandhi's work for Indian rights in SA impacted their lives.
February 26, 2023
Stunning. A heart breaking book that showed me another side of history that historical fiction doesn’t usually expose us to.
July 11, 2023
This was a really significant book, and I felt so attached to these women and desperate for their safety. It really highlights the devastating reality of human evil and the helplessness of the vulnerable. I think maybe it was just a bit too heavy for me and there seemed to be little story beyond the violence. I imagine this is quite an accurate representation of what their lives would’ve felt like but I would’ve loved some more historical detail and an exploration of the new culture that was being created in South Africa at this time.
October 19, 2022
Very proud moment! An exceptional read that has taken me on a emotional journey. One that would be very hard to forget.
April 11, 2023
I read this while in South Africa, I loved reading a bit about this part of the history. The history was a favorite and would have loved more of that, just didn’t love the plot so much.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews