“Jhupli’s Honey Box” by Achintyarup Ray and illustrated by Shivam Choudhury. Published by Tulika. A beautiful story showcasing the plight of the honey gatherers from the villages around the magnificent Sunderbans.
Jhupli is anxiously awaiting her father. He sets out early every morning to the dense forests of Sunderbans to gather honey. He comes back later than the birds in the evenings. While the forests are undoubtedly magnificent, they have menacing dangers lurking within them in the form of tigers. Sometimes people who go to the forest never return! But her Baba has no other choice. How else can he get the honey and make a living out of it?
Jhupli wonders if there is a way out. Something which will make it safer for people like her father who gather honey. Something that will not put them in danger. Something which will not make her restless and worried about her Baba. Must Baba go to the forest at all? How about honey boxes? Will her idea be accepted by the adults? Will it bring about a change? Read the charming book to find out more about Jhupli and her idea.
My 8.5 year old son and I enjoyed reading this delightful book. The story gives a glimpse into the lives of people in an island village in the Sunderbans. The gorgeous illustrations bring the region alive in front of our eyes and enhance the narrative. The fact that the forests are beautiful as well as menacing has been brought out very well. We had already read a couple of books such as “In Bon Bibi’s Forest” and “Grandfather’s Tiger Tales” which are also based in the beautiful Sunderbans. Dokkhin Rai’s (tiger is called so by the locals) existence is something that we were already familiar with.
This book gave a refreshing insight into the lives of the honey gatherers (called Maulis in Bengali) who risked their safety in going to the forests and how that could be solved through a sustainable and win-win solution. The fragile ecosystem of Sunderbans needs to be protected. Jhupli’s idea is one of the small steps towards that. Heartwarming to see children’s books like these talk about real life issues and how solutions can be worked out with small changes. The story was originally written in Bengali and then translated to English by the author himself.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 5 and above.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Tulika here.
An independent bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.