#581 - Travelling Treasures - 100 Incredible Tales of How Things Came to India
by Mala Kumar and illustrated by Jemma Jose
“Travelling Treasures - 100 Incredible Tales of How Things Came to India” by Mala Kumar and illustrated by Jemma Jose. Published by Hachette. A treasury of interesting and amazing stories of how things around us made their way to India.
We use so many things in our everyday lives. The book showcases many of these ordinary seeming things which have extraordinary tales. Both big and small objects have battled many odds and survived perilous journeys to land in India. Some of these have even triggered wars. Be it bicycle, car, fan, kite, potato, tomato, samosa, jalebi, guitar, jigsaw puzzle, ketchup on fries, biscuits, wristwatch, lift, uniform, camphor, marigold, icecream, pumpkin, groundnuts, asafoetida, pencil, crayons or binoculars, they have all journeyed across the globe to get to India. People from different countries and walks of life such as traders, soldiers, rulers, adventurers, explorers, scientists and even the likes of smugglers have played a role in getting these objects to India.
The things included in the book are those that came to India before 1947. It is hard to imagine life without many of these things now as they have seamlessly blended into our daily lives. Each of the stories reveal their facts and history making one see them in a new light. There are plenty of surprises in store. The objects are listed in alphabetical order. Read this amazing book to embark on a one of a kind tour across time and continents that is bound to be memorable.
The book proved to be an insightful and enthralling read. My ten and a half year son couldn’t stop feeling amazed every now and then. After all, so many things that we assumed to be of Indian origin or native to India turned out to have come only a couple of centuries ago from elsewhere. We loved the witty narration style with just the right amount of information to arouse the reader’s curiosity and hold their attention. The stories have a little bit of history, geography and science sometimes with fun facts interspersed. None of the stories are more than 2-3 pages long making the book a fun filled and breezy read. There wasn’t a dull moment throughout the book. The witty illustrations added to the charm of the book. While we already knew a couple of the stories, there was so much more to know. The amount of research and fact checking that must have gone into the making of this book is commendable. This is one of those books that we can keep going back to over the years. Overall the book is a “MUST READ” for everyone as it is an eye opener and makes us see everyday things in a new light. For us the book was a complementary to our recent read about a history of India through 100 objects. While reading the book, my son and I wondered if another book on things that India gave to the world might be possible. After all, there are many such things! :)
Recommended Age
The book is apt for everyone aged 10 and above.
Disclaimer - We received this book for review from the publisher, Hachette India, based on the author Mala Kumar’s suggestion. Thank you to Mala for thinking of us and getting the book sent. Thank you to Riti, from Hachette, for sending across the book!