Lakshmi, the Water Buffalo Who Wouldn’t
by Mehlli Gobhai
“Lakshmi, the Water Buffalo Who Wouldn’t” by Mehlli Gobhai. Published by Speaking Tiger. A quaint story based on true events of a stubborn water buffalo set in rural India.
Lakshmi the water buffalo lived with little Gokul and his family in a village. She was usually friendly and cooperative with all of them. The family looked after her very well. They used her milk to make ghee and cheese. They could then sell it. Her dung would be used as fuel in cooking. She was aptly named Lakshmi after the Hindu goddess of wealth. Gokul would take her to graze every noon and they would spend lot of time in the cool waters of the pond outside the village.
However, Lakshmi was very particular about her milking. No one except Gokul’s mother Hansa could milk Lakshmi. She wouldn’t let anyone else from the family near her for milking. The familiar sight of Hansa wearing her red Odhni over her head and the clickety clackety jingling sounds of her silver coloured bracelets as she sat milking would put Lakshmi to ease. At once she would be lulled by the sound and calm down.
One day Hansa fell ill and had to be confined to bed for a few days. Quite an unexpected and tricky situation. What happened next? How would they milk Lakshmi now? Who would be able to do it? Gokul, his little sister Sita or their father Vanraj? Would Lakshmi allow any of them? Could they convince Lakshmi in any manner? Read the delightful story written and illustrated gorgeously by one of India’s foremost abstractionist artists. The bond between Lakshmi and Gokul has been portrayed so well. The story transports us to a bygone era where things were much simpler.
I enjoyed reading this visual treat of a book with my 7.5 year old. The setting of the story was a bit new for him as he hadn’t read many stories set in the countryside from a bygone era. For instance, women covering their faces with an odhni was a bit strange. Cooking using cow dung as fuel was also clearly alien. The plot was something he couldn’t guess.
He appreciated the illustrations which are a mix of coloured paintings and black and white pencil sketches. His only grouse was that the story was too short for his liking. This was the second book by Mehlli Gobhai that we read. The first being “The Legend of the Orange Princess”. We discussed the reasons why we can’t do all things with everyone though we might know them well. My husband and me were reminded of Mowgli looking at the illustrations of Gokul.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 7 and above.
Reasons to Read
To get a peek into the life in rural India from a few decades ago.
Bonding between humans and animals.
Gives a chance to see the beautiful artwork of one of India’s foremost abstractionist artists.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Speaking Tiger here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.