Machher Jhol
by Richa Jha and illustrated by Sumanta Dey
“Machher Jhol” by Richa Jha and Sumanta Dey. Published by Pickle Yolk books. A heartwarming story of Gopu set in the bylanes of Kolkata. Gopu’s Baba has been down with fever for last three days. Gopu decides to sneak out of the house when Baba is asleep. It is his only chance to help baba.
Gopu hoped that nobody would notice him. He feels that his baba must eat his favourite Machher Jhol (fish curry) to get well. For that he will have to go to the market, buy fresh fish and go to his dida’s (grandmother) home to get it cooked. That is quite a daunting task given the fact that Gopu is a small boy and has never gone out alone so far away. The vivid portrayal of the busy lanes of Kolkata add to the charm of the story. One of the most beautiful elements of the story is getting to know how Gopu connects with the sounds and smells of Kolkata, the reason for which becomes evident to the reader only at the very end.
A beautiful story of determination, love and dedication. The bond between father and son as well as the little boy and his grandmother has been shown so well. Though Gopu does not like the noise, the jostle and commotion in the city and the smells of the market as well as the fish, he endures it all for the sake of his baba.
The book became an instant hit with my (then) six year old. He loved it so much that he wrote about it in one of his English assignments (included along with the collage below).
Where to buy from?
The publishers Pickle Yolk books here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.
Sumanta Dey, the illustrator
Unfortunately Sumanta Dey passed away at the young age of 29 due to COVID-19 recently (read more here). Feels like a personal loss given how much we have enjoyed his illustrations in this book which was the only children’s book that he illustrated. His illustrations can be savoured by children and adults alike.
