Palanquin Bearers
by Sarojini Naidu and illustrated by Indu Harikumar
“Palanquin Bearers” by Sarojini Naidu and illustrated by Indu Harikumar. Published by Katha. An eternal poem about the charm of the palanquin by the Nightingale of India.
The palanquin belongs to a bygone era. It used to be an integral part of weddings. The graceful bride would leave her maternal home after the wedding in a decorated palanquin which would be borne by four men with pride. The poem celebrates the glory of the palanquin described by its bearers who adore it. They are proud of it and this comes across so beautifully in poetic rhyme and rhythm. Who better to write this than Sarojini Naiduji! The artwork also complements the poem so well.
I had a lovely time reading this book with my seven year old. He had seen palanquins in museums and was happy to know more about them. Like most Katha books, this book has a facts section at the end about Sarojini Naidu and other wondrous women writers. The end cover also has information about the musical instrument Jal Tarang.
I had read just one poem by Sarojiniji called “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad” when in school. So this was a wonderful way for me to read another poem of hers. The book is a lovely means to introduce her work to children. Thank you Vidya Mani of Funky Rainbow for recommending this book! The book is apt for children aged 5/6 and above.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Katha here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.