Putul and the Dolphins
by Mariam Karim-Ahlawat and illustrated by Proiti Roy
“Putul and the Dolphins” by Mariam Karim-Ahlawat and illustrated by Proiti Roy. Published by Tulika. A charming story of a little girl named Putul who lived in a small fishing village called Dhabri on the edge of the Ganga river in Bengal.
Putul’s family was too poor. She did not go to school. Her father was a fisherman. She helped her mother cook, clean and sort the catch that her father bought. In her free time, she would play games with the other children in the village and swim in the river.
The river was a friend as well as an enemy for the people of Dhabri village. The people got fish from the river as well as swam in it. However monsoon made it a demon as it would swell. Though more fish would be available during the monsoon, the river would sometimes come right up to the homes and pull them down.
The monsoon also resulted in the coming of the Gangetic Dolphins. This was what Putul liked the most. She would observe their diving and leaping antics with delight from afar. The Dolphins were sought after by some of the fishermen who had small harpoons. However the Dolphins were clever and usually managed to escape.
One year it rained very heavily and the village was flooded. Putul and her mother sat on a high platform inside their hut while her father had gone to the town to sell fish. Two beautiful Dolphins swam right inside their hut. Putul got worried about their safety while her mother wished that her father returned soon and speared them. They would fetch a good price.
Putul decided to swim towards the river hoping that the Dolphins would follow her and be safe from the fishermen. But the strong currents of the river began to sweep her away. What happened next? Did the Dolphins understand Putul’s intentions and follow her? Did Putul make a mistake in swimming towards the river? Do the Dolphins get away from danger?
The beautiful illustrations bring the story and the landscape alive in front of our eyes. The story also offers a peep into the simple lifestyle of the folks who live in tiny fishing villages. My (then) six year old liked the story and wished that the Gangetic Dolphins should not be killed. This endangered species should not become extinct like the Dodo is what he felt after reading the book. Thank you Vidya Mani of Funky Rainbow for recommending this beautiful book!
Where to buy from?
The publishers Tulika books here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.