Climbing the Stairs

     As I mentioned in my last post, I have taken a break from the science fiction for a little while and have turned to historical fiction. For a complete change of pace, I chose a book set in colonial India written about which I know very little. The book I read is Padma Venkatraman's Climbing the Stairs, and it tells the story of a young girl named Vidya growing up in India during World War II. At the time, Indians were beginning to protest against the British colonial government, which treated the Indians like second class citizens and exploited the county's resources. During one of these protests, Vidya's father is horribly injured and unable to work, thus forcing the family to move in with his very traditional family in the coastal town of Madras. In Madras Vidya's life is completely different. Instead of the relatively carefree lifestyle she enjoyed in Bombay, Vidya, like the other women, must assume a very traditional role. She and the other women must care for the men, do all the household cooking and cleaning, and have very little freedom. Vidya fears that she will be forced to marry instead of being able to go to college, and as the threat of a Japanese attack grows more and more real, she worries about her family and the fate of her country. 

     This book was both a quick and informative read. Told in the first person, the author effectively captures Vidya's fears, joys, and sorrows. The book is peppered with references to Indian history and culture, but done so in a way that is informative and nonthreatening instead of being intimidating. She also weaves historical references throughout the story, mentioning Gandhi's nonviolent protest movement and India's involvement in World War Two, which is frequently omitted from most Western textbooks.

     This is an empowering book for any young woman and I highly recommend it!