I ,the Salt Doll is a memoir by the acclaimed Gujarati and
Maharashtrian theatre actress Vandana Mishra. The story starts from her mother’s
time, the beginning of 1900s and their journey from Adivre to Bombay. Early on without a father and three children, the family faces a very challenging
time at the onset of their life in the city. However, they overcome it quickly
and thus like anyone who gets wheeled in the city’s gusto, the family moves on.
The novel however doesn’t lament or end up as a dampener.
Rather an vivid and joyful account of their life in chawls and of the daily grind
is given. I found myself looking forward to spending another day with this
humble, hardworking family in the city which was dreamily not congested once upon
a time. Streets without cars, healthy fast food with no burgers, roads having
no eve teasers- I almost longed for that era. The Marathi way of life, little
bits of middle class living is so interesting to read that I paused and noted
down several things just to research further. Well written books like these are
a notch higher to know a culture than any photo walks or insta meets, in my opinion.
The beginning of her career on stage, the Maharashtrian theatre
scene is all described with a non-personal point of view. Its glorious past and
the honest work of those who laid the foundation should be appreciated by our
present art industry.
The family life, the values and living at large is
delicately written without preaching or patronising. The emphasis is on a real
and honest depiction of Bombay life and
the author does it without naatak. Pun
not intended.
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