Hatred needs to be watered and cultivated for it to last for a long time. Peace and fraternity too need to be encouraged, renewed and reinforced for them to hold fast and to grow. Narratives of sufferings due to racism, communalism, casteism and patriarchy play an important role in strengthening resistance to the evil side of humans. This strengthening must begin with early childhood and go on with late childhood and youth. Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl is a classic for this purpose, which has been read in schools and youth groups in many countries. When we see the world from the eyes of a young girl growing up under racist persecution, we can no longer be indifferent to discrimination and genocide. In India, the short stories of Sadat Hasan Manto shock us into seeing people as people during the Partition and not as Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. Unfortunately, in India there are not many stories and narratives that can be used in schools or with youth. Muskaan’s collection of six stories in Hindi—Gaanth (The Knot) steps into that gap.
Continue reading this review