‘Kachcha Limbu’ is a term used for someone who is not as strong or as good at a game for instance, as the rest of her peer group. Someone who is included on ‘compassionate grounds’, so to say, rather than merit.
In this short, eighteen-page children’s book, we listen to the innumerable thoughts and questions raised in self-doubt, which race through the mind of a little girl whom her peers refer to as ‘Kachcha Limbu’.
Being left-out, alone, hurt, rejected— most of us have felt some or all of these emotions at some time or the other; for a short time or for longish periods as well. The protagonist in this book is a little girl who is constantly trying to be noticed and appreciated by her peers, whether in games or at school, or any other occasion. She feels there is nothing ‘good enough’ or ‘special’ about her that will win her their appreciation. ‘What should I be, what should I do?’, is her constant worry and query. The animals/ birds who frequent her window, reply: ‘Be yourself.’ Is a quiet part of herself giving her this reply? Does she somewhere know it is best to be herself? One wonders. Do we all hear our inner voice at such times— when we are being pulled down or feeling low?
What adds to this roller coaster of emotions are thoughts like ‘what if I fail?’, ‘what if I disappoint them?’, ‘what if they shout at me or are angry?’ One is forced to question: who are these people whom we hold in awe, admiration and fear? At the end, there is a surprise for the reader. Our protagonist does have friends, best friends, with whom she feels safe and very happy. So clearly, there is a need to win the admiration of those who exclude her. What makes those people so powerful? In a social scenario, exclusion is seen on grounds of caste, religion, gender, sexual identities, physical ‘disabilities’— almost any reason the human mind can think of. The idea of exclusion, for whatever reasons, is a theme to be explored with children from a very young age and hence, this book is very important and relevant in the present times. A must-have for any library!