The Race for Rugda: Story of a Young Girl’s Quest in Jharkhand
by Lesley Denise Biswas (Author), Anupama Ajinkya Apte (Illustrator)
My take on the book:
Savita’s mother is recovering from a bad bout of fever and has lost her appetite. Budhi Dadi suggested to Savita to have her mother eat Amla in the morning which will help her double the appetite. Dadi gave sun-dried amlas and Manjri Mausi gave a bunch of beng saag. Sure it worked and now Savita’s mother wanted to eat Rugda curry for lunch.
The small, round, brownish-white mushroom called rugda grew in Savita’s village near Ranchi for a limited period at the beginning of monsoon. Since the price for rugda in the village market is considerably high, the villagers preferred to forage it themselves. Due to the high demand among the villagers, Savita had to rush to grab few for her mother.
But before she could go on her quest for rugda, her neighbours and friends have multiple requests for help. Will Savita be able to secure enough for her mother’s lunch forms the rest of the story.
While the story begins as the race for rugda, it indeed is a beautiful exploration of community, selfless help and relationships that define village life. The story also highlights the local foods that have been on the decline in modern diets like rugda. The story depicts the test of Savita’s character whether she will prioritse her mother’s wish over the ask from her neighbours. The story also concludes with how selfless help rewards in unexpected ways.
The author also highlights the region’s culinary heritage and why it is important for the current generation to learn about these cultural aspects pertaining to food. The book serves as a reminder that racing for our own goals can happen along with holding other hands on the way. It is the perfect choice for parents looking to introduce to their kids regional cultures of the country while preserving the message of community and selfless help.
My rating:
4/5.