Book review: Chomana Dudi 
 by Dr. K Shivarama Karantha

This was the first book I read written by K Shivarama Karantha and OMG!I was blown away by the character detailing in this book. What make this book a masterpiece is that even thought it is a tragic story, it builts an indescribable connection with the reader and almost makes us feel that we are suffering too!

In this story,Choma, an untouchable bonded labourer, dreams of tilling his own land but is denied the right to do so due to his caste. He continues to face other challenges and tragedies because of the same issue.

Dr K Shivarama Karantha has highlighted the problems in the lives of Holeyas,a scheduled caste of India, mainly belonging to present day Karnataka State, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and also Madhya Pradesh.

He targets and brings to light the problems that they had to face due to their caste such as bonded labour, caste discrimination, restrictions on performing certain occupations, poverty due to unemployment, etc.He has also beautifully described the desire of the lower castes to convert to Christianity due to ill treatment by people from their own religion. There are many instances where the protagonist Choma, wants to convert to Christianity due the desire to become a farmer in his own field which could be fulfilled by the land he would be given, but his faith in demigods leaves him in a dilemma.

What touched me was the extent to which they were made to suffer by the upper castes just because they were from the scheduled castes.Choma only has his Dudi,his drum, to beat so that he can forget his sorrows and frustration and find happiness.

What this book taught me is that how lucky we are living in today's world with all these equal rights and privileges unlike the treacherous days of suffering in those days.And yet, People nowadays still grumble,argue and fight for equal rights and responsibilities that is already available.

I recommend this book to anybody who thinks that they are depressed, in a major problem, live a life filled with difficulties,etc because when they read this book,they shall know the true meaning of what a real difficulty or problem is!

-Milind S Suvarna, Class 10