Keeping Corner

Keeping Corner. Kashmira Sheth. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. 282 pages. $15.99 (Hardcover). ISBN 978-07863859-2. Grades 9-12.

My Thoughts…

I initially found Keeping Corner a little more difficult to read due to my unfamiliarity with Indian words and customs. As I read, however, and approached the meaning and tradition that lends its title to this book’s name I found myself getting more and more engrossed in this story. While I did continually refer to the glossary at the back of the book I quickly found my jaw dropped open and my head shaking. I had no idea about the customs and ways of Indian culture. Even now after reading this story I am not sure I know and understand much.

I think this book is incredibly eye opening and educational. Since I knew absolutely nothing about Indian culture prior to reading this book every word and idea I read was knew. I was even incredibly unfamiliar with the way the traditional garments looked so it was difficult to for me to see the story unfold in my head. Thanks to the internet, however, I quickly gained insight to what I was reading. Going back to my aforementioned ignorance…I don’t know if the traditions and customs being questioned in the early 20^th century by Ghandi and the prior 50 years by Narmad (pertaining to women’s equality, education, and widows) have such been updated or amended, so I don’t know if Leela’s experience still goes on today. I am sure that in some societies they do, but I really hope not. I did realize, however, as I shook my head and gasped at the tradition I found appalling that I was inadvertently being racist. This made me feel badly. As embarrassed as I am to write my thought during the first chapters of the book, me sharing this is how I can explain what I learned and felt during after reading this story. I actually said out loud “Thank God I am not Indian because this is ridiculous.” Who am I to pass judgment on another culture whose history and beliefs I know nothing about? I realized that while Leela too hated the traditions that forced her, a 13 year old girl, to be married by age nine and then unfortunately widowed by age 13. I was appalled that she had to shave her head, give up her jewelry, and spend a year inside her house. I was also shocked to see how far the custom spread, all the way to her family having to remove their nose rings as well. I just didn’t understand. Now I am still in the dark regarding the different castes mentioned, political ideologies, even the different gods mentioned, but I do not longer think that there is something wrong with this culture simply because I do not understand.

Rather than not understand I wish to learn. I don’t think I could force myself to read a textbook, but I am sure I can find similar novels to this one that speaks about the struggles of women and teenagers in India today. I would love to read more fiction like this. I feel that this response is one way in that young adults may act after reading this book. I also hope that young adults feel as happy as I did when Leela did get permission to go away to further her education. I think it is important that the struggle existed and the fears were explained and expressed, because it shows that Leela’s story is one of bravery; the same story of bravery that is shown through the parallel political and social movement led by Ghandi. I found myself hating Masi and wanting her to get bitten by one of those deadly snakes just because she was so against progress and I wonder if other readers will feel the same as I do. I did enjoy this book once I got in to it. I think it sheds light on a culture that needs to be represented in literature. It definitely opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know anything about.