Book Descriptions
for What Then, Raman? by Shirley Lease Arora and Hans Guggenheim
From The Jane Addams Children's Book Award
Raman, the first in his countryside village in India to learn to read, treasures this accomplishment even though it garners taunts from peers and separates him from his family. Forced to quit school when his woodcutter father leaves home to find work, Raman makes money retrieving native flowers for an American scholar writing a book on Indian flora. When Raman pridefully confides his status as "first reader" in the village to the scholar, she unexpectedly responds: "That is a great responsibility." The scholar's lack of outright praise shakes Raman's self-satisfaction so that he sees the needs of his community. Arora's years living in a village like Raman's lend authenticity to this depiction of life in India mid-twentieth century.
The Jane Addams Children's Book Award: Honoring Peace and Social Justice in Children's Books Since 1953. © Scarecrow Press, 2013. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
What Then, Raman? is a novel written by Shirley Lease Arora. The story follows the life of Raman, a young Indian boy who is forced to leave his home and family in India to pursue his education in the United States. The novel is set in the 1950s and explores the challenges and struggles that Raman faces as he tries to adapt to a new culture, language, and way of life.Throughout the novel, Raman is torn between his desire to succeed academically and his longing for his homeland and family. He must navigate the complexities of being an immigrant in a foreign land, while also dealing with racism, discrimination, and cultural differences.As Raman progresses through his studies, he begins to question his identity and his place in the world. He grapples with the idea of assimilation and what it means to be Indian in America. The novel also touches on themes of love, loss, and the importance of family and community.Overall, What Then, Raman? is a poignant and insightful novel that sheds light on the immigrant experience in America. It is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring themes of identity, culture, and belonging.Raman Must Choose Between Using His Education To Move Beyond The Indian Hills Or Returning To His Home To Teach Others.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.