I had read a few stories from My India at different points of time in life. But this lockdown gave me an opportunity to finish this entire book in one go. The stories are all based on human beings Corbett came across during his life in India - in Kaladhungi and Mokama Ghat to be precise. Corbett had a special love for the innocent, hardworking, simple people of India. He respected them and trusted them and got back more of that from them in return without fail. The stories are about such people.
The language Corbett uses creates a world of magic reality about a time in India that we have only heard about from our ancestors. It is a simple language. Almost like a lullaby that a mother sings to her child.
Some of the stories are drawn from Kaladhungi, the Himalayan foothill village where Corbett lived. And the others are from Mokama Ghat where he worked. Though the stories are on individuals, their background has a strong element of nature in them. There is hardly any reference of hunting in these stories. This is a different Corbett from the one that killed the Man Eater of Rudraprayag. I think every Indian should read these stories to understand and appreciate the core value of its people.
I finished the book really fast. Started in the evening of 12th and finished it in the morning of 14th. The Oxford Omnibus makes reading easy, with large font and good line space. The illustrations that go with the story are also excellent. They add to the old world charm of the stories.
If you read the book make sure not to miss the "dedication" part written right in the beginning. He had dedicated the book to the people of his India.
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