‘Our Rice Tastes of Spring’ by Anumeha Yadav: Little book, big message

Once upon a time, rice varieties didn’t go by numbers and codes. Like people, they too had beautiful, lyrical names — Ranikajal, Kanakchampa, Sonpiya and so on. The topography where these grew was varied and in sync with the weather patterns. And the produce was as colourful as the land that nurtured it. Threatening this earthy way of living came a man in dark clothes and shoes. He tempted the villagers with high-yielding hybrid varieties that were immune to vagaries of weather; that would yield pristine white rice; and bring back stamina and cure sickness. In short, he promised ‘revolution’. And we all know that when markets revolutionise farming, they destroy the balance of nature and wipe out traditional knowledge systems.

Set in the Chhota Nagpur region of Jharkhand, ‘Our Rice Tastes of Spring’ celebrates heirloom rice, traditional farming and clean eating, focusing on the cultural significance of paddy crops. It tells the story of Jinid’s family living a simple, sustainable life. It gives a brief tour of how our ancestors chose the best of rice from the wild and domesticated it — different varieties for low lying and higher land. There were varieties that could fight the drought and rice that could survive a cyclone. The wetlands where paddy grew were home to fish and small crab that were consumed with rice.

But, as the expanding ‘market’ set its eyes on Jinid’s region, they were forced to decide whether to abandon their heritage for faster growing, whiter rice and quick money. For, rice is not just food. It is tradition, life and love for the farmer and forest communities that nurture the paddy crop in the golden fields.

Beautifully illustrated, ‘Our Rice Tastes of Spring’ is more than just a children’s book; it transcends the traditional boundaries of children’s literature. In encouraging connecting with nature, it offers timely messages to individuals from all age groups. — TNS