ZardoZi

ZardoZi by Debasmita Dasgupta is a gentle, deceptively simple book. In just a few words, accompanied by powerful pictures, it tells a rich story–one that, as the subtitle says, is stitched with love.

ZardoZi begins with a dream. Zi feels like he has found a treasure, but he doesn’t know what it is. When he talks about his dream, though, it seems as if everyone already has something figured out for him, the interpretation of the dream included. As the story moves on, we see that having things figured out irrespective of what Zi wants seems to be the norm. Even words like Let him be what he wants to be are little more than lip service.

Subtly, gently, the story shows us how expectations are foisted upon children. Zi feels like he is losing his voice, his identity. Everyone has ideas of what he ought to do. How will he make himself heard?

I love the gentle exploration of gender and social pressure. Zi needs help to navigate expectations, and he finds it in his grandmother. Soon, he realises that unless he asserts himself, he will never be heard. The humour at the end of the story is particularly sweet. It is this humour that makes the book steer clear of being a preachy book with overt messaging! Instead, ZardoZi is a thought-provoking book with loveable characters and nuanced storytelling.