nuts246's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I could relate to at so many levels. The author's parents reminded me of my grandparents. Her mother's summary of her life - "I am a lucky person" - could have been my own grandmother. That dragged me in, and once in, I couldn't escape.
Her work was something I could relate to and loved reading about. Her reminiscences of people one only hears of in the abstract. But most of her, her willingness to expose her own vulnerability and fears.
A book I would recommend to anyone who is interesting in the early days of feminism in the country, anyone who wants a better understanding of how development economics work in India, and anyone who just wants to read the memoirs of a person who doesn't take herself too seriously.
Her work was something I could relate to and loved reading about. Her reminiscences of people one only hears of in the abstract. But most of her, her willingness to expose her own vulnerability and fears.
A book I would recommend to anyone who is interesting in the early days of feminism in the country, anyone who wants a better understanding of how development economics work in India, and anyone who just wants to read the memoirs of a person who doesn't take herself too seriously.
deepan2486's review against another edition
5.0
Devaki Jain’s memoir deserves a read from the young generation of today, not because its heavily encouraging, massive and bright—but because there is an absolute honesty in the pages, the quality of being at sync with life, and separating accolades from satisfaction.
Ms. Devaki’s life initially seems to be laden with timely privileges, ripe opportunities and sheer merit being put to play. But what is not seen almost immediately, is that her life is perhaps many lives at once, with plurality being in harmony but also with a strong will and stark individualism. She goes on to champion the causes of many, pioneering in the field of not only education, but also humanitarian fronts like women rights, liberty and equality.
In ‘The Brass Notebook’ Ms. Devaki narrates her story, of how gets the taste of independence, of how she applies her foreign education to work at the grassroot level in India—for poverty, for women, for children. She talks of her exposure to the Gandhian ways and also the pages of time which made her acquainted with personalities like Amartya Sen, Nelson Mandela and Vinoba Bhave to name a few. Her story is severely marked by a fearless spirit, frank confidence and a very straightforward approach to face life squarely.
An economist and a social activist, Ms. Devaki’s academic orientation is luminous and her experience is par excellence. What makes her story special are the applications of these subjects for humane causes, of working for her homeland India—and not letting the subject knowledge remain in pieces of paper certificates. Her life is an epitome of the fact that determination can be sustained all throughout without relent, and when done with love and passion, working for others is forever an enriching experience.
‘The Brass Notebook’ has filled me with a sense of pride, awe and confidence, that makes me believe that if we want to work, there is no scarcity of ways. This is the life of a woman who took fame and recognition quite frankly, but never chopping off her roots, or sacrificing her core values. It is fluid, inspiring and vigorously motivating.
Thanks Speaking Tiger for the review copy.
Ms. Devaki’s life initially seems to be laden with timely privileges, ripe opportunities and sheer merit being put to play. But what is not seen almost immediately, is that her life is perhaps many lives at once, with plurality being in harmony but also with a strong will and stark individualism. She goes on to champion the causes of many, pioneering in the field of not only education, but also humanitarian fronts like women rights, liberty and equality.
In ‘The Brass Notebook’ Ms. Devaki narrates her story, of how gets the taste of independence, of how she applies her foreign education to work at the grassroot level in India—for poverty, for women, for children. She talks of her exposure to the Gandhian ways and also the pages of time which made her acquainted with personalities like Amartya Sen, Nelson Mandela and Vinoba Bhave to name a few. Her story is severely marked by a fearless spirit, frank confidence and a very straightforward approach to face life squarely.
An economist and a social activist, Ms. Devaki’s academic orientation is luminous and her experience is par excellence. What makes her story special are the applications of these subjects for humane causes, of working for her homeland India—and not letting the subject knowledge remain in pieces of paper certificates. Her life is an epitome of the fact that determination can be sustained all throughout without relent, and when done with love and passion, working for others is forever an enriching experience.
‘The Brass Notebook’ has filled me with a sense of pride, awe and confidence, that makes me believe that if we want to work, there is no scarcity of ways. This is the life of a woman who took fame and recognition quite frankly, but never chopping off her roots, or sacrificing her core values. It is fluid, inspiring and vigorously motivating.
Thanks Speaking Tiger for the review copy.
oviyacherian's review
i feel weird rating this cus its a memoir???
but anyway
read it.
it is fantastic
and I say this as someone who actively avoids non-fic, recommended or not
it is accessible and so readable
her writing is simple without cutting any corners and so so interesting
it's insightful and vast in what it covers
I easily could've read this in one or two sittings if I wanted
fascinating and made me think about so many things (such a horrible sentence, so vague and gross but dhgj)
but anyway
read it.
it is fantastic
and I say this as someone who actively avoids non-fic, recommended or not
it is accessible and so readable
her writing is simple without cutting any corners and so so interesting
it's insightful and vast in what it covers
I easily could've read this in one or two sittings if I wanted
fascinating and made me think about so many things (such a horrible sentence, so vague and gross but dhgj)
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