eskay1891's review against another edition
3.0
Worth Reading, but for so many different reasons.
When I studied Engineering, there were many students, especially untouchables, from rural parts of my state and whatever is just life for them is an "unbelievable story" to many of us, urban students. Sujatha Gidla does have an "incredible story" to tell and this is coming-of-age at many levels, India as a nation after independence, Liberation of Hyderabad, uplifting of Gidla's family and Rise of Naxal/Communist fighters.
Book has three uneven parts, more than 1/3rd is about her maternal uncle, Satyamurthy, co-founder of People's War Group, Second part is about her mother and final part in a hush about author. There is enough material for a great memoir, especially a Dalit(untouchable) memoir. But the author went out of her way to add so many opinions (her, mothers or her uncles) to only bring down the intensity.
This could have need a great read, if the author had not:
1. Put down and say mean things about every person in this book. Even the main character, her uncle, she keeps repeating that he can't even do the most basic things for himself like shaving, clipping nails,.. But he leads an organization to change the lives of everyone around him.
PS: On one of the interview, Mr.Satyamurthy called his whole life and struggle a "terrible joke", since everything he believed and fought were meaningless.
Besides author's mother, everyone around them is a sucker, greedy, inept and leech.
2. Since most of the author's relatives could still be alive, why throw them under the bus.
Ex: "I knew the cross-eyed, drooly-mouthed man was fucking my aunts (both of them), making children with them, but not marrying them because they were Christians."
3. This is personal. "PWG had become the most successful guerrilla party in the subcontinent, except perhaps for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka". PWG is just one among the numerous communist rebels in with India, especially on Red Corridor, but comparing with Tamil Tigers is a joke.
When I studied Engineering, there were many students, especially untouchables, from rural parts of my state and whatever is just life for them is an "unbelievable story" to many of us, urban students. Sujatha Gidla does have an "incredible story" to tell and this is coming-of-age at many levels, India as a nation after independence, Liberation of Hyderabad, uplifting of Gidla's family and Rise of Naxal/Communist fighters.
Book has three uneven parts, more than 1/3rd is about her maternal uncle, Satyamurthy, co-founder of People's War Group, Second part is about her mother and final part in a hush about author. There is enough material for a great memoir, especially a Dalit(untouchable) memoir. But the author went out of her way to add so many opinions (her, mothers or her uncles) to only bring down the intensity.
This could have need a great read, if the author had not:
1. Put down and say mean things about every person in this book. Even the main character, her uncle, she keeps repeating that he can't even do the most basic things for himself like shaving, clipping nails,.. But he leads an organization to change the lives of everyone around him.
PS: On one of the interview, Mr.Satyamurthy called his whole life and struggle a "terrible joke", since everything he believed and fought were meaningless.
Besides author's mother, everyone around them is a sucker, greedy, inept and leech.
2. Since most of the author's relatives could still be alive, why throw them under the bus.
Ex: "I knew the cross-eyed, drooly-mouthed man was fucking my aunts (both of them), making children with them, but not marrying them because they were Christians."
3. This is personal. "PWG had become the most successful guerrilla party in the subcontinent, except perhaps for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka". PWG is just one among the numerous communist rebels in with India, especially on Red Corridor, but comparing with Tamil Tigers is a joke.
nafiza's review against another edition
3.0
The Indian political system is a monster of a machine even more so than most systems which makes it very daunting to tackle, especially for people that aren't from India to comprehend. And while this book only looks at a tiny glimpse at a small side of party politics it's very well done, a great jumping off point towards understanding.
The focus is on the author's family through the lens of her uncle: his beginnings, struggles through life in the Indian caste system as an untouchable, early communist party activities and fighting in a young India. Too much to describe without ruining a lot of what there is to discover through the book itself.
The narrative did tend to drag at a lot of points however the information was worth the time to drive through it. Those outside of India like myself might have to do some look ups to fully understand some of the historical context of stuff but the good side of course is he learning.
The focus is on the author's family through the lens of her uncle: his beginnings, struggles through life in the Indian caste system as an untouchable, early communist party activities and fighting in a young India. Too much to describe without ruining a lot of what there is to discover through the book itself.
The narrative did tend to drag at a lot of points however the information was worth the time to drive through it. Those outside of India like myself might have to do some look ups to fully understand some of the historical context of stuff but the good side of course is he learning.
milkegg's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.5
Interesting look into an often hidden component of communist/Dalit organizing in post-independence South India. Gidla does a great job charting the main family's struggles and triumphs, but at the same time, this book could have really benefited from a dramatis personae/family tree and a map of Andhra Pradesh. I would have really liked more insight into Satyam's later organizing as part of the Naxalite movement, but I get logistically why that could not have been accomplished.
antigonus's review against another edition
4.0
A painful memoir of an untouchable family based in Andhra Pradesh, India. Puts the spotlight on many common, but unspoken, practices in Indian society.
bookerworm's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. Could have been shorter. This is more about communism than casteism.
n_nazir's review against another edition
2.0
It was not what I expected to read, not sure I would have willingly picked up an account of one mans communist evolution in India. I didn't think the main subjects were presented in a way that made them especially interesting or compelling. The writing style doesn't really help. To add insult to injury, the books seems to end really abruptly. Just very odd.
nuts246's review against another edition
5.0
Powerful book on being born untouchable, on living in poverty despite education and on the status of women. Must read.
https://nuts2406.medium.com/book-review-sujatha-gildas-ants-among-elephants-c30d87716222
https://nuts2406.medium.com/book-review-sujatha-gildas-ants-among-elephants-c30d87716222
haaris's review against another edition
5.0
Possibly the best book I'll read all year. Sujatha Gidla's memoir cuts deep. A disquieting personal history of a Dalit (untouchable) family, Gidla nonchalantly reveals the unimaginable horror and humiliation that a large chunk of India's population has had to face for an unthinkable span of time (and which continues in various ways today). The history walks through several generations of Gidla's ancestors and is intimately tied to the events around and after India's independence - a narrative that refuses to be slotted along traditional political lines and ideologies. Very honest, non-sugar coated, unsentimental account leaving you blown away by the details and powerful (but subtle) imagery. Guarantees to leave you uncomfortable.
Must read book.
Must read book.