Scan barcode
A review by sipho_md
No Longer a Slumdog: Bringing Hope to Children in Crisis by K.P. Yohannan
4.0
Its quite difficult to give a rating to a book like this, especially based on criteria such as literary quality. The value of a book like this, I feel, is in the response to it.
This is an eye-opening and soul stirring narrative about the plight of lower caste children in India, as well as an encouragement to act. The author is the founder of Gospel for Asia, a missionary aid organisation dedicated to building schools for these children.
The picture painted of the situation is a grim one. Scores of children are born into the caste system with no way of escaping and are relegated to a life of perpetual and generational poverty and slavery. The book does a wonderful job of gripping the reader's heart and drawing sharp attention to the dire need that exists in Dalit and other lower caste communities. I don't think its possible to read this book without shedding a tear.
The crux of the book is not, however, the debilitating need and the apparent hopelessness of the situation. I liked that the author focused, moreso in the last 3 chapters, on the work that is being done and how ordinary individuals can make a difference by doing for one child what they wish they could do for everyone. of particular import was the emphasis of the gospel of Jesus Christ being the only balm to heal the wounds of the past and to free lower castes from hopelessness and worthlessness.
My take away from this book is to be more aware of the need that exists around me. We might not be able to help everyone, but we can do what as much as we can for as many as we can. That said, charity does begin at home and I am definitely and decisively stirred to do more to serve my immediate community as a result of reading this book.
This is an eye-opening and soul stirring narrative about the plight of lower caste children in India, as well as an encouragement to act. The author is the founder of Gospel for Asia, a missionary aid organisation dedicated to building schools for these children.
The picture painted of the situation is a grim one. Scores of children are born into the caste system with no way of escaping and are relegated to a life of perpetual and generational poverty and slavery. The book does a wonderful job of gripping the reader's heart and drawing sharp attention to the dire need that exists in Dalit and other lower caste communities. I don't think its possible to read this book without shedding a tear.
The crux of the book is not, however, the debilitating need and the apparent hopelessness of the situation. I liked that the author focused, moreso in the last 3 chapters, on the work that is being done and how ordinary individuals can make a difference by doing for one child what they wish they could do for everyone. of particular import was the emphasis of the gospel of Jesus Christ being the only balm to heal the wounds of the past and to free lower castes from hopelessness and worthlessness.
My take away from this book is to be more aware of the need that exists around me. We might not be able to help everyone, but we can do what as much as we can for as many as we can. That said, charity does begin at home and I am definitely and decisively stirred to do more to serve my immediate community as a result of reading this book.