From Innocence to Impudence: Growing Up in Trinidad in the 1950s

by Awadh Jaggernath

From Innocence to Impudence is the story of a family, the record of three generations, and the story of a young man growing up in Trinidad. The story begins with Awadh Jaggernath’s four grandparents, who desperately wanted to free themselves from the curse of the Indian caste system. They voluntarily indenture themselves to the sugarcane plantations in Trinidad with the hope of freedom after their five year contract ends. Living with his parents and grandparents, Jaggernath documents the struggles and way of life of his grandparents and his parents. He colours his story with vivid and compelling details of the vibrant multicultural society, the lives of his immediate and extended family and his friends and the discipline, joys and sorrows, the sexual exploitations, early loves and intimacies of his youth. This is more than a memoir… it is an intimate and vivid family and personal history told in a remarkable language which captures the tonality and rhythm of Trinidadian speech. Nothing is left untold. This memoir, in terms of its honesty, finally pulls the curtain open on the real life of this man, his family, his village and his youth in Trinidad.

246 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jane Mulkewich · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are not enough books about the Indo-Trinidadian experience, and this is an important contribution. The author tells the story about his grandparents on both sides who came from India to Trinidad as indentured labourers, and sheds light on what this was like for two very different Indo-Trinidadian families which came together when his parents married and he was born. He proceeds to tell the history of his own boyhood growing up in Trinidad, and also goes into a surprising amount of detail about his early sexual exploits and "loves and intimacies". The book ends before he came to Canada in the 1960s. He now lives in Oakville (not too far from me) and we have already been in touch, and I am looking forward to speaking with him again now that I have read his book!

[Sandra Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The authors portrayal of his life and the history of his family is nothing short of courageous, genuine and intimate.
It’s a deeply moving account of families faced with critical crossroads and the impact of their choices that reverberates throughout the generations.
This memoir includes everything: mystery, abuse, romance, murder, love, intrigue, affairs, poverty, affluence, humor and tragedy.
You will not want to put this book down and you will be talking about it!

[Rose Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that takes you out of your current life and draws you into another time and place is by far the best kind of read! For a read into another life that will carry you away, I highly recommend this novel!

This story takes you on a journey from India to indentured service in Trinidad and life afterwards. Awadh Jaggernath's well written memoir draws you into the life of his ancestors as they travel, make life changing decisions and live. It's a heart warming story that takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotion as you learn of the hard choices each side of the family made to bring them to Trinidad and how they continued their life after their indentured service was completed.