The Stepchild: Angaliyat

by Joseph Macwan, Rita Kothari (Translator)

The first Dalit novel set in rural Gujarat of the 1930s, The Stepchild explores the ethos of the Vankars, a community of weavers.

Genres: Indian Literature, Classics

272 pages, Hardcover

First published December 18, 2003

Reviews

[Sparsh Hardik · Rating 5 out of 5]

માસ્ટરપીસ! જોસેફદાદાએ ચરોતરના દુખિયારાઓની જીવાતી જિંદગી પાના પર ઊતારી છે. એમનું લેખન ફિક્શન નથી હોતું પણ અંગત જિંદગીનું વિવરણ હોય છે. ક્યાંય એમ ના લાગે કે કથા વાંચીએ છીએ, બધુ વાસ્તવિક છે અને એટલે કાળજું કકળી ઊઠે છે વાંચ્યા પછી.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much melodrama.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Vidyut Shah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

[RAJAN R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best rural description of rural gujarat before independent India.

[Saumya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is great, the plot is somewhat stretched but yet it's not that bad. Macwan humanises the dalit characters so beautifully by letting them express humour, love, compassion, hate, selfishness. Mostly writers end up missing that very crucial point and end up unintentionally dehumanising the characters. Kind of hated the sexualizing of kanku in the later chapters and the portrayal of Vali as an "evil bitch". Vali's hatred was highly justified considering she's gotten the shorter end of the stick. Nonetheless, the story explores the themes of dalit oppression and marginalisation perfectly. And despite the flaws I pointed out, one must remember that it was published back in the time when literature was dramatic and had to had weird plot twists to engage the audience, therefore not many complaints. Enjoyed the book, helped me learn A LOT about Gandhi and Ambedkar's caste system discourse and the way Gujarat's Dalits had to face more than anyone because of Gandhi. Also changed my perspective on colonialism somewhat, made me understand why they'd support it and why the upper caste Hindus craved for independence so badly.

[Tushआर · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel vividly portrays the hardships,challenges and struggles of the Dalit community.Set in different regions of Gujarat,the novel compels the readers to ponder upon the fact that how even in the 21st century the cast and class discrimination is subtly engraved within us .Macwan has done true justice to the characters and their representation while taking his agency into consideration.

[a. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Shubhr Aakriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and a must read

[Neer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Parth Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic