Dukawalla best read laden with humour, beauty

Short stories have a special charm of their own. A writer exploits this medium to reveal his passion and feelings. We always read with interest stories about romance, adventure or great personalities.

A new collection of short stories published recently takes us on a journey into a varied Kenyan, East African and other landscapes giving an insight into the diverse lives and personalities. The stories  are about simple people out to make life better for themselves and for those around them.

Dukawalla and other stories is the  work of Pheroze Norowjee,  a leading Kenyan human rights lawyer and a foremost champion of Asian African heritage. He is also a poet. His other works Pio Gama Pinto, A Vote for Kenya, A Kenyan Journey and Conserving the Intangible have been lauded by Kenyan and International readers. Dukawalla though fictional has fourteen lifelike compelling short stories.

Some of my favorite stories from the book are Thanks Giving about an Indian couple whose love bore fruit during a stay in Kampala and was given the name Pali. In the story Close to Mahatma Pheroze writes about Reverend Charles Andrews an associate of Mahatma Gandhi, who visited Kenya and was beaten and locked up by the British authorities in Nakuru. Nairobi’s River Road celebrates Indian independence. The emotive affiliation with India and newly created Pakistan is an eye opener in the story August 1947. Ndururu talks of an Indian Dukawalla who cleverly makes forbidden monetary contributions to Mau Mau uprising.

Dukawalla stories are laden with humour and beauty. Get a copy and feel the ecstasy of knowing a variety of characters. The book is published by Manqa Books and is available from Amazon.com and other retail book stores.

Finally with the sighting of the new moon and upon confirmation by the Chief Kadhi the Muslim faithful are set to welcome the holy Month of Ramadhan and offering prayers for love, peace and unity to prevail in our country.