Nine Rupees an Hour: Aparna Karthikeyan

 Non Fiction

Verdict: Meh

I don't think I meant to pick up this type of book when I bought this, but such is trying your luck in the book store. I've never heard of the author before this book.

Aparna Karthikeyan brings us through a few traditional livelihoods in her home state of Tamil Nadu in the South of India. I won't mention all of them just for time sake. The book does a wild dance of how traditional and handicraft livelihoods are dying out and cannot support the person who would wish to do these, and how it's a damn shame. 

As I was reading this, I was a bit confused. The author does a fine job of outlining and setting a solid case for her premise - traditional and handicraft livelihoods do not support people. There are weak arguments about technology, people moving to the city, and rising costs. After she has made her case though, you almost can agree comfortably, that yes, it doesn't make sense to go into such jobs. Unfortunately, culture and nostalgia play very little part in what can sustain a person and their family. India in general is susceptible to this romantical, nostalgic mindset about moving back into a simpler time, living with less money, and valuing culture over making money. While one can identify with the yearning, it's a deeply impractical wish. 

One livelihood, which actually is needed and is a whole other white whale to chase, is farming. Unlike the impracticality of the other professions, farming is a very required profession. Unfortunately the deep society and structural challenges aren't likely to resolve soon, if ever. This was the only part of the book that didn't have me looking for patience. 

It's a typical poverty is bad book mixed with nostalgia about professions that are no longer valued. These types of books are a bit sad to read, but mostly because there's a sense of helplessness because of the inherent impracticality that has arisen from such persuits. I can't buy a new veena (I don't even play the veena!) every year to support small artisans even if I think it's an amazing skill to have. 

Read this for perspective. People from the West have a hard time understanding being tied or obligated into a family profession that no longer can support a person's family or is so difficult it takes a physical toll on health. 

~Becky~