One of the several books written by Gloria Whelan that are set in India, Homeless Bird is meant to give you an interesting peek into the old Hindu customs and traditions. However, it is clear at the outset that the author has never really been to India.
Whelan deals with the delicate issue of child widows in India and how they are abandoned to live a life of poverty and loneliness – and she handles it with sensitivity. But many of the customs she talks about appear fake and outdated. Whelan herself admitted in an interview that she got the idea for this book after reading a story on child widows and seeing an exhibit on Asian embroidery in America.
Well, let me tell you that in contemporary India, girls don't get married at 13, and are not left to fend for themselves in a "City of Widows." In today's world, child marriage in India is as rare as foot binding in China or witch hunting in Salem. So to some extent, the book portrays a slightly wrong impression of India.
Having said that, Homeless Bird has a beautiful story. It is about the life journey of a young girl called Koly who lives in a small village in India and gets married at the age of 13. Her husband is quite sick and dies very soon, and Koly is left alone in an unknown city to spend her life as a widow. How Koly overcomes all adversities in life through education and a passion for embroidery is what makes the plot of this book so interesting.
I found Koly's strength of character really admirable. She really has to struggle a lot in life and makes the best of it. The character of her mother-in-law, who is cruel and heartless, is also interesting. What I found really sad is the fact that Koly feels like a homeless bird and really longs for family when left alone in Vrindavan.
The book is set in old religious towns of India, making the setting quite unique. The writing style is quite conversation and informal, keeping the readers engaged till the end.
Overall, this is a good book to read if you want to learn more about old Indian traditions and culture but I would advise you to take it with a pinch of salt!
I rate this book 4 stars for its touching and inspiring storyline and take one star away for the rather unbelievable customs that don't exist in modern times.
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