Book Review ~ The Lost Generation by Nidhi Dugar Kundalia

The Lost Generation: Chronicling India’s Dying Professions

Nidhi Dugar Kundalia

The Lost Generation (Photo Courtesy: Amazon)

It was about four years ago, I received a phone call from an unknown lady. She introduced herself as Nidhi Dugar Kundalia, the assistant editor of Kindle Magazine and wanted some information about the traditional water carriers of Kolkata, the Bhistis. I provide her with what ever information I had.

I met Nidhi, a few months later, during the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Fest (AKLF) at the Lascar Memorial, after that we were completely out of touch apart from a few isolated messages in FB.

Early in 2016 I received a message from Nidhi, inviting me for her book launch in Quest Mall. The book titled The Lost Generation, is a chronicle of India’s dying profession and the bhistis also featured in the list of the vanishing professions of the country.

Apart from the bhistis the books covered ten other vanishing professions covering the length and breadth of the country. Apart from doing extensive field work the author also went through series of books, journals and papers on related topics. The long list of bibliography and notes are first hand proof of Nidhi’s extensive paper works.

Also my name appears in the acknowledgement section of the book, along with a host of other men and women, who have helped Nidhi in the compilation of the stories of the vanishing professions of India.