Climbing The Mango Trees - A Memoir Of A Childhood In India - Madhur Jaffrey

Madhur Jaffrey is the undoubted world authority on Indian cuisine, as well as being a successful actress and an award-winning author of numerous cookery books. In Climbing The Mango Trees she tells the story of her childhood, growing up in a wealthy, very extended family in Delhi.

Madhur dedicates her book to her grandparents for 'helping to make their grandchildren who we all are'. The majority of her reminiscences are delightful, enjoyable childhood recollections and reflections, which are a pleasure to read. There are, however, some heart-rendering moments, and running throughout the book is a very dark undertone surrounding the family's relationship to one uncle, which certainly makes poignant reading, and also shows that Madhur can portray difficult matter in a subtle and suggestive way. As well as the family tales, around which this book is principally based, a fascinating period in India's history is covered and explored through the eyes and feelings of a young girl. The book is primarily aimed at a Western audience, so all the historical references are briefly explained, as are the vast blend of cultural influences Madhur discusses, and any words in Hindi, or other local languages, which are used have bracketed English translations after them.

Food is of course linked to all of Jaffrey's memories, from the school lunches brought by girls from different cultural backgrounds, to her mother overseeing cooking in the kitchen, and the changes in fruits with the passing of the seasons. Included after the main body of text is a section of family recipes. As a long time fan of her cookery books, I found this a superb bonus. Thirteen recipes are included, with a little pre-ambling family reminiscence before each one, such as Cousin Bimla's Chicken Curry, Grandmother's Cauliflower With Cheese and Fresh Limeade. As always the cooking methods and styles are well explained, and adapted for the Western kitchen.

Another extra the book contains, is a comprehensive family tree, which is essential when reading about such a large family, which numbered into the thousands on important occasions! However, Madhur always briefly explains who each person is as they re-crop up in the story, so there is never any confusion.

LAYOUT

The book is laid out in small chapters, averaging about eight pages long, and within the chapters are sub-sections on a particular incident or topic, all of which are listed at the chapter heading. Therefore, not only is it a very readable book, and easy to dip in and out of, but these tantalising tasters for the forthcoming chapter also make it extremely compelling to read on.

The pages are illustrated with a woven leaf motif between chapter sub-sections, and an ornate floral band above the chapter headings, giving the book itself an exotic feel.

Rather than having glossy plates of photographs bound in the centre of the book, the many personal photos that Jaffrey has included are printed in chronological order with the relevant text fitted around them. This not only makes the book physically easier to read, being highly preferable to flitting back and forth, but lends a visual support to many of the memories she relates. The photos are abundant, certainly not acting as filling, but greatly enhancing the text. From the grinning youthful Madhur, perched on a fence, an arm nonchalantly slung around a sister, which adorns the front cover, to the formal family portrait taken at a 12th century monument in 1928 on the endpapers, the book is filled with beautiful visual representations of the family's intimate life.

A BRIEF CONTENT

Prologue - Madhur tells of her birth, and how her passion for food was awakened by her Grandmother welcoming her into the world by writing "Om" (I am) on her tongue with honey. She relates of her naming ceremony, where the name Madhur "as sweet as honey" was bestowed upon her.

Chapter 1-3 - A very young Madhur discovers an ancient written history of her illustrious ancestors, and discusses the influence that Persian Muslim culture and colonial British rule had on her Hindu family and her home town of Delhi. She explains the layout of her extended family, who live in the same road, and many in the same house. Madhur tells the legends of her people, the Kayasthas - the caste of intellectual, free-thinking warriors - traits of which she can see in many members of her family.

Chapters 4-7 - The story of her loving parents, who escape the grip of her overbearing grandfather and move to a happier life in Kanpur, with memories of starting school as a Hindu in a Catholic convent and Diwali celebrations.

Chapters 8-10 - Unsettled themes take over as the family return to Delhi. A backdrop of divided loyalties between British colonialism and hopes for an independent India, and WW2, frame the horrific death of a young cousin from rabies, and two tragic marriages;

"He hated her, but he still had four children with her, one of them a hare-lipped boy neither of them could stomach. My dear, soft-hearted mother breast-fed this baby until he died."

Chapters 11-17 - Growing up a free-spirited tom-boy struggling to find a place within set cultures, alongside family picnics, summer holidays in the mountains, and visits to her mother's poorer family and the sights, smells and tastes of downtown Delhi.

Chapters 18-29 - As a teenager Madhur lives through the traumas and cultural disruptions of Partition, and sees many changes in the structure of her family as she begins to find her calling. We leave her graduating from college in 1953.

Epilogue - She briefly rounds up what happened to close family members, and finishes with a short collection of photos from adulthood.

CONCLUSION

This is a gentle autobiography, written in an easy to read style. While the language may be simple, it is also charmingly evocative, giving the reader a real insight into the young Madhur's dreams, feelings, fears and aspirations, and delving into the joys and deeply rooted frictions of growing up in such a close knit family. She discusses all aspects of her young life, and that of her family, with equal frankness, giving this book a truly personal aspect that some autobiographies lack.

Whilst never going to win any literary awards for style, Climbing The Mango Trees is a thoroughly enchanting tale of a bygone age in an exotic land. This book is an interesting read, written from the heart. Jaffrey evokes the colours, tastes, sounds and smells of her childhood superbly. I would highly recommend this to any fan of autobiographies, contemporary history, and especially lovers of exotic foods. This charming memoir, from such a high achieving and popular lady can only serve to make her even more well loved.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ISBN - 009189929X
Publication date - 06/10/2005
320 pages
Hardback R.R.P £18.99, or currently £11.39 at amazon.co.uk

© 2006 V.L.Collyer