Mark Helyar, Rising from the Dust

I had three other books on the go, so decided to just dip into the first chapter of this. Before I knew it, I was hooked. Beautifully written, utterly compelling, this is a book about economic and educational challenges in India, set in the context of one man's physical and spiritual journey through it. Funny and shocking in turns, it's a deeply honest and unpretentious book. The author does not shy away from describing his introspective moments, mistakes or the effects of his own Western outlook. The result is that the reader empathises with his anger or frustration at the level of fraud or bureaucracy, and his awesome respect for the almost superhuman efforts of the poor to secure even basic schooling. He investigates the complex mystical reasons behind the Indian mindset without judgement and he uses dialogue as a lively mechanism to raise some of the thornier issues within Indian society. Backed up by well-researched notes and sources, this book should be compulsory reading for anyone who needs to learn gratitude for our free, accessible education system and welfare state.

I found Rising From The Dust by Mark Helyar an interesting read with plenty of new information beyond the usual tourist and trekking trail. Motifs and mapwork by the author complement the text. I thought that it would be really useful preparation for anyone planning to volunteer in a developing country, especially India.