Dear Anou

It has been a long time since I have read a book from start to finish in just a couple of readings. But when I started reading your book, Dear Popples, I just couldn't put it down. Let me tell you what attracted me the most to this book of yours. It is the love, humanity and simplicity that is spread all around this book. The book has been laid out nicely too. The way you have put your love letters to Popples in between the real accounts of the incidents happened in Popple's life is a nice approach.

I don't know how would a person categorize your book. It is well crafted like a fiction, and the narratives of Popples in between makes it a real life account, at times it takes form of an autobiography, and then of a biography - I don't know where it falls, but the story does fall to one's heart. The book is well organized as it is in the form of short letters so it doesn't make a boring read. The short letters full of the warmth of your love for little Utpal is what glues the reader to this book.

It is no wonder how Popples drawn so much of love and affection from you. He is a brave kid. A true survivor as you wrote. I'm sure that he is special to Godji and his being has a mission which is to spread hope in people whom he met or even to people who read his story. He is a gifted child. Or else how would a child who had third degree burns in his body and was written off by the hospital authorities as "survival chances: nil" come back to life?

Your book instills my faith in people. And now I believe that no matter how much hatred exists in our world, we can still reach out to others and touch someone else's life. Like how Sam helped Popples and how Popples touched Sam.

There is Sam - he struck a deal with me. Every month he sends me 50 dollars for you and in return I send him all the picture of you we took that month. The thing is Popples, just the other day I learnt Sam is blind! I asked him why he wants the pictures.

Two reasons he said. 1) I touch them like I would Popples' face if I met him for real. Touch is all I have. 2) and this is a bit crazy - someday when I die and pass on to a new life - maybe I will be blessed with eyes that can see and then I will dig up all those beautiful pictures and feast my eyes on the boy who could have been my son.

You struck a note there, Anou. Also when you talk about why you had to let go Popples to a borading school:

You will learn one day, soon enough that our land is one where labels are stuck to you and never leave you, or so people believe. They define you, and people decide your future based on them. I want you to be free of them, I want you to shine and make your place in the sun before anyone wonders where your labels are and what is inscribed on them.

Another thing I liked about this book is the way you explained things to Popples. About people, humanity, kindness, life, family etc. It makes a great read even to the grown ups because of the simplicity in the way you explain. Do you know, at times it made my eyes wet. And I was traveling in a crowded train and there were people sitting opposite to me and I had a hard time hiding my wet eyes from them while reading the book.

I also read about your Mother's life with great enthusiasm. Such a special person she was. Many of her characteristics that you have written about are similar to those of my Mother's. Like how she was worried about the future of her child because she had a suffering childhood. Or her habit of saving money even if it is little. We do understand our mothers and their concerns as we grow up, don't we?

But there were some parts which made me skip the pages fast though. Particularly after the narration of Kamala coming to Jodhpur to spend her vacation. The letters in those pages (also when you talked about Ram, your father) were full of your affection to your parents but did not put much interest in me as a reader. One reason could be that the letters in those parts are lengthy. Somehow I loved those short letters which was filled with your love for Popples and where you explained things to him in the simplest way.

I'm also glad that I've come to know the person behind Project Why through this book. I hope more people come to know about Project Why and come forward to help. I have no words to appreciate the work you are doing. You're an amazing person Anou. Godji is on work through you.

I think your book would make a perfect gift to give people whom you love. To children, friends or anyone. I, for one, want my future children to read this book as I don't think I can give them anything better to inspire. To fill them with hope, love and humanity. And I thank you for that.

Warm regards,
Jo.

(Image courtesy: Anouradha - Outlook, Book cover - Dearpopples.com, Popples - Projectwhy.blogspot.com)